Sexism in Games at MMORPG.COM

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MMORPG.COM has published an article about sexism in MMORPG games, apparently by a guy and with personal views. Among other things, he claims that the same arguments hold for the picture of man in games and the audience gets what it wants to get, which is an idealised vision of characters catering to the players' escapism, supplying an ideal world for some rest from the imperfections of our real selves. Here's a snip:

"The portrayal of women in video games is disgusting."
That's a quotation I've heard many times, from both men and women alike. The truth is that they have a point. Most of the time, female avatars are portrayed with large breasts, small waistlines and finely toned bodies all around. Commonly, the blame for this is put on the fact that "sex sells" and game development is a male dominated industry.

The theory is that the perception of a predominantly male audience wants to see gorgeous female toons when they're playing a game. That's why, so it's said, that the game's developers create unrealistic, fantasy women to populate their worlds. Let's face it, when's the last time you were playing a game and came across a female toon that was anything less than "ideal" unless it was a plot point?

Read the rest at MMORPG.COM.

[ November 24, 2006, 21:59: Message edited by: chevalier ]

 

I think that you should have continued on a bit further as the author's main point is that after reflection he realized that the male character choices were just as biased towards being attractive as the female ones were. That has always been my reply to the people complaining about how women are portrayed so it was nice to hear someone echo my opinion for a change.

 

Better now?

 

Meh... sex sells.

Only problem is when my parents see me playing, they think I'm in a desperate need of a girlfriend (not). Too many prostitute-like potagonists .

 

Indeed. Even major developers come up with characters dressed like clinical exhibitionists or plain whores.

 

I agree I like this article, because I am tired of the feminazi bullcrap that I hear everyday. The ideals behind feminism are great, and I agree completely, women are absolutely equal to men (or should be), but it gets taken to extremes and just gets annoying after a while...

Not that this article fought against that, but it said that men were just as much 'victims' in video games.

 

Yeah, I feel victimised because I'm deprived of the right to see my 6'5'' 10 CON character.

 

I agree wholeheartedly with this article, apart from one thing the writer may have overlooked: male characters don't usually wear chainmail bikini/thong combinations.

 

One thing that's bothering me is why doesn't charisma ever really determine how good-looking your character can be?
e.g.: Someone with 6 CHA should have a massive scar in his/her face, missing ear, greasy hair, sweaty skin and no little finger (yakuza style).

 

Frankly, on the 17'' screen I have here, I mostly fail to see "large breasts, small waistlines and finely toned bodies" in most of the games I play. The attempt at sexy bodies (and that applies to both male and female avatars in games) is usually pathetic. An avatar may have large lumps protruding from the chest, but in most cases I wouldn't even call them "breasts".

The "bikini chainmail" is very, very irritating though. I believe HoW was the first IE engine to start this. Again, not that you could really see much, especially at high resolutions.

 

Good point there, Clixby. Something the author overlooked. We just don't get that. Or maybe if we see barbarian males in just furry boxers and shoes we don't find it odd, whereas a chainmail bikini still stands out?

Also a valid point. Lump-based game box marketing strategies are just pathetic.

I don't have a problem with chainmail bikini, but I have a problem with a bikini chainmail, if you know what I mean. There's just no way bikini-sized armour could offer the same protection as a regular set. That pretence is something I really don't like. Otherwise, it's actually aesthetically pleasant sometimes if the drawing is nice.

 

Maybe in your games they don't.


I also agree with Trellheim and Ziad, though. Good stuff.

 

I'm wondering if I even want to ask what games you play

Here's the problem, isn't it: they very rarely are nicely drawn. I frankly can't think of a single instance of bikini chainmail (or chainmail bikini for that matter ) that actually looked good (as in plain-good, never mind sexy-good).

I hadn't thought of that actually, but now that you mention, it does seem that you often get close-up shots of the "lumps" on promotional material, usually at camera angles that you would never use for any practical purpose in the game.