Comments on: Mammary Glands and Opposable Thumbs http://thisismyjoystick.com/editorials/mammary-glands-and-opposable-thumbs/ Thu, 29 Jul 2010 06:13:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Bryony Stewart-Seume http://thisismyjoystick.com/editorials/mammary-glands-and-opposable-thumbs/comment-page-1/#comment-854 Bryony Stewart-Seume Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:29:54 +0000 http://thisismyjoystick.com/?p=4111#comment-854 Hey now that looks like fun. And right up my street. I wonder if I could get TIMJ to pay mmy expenses... it *would* make a lovely birthday present. Seriously, though, thank you for that link. Hey now that looks like fun. And right up my street. I wonder if I could get TIMJ to pay mmy expenses… it *would* make a lovely birthday present.

Seriously, though, thank you for that link.

]]> By: xussia http://thisismyjoystick.com/editorials/mammary-glands-and-opposable-thumbs/comment-page-1/#comment-853 xussia Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:16:42 +0000 http://thisismyjoystick.com/?p=4111#comment-853 For anyone interested - there is this going on http://womeningames.com/ For anyone interested – there is this going on http://womeningames.com/

]]> By: TashaHoran http://thisismyjoystick.com/editorials/mammary-glands-and-opposable-thumbs/comment-page-1/#comment-797 TashaHoran Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:00:32 +0000 http://thisismyjoystick.com/?p=4111#comment-797 I myself like both types of characters (sweary i find quite funny). For me when I start playing a game I want to connect to the characters (regardless of gender) and the story, if I don't like the main character or the story I tend to lose interest very quickly no matter how great the gameplay is (fallout 3 being an example) if I can't be immersed and sucked in by the characters and their story I find the game pointless (with exceptions of sports games obviously). I agree with the boy toys thing, whenever I say I like Uncharted, Borderlands, GTA etc I immediately get a look that is a kind of: 'but you're a girl' look. I think it's up to good writers to produce a game that changes the stereotypes in games but games isnt the only media that is guilty of it (movies, tv have the same kind of stereotypes) meaning the social norm tends to be: girl in distress, man saves girl or girls an idiot/cant handle herself, man has to drag woman along for the ride because shes a stubborn mare. I think the change would have to occur across the media platforms for the general opinion on girls and games to change. I myself like both types of characters (sweary i find quite funny). For me when I start playing a game I want to connect to the characters (regardless of gender) and the story, if I don’t like the main character or the story I tend to lose interest very quickly no matter how great the gameplay is (fallout 3 being an example) if I can’t be immersed and sucked in by the characters and their story I find the game pointless (with exceptions of sports games obviously). I agree with the boy toys thing, whenever I say I like Uncharted, Borderlands, GTA etc I immediately get a look that is a kind of: ‘but you’re a girl’ look. I think it’s up to good writers to produce a game that changes the stereotypes in games but games isnt the only media that is guilty of it (movies, tv have the same kind of stereotypes) meaning the social norm tends to be: girl in distress, man saves girl or girls an idiot/cant handle herself, man has to drag woman along for the ride because shes a stubborn mare. I think the change would have to occur across the media platforms for the general opinion on girls and games to change.

]]> By: Bryony Stewart-Seume http://thisismyjoystick.com/editorials/mammary-glands-and-opposable-thumbs/comment-page-1/#comment-796 Bryony Stewart-Seume Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:38:37 +0000 http://thisismyjoystick.com/?p=4111#comment-796 Thanks Tasha. I, for one, do not like sweary people (be they male or female) although I do like the idea of your example of the 'quiet and mysterious (before they shoot your head off.)' THAT I can get on board with... Anyway, There is obvioulsy a need for forward thinking writers out there, who better understand the changing market. It isn't just about the characters, although that is a large part of it. I don't mind seeing guys in games (in some cases I actively enjoy it) but I do like to feel like I am not sneakily playing with boys toys while they are away doing something else. Thanks Tasha. I, for one, do not like sweary people (be they male or female) although I do like the idea of your example of the ‘quiet and mysterious (before they shoot your head off.)’ THAT I can get on board with… Anyway, There is obvioulsy a need for forward thinking writers out there, who better understand the changing market.

It isn’t just about the characters, although that is a large part of it. I don’t mind seeing guys in games (in some cases I actively enjoy it) but I do like to feel like I am not sneakily playing with boys toys while they are away doing something else.

]]> By: TashaHoran http://thisismyjoystick.com/editorials/mammary-glands-and-opposable-thumbs/comment-page-1/#comment-795 TashaHoran Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:21:03 +0000 http://thisismyjoystick.com/?p=4111#comment-795 Great article, I agree with everything you said. I think Elena would make a pretty good playable character as long as the game was set up right. I think the reason games still have a majority of male leads is because its easier to write a sarcastic, muscled up, butch male lead than a female lead, who usually tend to either be a bit on the overly aggressive (and sweary) side or are quiet and mysterious (before they shoot your head off)this leads to them being a bit more challenging to market.. not everyone likes a sweary female and the same can be said for the latter. I think the current games aimed at girls in the market are very short-sighted given that a recent survey in the US found that 45% of 'active gamers' were female. However with games like 'WET' and Bayonetta which is fast approaching (although she is very much aimed at a male audience image wise) I would hope that there is potential for a continuous stream of good female characters in the future. Great article, I agree with everything you said. I think Elena would make a pretty good playable character as long as the game was set up right. I think the reason games still have a majority of male leads is because its easier to write a sarcastic, muscled up, butch male lead than a female lead, who usually tend to either be a bit on the overly aggressive (and sweary) side or are quiet and mysterious (before they shoot your head off)this leads to them being a bit more challenging to market.. not everyone likes a sweary female and the same can be said for the latter. I think the current games aimed at girls in the market are very short-sighted given that a recent survey in the US found that 45% of ‘active gamers’ were female. However with games like ‘WET’ and Bayonetta which is fast approaching (although she is very much aimed at a male audience image wise) I would hope that there is potential for a continuous stream of good female characters in the future.

]]> By: Andy Knight http://thisismyjoystick.com/editorials/mammary-glands-and-opposable-thumbs/comment-page-1/#comment-793 Andy Knight Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:11:54 +0000 http://thisismyjoystick.com/?p=4111#comment-793 More important than any of that stuff... She wrote boobs! Teeheehee More important than any of that stuff…

She wrote boobs!

Teeheehee

]]> By: Bryony Stewart-Seume http://thisismyjoystick.com/editorials/mammary-glands-and-opposable-thumbs/comment-page-1/#comment-792 Bryony Stewart-Seume Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:23:19 +0000 http://thisismyjoystick.com/?p=4111#comment-792 And - yes to your first question, by the way. I for one would love to see a game with Elena as the playable character, and maybe Nathan as an NPC. And – yes to your first question, by the way. I for one would love to see a game with Elena as the playable character, and maybe Nathan as an NPC.

]]> By: Bryony Stewart-Seume http://thisismyjoystick.com/editorials/mammary-glands-and-opposable-thumbs/comment-page-1/#comment-791 Bryony Stewart-Seume Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:20:51 +0000 http://thisismyjoystick.com/?p=4111#comment-791 Maybe we need more games with great story lines, then? I kind of take your point, though. But, on the other hand, was Uncharted 2 really that great a STORY? I mean, I cared about what happened, (during the village seige scene I was genuinely upset and punched almost every one to death) but maybe I cared because I like Nate and Elena? If you take out Nate and Elena (and Sully, Tenzin and the rest for that matter) and replace them with more one dimensional generic characters, would it have been the same? A great romp, maybe, but I doubt I would've been that bothered by what was going to happen, or how Nathan was going to choose between the two ladies. Maybe we need more games with great story lines, then? I kind of take your point, though. But, on the other hand, was Uncharted 2 really that great a STORY? I mean, I cared about what happened, (during the village seige scene I was genuinely upset and punched almost every one to death) but maybe I cared because I like Nate and Elena?

If you take out Nate and Elena (and Sully, Tenzin and the rest for that matter) and replace them with more one dimensional generic characters, would it have been the same? A great romp, maybe, but I doubt I would’ve been that bothered by what was going to happen, or how Nathan was going to choose between the two ladies.

]]> By: Stephen Jacob http://thisismyjoystick.com/editorials/mammary-glands-and-opposable-thumbs/comment-page-1/#comment-790 Stephen Jacob Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:50:09 +0000 http://thisismyjoystick.com/?p=4111#comment-790 That doesn't bother me as much I actually thought it would. For me its more about story and how believable the character is. His/Her race is secondary. Being black myself, of course it'd be nice to see more black leads in games and even nicer if they weren't all stereotypes. But going back to the people that make the games, most of them are (presumably) white males. So the default race and gender for most of the leads would be...white males. It doesn't make me bitter honestly, its just the way it is. That doesn’t bother me as much I actually thought it would. For me its more about story and how believable the character is. His/Her race is secondary. Being black myself, of course it’d be nice to see more black leads in games and even nicer if they weren’t all stereotypes.

But going back to the people that make the games, most of them are (presumably) white males. So the default race and gender for most of the leads would be…white males. It doesn’t make me bitter honestly, its just the way it is.

]]> By: Stephen Jacob http://thisismyjoystick.com/editorials/mammary-glands-and-opposable-thumbs/comment-page-1/#comment-789 Stephen Jacob Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:42:38 +0000 http://thisismyjoystick.com/?p=4111#comment-789 Okay, think I understand you a bit more now. You want to see more female characters like Elena Fisher in video games (even if they're not leads?). But considering very few games have a good narrative like Uncharted 2 apparently does, do you think that devs will bother making characters with depth and realism? I'm not being sarcastic, I wanna know what you think. Okay, think I understand you a bit more now. You want to see more female characters like Elena Fisher in video games (even if they’re not leads?). But considering very few games have a good narrative like Uncharted 2 apparently does, do you think that devs will bother making characters with depth and realism? I’m not being sarcastic, I wanna know what you think.

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