| wilco said: My main issue with the GTA stripper mini-game is that it felt like someone decided that this was what their target demographic wanted so they included it. Just a complete waste of time and resources imo. The mini game wasn't particularly fun and I doubt anyone was turned on by those blocky pixelated boobs so what was the point? If it was just to add realism as you said then there are several other seedy real world elements they could have included. Would have preferred they went with dance clubs like GTA: SA, but I digress, that is really just going into my issue of how the GTA games ever since IV have been more concerned with "realism" than fun. What is suprising about sexism in games is that its not just subtle. Some of the sexism is really overt and blatant. As much as I love the God Of War games, the sexism is shockingly blatant. You get a trophy called "I didn't... but I wish I did" for using a half naked woman as a door prop then gazing at her mangled corpse. There was also of course the whole "Bros before hos" trophy. You could make the argument that these are making a statment about kratos, but including trophies and giveng them those names is a bit much. You don't really see this kind of overt racism in games. There are stereotypes but rarely do you see the really over the top racism the way you see blatant sexism in games. You don't see sarcastic trophies being given out for lynching black people, nothing like that. I'm not a woman but I can't blame any woman that is offended by that kind of sexism. I hear what your saying about peoples political agendas, and when people do try to use this as a way to encourage censorship I'm 100% with you. I think the issue is muddled because sometimes you have knee-jerk claims of sexism and racism (i.e. the recent "controversies" with Assassins Creed and Far Cry 3) that create a "cry-wolf" effect for legitimate claims. But there is sexism in some games and there is no reason to stick our heads in the sand and pretend it doesn't exist. With that said, developers should be allowed to include sexism in their games if they feel that strongly about its importance to the game but at the same time people shouldn't go nuts if they happen to be accused of sexism. |
I agree you have to be very careful in naming trophies... and the Bros before hoes (sp?) was ill advised. When making a trophy set, you try to make the name of a trophy familiar to the players. For example if I was doing an alphabet game and you got a trophy for getting an answer right on the letter A, you might make it "The A Team"... most designers I've met try to get it to link up in that way (where the trophy is related to a well known term). I do think it was ill advised, but obviously BBH is an american term that is used quite a lot in certain groups/movies... so i can see why they might have thought it was a good idea. To be honest, it should have been picked up by someone saying..hmm you know what this isnt really appropriate. I don't think they were necessarily being sexist...but people will always get offended by it.
There are things that might be considered OTT, but again it does all come down to personal taste. As I said my wife thought the lap dancing stuff in GTA was really funny, while I am sure there are people who would get offended by it. She wouldnt get offended by BBH trophy either.. But where do you stop or start... So it is a difficult line to know when to draw that line... can you make a game about certain subjects or is it taboo... can we talk about subjects or can we not.
Yeah totally agree with the AC and FC4 games... totally cry wolf. That outrage at Far Cry 4 was really stupid...and some gaming sites complaining about the lack of female characters in AC unity and how disgraceful it was - was poor show considering how many female characters AC has had over the years.
The problem i have with it all, is they are all using the word "inclusive" that games should try to have as many groups playing it as possible. That sounds like a fine aim, but its when games are just being made and it doesnt include one of the inclusive groups, then it is suddenly evil or unacceptable. There are many games being made, does every game have to have a male/female/white/black/asian/disabled/powerful... type character. Does every game have to have a well written plot, well formed character, non backgrounds .....etc etc. No it doesn't, and its unfortunate that the witch hunt is going that route right now. AC games being a fine example of that as you pointed out. One AC game doesnt have a playable female character and BOOM... its suddenly a disgrace, gaming sites hassling game companies with Why not!!!
I actually feel disappointed about such things like...that if i made a game about rescuing a princess, it would get lambasted because it's sexist and shows the female character as weak, or that it is using well known "trope" (hate that word)... when all it is - is a fun game about rescuing a computer character that happens to be female. Hopefully gaming snaps out of it because it's a little depressing that the agenda is being pushed down peoples throats.
Anyway really interesting conversation, appreciate it :)
Making an indie game : Dead of Day!
