Enslaved: Female fantasy?

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PedroSteckecilo

Mexican Fugitive
Feb 7, 2008
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Depends entirely on the situation and context...

It's all about power and intent. If you exactly reversed the positions of Monkey and Trip, Weak Technological Male Character and Physical Brute Female Character, but kept the motivations the same (I'm sorry, I need your help, and I don't have the luxury of asking) I can't imagine it being "objectionable" though some mega-feminists might dislike it.

It's not so much about control as about need, hence it's not really objectionable. Trip doesn't want to control Monkey, she would rather just let him go his own way, but she NEEDS his help and can't risk him saying no/attacking her. Were circumstances different, she would never do such a thing... it's not morally RIGHT by any stretch, but Circumstances in a story always need to be taken into account before you get offended.

EDIT: I'm gleaning all of this purely from the Demo and Trailers, as I haven't played the game yet. Go easy on me if I made some presumptions.
 

Daffy F

New member
Apr 17, 2009
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Dr. Paine said:
No, it's just as wrong whether it's a man or a woman doing the enslaving.
Quite true, but it makes all the difference when it comes to people bitching about how 'Evil' or 'Warped' it might be. these people need to play some video games for themselves...
 

MiracleOfSound

Fight like a Krogan
Jan 3, 2009
17,776
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I doubt it.

If the woman was a hulking behemoth like Monkey and the man was a skinny defenseless little thing like Tripp, I doubt there would be much issue with it.
 

Serenegoose

Faerie girl in hiding
Mar 17, 2009
2,016
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MiracleOfSound said:
I doubt it.

If the woman was a hulking behemoth like Monkey and the man was a skinny defenseless little thing like Tripp, I doubt there would be much issue with it.
True, although when was the last time you seen an ugly woman in a videogame without it being the work of a player customising their character to make the ugliest possible result?

If they did that, I'd be honestly shocked.
 

nuba km

New member
Jun 7, 2010
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Appleshampoo said:
Not got it yet, but will do soon.

However, I agree that Fox news would have a field day if you had to enslave a woman to help you. 'GAME PROMOTES FEMALE SEX SLAVES' or some shit like that for the head line.

But I just think it's a good little idea, a survival mechanic that isn't really going to be popular with anyone.
I agree with you and I would just like to say from your avatar I see you are going to use the plants versus zombie approach of zombie survival.

back on topic I think it's just a mechanic that was put in place to explain why this guy would help her survive I don't think it is a female fantasy because it is based of an old Chinese (or was it Japanese) story.
 

Stuntkid

Cyberdemon
Oct 6, 2010
182
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I bet if it was a small scrawny nerdy boy and a big muscular woman opinions may change a bit LOL

But seriously I'm not concerned of this at all. It's just a homage to a great book and inspirational story concept and flow.

To decide whether or not I should get the game or not depends on the gamplay, the atmosphere and the emotional/psychiological experience(which isn't a familiar trait in video games). I know it's not an original idea, but if this game is rich in those aspects then I would gladly get it.
 

Therumancer

Citation Needed
Nov 28, 2007
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Let me be blunt here, this isn't sexplay, so I don't really think argueing in terms of BDSM makes much sense since the relationship does not seem to go there from what I've seen (second hand).

I think to some extent you are looking at women's fantasy because outside of the bedroom you see a LOT of things about feminism and empowerment, it's a huge issue. All you have to do is look towards the myriad complaints about women saying that they feel under represented as far as management positions and such go. While present, they are continuously outnumbered, and are more likely in the scheme of things to receive orders from men as opposed to issue them to them.

How true that may be is debatable, I tend to think the world isn't quite that lopsided and a lot of it comes down to power and politics, however it is still a big part of the fantasy. You'll notice in fiction, powerful women usually have guys as "yes men" and oftentimes more prominantly than similar male characters do nowadays. There is nothing sexual about it.

Likewise when you read fiction written by women (and oftentimes for other women) you'll notice the power to control minds and force others to do their bidding without physical means is a common theme. You see it far more often than male characters even using the same device. Think about how many mary-sue fanfictions there are about there involving female characters who employ mind control as a way of justifying otherwise out of character behaviors for the characters of the source material, and it's not always sexual (though it does frequently go there).

At any rate, going by the premise of the game, I would indeed think that this is something that would traditionally be directed at women as a premise. Especially given that the act can be justified and will is being subverted without the character nessicarly becoming evil.

As far as a dual standard goes, one does indeed exist, and it comes down to politics. Even when talking about sex, you will notice that you will see more dominatrixs depicted in fiction than dominant men with their sex slaves, despite the statistics from those communities saying that the numbers are apparently quite the opposite.

To me the ultimate act of stupidity with this dual standard was an old Marvel Comics story where some left winger writers decided to be profound. They had this character called "Starfox" in The Avengers, who was actually the god Eros (deity of male sexuality). He had things literally including a "feel good" power and (get this) super charisma. He wound up being taken to court as a rapist and losing because the nature of his power made him superhumanly irresistable to women and overuled their normal inhibations and abillity to make rational desicians when he was around because he was so superhumanly charismatic and attractive to the opposite sex... thus while seemingly women, all the girls he landed were techniclaly being raped. If I remember correct it was actually She Hulk that was making the case (though it has been a while).

StarFox wound up flying off into space in shameful exile....

Now, to put things into perspective a superhumanly attractive female character who uses those abillities is just fine. We've seen that quite a few times both with heroes and villains, I don't think anyone has ever tried to convince the good version of Rose Tattoo that she's a rapist, or tried to bring "The Enchantress" up on charges for that (though other crimes have doubtlessly been mentioned) when she was going to trial/jail after some of those failed "Masters Of Evil" schemes back in the day.

Being a succubus type, sex goddess, siren, or mind controlling witch is fine... but if your the male version, well now there is something apparently wrong with that! All hail Aprodite, but Eros? Meh he's a rapist.


Of course I'm going on a tangent since really I don't think sex has much to do with Enslaved and why it's what it is. I think it's more of a power thing than a sex thing from what I've heard and seen, despite any hanky panky that might actually take place (which I have not heard about in all honesty).
 

omega 616

Elite Member
May 1, 2009
5,883
1
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Were does it say this guy is a monkey? He has no tail, no thick body hair, speaks human ... I think he's just an athletic guy.

It would probably get the feminists up in arms but thats about it, theres loads of games with the guy protects girl role. Maybe not with the helmet thing.

By the way the girl is a massive *****, she almost kills us on more than one occasion by ignoring us, then slaps a control helm on us and says "help me or die".
 

Imp Poster

New member
Sep 16, 2010
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I wouldn't think so. Most women know how to control their men emotionally anyways. Mom always controls dad even the times he puts up a fight. In the end, he gives up. I think women would more fantasize their own arse kicking like Lara Croft - duel weild, punch a guy's lights out, agile yet powerful, beautiful, smart, et.
 

SomethingGerman

New member
Jul 15, 2010
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she's not "enslaving" monkey because of some gender BS

it's because that dude could go wolverine on her butt.

replace her with a femme boy twink if you desperatly need another sausage in that game.
 

Grahav

New member
Mar 13, 2009
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Therumancer said:
Let me be blunt here, this isn't sexplay, so I don't really think argueing in terms of BDSM makes much sense since the relationship does not seem to go there from what I've seen (second hand).

I think to some extent you are looking at women's fantasy because outside of the bedroom you see a LOT of things about feminism and empowerment, it's a huge issue. All you have to do is look towards the myriad complaints about women saying that they feel under represented as far as management positions and such go. While present, they are continuously outnumbered, and are more likely in the scheme of things to receive orders from men as opposed to issue them to them.

How true that may be is debatable, I tend to think the world isn't quite that lopsided and a lot of it comes down to power and politics, however it is still a big part of the fantasy. You'll notice in fiction, powerful women usually have guys as "yes men" and oftentimes more prominantly than similar male characters do nowadays. There is nothing sexual about it.

Likewise when you read fiction written by women (and oftentimes for other women) you'll notice the power to control minds and force others to do their bidding without physical means is a common theme. You see it far more often than male characters even using the same device. Think about how many mary-sue fanfictions there are about there involving female characters who employ mind control as a way of justifying otherwise out of character behaviors for the characters of the source material, and it's not always sexual (though it does frequently go there).

At any rate, going by the premise of the game, I would indeed think that this is something that would traditionally be directed at women as a premise. Especially given that the act can be justified and will is being subverted without the character nessicarly becoming evil.

As far as a dual standard goes, one does indeed exist, and it comes down to politics. Even when talking about sex, you will notice that you will see more dominatrixs depicted in fiction than dominant men with their sex slaves, despite the statistics from those communities saying that the numbers are apparently quite the opposite.

To me the ultimate act of stupidity with this dual standard was an old Marvel Comics story where some left winger writers decided to be profound. They had this character called "Starfox" in The Avengers, who was actually the god Eros (deity of male sexuality). He had things literally including a "feel good" power and (get this) super charisma. He wound up being taken to court as a rapist and losing because the nature of his power made him superhumanly irresistable to women and overuled their normal inhibations and abillity to make rational desicians when he was around because he was so superhumanly charismatic and attractive to the opposite sex... thus while seemingly women, all the girls he landed were techniclaly being raped. If I remember correct it was actually She Hulk that was making the case (though it has been a while).

StarFox wound up flying off into space in shameful exile....

Now, to put things into perspective a superhumanly attractive female character who uses those abillities is just fine. We've seen that quite a few times both with heroes and villains, I don't think anyone has ever tried to convince the good version of Rose Tattoo that she's a rapist, or tried to bring "The Enchantress" up on charges for that (though other crimes have doubtlessly been mentioned) when she was going to trial/jail after some of those failed "Masters Of Evil" schemes back in the day.

Being a succubus type, sex goddess, siren, or mind controlling witch is fine... but if your the male version, well now there is something apparently wrong with that! All hail Aprodite, but Eros? Meh he's a rapist.


Of course I'm going on a tangent since really I don't think sex has much to do with Enslaved and why it's what it is. I think it's more of a power thing than a sex thing from what I've heard and seen, despite any hanky panky that might actually take place (which I have not heard about in all honesty).
Really good your post.

Whenever there is a power struggle between genders, sex will be thought.

And it is true what you said about women with supercharisma.
 

Lula21

New member
Aug 23, 2010
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omega 616 said:
Were does it say this guy is a monkey? He has no tail, no thick body hair, speaks human ... I think he's just an athletic guy.

It would probably get the feminists up in arms but thats about it, theres loads of games with the guy protects girl role. Maybe not with the helmet thing.

By the way the girl is a massive *****, she almost kills us on more than one occasion by ignoring us, then slaps a control helm on us and says "help me or die".
He's called Monkey because this video game is based on the Chinese story "Journey to the West" and he's playing the role of Sun Wukong, otherwise known as the Monkey King.

The original story involved Sun Wukong being controlled by a golden headband that causes him pain whenever the monk (yes, a man) travelling with him chants a spell. So this enslavement thing isn't some weird thing the developers came up with, this plot device goes way back.
 

Jupsto

New member
Feb 8, 2008
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luckily trip is sexy. if trip was a hideously obese and ugly woman people might raise more issues with it.
 

Zhukov

The Laughing Arsehole
Dec 29, 2009
13,769
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Nah.

Well... I suppose it could be. I'm a guy, what would I know?

But I doubt it.

Firstly, Trip clearly doesn't want to enslave Monkey. She does it out of utter necessity and desperation. And she's generally very apologetic about the whole thing.

Secondly, Trip isn't entirely in control. Not by a long shot. Monkey is the more capable of the two and Trip frequently ends up doing what he tells her.
 

dogenzakaminion

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Jun 15, 2010
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Phenom828 said:
I agree that if it were the other way around people would probably freak out. But I that's why they made it the way they did. But if (hypothetically) it was a woman being enslaved for the same reason, wouldn't that ,mean that the guy would be unable to protect himself, while the woman would be able to do so? I don't think that would go down so well with the male population either.

I have to disagree on the second point though, Bella hasn't made Jacob and Edward her "bodyguards" by putting a "collar" on them. Just the mere act of doing that shows that Trip is the "domineering" one. She took a man as a slave. Bella on the other hand is essentially a slave to Edward, not the other way around.

EDIT: just this little point that Trip took Monkey as a slave shows that Enslaved has a lot deeper and more complex issues than Twilight. Which I like. Enslaved has complex and interesting characters (and I got that just from the trailer and demo) while Twilight... well... I think you all know how to end that sentence.
I agree completely! Even without the Twilight comparison the whole slavery business in Enslaved is deep enough on its own. Can't wait to get this game!
 

Wintermute_

New member
Sep 20, 2010
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Naw.
Really, its just how the plot works. Plus, that girl he enslaved would have to be hella burly butch thing to be worthy of enslaving. The girl enslaves monkey cuz he a giant crazy bamf that she needs to protect her. thats perfectly reasonable.
Besides, I hear its all about there relationship and the development there-in, and monkey isn't exactly submissive and complacent to his "master"