Regarding: The Portrayal of Women in Video Games

[Kiminski]

Why do we need sex in video games at all? It's totally destroyed the music and film industry. Why bother making good music, when a half naked moron singing a turd will make just as much profit?

It's not just about that though, a bigger concern is the fact that kids will be playing them. I certainly don't have enough faith in the average parent to ensure that they don't.

There's too much of it in the media already and it's not doing us any favours. Children should be bought up on wholesome values about love and family, not seedy exploitation.

I find the whole concept really sad tbh. There's a reason under-age teens are having babies.

[SnipySev]

Why do we need sex in video games at all? It's totally destroyed the music and film industry. Why bother making good music, when a half naked moron singing a turd will make just as much profit?

It's not just about that though, a bigger concern is the fact that kids will be playing them. I certainly don't have enough faith in the average parent to ensure that they don't.

There's too much of it in the media already and it's not doing us any favours. Children should be bought up on wholesome values about love and family, not seedy exploitation.

I find the whole concept really sad tbh. There's a reason under-age teens are having babies.

The problem isn't the fact that sex is present in the media. The problem is that it's used in a demeaning and exploitative manner.

Like they said in the Extra Credits episode whose link I posted, sexuality is a part of life. It defines and influences many of our interactions, relationships and behaviour. It can't be ignored and it surely shouldn't be repressed, for nothing good comes of sexual repression. It should be portrayed in a sensitive way, focusing more on the intimacy and love involved.

Teenage pregnancy isn't a modern issue. A century ago, teens had babies. Five centuries ago, teens had babies. A thousand, two thousand, ten thousand years ago teens had babies. A thousand years from now on, teens will still have babies. They don't do it because they see it on TV or in games, they do it because it's human nature.

Game companies aren't responsible for what games kids play, parents are. The little number on the box isn't just for decoration, it's the age restriction. Any parent can check their kids' games to see if what they are playing is age appropriate. The whole industry shouldn't censor itself just because some people aren't doing their duty as parents. Kids should be taught values, but they're going to learn it from the parents. You can't expect the entertainment media to educate your kids.


Besides, it's really laughable when:

*kid is playing a game where you shoot people in the face or decapitate them with swords and there's gore and blood all over the place*
Parents: eh, let him have his fun.

*kid is playing a game where there's naked people in it*
Parents: OH MY GOD WHAT IS THIS FILTH! QUICK, COVER HIS EYES!

According to most people, kids watching murder and violence is ok. But kids watching something natural like nudity or sex is the worst thing that can happen to them. Makes sense.

[Kiminski]

The problem isn't the fact that sex is present in the media. The problem is that it's used in a demeaning and exploitative manner...

According to most people, kids watching murder and violence is ok. But kids watching something natural like nudity or sex is the worst thing that can happen to them. Makes sense.

That's what I was getting at with love and family, I've nothing against children learning about sex. It's a wonderful thing, but there's a time and a place and I don't think a kid's first experience of it should be from a talentless slapper gyrating on MTV. Violence is just as bad, not to mention the smack talk that goes with it. Yes it is down to the parents, but sadly there's a whole lot of parents who simply don't give a ****.

I'm not saying teenage pregnancies are the result of video games either. Games are pretty tame in the grand scheme of things, but I do think media plays a big part in things becoming the norm. Yes there were teen pregnancies thousands of years ago, 100's of years ago even, but I'm sure back then a 14 year old was more than capable of bringing up a child and teaching it all it needed to survive. It was a much simpler life back then and more accepted. This isn't the case any more and we really should know better.

[Alex™]

I agree, women are portrayed terribly.

I mean c'mon, I was playing Clubs on NHL, and my teams 6"2 Dman got taken out by some little woman. Women don't even play in the NHL. Terrible portrayal. ***** got kronwall'd later though, so s'all good.

[Megaboy93]

Personally, I wanna know how female characters always run around in heels, from what I hear they're quite uncomfortable. ....Not that I've tried them on or something...to reach a high shelf.... don't look at me like that. I know there aren't too many cases of this but when I see it it kinda bugs me. I'm probably the only person who notices these kinda things.

[gdn001]

Personally, I wanna know how female characters always run around in heels, from what I hear they're quite uncomfortable. ....Not that I've tried them on or something...to reach a high shelf.... don't look at me like that. I know there aren't too many cases of this but when I see it it kinda bugs me. I'm probably the only person who notices these kinda things.

I can't remember of a female character that uses high heels, unless /context (spy game where they are disguised as high society people).

[SnipySev]

I can't remember of a female character that uses high heels, unless /context (spy game where they are disguised as high society people).

Bayonetta. But that's ok, because that's where she attaches two of her four guns.

[Megaboy93]

I can't remember of a female character that uses high heels, unless /context (spy game where they are disguised as high society people).

You mainly find them in fighting games like Mortal Kombat or Street Fighter.
I believe there are quite a few in Final Fantasy I THINK, hazey memory.

[MisterMarmatote]

Yes, Lara Croft is famed as being one of the most highly *ahem* coveted female video game characters of all time, but this doesn't detract from the fact that she is:

Incredibly intelligent, being fluent in many different languages, and presumably some sort of history in archeology and certainly having a history of good education.
Competent with firearms and able to defend herself against enemies (as opposed to the usual "damsel in distress" stereotype)
Inwardly strong in her attitude to obstacles - Rather than calling out for help, she runs in and solves the problem herself.

And she has big hooters

[Kern•]

And she has big hooters

Did you read this thread at all?

[Ayneh]

You mainly find them in fighting games like Mortal Kombat or Street Fighter.
I believe there are quite a few in Final Fantasy I THINK, hazey memory.

I can't think of any. Girls in games wear boots most of the time.

[Megaboy93]

I can't think of any. Girls in games wear boots most of the time.

I can think of a few. But I can't recall names for any of them.

[Ali_Star]

Some women's rights groups are up in arms about an attempted rape scene in the new Tomb Raider. Obviously, because this is a video game, all the ill-educated hate mongers come out. They'll say nothing about the topic coming up in movies, and even TV soaps that are shown before the watershed.

[Kern•]

Some women's rights groups are up in arms about an attempted rape scene in the new Tomb Raider. Obviously, because this is a video game, all the ill-educated hate mongers come out. They'll say nothing about the topic coming up in movies, and even TV soaps that are shown before the watershed.

Wait so villains aren't allowed to be evil any more?

[SnipySev]

Some women's rights groups are up in arms about an attempted rape scene in the new Tomb Raider. Obviously, because this is a video game, all the ill-educated hate mongers come out. They'll say nothing about the topic coming up in movies, and even TV soaps that are shown before the watershed.

Apparently, people don't expect games with mature themes, even the ones rated +18.

It doesn't even happen. The guy who attempted it took a knee to an area that's definitely not meant to be treated roughly. It's going to make the male gamers cringe even harder than the female ones when playing that scene.

[Ali_Star]

It's also hilarious that these people mention women's rights when we're talking about a fictional polygonal character who kills men and animals on a daily basis. Quick, someone get PETA and Fathers for Justice on the line!

[PygmyOwl]

Wow, that is irrational on many levels. Just a rape scene doesn't make it prejudiced. Its how it is portrayed. And even then, gamers may not be as stupid as you think. Rape happens, that it shouldn't be treated as something trivial or justified is definitely right. But I don't understand their reaction to this. Just having something in a video game doesn't immediately mean everyone's minds will be infected with a desire to carry it out.

[Charlemagne]

Excuse me sir,

But are you implying that we should get girlfriends instead?

People these days.