@Whitebloodsun As games continue to gain in popularity, more social groups will feel compel to enter the fray and critique the contents of the medium.
1.) Jack Thompson and his crusade against violent videogames.
2.) Believe it or not, PETA has criticized Nintendo for depicting Mario in a tanooki suit! I think they said something along the lines that Nintendo was suggesting to people that wearing fur was okay.
The underlying issue here is that some social activist feel that videogames can influence our behavior and social outlook through our interaction. Therefore, when the games present images and goals that social groups feel are wrong, they worry that gamers' behavior and thoughts will be corrupted.
There's been a lot of so-call studies that tries to link games with behavior. I don't really buy it, but perhaps the influence is really subtle.
@Whitebloodsun Whoa, I think my last comment is buried by a few hundred other comments!
In your forth question, are you questioning that the feminist movement is the only outside ideology that gets involved in videogame issues (which suggest that feminism is taking games too seriously unlike other groups).
or,
Are you saying that if the feminist movement succeeds, more outside ideologies will feel emboldened as to get involved in videogame matters? (Fear of too much outside social influences affecting game development and expression)
@goggles123456 People are more passionate about smaller, less important issues precisely because they're small and less important!
I think the reason why is because there is a sense that you can affect some noticeable degree of changes in a shorter amount of time with regards to these smaller issues.
All the really important issues you've mentioned are such big problems that a lot of people find it overwhelming.
Think about voting. A lot of young people are not interested in politics, but a lot of these same young people would place their votes in American Idol multiple times per show. American Idol is far less important than choosing government leaders, but American Idol is also a lot more clear cut and a resolution will come sometime mid-May. Then you can buy the winner's album a few months down the road!
With politics, it's an ongoing process. People have to constantly pay attention for years and see how their appointed leaders are doing.
Simply put, the more important the issue, the more time and effort is needed.
Within a few days, this comment section will lose traffic. No one here thinks representation of women in mass media is more important than the bigger issues you've mentioned.
@Whitebloodsun In both cases, it's not an objective of the game to hurt your allies, even if it allows you to.
If these characters were like human beings and really connect with players, you would feel guilty, as you should. :)
I don't know about having all enemy characters, not just main antagonist, be fully fleshed out, but stronger and more realistic allies and lead protagonist is a good thing.
@Whitebloodsun I made it a point to write 'lead protagonist' or 'allies' because as the player, you wouldn't be shooting characters in these positions. Rather than destroying them, you would be learning more about them, and caring more for them over the course of the game. I think this could add to drama and more likable characters.
There seems to be another layer to this issue. How fully fleshed out do gamers want characters to be in video games? Not just protagonist, allies, but enemy characters as well.
Now, as I understand it, we come to your question, "How do you feel when you shoot humans in games while thinking they are real human beings?"
The heart of your question does raise the issue of morality in games and gamers. If characters are so fleshed out that they seem like real human beings, how do we continue playing violent videogames?
I honestly don't know how to answer that question. I think it would make playing most games a lot less joyous.
@Whitebloodsun Notice that all the female character names amdreallyfast mentioned are either lead protagonist the players play as or allies the players play with.
Featuring more well realized female lead characters or allies can help the story as well as the players' connection to the game.
The point you've made actually seems more appropriate for another article written a few days ago, which I believe you're fully aware of. It's the ,"A Matter of Authenticity," article that touched on the subject of how war is depicted in gaming.
The point you've made in this post makes an argument for not having war games become too realistic.
Here's a future glimpse of a world where females are better portrayed in video games. You're a father and you get to play games with your daughter that is not about ponies or some Miley Cyrus licensed game.
There will be more Portal 2 or Mirror's Edge -type games that can appeal to you as much as your daughter. Both of you can have fun together.
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