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"e the last part of the video:
What is the purpose of game journalism? Is it for the fan-boy, is it critical journalism? What?
hmm"
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
"ucas.
You nailed it on the head. I said this in the racism in gaming article. We have to collectivly pick a lane. Eitehr games are mindless entertainment or they have the capability to be more.
If they are mindless entertainment: let's stop tlaking and start gaming. Shut down this site and countless others.
If they can be more then let's grow up and make it"
Monday, September 28, 2009
"an First... it's hilarious that my real first name is used here. Only my Mom and my Doctor call me "Marcella."
Second: yeah... I get what you are saying. But I am not sure that I would consider someone as using racial stereotypes as "art" right out the gate. I don't want to censor anyone: but I would LOVE it if the developers took a wider view of racist and sexist imagery and well you know... actually cut it out!
See: I want them to do well. I desperatly want to give developers my hard earned cash in return for a good game. See here it is! My money: come take it. And I would be much happier about spending my money if the game had a really good story. Usually that means leaving out the stereotypes.
We can argue forever on what is "art" and should and shouldn't be censored. To me it isn't a censorship issue. It's being smart about your platform and your media.
As for game reviews "censoring" bad stuff. How is taking into consideration sexism or racism a bad thing? No one is stopping you from buying a racist game. No one is even saying that the reviewer should boycott a sexist/racist game. What I am saying is that reviewers can have the power to say "Holy crap: these stereotypes make this game laughable in polite society... you fail!" How is that wrong?
and can we chastise art? hell ya: it's having the dialogue. Artist like to shock provoke and get people to talk. If that is the intent behind these game, that is one thing. If the racism is there just to mask lazy/inept storytelling then screw"
Monday, September 28, 2009
"d article. Many have made the same points before, and yet the "argument" usually devolves into the following:
"If it was white guys no one would say anything." I see this most often when talking gender differences. This is the same argument as "This game portrays white guys as jerks, but you don't see me crying."
The implication is that the person calling out the racism or sexism is frail, can't take it. And hey if it were me, I would be able to "handle" it. So suck it up. This isn't an argument. It's another insult.
Another "argument" is that "It's only a game - Relax." once again this "argument" has the underlying suck-it-up attitude, but it goes further. It implies that the game is somehow not truly culturally relevant and that we get to play outside the rules of society - cause it's just for fun.
To this I say we can't have our cake and eat it too. Do we want gaming to be taken seriously as a legitimate art form, story telling device or even just as legit entertainment? If we do then we have to all start acting like grown ups and take racial/gender inequality seriously. If we want games to be mindless entertainment: then lets pack up this site, the countless others and stop complaining when gaming is thought of as irrelevant. But lets pick a lane.
I also hear "Well what do you want? That we never have games in Africa or the Middle East? Cause it's part of the story to have these characters involved." No: set the story in these areas, use minorities, but use realistic characters.
How about this: Show African and Middle Eastern moms holding their babies, and playing with their kids. Show the dads coming home and giving everyone a hug and sharing a meal. Show two teens looking at each other shyly. That way when Big Bad Things Happen I will actually care about these people instead of dropping them without a care.
The last argument is that the gaming industry is young. Screw that. Seriously. If this is the srgumnet then grow the eff up. I am really sick of having to defend my love of gaming as a truly stupid hobby... having infantile portrayals of women and minorities makes it next to impossible.
So what now? Let's hold the developers responsible. In reviews let's take into account racial and gender stereotyping. You see a crap portrayal of minorities or women: and your game gets a failing grade. Now THAT is something I could get b"
Monday, September 28, 2009
This actually didn't bother me that much. I had the same sort of... "Um... really?" moment that the author seemed to have, but the great thing about this SPOILER is that it fit with the narrative. Grimm tells Sam to kick the crap outta her so that it looks "right", his cover is intact. It shows that Grimm is a real soldier who gets stuff done.
What would have been more insulting to women, is if Sam did something else: i,e. if Sam said: I couldn't hit a woman. That's crap. Of course he could. Grimm a fellow operative who is also a woman. Sam needs to get a very important job done. If that means kicking Grimm around, Grimm gets kicked around.
I do agree with Ben (the previous commenter) that women are portrayed horribly in games. He mentioned passive fearful pets, or as men in women's (large breasted) bodies. He forgot sex kittens. For shame Ben... do not forget the sex kitten.
Grimm was a change. But I'm waiting for games to pass the "Bechtel (sp?) test." i'ts a test to see if there is female content in a movie. Doesn't measure if it's a positive or feminist movie (game) just is there female presence.
The test goes like this:
1. Are there more than one named women in the movie (game)?
2. Do they talk to each other?
3. If they DO talk to each other, do they talk about men?
Few movies pass this test. Dragon's Age, and Mass Effect do... Can anyone name any others? The thing about games is, if it passes 1 or 2, it should pass 3, as there isn't *that* much romance (talking about guys) in games.
Great post"