My views on the controversy over the new Hitman trailer.

[RustlessPotato]

Well, I don't think people found it controversial because it was females getting killed.

It's just that the latex nurses aren't really necessary. I enjoyed it, because eye candy, but still, it isn't really what the game is about. Also, those latex uniforms seem highly unpractical for combat.

In a game like Bayonetta I can understand the sexualisation that's going on, because it was supposed to be over the top.

It's the sudden shift that got people annoying.

 

[Ympulse]

If you need sex to sell your product, it's a shoddy product. My opinion, at least. Using sex to sell what might be a good product cheapens it in my eyes, because you're telling me "Hey! don't look to close at that thing we're selling, here's some titties for you to look at!"

 

[kyogen]

I see where the OP is coming from, but this trailer doesn't strike me as especially disturbing (and I agree that killing the normal, honest, work-a-day cops was worse). It looks a bit silly, rather like Bayonetta really, and that makes me think Eidos Montreal is going to pull some version of an "it's just in his head" thing. They've already got 47 killing Diana at the beginning of the game, and they're playing coy with how Absolution fits into existing continuity:
http://www.siliconera.com/2012/01/18/hitman-absolution-isnt-a-reboot-but-not-part-of-the-series-timeline-either/

Strictly as a piece of stylish animated mayhem, I rather liked the trailer.

 

[PatrickXD]

I watched the trailer, and thought that the controversy mentioned in the title was about the game being presented as a crazy superhuman action game.
But calling this sexist and and inherently immoral trailer? Man, grow a pair and deal with it. Hell, I don't even care if this does offend someone. I get offended by almost every ad I see on TV these days that present men as bumbling fools; and here I am not complaining about that.
If you don't like this ad, you're not the marketer's target audience.

 

[LiquidGrape]

If you honestly mean to make this a matter of "boo hoo why won't somebody think of the MEN?!" you are being willfully ignorant of the complaints people have raised.

I object to your tone there, if you want to make snipe remarks keep going and we'll see how you like a weeks suspension from these forums, because you don't make a remark like that unless you're willfully wanting to be offensive.

Still the fact is it's a stupid matter that DOES exist in both movies and games, and if you want to be willfully ignorant about it go right ahead. Just don't be insulting about the matter.

As for the trailer itself. It has risen a lot of bickering over several different issues. As for it's camp, you either hate it or not. I personally thought it was entertaining.

Alright, perhaps that was a bit on the snide side. I'm sorry about that. But I have seen similar claims one too many times already, and it gets frustrating like hell to see it obfuscate the real issue.

There's this prevalent myth of women being granted preferential treatment in media, but I really can't see it. Especially not in games, where women are so often relegated to either the role of mere eye candy or Kate Beatonesque Strong Female Character [http://www.harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=311] status.
Now, if you mean to argue that the latter is incredibly problematic, I'm right there with you.
If you mean to argue that it is indicative of a latent kind of misandry, I'm going to have to disagree. Because no matter how excessively man-killing and/or man-hating the supposedly 'strong female character' is, she still only operates within the comfort zone of the creators, and her superficial independence can (and will) at any time be revoked for the benefit of voyeuristic gratification.

This really isn't a matter of sex so much as it is a matter of presentation. After all, people have killed thousands of men and women alike in games such as Mass Effect, Left 4 Dead and The Elder Scrolls. People demonstrably have no real inhibitions with regards to these things. That is, assuming the Other isn't so explicitly meant to evoke a very particular and dubious reaction.

Like the nuns.

Oh get over it. If you read any further in to it you'll be looking at the back of your monitor.

It's an action preview featuring sexy nun assassins as one side of the conflict. If it's not your thing, that's one fine, but deconstructing it as some kind of assault on women is laughable.

It wasn't a major ping on my sexism-radar. But enough to warrant some condescension, I thought.
It's stupid. They could've done better. That is all.

 

[bluesession]

Nuns wearing high heels and leather.
I'm ok with the Nun thing, and with the leather (though is kinda a really worn out cliche) but heels? You can't be an assassin AND wear heels at the same time! You make too much noise, besides being unconfortable and lacking the ability to run.

The trailer is just silly, tarantino silly. A little sexist I guess but is doesn't really deserve hate.

 

[Techno Squidgy]

At first I was thinking 'Okay, nuns outfits, a good way to conceal weapons but, you know, been done before'. Then they took them off. Now unless in the game they're revealed to be some kind of goth/S&M club with serious beef with Mr. 47 it just doesn't make any sense. Those aren't practical killing garments damn it! Other than that, no issues

 

[LiquidGrape]

Yeah, fancy that. Some people actually complain about sexism in that trailer, because guys NEVER get killed in video games, right? only women!
Equality, or giving women an easier time? I can't tell what modern feminism is about.

Again.
It isn't about them simply being killed.
It's about them being killed so gratuitously while wearing nothing but fetish gear for no discernible purpose beyond base titillation.

Please get it right.

 

[GiantRaven]

I see where the OP is coming from, but this trailer doesn't strike me as especially disturbing (and I agree that killing the normal, honest, work-a-day cops was worse). It looks a bit silly, rather like Bayonetta really, and that makes me think Eidos Montreal is going to pull some version of an "it's just in his head" thing. They've already got 47 killing Diana at the beginning of the game, and they're playing coy with how Absolution fits into existing continuity:
http://www.siliconera.com/2012/01/18/hitman-absolution-isnt-a-reboot-but-not-part-of-the-series-timeline-either/

Strictly as a piece of stylish animated mayhem, I rather liked the trailer.

That definitely fits with the way Hitman has presented, to an extent, the story of Contracts and Blood Money. I could definitely get behind that.

 

[Lovely Mixture]

At first I was thinking 'Okay, nuns outfits, a good way to conceal weapons but, you know, been done before'. Then they took them off. Now unless in the game they're revealed to be some kind of goth/S&M club with serious beef with Mr. 47 it just doesn't make any sense. Those aren't practical killing garments damn it! Other than that, no issues

Pretty much this.

The trailer was nicely choreographed but goddamn was it stupid. In video games, I have no problem with killing women or female sexiness. Hitman has always been a series with sexuality in it.

I only take issue with that fact that it makes no sense for them to be wearing nun uniforms and carrying around weapons in broad daylight at the same time. Hitman has been ridiculous but never Tarantino/Final Fantasy ridiculous.

and they're playing coy with how Absolution fits into existing continuity:
http://www.siliconera.com/2012/01/18/hitman-absolution-isnt-a-reboot-but-not-part-of-the-series-timeline-either/

Thank you for bringing this to my attention.
I don't know if this makes things better or worse for me. I hate how they are handling the Hitman series as of now, but if they are willing to say it's unconnected to the other games I guess I can feel a little better about this.

 

[Woodsey]

Whilst the trailer doesn't do the game any favours, people are going way over the top about it. I think the skimpy nuns were unnecessary, but then Hitman has always had gimps, prostitutes etc in it anyway. Whilst it does kind of fetishies the violence, what pissed me off about it is that Hitman isn't about explosions and big gun fights; it's about stealth, and executing silently and unnoticed, and plotting assassinations.

The trailer didn't offend me in any way - it was just a bit silly.

Actually, I think the trailer is born from someone looking at Blood Money, completely misunderstanding why everyone in the game is either roided-up or pumped full of botox, and then trying to copy that.

It's in the original games so that everyone is purposefully vulgar - they're not cool or sexy, they're ugly and disgusting. There are multiple reasons why, a big one probably being to make it far easier to make 47 a playable anti-hero, and to heighten your distaste for the people you're killing.

This trailer is just pathetic pandering. Although what's more insulting is what it indicates for the future of the Hitman series.

And the issue is not that women are being killed people by itself, the issue is that they strip down to S&M gear for no reason, before they have the ever-loving shit beaten out of them. Blood Money did feature this marginally too, but that was in a fucking BDSM club, not outside a motel in broad daylight.

 

[Verzin]

I really liked the trailer, was very Kill Bill-ish.

People will whinge about anything.

I agree. The trailer looks very cool. I think the super sexy nun kill squad could be a great Tarantino movie, but I question their place in a Hitman trailer. Hitman shouldn't be about sex and big explosions. What it says about the game however...I dunno. I won't judge it, but I'm afraid they may ruin the spirit of the series.

I hope not. I enjoyed blood money and silent assassin very very much. I'd like sequel to those two games, not something that could be a stand alone title in terms of similarity to its predecessors.

We'll see.

 

[chadachada123]

Truth-be-told, I'm very impressed at these (although pre-rendered) graphics. I didn't know that it was CGI until mid-way through the video.

On topic, the trailer is...interesting. The latex was a little much, but I see no reason for controversy. I don't see why a gang of women couldn't be out for him for something, considering the many other groups he's killed before. The Kill Bill-like theme is really cool and is rarely done in trailers, which I enjoy.

 

[LiquidGrape]

Actually, I think the trailer is born from someone looking at Blood Money, completely misunderstanding why everyone in the game is either roided-up or pumped full of botox, and then trying to copy that.

It's in the original games so that everyone is purposefully vulgar - they're not cool or sexy, they're ugly and disgusting. There are multiple reasons why, a big one probably being to make it far easier to make 47 a playable anti-hero, and to heighten your distaste for the people you're killing.

I agree with this 100%. Blood Money was very knowingly exaggerated in terms of its sexual content, because it made the targets all the more detached from the predominantly asexual 47. It acted like something of a visual representation of his distaste for other people, and it was a quite clever little device.

Absolution seems to have the subtlety of getting your face smashed in by a Quentin Tarantino DVD box set.

 

[Woodsey]

Actually, I think the trailer is born from someone looking at Blood Money, completely misunderstanding why everyone in the game is either roided-up or pumped full of botox, and then trying to copy that.

It's in the original games so that everyone is purposefully vulgar - they're not cool or sexy, they're ugly and disgusting. There are multiple reasons why, a big one probably being to make it far easier to make 47 a playable anti-hero, and to heighten your distaste for the people you're killing.

I agree with this 100%. Blood Money was very knowingly exaggerated in terms of its sexual content, because it made the targets all the more detached from the predominantly asexual 47. It acted like something of a visual representation of his distaste for other people, and it was a quite clever little device.

Absolution seems to have the subtlety of getting your face smashed in by a Quentin Tarantino DVD box set.

Unfortunately, it also seems that the entire game has been designed by someone looking at Blood Money and misunderstanding absolutely everything.

 

[bafrali]

I thought it was more to do with the fact that 47 fought more like Jason Statham than a professional assassin.

Exactly.It just looked stupid as far as advertisements goes.....unless your target demographic is teenage boys.