ChattinWithChet wrote:

Isn't the arguement that says "but all men are stereotyped in games too" redundant because they are for the most part represented better?

It's redundant because a lot of men dig on that shit, and its purpose is not stereotyping that appeals to women. False equivalency arguments are the fuck.

Exactly. Both the male and female stereotypes are for the tastes of men. Or rather, for the tastes of stereotypical men, which makes it a self-fulfilling circle of shite, or something.

I found Bayonetta quite interesting regarding this topic. She's the very epitome of sexist video game fantasy but then turned up to 11. I started to think of her as the female equivalent of Duke Nukem - a parody, basically. I'm not sure how most feminists would react to her though, probably not favourably.

It's a tough one to reckon. I think the protecting comment says more than the inclusion of a rape scene - or attempted rape. And there is perhaps an argument in here about how the men who are playing and want to fuck the character are going to be motivated by someone else trying to fuck the woman they control. Depends on how its executed, but an "attempted" rape sounds like cowardice on the part of the developers, wishing to have it both ways, keeping Lara Croft as pure, and having the weird hard drama buzz from sexual assault. Stating it in the marketing stage before release sounds like severe, strange cynicism. Also speaks to the inability of developers and publishers to imagine men who can imagine themselves as Lara Croft, which is a whole other box of eggs.

More or less hits the nail on the head for me. Why attempt to give back-story to iconic avatars anyway, female or otherwise? And Metroid M was a toe-curling, cringey affair - "Oh, Adam. Can I move a bit to the left please Adam, or does it offend you? Please, tell me what to do Adam!" Not expecting much more from Tomb Raider to be honest.

ChattinWithChet wrote:

Also speaks to the inability of developers and publishers to imagine men who can imagine themselves as Lara Croft, which is a whole other box of eggs.

Also this. Sadly I should imagine it's a large portion of the audience as well.

It's not really a media wide issue. There are plenty of perfectly well defined women in cinema (outside of brainless blockbuster nonsense) and books and music.

Haha. On cue there's a sexy costumes pack for Soul Calibur on PS Store. 
Includes a nurse outfit for Sophitia and a cowgirl outfit for someone else.

Deliverance style.

Fentonizer wrote:

There is a test for films (the name escapes me) that I'd like to try on video games.

The Bechdel test. Probably wouldn't work for most games, even if you are playing as a woman who's talking to a woman, they'd probably still be talking about killing a man. Anyway Showgirls passes the Bechdel test so I'm not sure it's that meaningful.

Only thing that worries me in all these gender-n-media discussions is that there's no way of knowing exactly what female gender identity/sexuality really looks like 'raw' now and for times to come, in that dudes have held the reins for so long their models very easily permeate womens' self images and worth. Shit is a bit fucked up; much, much healing and reform is due.

I'm going to suggest no. Moreover, it's irrelevant. The species has made thousands of years of a point of saying "fuck you" to nature.

Well yes, that helps define the to-do list.

Her point is less Dead or Alive Extreme Besch Volleyball and more Diet Coke ads or something.

I think she wants a more realistic portrayal of real women in games and stuff. You know, like a Washing Up: EX+ Alpha or Metal Gear Shopping: Daughters of Grier.

Irrational Delusional Mental As Fuck Cunt Fighter 2X

Roujin wrote:

Aaroncupboard wrote:

...the Silent Hill film shoe-horned in the Sean Bean stuff...

How dare you.

Sean Bean was cast entirely on his own merits!

You tell me another leading actor or actress who can fire three rounds a minute in any weather.

Oh don't get me wrong, I bloody love Ned Stark Sean Bean! He was just a tiny bit lost and pointless in that film.