@proletaryus So what are their own problems? Do you mean these problems are women's only and for them to sort out privately?
Also I completely understand the author's emphatic style in this article. There is no such thing as an objective opinion. Responses and writing in general is subjective by nature.
@Gravelord_Nito @biggest_loser I'd like to add that women have just as much difficulty representing themselves fairly in media as men do. Not to mention that men also have a problem representing themselves in games, film and other media for that matter. The problem is not equal air time. The problem is how power is distributed and values are misrepresented. So call it a one way, two way or three way street. It makes no difference.
Misogyny and and misrepresentation of women in video games is rife.
Our descendants will study our current gender trends in games with the same sympathy for our naivety as the way we presently study the femme fatale hysteria of 1940's American cinema.
Games and films so beautiful and yet so so delusional.
Gentlemen, the 'male gaze' is a troubled one. (And no I am not talking about beer goggles.* Sigh*)
@eiji1 Yeah that assault scene certainly opened a new can of gender worms and its resulting panic.
I found the whole developers/publishers response (because who knows whose pulling the strings here) to the identification / interpreted rape scene very unsettling - a complete kneejerk.
The counter-reaction was to me completely indicative of the general lack of conviction and support inherent in the industry for designers willing to push the boundaries of what can and should be represented in video games.
Publishers can get away with violet blood curdling games quite easy but seemingly have trouble defending their own when it comes to women in games.
"Protect her" they said. Well, I feel they could have done more to protect Lara and women's voice in games in general by sticking to their guns and saying "yes it was an attempted rape. Do you have a problem with that?" than some dude jiggling a control pad dodging virtual bullets for her.
But this is an inevitable thing and a good thing, sir. We need to keep this dialogue alive, and i believe every individual has a opinion that pushes us closer to your desired END point.
The misrepresentation of women (or lack of representation in this case) affects all facets of society, not just games. Developers don't misrepresent out of malice, so let's stop finger pointing and work out why and what major factors are involved. I'd say ignorance and fear are big proponents.
If someone doesn't want to be part of this discussion they don't have to be... we all know where the door is.
@Gazdakka Well said, Gaz. When a 'boys club' tries too hard to create an 'acceptable' female character in games all sorts of things are misrepresented.
@blacklab421 Agreed. What an 'interesting' world it would be if I could demand a refund for my cinema ticket because 'I didn't "like" the ending.' Man, there would be few films indeed that I actually paid for. =>
Also, the fact that art is commercialised will always create an interesting dynamic between the artist(s) and the audience. That being said, think of all the 'artstistic' compromises for the sake of the producers/publishers before you actually watch the final cut. Does that make a movie less like art? Probably not. And I'd say the same for video games.
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