@Birth00 One major difference between video games and other forms of media is that games are not as old.
Maybe the issues raised in the article can have a positive influence on the direction games can go before it becomes tougher and tougher to change people's perception.
Sort of like parents teaching their kids proper manners at a young age so they'll grow up more well adjusted.
@pound-u yeby's right. I think just because her primary concern is with female portrayal in videogames, doesn't mean she dismisses the problems that occur with male portrayal. She's just focusing on one aspect.
I think game developers create such unrealistic characters because most games are power fantasies.
Super buff male characters or super sexy female characters seem to be a better visual fit for games that have crazy action and/or over the top violence.
However, when the games are less about crazy action and over the top violence, the characters tend to be a little more realistic in physical proportion and behavior.
Examples:
Zoe Castillo in Dreamfall: The Longest Journey
Harry Mason in Silent Hill & Silent Hill Shattered Memories
Chell in Portal 1 & 2
Jade in Beyond Good & Evil
Ethan Mars in Heavy Rain
Overall, the type of game made may affect that type of characters that are featured in them.
@RupertTombuckle I didn't like that video because it took games like Assassin's Creed and Splinter Cell: Conviction and painted them in a negative light.
I realized the video was about male dominated narratives, but included these games seem like a stretch when discussing sexism.
Think about it. Perhaps the reason why some women look down on male gamers is because they don't see videogames as being mature. They go to the store and see all these over sexualized depictions of women in the box art and they just dismiss videogames and those who play it.
Anita wants to do away with the negative tropes and imagery of women. If she gets things her way, I think it will go a long way in helping the perception of videogames grow and become more accepted as a respectable entertainment medium by those who don't play.
@Darnasian It's not trying to start a flame war, it's trying to start a discussion and shed light on a particular topic. It's succeeding to some degree...
@buccomatic @ERoBB I'm sure there are women out there that are only interested in shopping for dresses and shoes, but there are women that don't.
The question is whether the women in the latter group have equal access to opportunities like their male counterpart, and whether the environment is more than an "old boy's club."
I think both men focused so much attention on arguing their points and trying to convince the other to come to his side, that they were not able to understand what it is that divides them.
1.) Gameplay vs. Presentation
Tom comes from the school of thought that says in videogames, gameplay is king. In his mind, whatever the experiences that the developers want to impart to the players, it must be demonstrated primarily through gameplay, not story or audio/visual.
On the other hand, Greg is more interested in providing a game with authentic presentation. In his mind, a personal story combined with great audio/visual will be able to immerse and provide players a glimpse into the experiences of the people that fight these wars.
2.) What kind of war experience?
Furthermore, Tom and Greg differs on what kind of war experience they want to show Tom's vision of an authentic war experience is one where war is depicted as ugly and dangerous. Meanwhile, Greg's vision is to provide players with stories of honor, camaraderie, sacrifice, and family. In other words, Greg wants to show the soldier's humanity, while Tom wants to exposed players to the inhumanity of war.
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