Give it all to me. I think sexualized characters of either gender (yes, it happens WAY more to female characters, I know) are a-ok in some games and totally not ok in other games. Like most things in life it is all about context.
Sexuality in gaming, your stance?
- Thread starter themistermanguy
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We're nearing the end of SCV's lifecycle and we're still talking about one of Ivy's costumes from SCIV?
How can you expect things to make progress if you never actually pay attention to the progress, and focus on past infringements? ...not to say Ivy is much of a step forward in V, but it would be great if we could at least keep it current and... ugh... who cares?
It's probably been said 7 times already...
Can I just get some sexualized men over here without having to resort to mods please thank you?
I enjoy sexuality in games, mere pandering or otherwise. I'd appreciate more,but I just wish it wasn't always women and almost all of the women. Context is important... it doesn't work with every character but it can add to some -- You don't have to make every woman sexy, and please, you could at least do something with your male characters besides having stomach muscles and being an edgy arsewit.
How can you expect things to make progress if you never actually pay attention to the progress, and focus on past infringements? ...not to say Ivy is much of a step forward in V, but it would be great if we could at least keep it current and... ugh... who cares?
It's probably been said 7 times already...
Can I just get some sexualized men over here without having to resort to mods please thank you?
I enjoy sexuality in games, mere pandering or otherwise. I'd appreciate more,but I just wish it wasn't always women and almost all of the women. Context is important... it doesn't work with every character but it can add to some -- You don't have to make every woman sexy, and please, you could at least do something with your male characters besides having stomach muscles and being an edgy arsewit.
And yet people complain about Dragon's Crown when there's a choice of a female character who isn't sexualized, and characters with normal body proportions are an abnormality no matter the sex. The message goes from "Give us some verity" to "Stop using this body type"Silvanus said:
I know that, but almost every time, people make the argument more confusing by implying there's no need to analyze context, themes, and direction because apparently its just as polarizing for MGS to have skintight leather clad completely serious females as if it were in Gears of War, or Halo and Hitman was.Magenera said:
I'm just tired of these arguments and discussions being too sweeping and barely looking into the rabbit hole.
The OP doesn't even know his first example is hilariously ironic to use since she not only is a video game character, but has a sex scene that is straight up just there to be pandering.
generally I find some designs just ridiculous. TERA is a good example, those armors arent designed to look protective, they are designed to look awesome and sexy, on both genders, its the games style. But then are are lots of games who give only their female characters that treatment and if you treat women different from men, then thats sexism.
an example of how to be a hypocrite about it would be riotgames attempt to make less sexualized characters with the result being female characters that pander to the guys who like their sexyness less blant.
Guildwars2 also has a good bad example, their male norns are build like a brickhouse, looking just like the oversized dwarven cousins they are. the females look like bigger humans. I would have liked some option for more muscle thou.
but there are companies who get it right, Digital Extremes with their warframe for example. female warframes are designed around a theme, just like the male warframes, their gender just happens to be female without being a major part in their concept. the female warframe kinda show even more different bodytypes than the male ones do. some of those bodytypes are then discussed on the forums, but naturally noone ever complains about the lack of ass on some of the male warframes, its allways about the female ones not having enough boobage etc...
the newest warframe caused a bit of an outcry from a part of the playerbase, because female spaceninjas in bioengineered suits who have superpowers cant be frontline fighters because of being female, obviously!
DE doesnt give much about that, their game is about ninjas in space.
an example of how to be a hypocrite about it would be riotgames attempt to make less sexualized characters with the result being female characters that pander to the guys who like their sexyness less blant.
Guildwars2 also has a good bad example, their male norns are build like a brickhouse, looking just like the oversized dwarven cousins they are. the females look like bigger humans. I would have liked some option for more muscle thou.
but there are companies who get it right, Digital Extremes with their warframe for example. female warframes are designed around a theme, just like the male warframes, their gender just happens to be female without being a major part in their concept. the female warframe kinda show even more different bodytypes than the male ones do. some of those bodytypes are then discussed on the forums, but naturally noone ever complains about the lack of ass on some of the male warframes, its allways about the female ones not having enough boobage etc...
the newest warframe caused a bit of an outcry from a part of the playerbase, because female spaceninjas in bioengineered suits who have superpowers cant be frontline fighters because of being female, obviously!
DE doesnt give much about that, their game is about ninjas in space.
So...what? Are you saying there's some minimum quota for "reasonably dressed" characters they should be hitting?King Zeal said:
That's true, but people wouldn't complain about Dragon's Crown (or any other example) so much if A) They were isolated examples, and B) the games provided some sort of balance (doing the same to the males, and hypermasculinity doesn't count).Shadowstar38 said:
If those two criteria were satisfied, then the complaints would drop in number dramatically.
I did a back flip laughing when they angled the camera on Miranda's backside.TehCookie said:
For the most part, I fine women with ridiculous proportions in games humorous, and they're appearances is usually used for sexual humor. I don't really find them all that sexy.
I don't buy that complaint either(not implying you are complaining about it). I've looked for the telltale scene where Anders tries to flirt with you out of the blue and I can not find it. I've seen nothing to suggest Anders is any different than any other romance character in that in order for there to be any romance or flirtation the player actually has to initiate it with picking a Heart option. But, like I said, maybe it was just so insignificant that I just glossed right over it.evilthecat said:
Edit: Wait, I think I found it. Is this it? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK1w-Y8yJ6Q
Neither of the examples that the op posted are healthy forms of sexuality in games. I imagine I don't need to talk about the second category, but in case any one hasn't noticed what's wrong with the first I shall explain: they sexualizes children. You might scratch your head and say, b..b.but they have breasts and other stuff, but its really mostly in the face. Its that Japanese style of art that favours juvenile features in the face, which is attached to sexualised bodies. Its really quite disturbing when you think about it.
I would say that the new Lara Croft is the best thing we got, in that she looks like an actual woman. Although most women don't have breasts like that.
I choose the above imagine because it's the least battered and bloody one I could find. An argument could be made here that many of the images of the new incarnation of Lara sexualize beaten women. Although this could be countered by making reference to the context of the story, and how it shows Lara to be a survivor, therefore equating to strong woman.
I know some people might think what I have said is crazy, but check it out, there is a body of work relating to this stuff. Its not about how sexual an imagine is, but about what exactly it sexualizes. This is very important given that you can link these two examples to very real forums of abuse that exist in the world. I am not saying that people that enjoy those kind of imagines are wife beaters or pedos, but that imagines like that tacitly encourage those who are.
I would say that the new Lara Croft is the best thing we got, in that she looks like an actual woman. Although most women don't have breasts like that.
I choose the above imagine because it's the least battered and bloody one I could find. An argument could be made here that many of the images of the new incarnation of Lara sexualize beaten women. Although this could be countered by making reference to the context of the story, and how it shows Lara to be a survivor, therefore equating to strong woman.
I know some people might think what I have said is crazy, but check it out, there is a body of work relating to this stuff. Its not about how sexual an imagine is, but about what exactly it sexualizes. This is very important given that you can link these two examples to very real forums of abuse that exist in the world. I am not saying that people that enjoy those kind of imagines are wife beaters or pedos, but that imagines like that tacitly encourage those who are.
Wow! Is this sarcasm? Because If it isn't, I totally get it. Just like how unattractive door mats should know that they're not as cool or appealing as other guys, and should feel totally fine when they are friend zoned or rejected.evilthecat said:
I think if you go the route Namco went with Ninja Gaidan Sigma 2's advert then you went way way to far with trying to sell sex.
Doesn't it look like they are jerking off while doing that...
Doesn't it look like they are jerking off while doing that...
@PromethianSpark:
My only problem with the new Tomb Raider is this: as Yahtzee noted, the whole game is plays up how VULNERABLE Lara is. Every other scene is her falling down something, smacking her face against something, or sobbing. Followed by several minutes of killing everything with a pulse.
While I don't particularly mind vulnerability, compare how Krato's own "prequel" handled similar circumstances. While Lara falls helplessly down nearly every slope, he handles it like a boss. I mean, imagine a God of War game where Kratos is falling down hills and sobbing.
. . . And yes, I want someone to make that game.
My only problem with the new Tomb Raider is this: as Yahtzee noted, the whole game is plays up how VULNERABLE Lara is. Every other scene is her falling down something, smacking her face against something, or sobbing. Followed by several minutes of killing everything with a pulse.
While I don't particularly mind vulnerability, compare how Krato's own "prequel" handled similar circumstances. While Lara falls helplessly down nearly every slope, he handles it like a boss. I mean, imagine a God of War game where Kratos is falling down hills and sobbing.
. . . And yes, I want someone to make that game.
I am actually talking about the imagines solely, but yes, it should be viewed as a whole. I believe that many people misunderstood the new Tomb Raider, not necessarily because they where incapable of understanding it, but more likely because the designers failed at what they where attempting. The key thing to understand, which they might of failed to utilize properly, is dramatic irony. That is to say, our knowledge of Lara Croft outside of this game and who she is suppose to become: a hard ass ***** who is an adrenaline junky, animal killing, extreme sports loving, tomb raiding adventurer. We are suppose to always be aware of the contrast between this Lara and the one in the reboot, as we see that Lara wasn't born that way, but forged into it in this one defining, crucible moment of her life.King Zeal said:
Of course the ludonarrative dissonance (ahem!) is an unforgivable design flaw, and probably the major reason it failed to communicate what it was suppose to.
Its like we have this topic every other week.
I don't know what I fell about it,I mean I care...but when I really think about it I kind of don't give a shit.
Its probably because I expect sexual exploitation because video games in general have really shitty and shallow characterization,and I just have to lower my standards from books and television,it comes with the territory,along with guys wearing cars for space armor,and androgynous anime characters with spiky hair.
I guess I would recommend developers to strive for a middle ground kind of like Zelda,the Uncharted girls,etc.
I don't know what I fell about it,I mean I care...but when I really think about it I kind of don't give a shit.
Its probably because I expect sexual exploitation because video games in general have really shitty and shallow characterization,and I just have to lower my standards from books and television,it comes with the territory,along with guys wearing cars for space armor,and androgynous anime characters with spiky hair.
I guess I would recommend developers to strive for a middle ground kind of like Zelda,the Uncharted girls,etc.