Women and Gaming

[Gindil]

*attempts to rerail*

Rule 34 - Google is ---> That way

Men in gaming - Domineering, always physically fit, barely ever a Bookworm Badass with one notable [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Freeman] exception.

Let's keep the thread PG13 shall we?

 

[iFail69]

I believe there need to be more women in gaming, although as has been said, rule 34 generally happens to female characters in games a lot more than male ones (although I have seen evidence of both).

such a shame really...

 

[Axeli]

As Gindil said, it should be pointed out that male characters aren't normally much more realistic either.

Hell, I've looked at a number of wargames, and there's not ONE female in them. It's as if War is supposedly male territory.

Err... Well, it is largely male territory. Even US army keeps female soldiers away from action, while many other countries do not even train women. Regardless of what's the case much, much fewer women even want join military than men.

If anything, lack of women in war games is realism.

I believe there need to be more women in gaming, although as has been said, rule 34 generally happens to female characters in games a lot more than male ones (although I have seen evidence of both).

such a shame really...

Not for MGS characters it doesn't... Wait, did I just say that out loud?

 

[iFail69]

I didn't say the first comment you quoted

 

[Axeli]

I didn't say the first comment you quoted

You didn't. How did that even happen? Must been when I was snipping most of Gindil's post. I'll fix that now...

 

[ButanicXpandA]

Jen from Primal
the pyro from TF 2 (suspected to be female)
Hammer from fable 2
any female character on the iron guard team in unreal tournament
samanya in red faction: guerilla


these are the only strong female characters in video games that ive recently played that are not just eye candy and contribute in some way to the game.

 

[nullsecjackman]

I think it simply goes like this.

As long as developers will be mainly males, they will make the protagonists look and act the way they like because so far it works, and games sell. Since games sell (a lot) there must be something they're doing right with YOU the public.

Women too can become developers and design characters the way they like. It's a free industry.
But I woudln't say it is a need in itself.
Hell, we don't even absolutely NEED games at all do we? It's entertainment for cryin' out loud.

We don't need more female developers, we need more writers. Good writers. Male or female. Because good writers can design characters that appeal to everyone and not just teenage boys. Whereas if we had more female game designers we'd probably just get more cardboard Edward Cullens instead of cardboard generic sexy women.

I think the problem lies in the designers inherent lack of literary prowess. Seriously, not one game I ever played had characters or stories that could rival most great film or literature. Hell even the best games with good writing we have is a far cry from something like Lord of the Rings or anything directed by Steven Spielberg. Being a writer I find it frustrating how many age old cliche's gaming has. Seriously it's like they just decided "Good writing ruins games" and threw all the writers out and replaced them with retarded teenage monkey with typewriters who were going threw puberty. There are a few instances when games have genuinely good writing though, I applaud those games that destroy the status quo of 2-dimensional characters with huge tits/huge muscles.

If we don't get better writers than we'll just be left with more space marines and wizards with huge tits. We just need more writers, male or female. We need the gaming equivalent of Steven Spielberg. Someone who can make an awesome game but not sacrifice characterization or good writing.

 

[Axeli]

I think the problem lies in the designers inherent lack of literary prowess. Seriously, not one game I ever played had characters or stories that could rival most great film or literature. Hell even the best games with good writing we have is a far cry from something like Lord of the Rings or anything directed by Steven Spielberg. Being a writer I find it frustrating how many age old cliche's gaming has. Seriously it's like they just decided "Good writing ruins games" and threw all the writers out and replaced them with retarded teenage monkey with typewriters who were going threw puberty. There are a few instances when games have genuinely good writing though, I applaud those games that destroy the status quo of 2-dimensional characters with huge tits/huge muscles.

If we don't get better writers than we'll just be left with more space marines and wizards with huge tits. We just need more writers, male or female. We need the gaming equivalent of Steven Spielberg. Someone who can make an awesome game but not sacrifice characterization or good writing.

What the hell do you play?

 

[nullsecjackman]

What the hell do you play?

I play a lot of games, but I am one of those people who rates things on a scale of -99 to 1, most of what I say can be summed up by the dude's famous words "Well, you know, that's just like, your opinion man." Games are like anime 10% of them are actually good. The other 90% is shit. (or at least according to me and my opinion)

 

[Axeli]

Games are like anime 10% of them are actually good. The other 90% is shit.

Little bit like movies?

And of course you can have your opinion, but when you write it on a forum, don't expect people won't comment on it.

 

[Durgiun]

Yes, yes, a thousand times-yes!

I have had it with women in media being there purely for the titilation (hehe, tit) of the male audience.
Now, I have no problem with skimpy outfits, luscious, enormous, soft mammary glands, round, wobbly gluteus maximuses, but Jesus Christ, if you want to be taken seriously, don't do a Frank Miller. Meaning: make the women dress/act/both like whores.

 

[Caligulove]

theres a lack of strong female characters in all forms of media these days... there are some but I mean... comon. The popular female character I think of lately is Bella Swan... and jesus christ- ***** cant do anything without a strong male character to tell her to do something.

I dont think that sex can really change how you perceive someone. I had sex with one of my best friends over winter break awhile ago when we were both single... doesnt change how I think of her or how I take her seriously, beyond the occasional reminder to her that Ive seen her naked (and laughing)

I would like to see more female characters these days because most characters are far too predictable. And good female characters would at least be different.

 

[xzarakizraiia]

See, I don't understand this: According to what many feminists seem to think, I can't possibly feel sexually attracted to a character while still respect them. That seems twisted to me.

Actually, that isn't a mainstream feminist perspective at all. Feminism is all about respecting the people you're attracted to

Edited to add: I really would like to see more well-rounded (and not just in the boob area) female characters in games. Some posters have questioned the "need" ("It's all just entertainment") but I do feel like the way people are represented in the media matters. Even setting aside the whole 'good role models for the youth' thing, as an adult woman gamer I like to be able to play a game without getting annoyed by sexism (unless realistically depicting sexism as bad is part of the point, like in Dragon Age). It sucks to be playing a really good game and then feel alienated by it.

 

[Twystid Mynd]

In response to all of the "What if Steven Spielberg made a game?..." talk:

He did make a game: Boomblox, for the Wii. It is fairly gender-neutral, which is mostly because there are no characters to develop in it, at all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nS1zkSMAWY

I agree, though, that it'd be nice to have more strong examples of female characters in games, and I feel that we're slowly but surely moving in that direction.

 

[Axeli]

See, I don't understand this: According to what many feminists seem to think, I can't possibly feel sexually attracted to a character while still respect them. That seems twisted to me.

Actually, that isn't a mainstream feminist perspective at all. Feminism is all about respecting the people you're attracted to

By mainstream feminism do you mean the ones that don't seem insane?
Almost everyone is in favor of equality though, but I can't see why call the idea of genuine equality feminism. When we get clsoe enough of to that, feminism will start to transform into mere polar opposite of chauvinism.

Anyway, you hear the idea I described often enough regardless of whether its a feminists saying it or not.

 

[xzarakizraiia]

See, I don't understand this: According to what many feminists seem to think, I can't possibly feel sexually attracted to a character while still respect them. That seems twisted to me.

Actually, that isn't a mainstream feminist perspective at all. Feminism is all about respecting the people you're attracted to

By mainstream feminism do you mean the ones that don't seem insane?
Almost everyone is in favor of equality though, but I can't see why call the idea of genuine equality feminism. When we get clsoe enough of to that, feminism will start to transform into mere polar opposite of chauvinism.

Anyway, you hear the idea I described often enough regardless of whether its a feminists saying it or not.

Actually, the name "feminism" is something that is frequently debated within feminist communities because it can mistakenly give the impression that feminists only care about women or that we want to oppress men. This isn't really true; feminists desire equality, which is why I find it unlikely that feminist movements will result in a "polar opposite of chauvinism." Most feminists do not want to replace a patriarchy with a matriarchy and would stop identifying as feminists if that happened. The name is still used, though, to link current feminism with past efforts and because it is mostly focused on women (we want to give men room to create their own movement; unfortunately, most of the "men's rights" movements that have sprung up are just misogynistic and not about equality at all). Anyway, in case you couldn't tell from the first person pronouns I'm throwing around, I am a feminist. And I like to think that I'm not insane

People who are going around saying that you can't be attracted to someone and respect them at the same time are basically just way oversimplifying the concept of objectification. Objectification is when someone is *only* being treated as a sex object, not as a person, and is denied autonomy.