DANGER: Women in Games
Woah, now there is a lot of female attention happening in the games industry at the moment. Like we need more… Seriously I think girls have got their quota in the games industry and are recognised enough nowadays.
Girls have:
1. Personalised Systems, such as the Pink DS and a variety of Pink Peripherals.
2. A selection of shite games, Pony Friends, Barbie shopping, Cooking Mama etc…
3. Zelda?!? Apparently??!?! The Phantom hourglass is advertised as one of the DS’s “Games for Girls”, when the fuck did that happen? Why does the fairer sex get this franchise?
4. The DS in general, all titles for it seem to cater for girls in some way.
5. The Rezibator. Guys are not allowed attachments to games to get them going (apart from the guitar in guitar hero).
6. An unfair advantage in MMOs, due to all the guys being desperate.
1. [General] [Legolaas] ZOMG!!!!11 Nerf Girls they are IMBA
7. An inbuilt ability to multi-task.
8. The “years of persecution” card which they never play, but you know they will when they get a chance.
9. Not got the completionist chromosome.
10. Boobies.
11. They die later than men so they can get more play time out of games.
Not content with these things, it’s getting even more hyped-up as more and more girls within the industry are piping up. Recently we haven’t been able to surf anywhere without some comment about Jade Raymond, as post-adolescent boys blog about their unquestioning, unwavering, loyalty to Ubisoft. All in the vain hope that one day they could sup upon her crotch paté. Maybe now we can understand why Assassins Creed got such high scores? Yeah fair enough she supposedly helped in the creation of Assassins Creed, and it just so happens she is not that bad to look at. And on that note, we have Morgan Webb, who is bitching because she got to her position (as a host for some gaming thing no-one has heard of, Kudos Webb) based on her looks and not her game playing prowess (which she implies are more commendable). She actually makes some reasonable points about how her looks have got her ahead in the industry,
“Because boys like girls, straight up. Because Nerd #14 getting hired at Kotaku; not a story. Hot chick? Story. You talk to her about why they're a woman in the gaming industry. Guys all think, "Wow, wouldn't it be great if there were more? Even though she'd veto my triple-X busted woman that I want to put in this video game.”
Insightful no?
But to be honest I can’t really take her that seriously because her nipples are weirdly placed and point in different directions:
And for good measure I did a search for her on Flikr and found this rather flattering picture:
And it doesn’t stop there; all sorts of crazy online gamer-chicks are getting all pent-out-of shape about boobies. Exclaiming that Soulcalibur IV is disgraceful that the boobs are double the size of their heads, at this point I would like to point out, since you girls are new to this “gaming” thing that there is a HUGE difference between concept art and in-game graphics, so before you get your blood-ridden-ooze-encrusted panties in a twist, take a little time to compare the subtle differences between a drawing and a screenshot:
SCREENSHOT
I won’t deny that she is well endowed, but guess what, there are women out there that have big boobs, it happens. And you know what… Guys will also be taken aback by them because big boobs appeal to us. It’s a primal thing part of the mammalian brain (not a pun on mammories or a joke, this is serious, boobs create a primal stirring, and if they are bigger/more noticeable then that stirring is more apparent.) But of course if you have issues you can always play as Cassandra (oh look at that, the game developer included someone with “normal” sized boobs, really sexist aren’t they).
Boobs and boob physics have been incorporated into most modern games such as Ninja Gaiden, Soulcalibur, Dead or alive, Tomb Raider (the new ones), Final Fantasy, Resident evil and even Guitar hero 3:
Pictured above: Judy Nails from Guitar hero 3, the boob physics incorporated here are not overly noticeable in game, however to get and example of it select Judy Nails as a character then proceed to the guitar selection screen, as you scroll through each guitar her boobs will shake slightly.
Now most people will argue that it is only women-with-small-boobs that have issue with big boobs in games, but then inevitably you get other women ranting on about the negative body image portrayal in games (these are usually just the ugly and/or fat women). Which is stupid on a number of levels, firstly games are based on fantasy there is no room in fantasy for ugly girls, bare in mind that they throwing fireballs, wielding giant swords etc. If the size of boobs is the only issue you have with the realism in the games then I would suggest a slight re-shuffle of your priorities. Secondly, returning to Soulcalibur as an example, considering that the girls are fighting and are quite athletic, agile etc. It would seem that they should be quite trim and in shape, some fat chick that doesn’t look after herself, wouldn’t stand a chance. I’m sorry but equal opportunities are out the window when you are playing as people that are in their prime, looked after themselves, train every day etc.
It’s not like you are gonna have a cripple in a wheelchair competing with Jin Kazama? Or a retard using his “Mong” attack on Jenova?
Feminism… Can I ask when the fuck did that become a good word? In my book most “ism” or “ists” are just other words for “collection of bastards”. I’m not a Masculinist, you don’t see me complaining that Kratos creates a negative body image, he makes guys want to go out and take Steroids.
It might be that fact that guys have been in the industry longer than girls, and we have a more mature standpoint than girls, but we know that it is a game, we know that we are never gonna be as buff as Ryu. Because it’s a game. It’s a game based on fantasy. It’s not real. If girls wanna grow up to be like Taki, remind them that anorexia is not the way, but working out is… Geez. You would think with the way all these chicks are banging on about it that girls minds are more fragile than boys. And because of that, guys have to suffer, this is not give or take, this is the industry, Girls you did not join the industry to change it, you joined it because you liked it. DON’T. FUCK. IT. UP.
Ugh.
Girls have:
1. Personalised Systems, such as the Pink DS and a variety of Pink Peripherals.
2. A selection of shite games, Pony Friends, Barbie shopping, Cooking Mama etc…
3. Zelda?!? Apparently??!?! The Phantom hourglass is advertised as one of the DS’s “Games for Girls”, when the fuck did that happen? Why does the fairer sex get this franchise?
4. The DS in general, all titles for it seem to cater for girls in some way.
5. The Rezibator. Guys are not allowed attachments to games to get them going (apart from the guitar in guitar hero).
6. An unfair advantage in MMOs, due to all the guys being desperate.
1. [General] [Legolaas] ZOMG!!!!11 Nerf Girls they are IMBA
7. An inbuilt ability to multi-task.
8. The “years of persecution” card which they never play, but you know they will when they get a chance.
9. Not got the completionist chromosome.
10. Boobies.
11. They die later than men so they can get more play time out of games.
Not content with these things, it’s getting even more hyped-up as more and more girls within the industry are piping up. Recently we haven’t been able to surf anywhere without some comment about Jade Raymond, as post-adolescent boys blog about their unquestioning, unwavering, loyalty to Ubisoft. All in the vain hope that one day they could sup upon her crotch paté. Maybe now we can understand why Assassins Creed got such high scores? Yeah fair enough she supposedly helped in the creation of Assassins Creed, and it just so happens she is not that bad to look at. And on that note, we have Morgan Webb, who is bitching because she got to her position (as a host for some gaming thing no-one has heard of, Kudos Webb) based on her looks and not her game playing prowess (which she implies are more commendable). She actually makes some reasonable points about how her looks have got her ahead in the industry,
“Because boys like girls, straight up. Because Nerd #14 getting hired at Kotaku; not a story. Hot chick? Story. You talk to her about why they're a woman in the gaming industry. Guys all think, "Wow, wouldn't it be great if there were more? Even though she'd veto my triple-X busted woman that I want to put in this video game.”
Insightful no?
But to be honest I can’t really take her that seriously because her nipples are weirdly placed and point in different directions:
And for good measure I did a search for her on Flikr and found this rather flattering picture:
And it doesn’t stop there; all sorts of crazy online gamer-chicks are getting all pent-out-of shape about boobies. Exclaiming that Soulcalibur IV is disgraceful that the boobs are double the size of their heads, at this point I would like to point out, since you girls are new to this “gaming” thing that there is a HUGE difference between concept art and in-game graphics, so before you get your blood-ridden-ooze-encrusted panties in a twist, take a little time to compare the subtle differences between a drawing and a screenshot:
CONCEPT ART
SCREENSHOT
I won’t deny that she is well endowed, but guess what, there are women out there that have big boobs, it happens. And you know what… Guys will also be taken aback by them because big boobs appeal to us. It’s a primal thing part of the mammalian brain (not a pun on mammories or a joke, this is serious, boobs create a primal stirring, and if they are bigger/more noticeable then that stirring is more apparent.) But of course if you have issues you can always play as Cassandra (oh look at that, the game developer included someone with “normal” sized boobs, really sexist aren’t they).
Now most people will argue that it is only women-with-small-boobs that have issue with big boobs in games, but then inevitably you get other women ranting on about the negative body image portrayal in games (these are usually just the ugly and/or fat women). Which is stupid on a number of levels, firstly games are based on fantasy there is no room in fantasy for ugly girls, bare in mind that they throwing fireballs, wielding giant swords etc. If the size of boobs is the only issue you have with the realism in the games then I would suggest a slight re-shuffle of your priorities. Secondly, returning to Soulcalibur as an example, considering that the girls are fighting and are quite athletic, agile etc. It would seem that they should be quite trim and in shape, some fat chick that doesn’t look after herself, wouldn’t stand a chance. I’m sorry but equal opportunities are out the window when you are playing as people that are in their prime, looked after themselves, train every day etc.
It’s not like you are gonna have a cripple in a wheelchair competing with Jin Kazama? Or a retard using his “Mong” attack on Jenova?
Feminism… Can I ask when the fuck did that become a good word? In my book most “ism” or “ists” are just other words for “collection of bastards”. I’m not a Masculinist, you don’t see me complaining that Kratos creates a negative body image, he makes guys want to go out and take Steroids.
It might be that fact that guys have been in the industry longer than girls, and we have a more mature standpoint than girls, but we know that it is a game, we know that we are never gonna be as buff as Ryu. Because it’s a game. It’s a game based on fantasy. It’s not real. If girls wanna grow up to be like Taki, remind them that anorexia is not the way, but working out is… Geez. You would think with the way all these chicks are banging on about it that girls minds are more fragile than boys. And because of that, guys have to suffer, this is not give or take, this is the industry, Girls you did not join the industry to change it, you joined it because you liked it. DON’T. FUCK. IT. UP.
Ugh.
How outrageously sexist. This is yet another over sexed under shagged gay-mer on a rampage to fight for his right to hammer away on his "analog stick" while the rest of us have to endure the frankly sickening sight of a smooth skinned, well endowed quasi-Goddess executing moves that clearly have no place in the kitchen.
ReplyDeleteAch! It's all about Master Chief. His curves get me going.
ReplyDeleteGIANT ENEMY GUITAR HERO
youre standars are falling jihad emo guitar halo better read tje manual again
ReplyDeletehttp://xahlee.org/Netiquette_dir/_/art_trolling.html
Does anyone know the nude cheat for Ico?
ReplyDeleteIt would be cool to give have me it please?
I have to say my favourite female character in vidjo games is Jo Slade. She rocks and is sexy to boot!
ReplyDeleteShe's like the perfect woman.
Amazing how quickly this post went from the influence of females in gaming to tit size.
ReplyDeleteGo have a wank Richie, youll feel better
Knowing Ritchie, I'd say it was amazing how slowly this post went from the influence of females in gaming to tit size.
ReplyDelete@serialinx
ReplyDeleteIt's "Richie" there ain't no "T" in there...
And the Boobs were just a side note. It had to be said, every other gamerchick has some problem with boob size in games. and on a personal note "BOOB PHYSICS FTW!!!!!!!1elevenone"
ReplyDeleteThis is a seriously sexist article.
ReplyDeleteAnd to say that men are more mature than women...that's a dumb generalization that you couldn't support from anything other than "In my experience, blah blah". Incidentally, this is the same reason you can't trust individual experiences of people in an industry. These things require serious ethnographic studies by research institutions.
The portrayal of women in games is horrific. You say the people who object are fat or ugly women? I object! (and how dare you put down people for their looks - who taught you to be a decent human being?) Women are constantly objectified in video games to an extent that men aren't. Men are always the heroes saving the women. And when women ARE heroes, they are always viewed in the third person so we can see their bodies. Find me a first person perspective game where a woman is the protagonist. I guarantee you it won't be easy.
Finally, feminism is not a bad thing at all. In fact, if more men were feminists, women wouldn't constantly objectified, victimized, and discriminated against as they are in the video game industry and the video game world.
"Find me a first person perspective game where a woman is the protagonist. I guarantee you it won't be easy."
ReplyDeleteMetroid Prime.
@ernest
ReplyDeleteUgh, I was just using th old idiom, girls mature faster than boys but also implying that from an industry perspective the male gender has been more prevalent for a longer time.
I'm sorry that you feel that way about video games, but in general the portrayal of the female gender in games has greatly improved in video games. Hell yeah it was bad in the days of the PS1, Lara Croft, with her polygon puppies, was a prime example of the sexism in games. But the whole industry should not be persecuted, even in Lara's time there were plenty of female characters already "proving their worth" e.g. Claire - Resident
Evil 2.
Yeah and I second Metroid Prime. You might want to check out "No one lives forever" too. Its an FPS set in a kind of James bond/Austin Powers-esque, with a female protagonist. One of my favorite FPS's
Luv n hugs,
Richie.
@ (appropriately named) ernest
ReplyDeleteIt's this classic "phishing for a girlfriend" response that provokes posts like these. Try and find any decent article about Men in games that's given the same weight as discussions on women in games. You'll be hard pressed to find one.
Also, the women in games thing has been so overdone this piece of satire has been widely circulated
http://www.richardcobbett.co.uk/codex/articlelibrary/filingcabinet/writing_a_girls_in_games_article/
You may relate to the Warrior of Righteousness note. But some of the points Richie! raises here are relevant. It's fine for the male gaming community to be tagged "immature", no one will bat an eyelid but as soon as women are even in the same sentence as the word immature, you raise a counter point.
And what about male characters? Any gamer with sense will tell you they are largely stereotype beefcakes with up to an inch of personality, objectified as some kind of Hollywood hero type. Hell, some of the 'best' (most loved and talked about) male characters are mute throughout the whole game, which just goes to show how neotonous character creation is in general. Also, it's largely fine for male sub characters to die which you rarely see with female characters: http://www.thatguys.co.uk/2007/05/deconstructing-weak-ass-arguments-about.html
So please next time your cruising the internet don't just make knee jerk responses to things as the situation is often more complicated than just straight up good and bad. I think that was what Richie! was getting at.
Right?
@alouatta
ReplyDeleteRight on the mark!
:D
But shh.
ReplyDeleteOuting "knee-jerk" internet reactions might be one of the thatguys mission statements. If too many people know this, then we may get taken seriously, God forbid.
Find me a first person perspective game where a woman is the protagonist. I guarantee you it won't be easy.
ReplyDeletePortal, anyone? =D
Richie, you are an absolute cretin. Please stop writing, now.
ReplyDeleteIf this article was meant in jest, you've completely missed the subtle difference between un-PC humour and just being offensive. If it wasn't meant in jest, you're just being offensive, which is neither big nor clever.
Frankly I think you have some serious issues. Does your mother realise you have such a twisted view of women?
No. But your Mom does... And she likes it!
ReplyDeleteSit on me
ReplyDeleteHa ha richie with a 'T' in it, how lame
ReplyDeleteFind me a first person perspective game where a woman is the protagonist. I guarantee you it won't be easy.
ReplyDelete-Perfect Dark. 'Nuff Said.
Let me say a few things to all these people who have a problem with the recent 'breast physics' of games like guitar hero III.
ReplyDelete1.) Get ahold of a female friend.
2.) Have her jump up and down and run and so forth.
3.) Did her breasts move when she did? I rest my case. It's called realism in gameplay and it's only going to evolve. Did the designers have to make Judy Nails' boobs that big? No. But they're trying to bridge the gap between realism, which is what all gamers seem to want(this includes female gamers), and a bit of sex appeal which hooks the male crowd. Try and understand this before ranting and raving about sexism and equal treatment.
Let me say a few things to all these people who have a problem with the recent 'breast physics' of games like guitar hero III.
ReplyDelete1.) Get ahold of a female friend.
2.) Have her jump up and down and run and so forth.
3.) Did her breasts move when she did? I rest my case. It's called realism in gameplay and it's only going to evolve. Did the designers have to make Judy Nails' boobs that big? No. But they're trying to bridge the gap between realism, which is what all gamers seem to want(this includes female gamers), and a bit of sex appeal which hooks the male crowd. Try and understand this before ranting and raving about sexism and equal treatment.
Richie,
ReplyDeleteAbout sexist humo(u)r, we were taught in equal opportunities that the fact that something is intended as a joke does not redeem it. Offens/ce is offens/ce, no matter what is intended.
I'm not all that passionately angry about this blog entry, it's not like it's written for an academic journal anyway, so of course it's not an argument founded on evidence and social theory.
Besides, I find those 'girly' games to be an insult to the female of the species. What were Nintendo thinking? 'How do we make games 'girly?' 'That's simple, just add lots of pink and make the protagonist a pathetic girl whose ultimate powers include her ability to cry on cue' (referring to that Princess Peach DS game my little sister has). Now THAT is insulting.
Warning this Blog entry may not acually express my views...
ReplyDeleteThat is mainly my point, the humour was meant as a parody highlighting what the main issues with the ongoing "Girls in games" debate.
Most of the arguments involved are actually based on my experiences withing the games industry.
there is a game with a women as the hero and in 1st person 'the operative no one lives forever'
ReplyDeleteRoflRofl, what a SILLY blog you've made.
ReplyDeleteJust because Some girls freak out, doesn't mean they all do. And so what if the DS comes out in pink too? It sells, that's why they do it. Obviously not very mature if we can't distinguish between an item coming out because women bitch and because it'll sell products, can we? If you were really that into the industry you would understand that and so much more.
Seriously mang, I'm a girl and I don't give a shiz if a girl has huge boobs or small ones .. I mean, has anyone stopped to consider that they're just fuggin pixels? Yeah, that's right, they Aren't real so they Don't matter. They shouldn't anyways. <<;
You're pixels more like.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm a girl, and I don't really see the huge fuss. If anything, I agree with Richie! Yes, women in the games are going to be created with big tits. Men who play the games like that! Just like men in games have pecs that make Vin Diesel look like a kitten. But do guys complain about that? No!
ReplyDeleteMaybe my bisexuality has something to do with my views, or maybe not. All I know is that people should stop making such a huge fuss about sexism in games and enjoy the bounciness! (Well, you did want realism)
personally i don't see it as a problem. i actually enjoyed playing as Judy before i noticed. it's not a big deal, it seems to be more jealousy. you need not be concerned with people in games, they're not gonna come out and steal your man our currupt your kid so shut up. there's like 7 topless guys but i haven't seen a single person complain so shut up. you wanted to be included in a game so we did. you complain that your not viewed the right way, tough, make your own happy wholsem game whutever, just leave judy alone. let her (and her boobs) do as they please
ReplyDelete