Cover art has a long and egregious history of sexualising the female form, especially fantasy, and this is an exemplary sample of the mindset that is still apparent, although less pervasive on such a global scale. In the 80s and 90s, it quickly became a cheap marketing gimmick to appeal to the immediate pleasure receptors of the perceived gaming demographic of the time; the horny male teenager.
Although the stereotype exists, and is perpetuated constantly by the millions of horny male teenagers who game and make their voices loudest through endless misogyny, racism, homophobia and puerility, via any given gaming medium (including forums*), the wider gaming community are realising that this stereotype is a significant minority, rather than a dominating majority. This stereotype needs to stop being accepted as the status quo; slavering horny male teenagers should not be the mouthpiece for gamers per se. Much like the militant radical extremist religious nut that the media shows as representative of his religion, it's unfair to dismiss an entire culture/counter-culture on the basis of the loudest screamers.
Fortunately, the battle is being won! Imagine if that pile of turd cover was the cover of Skyrim! Would anyone take it seriously? No. There would be uproar about the sheer sexism of it all, and Bethesda realises that, whilst sex sells, outright glaring physics-defying boobage like TES1 is now so passée and generally offensive, that it's best to appeal to all gamers, whilst excluding none. And a thundering pair of norks on your front cover will, thankfully, 'cheapen' its perception (Evony Online, anyone?) and not be judged upon its merits (it's a brilliant game). There's even a strong movement to eradicate booth-babes at conventions, as it deters the key demographic--girl gamers, and instils a notion that the only thing that matters about females is that they have a hot body and great honking tits.
But anyway, the history of game covers are extensively documented on the internet. I love horrible covers! Check out such gems like Megaman:
Possibly the best ever case of 5-mins-before-deadline-shit-let's-get-Ken-the-copy-guy-to-bash-out-the-cover-art in videogaming history
Seeing as, psychologically, humanity does indeed judge a book by its cover, there is a *far* greater slice of the gaming budget dedicated to the cover of physical copies of computer games nowadays. Also, there exists an army of artists out there determined to make their mark on the industry, which is oversubscribed. Covers have shifted from design to art (although few would recognise them as Works Of Art?) and Hooty McBooberson of the Land of Double-Dees is slowly being filtered out by all but the basest of video game publishers. The last cover I saw which I had mild issue with was Torchlight, which pales in comparison.
*lost count of the number of times a member of a given community has revealed she is a female, and been told to gtf back to the kitchen. If anything it demonstrates the pathetic notion that ubermale gamers are somehow threatened that the "opposing sex" is encroaching upon their traditions of bros-only culture
Although the stereotype exists, and is perpetuated constantly by the millions of horny male teenagers who game and make their voices loudest through endless misogyny, racism, homophobia and puerility, via any given gaming medium (including forums*), the wider gaming community are realising that this stereotype is a significant minority, rather than a dominating majority. This stereotype needs to stop being accepted as the status quo; slavering horny male teenagers should not be the mouthpiece for gamers per se. Much like the militant radical extremist religious nut that the media shows as representative of his religion, it's unfair to dismiss an entire culture/counter-culture on the basis of the loudest screamers.
Fortunately, the battle is being won! Imagine if that pile of turd cover was the cover of Skyrim! Would anyone take it seriously? No. There would be uproar about the sheer sexism of it all, and Bethesda realises that, whilst sex sells, outright glaring physics-defying boobage like TES1 is now so passée and generally offensive, that it's best to appeal to all gamers, whilst excluding none. And a thundering pair of norks on your front cover will, thankfully, 'cheapen' its perception (Evony Online, anyone?) and not be judged upon its merits (it's a brilliant game). There's even a strong movement to eradicate booth-babes at conventions, as it deters the key demographic--girl gamers, and instils a notion that the only thing that matters about females is that they have a hot body and great honking tits.
But anyway, the history of game covers are extensively documented on the internet. I love horrible covers! Check out such gems like Megaman:
Possibly the best ever case of 5-mins-before-deadline-shit-let's-get-Ken-the-copy-guy-to-bash-out-the-cover-art in videogaming history
Seeing as, psychologically, humanity does indeed judge a book by its cover, there is a *far* greater slice of the gaming budget dedicated to the cover of physical copies of computer games nowadays. Also, there exists an army of artists out there determined to make their mark on the industry, which is oversubscribed. Covers have shifted from design to art (although few would recognise them as Works Of Art?) and Hooty McBooberson of the Land of Double-Dees is slowly being filtered out by all but the basest of video game publishers. The last cover I saw which I had mild issue with was Torchlight, which pales in comparison.
*lost count of the number of times a member of a given community has revealed she is a female, and been told to gtf back to the kitchen. If anything it demonstrates the pathetic notion that ubermale gamers are somehow threatened that the "opposing sex" is encroaching upon their traditions of bros-only culture
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