A Man's Game?

Spolodaface

Spolodaface

CAG Veteran
http://bitsofjoy.net/?p=139


Quite interesting thing about how men and women are portrayed in games.
It's kinda long, so here's a couple of snippets:


"The relatively new medium of video-games has only been around for around 35 years and has had many great iconic characters. These have included; Super Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog, Gordon Freeman and Link. In contemplating video-game heroes, it becomes evident that memorable female characters are in the minority."


"It has become evident however from my studies of those three iconic games over the 3 decades of video-games that, in the mainstream market, we have male and female characters which do not represent individuality but rather slot into pre-defined stereotypes. These stereotypes are demeaning to both men and women, providing a standard to which men cannot meet and suggesting that women cannot undertake the tasks completed by male heroes in many games."

Thoughts?
 
[quote name='Spolodaface']
"It has become evident however from my studies of those three iconic games over the 3 decades of video-games that, in the mainstream market, we have male and female characters which do not represent individuality but rather slot into pre-defined stereotypes. These stereotypes are demeaning to both men and women, providing a standard to which men cannot meet and suggesting that women cannot undertake the tasks completed by male heroes in many games."

Thoughts?[/quote]

The above statement could also be used on TV shows and movies. Another stupid critical article on games that's about nothing.
 
I take games no where near seriously enough to put any thought into those kind of things. For me their just frivolous little time wasters.

But I'd agree with the above that I strongly doubt games are any worse than TV, movies or music (the whole media in general) in stereotypical portrayals of males and females.
 
[quote name='Article']In 1973, the world’s first home video-game console, the Magnavox Odyssey was released. I analysed one of the adverts of this console to see how patriarchal values had influenced it. The advert depicts art for one of the games featured on the console, a giant group of human-killing bees along with the text “Warning… Killer-Bees” This advert could be considered male-orientated. It challenges the player with the prospect of ‘saving the earth’ which along with the picture stimulates the male audience using language which challenge skill and power of the individual. The attraction of this concept relates with the patriarchal imagery of masculinity which the audience may hold, giving them an opportunity to “show their worth”. This in itself is evidence that video-games, since their beginnings have been more a male-oriented affair rather than female – and more money can be made by appealing to the patriarchal ideologies which this majority audience may have.[/quote]

[/close tab]
 
That weird shit Crotch posted aside, I don't think it's a stretch to say that most video games are created by and marketed to males and that they feature more stereotypical female roles (and stronger male ones).

Other media forms are guilty of the same thing, but I really don't think it would be wrong to say that video games, for the most part, do it more regularly. It's just capitalism and marketing - they do what they think will get them more money from a male audience, therefore tits and violence. More popular media (TV, etc.) are only more responsible in that respect when they think it means more money. As they appeal to a broader audience, they have a broader spectrum of ways that they portray women and men.

And of course other forms of media doing the same things doesn't somehow mean that video games don't.
 
AND I want more positive black main characters in my games, but oh well.

While we're at it, gay characters. Really, I'm all for variety...it's the spice of life.
 
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[quote name='Chacrana']Honestly, any article that refers to Gordon Freeman as "iconic" is full of shit.[/QUOTE]

Hey Gordon Freeman is the man and he deserves respect.
 
I get the feeling most people don't want to play male characters that are average to below average joes. No, I don't expect to be as ripped as superman (I already am).
 
[quote name='SpazX']
Other media forms are guilty of the same thing, but I really don't think it would be wrong to say that video games, for the most part, do it more regularly.
[/quote]

I disagree. :) There were few articles this year which showed there are more female gamers than males. But thing is most of the "girl" gamers are casual ones. They stick to stuff like Yahoo games. Games are no different than other media. No sane movie studio will fund $100 million budget movie aimed at women even with Julia Roberts. While there are plenty of movies with that kind of budget aimed at young males.
 
[quote name='crystalklear64']Top of my head, Jade, Faith, Zoe Castillo, Laura Croft.[/quote]

Interesting. First name which comes to my mind is Jill of the Jungle. Anyone still remember that?
 
[quote name='crystalklear64']Top of my head, Jade, Faith, Zoe Castillo, Laura Croft.[/quote]

Interesting though how most of those characters bar Lara Croft are relatively recent, and all bar Faith were in the survey.

Off the top of my head I choult think of too many male heroes :p
 
[quote name='Spolodaface']" it becomes evident that memorable female characters are in the minority."[/quote]Ms Pac Man, suckah!!!! Nothing but a bow and high heels? Namco set the feminist movent back hundreds of years.

[quote name='DrFoo']Hey Gordon Freeman is the man and he deserves respect.[/quote]Truth. You mess with Gordon, you're going to have to talk to me. One might argue, he's almost a perfect man. Just as Samus is to many men, almost a perfect woman.


Jokes aside, the article is trite and cliche. Hollywood is starting to make female action movies and tv shows, where before it was mostly men in those roles. Someone finally figured out that girls shooting stuff and being cool is pretty sexy and so they've starting cashing in on it. Same with the gaming industry.

But not everyone wants to see a girl kicking a$$. And realistically, far fewer women would be running around shooting bad guys than men. So naturally, far fewer women will be reflected in such a role in games, movies, tv, et cetera.
 
[quote name='Spolodaface']Interesting though how most of those characters bar Lara Croft are relatively recent, and all bar Faith were in the survey.

Off the top of my head I choult think of too many male heroes :p[/QUOTE]
I never even clicked the article until you said that. Looking at it now I think... how the hell did I miss Samus? April Ryan was from the same game as Zoe, but she seemed to play a minor role compared to Zoe.

I wouldn't really consider Peach to be hero since she's busy getting her ass kidnapped all the time.
 
[quote name='Chacrana']Honestly, any article that refers to Gordon Freeman as "iconic" is full of shit.[/QUOTE]

You are stupid, retarded, and deserve to be banned. Gordon Freeman deserves more goddamn respect than Master Chief.
 
[quote name='Nohbdy']You are stupid, retarded, and deserve to be banned. Gordon Freeman deserves more goddamn respect than Master Chief.[/QUOTE]

I don't generic space marines or nerdy scientists. Or guys who look like bitches.
 
[quote name='Chacrana']I don't generic space marines or nerdy scientists. Or guys who look like bitches.[/quote]

Only men who look like women.
 
What about them? This thread is so stupid. We can all name memorable female video game characters.

[quote name='OP']it becomes evident that memorable female characters are in the minority[/quote]My question is, so what?? Does anyone actually care?



And those of y'all having your spitting contest over how great Gordon Freeman is, stop now. I dont care if you hate him or you're carrying his baby. What WILL stop are the accompanying insults to your fellow cags.
 
Samus Aran
samus.jpg

Case closed

Not to mention...Kasumi
 
These articles are easy to write. It's sort of like global warming, you have some evidence that really doesn't prove anything, but heaven forbid you say anything vocally about it.

First off, until recently, was it even possible to create relationship style games that would appeal to the stereotypical girl? It wasn't going to happen for the most part on NES or earlier, their wasn't much room for story. Also a "save the world game" hits home. You know what its about, there is a tangible award. You need a lot more time to invest in "make player x your friend", and go on.

Also, I think we are getting more games that have aspects that appeal not just to girls/women, but age ranges as well. Games like Animal Crossing on the Cube really gave you a virtual dollhouse to decorate and dig stuff up. It was a collection game on almost the purest level, since you just went shopping, bought stuff, then came back tomorrow for new stuff. Yet, the game was tons of fun too (I enjoyed it, and am enjoying the Wii version now).

While we're on it, here is something many of you will notice when you get married. You will watch tv shows you would normally never think of. One for me was The Ex List (now canceled, and too bad, it grew on me). It's a girl driven show, but guess what. Not only are the women hot, they are scantily dressed most of the episodes, and there was tons of sex. Nothing wrong with that, just saying, this is something that both genders enjoy, and I really don't think it's holding anyone back.
 
[quote name='lordxixor101']
First off, until recently, was it even possible to create relationship style games that would appeal to the stereotypical girl? [/quote]

Yes. It just won't get big budget and huge marketing push. I think the real problem is there are no stereotypical girls while there are stereotypical boys. Market for girls are heavily fragmented while boys generally like the same things. Age old of problem of girls not knowing what they want.
 
[quote name='laaj']I think the real problem is there are no stereotypical girls while there are stereotypical boys. Market for girls are heavily fragmented while boys generally like the same things.[/quote]

Seriously?

[quote name='laaj']Age old of problem of girls not knowing what they want.[/quote]

Uh-huh, that's it.

I don't think there's really a problem with memorable female characters, it's just that they're almost all the same stereotype. Lead female characters seem to exist not because they are strong or capable characters, but because horny dudes want to look at a woman while they play their video games.

Like I said before - tits and violence. If you can get the violence and the character you're playing has the tits, then problem solved right there - don't have to bring in the tits later in the game and try to make some sort of plot with them.

As more women play video games then there will be more of a push to make better female characters, but until then nobody's losing money for it, so why would they care?
 
[quote name='SpazX']
As more women play video games then there will be more of a push to make better female characters, but until then nobody's losing money for it, so why would they care?[/quote]

"Better female characters"... better by being more like male videogame characters? Or better by being more realistic portrayal of women and risk being labeled sexists because they don't kick ass like the male characters do.
 
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