Sexual Objectification of Women in Video Games

[natsumehack]

Blitzkrieg said
Metroid Prime goes down in history as quite possibly my favorite video game ever. I say that because I think Samus is the coolest video game girl in history, and they never went out of the way to make her sexual (except when she takes her helmet off at the end of her games). This is a game character who made waves at the end of her first game when it was revealed that the badass bounty-hunter was a chick.And then a game called "Other M" happened, made by the same company notable only for it's scantily-clad beach-volleyball series. It gave her a love interest that made no sense, and the badass of the last 8 games becomes a whining baby who constantly needs to be saved by the male marines for the rest of the game.

so spam fanfictions?

[The Imagination]

The Walking Dead has you play as a 11 year old girl with more balls than 90% of male characters from a variety of games.

[andromedene]

The Imagination said
The Walking Dead has you play as a 11 year old girl with more balls than 90% of male characters from a variety of games.

I like her.

[The Nexerus]

idlehands said
I agree with him because I have the same opinion. I don't know him anymore than I know you, I just happen to find his posts more in line with how I see things. It may not be saying 'all women are weak' but it's taking a character that a female would identify with and consistently making her the victim. Making her need a male hero to rescue her and that her focus is him while his is the objective of the game, whatever it may be. This is not a universal statement but given the fact that there are a lot of female gamers now, girls who grow up playing these games, I think that the industry needs to move on with the times. The princess doesn't always need to be helpless.

The fact that the person saving her is male is completely and entirely irrelevant. So is the fact that she's female, incidentally. Laura Croft is portrayed as a weak person growing stronger, who for now is dependent on a strong person until she has achieved her own strength. The worst thing you could possibly say about that is that it's not entertaining to play the weaker character. There are no comparisons to be made to society or objectification of women or anything else. You're drawing way too much from it, to the point that you're seeing things that aren't there.

[Kill Bones]

Blitzkrieg said
Metroid Prime goes down in history as quite possibly my favorite video game ever. I say that because I think Samus is the coolest video game girl in history, and they never went out of the way to make her sexual (except when she takes her helmet off at the end of her games). This is a game character who made waves at the end of her first game when it was revealed that the badass bounty-hunter was a chick.And then a game called "Other M" happened, made by the same company notable only for it's scantily-clad beach-volleyball series. It gave her a love interest that made no sense, and the badass of the last 8 games becomes a whining baby who constantly needs to be saved by the male marines for the rest of the game.

And let's not forget they ruined Adam

In Fusion you hear about how Adam was a cool guy and sacrificed himself to save Samus like a badass bro

And then in Other M he's more of a tool than his robotic counterpart from Fusion that was designed to be an asshole

So that's an accomplishment

And then his sacrifice makes no sense and you cheer that he dies because wow that guy was a tool

[Cpt Toellner]

The Imagination said
The Walking Dead has you play as a 11 year old girl with more balls than 90% of male characters from a variety of games.

But you see that allot in games. Where they take a young girl and make her a killing machine for pure shock-value. I would hardly say that that is good for female representation.

[Cpt Toellner]

Kill Bones said
And let's not forget they ruined AdamIn Fusion you hear about how Adam was a cool guy and sacrificed himself save Samus like a badass bro And then in Other M he's more of a tool than his robotic counterpart from Fusion that was designed to be an assholeSo that's an accomplishmentAnd then his sacrifice makes no sense and you cheer that he dies because wow that guy was a tool

I ship SamusXrundus

[andromedene]

You know who I like?

[idlehands]

Blitzkrieg said But you see that allot in games. Where they take a young girl and make her a killing machine for pure shock-value. I would hardly say that that is good for female representation.

I agree, because give her 6 years or so and she'd be clinging to a square jawed man with a permanent 5 o'clock shadow.

[The Imagination]

Blitzkrieg said
But you see that allot in games. Where they take a young girl and make her a killing machine for pure shock-value. I would hardly say that that is good for female representation.

Seriously? They have actual reasons for her being the way she is. She's still a scared little girl at heart at times as well. She wasn't born out the womb a badass. You couldn't even compare her to other mindless young girl killing machines. Don't be so short sighted with that character.

They are putting in the plot that in such a scenario, even a young girl can be trained to survive.

[idlehands]

Nex said
The fact that the person saving her is male is completely and entirely irrelevant. So is the fact that she's female, incidentally. Laura Croft is portrayed as a weak person growing stronger, who for now is dependent on a strong person until she has achieved her own strength. The worst thing you could possibly say about that is that it's not entertaining to play the weaker character. There are no comparisons to be made to society or objectification of women or anything else. You're drawing way too much from it, to the point that you're seeing things that aren't there.

I understand your point, and I'm sure if it was a stand alone video game that was not based off a series that has lasted for more than 10 years, then I'd agree. But the fact is, I don't like it and I think it takes away from her character in the end.

[Kill Bones]

idlehands said
I agree, because give her 6 years or so and she'd be clinging to a square jawed man with a permanent 5 o'clock shadow.

Nah, not if the series and character stays with TellTale

They're good people

[The Imagination]

idlehands said
I agree, because give her 6 years or so and she'd be clinging to a square jawed man with a permanent 5 o'clock shadow.

That is not how Telltale makes their games, and that is not how I see that character growing up to be. Seriously?

[idlehands]

There's hope yet.

[andromedene]

Blitzkrieg said
But you see that allot in games. Where they take a young girl and make her a killing machine for pure shock-value. I would hardly say that that is good for female representation.

SHE IS CONSTANTLY BEING ATTACKED BY ZOMBIES COME ON

THAT'D DO THINGS TO A PERSON

[Salroka]

Card said
Yep, still trying too hard.

Guess what

I'm still of the "Get over it and move on" mindset when it comes to most things in video games. No amount of your 'lolutryhard' is going to make me give any more of a shit about your opinion of me.

[The Imagination]

Clementine is actually better female representation than 50%+ female characters in the female world of gaming, period.

Ill restate my last comment, they are showing you that even a little girl can be taught to survive. On top of that, most if the female characters in the game are portrayed as everyday, normal people.

[Lady Squee]

The Imagination said
Clementine is actually better female representation than 50%+ female characters in the female world of gaming, period. Ill restate my last comment, they are showing you that even a little girl can be taught to survive. On top of that, most if the female characters in the game are portrayed as everyday, normal people.

Good point. I'll definitely be talking about that game.

[The Nexerus]

Clementine isn't really badass?

[Lady Squee]

Can I get a bit more info about The Walking Dead game? I have only played the beginning. What makes Clementine so unique? Other than her being a young girl with a hard life/