The Future Is Here

As we discuss more and more games, I’ve found myself wondering what the future of gaming is. I think we can all agree that macro changes must be made to make gaming more gender inclusive, not only through participation, but also through the games on the market. So here’s a look at where I hope gaming is going…

Rock Band. This game is really awesome for all age groups and genders. I’ve played this with friends in my own age group, as well as kids ranging from 6 years old all the way to 50 years old. I think it’s a great game which incorporates a social element as it is most fun played in a group. I love that you can play this with just about everyone, and the controllers are actually instruments and are much easier to pick up than then classic controller. My main critique is that the game console is very expensive, and in that sense isn’t inclusive. I think Rock Band is a pioneer in non-violent, but fun gaming, and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a great time.

Is the next big thing already out there? What will follow Rock Band?

The darkest side of gaming?

There has been a bunch of media coverage, at least in the blogosphere, about the Japanese “adult” video game RapeLay, which is, disgustingly, a rape simulation video game.  Its plot line begins with groping a women on a subway and ends with stalking and  sexually assaulting her two young daughters.  It has caused a media stir because of its recent removal from amazon.com where  the English version had been silently on sale before outcry pressured the site to take it off the formal market.  Free or online purchases of the game, in English and Japanese, are plentiful and many critics are worried about governments’ inability to control its dissemination.

This game and others like it do not paint a pretty picture for the world of gaming and the ‘fantasy’ or ‘virtual reality’ they create.  It surfaces questions of censorship and what limitations we should put on such a medium; if it truly is ‘just a game’ or can be dangerous enough to be something more.  Additionally though, it puts into perspective more fictional games that we have been citing as problematic and objectifying (Tomb Raider, combat games, Grand Theft Auto etc.) as not the “worst”, I suppose.

Additional reading on the RapeLay controvery can be found on Jezebel.  An interesting, detailed, graphic, yet thankfully critical, review of the game is also available via SomethingAweful.com (NSFW).

The first lady of video games…

Here’s a thought…
Aside from all this talk about how women are dressed and how sexualized they are, i thought i would bring everyone’s attention to the very first lady of video games. if you haven’t guessed yet, it’s MS. PACMAN. Her feminist perspective has you correcting yourself. It’s Ms, not Miss or Mrs. She’s extremely fearless, all the ghosts can come in her path and she just dodges them one by one. For a first lady of video games, she has become successful, so quick. Every arcade has this game, putting Mr Pacman in the backseat and thats what we want to hear. But most of all, when we see these video games with these super thin women, with big breasts and a big butt, we second guess ourselves. Well Ms Pacman is here to assure you that she’s normal. She will eat anything she wants, she fears no enemies with her round appearance and her cute bow, we know she’s a woman we can count on to get the job done!!

“Women of Reality”?? vs. “Women of War” (our recreated female game)

Game Cover is HERE.  This is a design of the back of the game cover for “Women of Reality”. To design this I analyzed various game covers to find dominant themes.  Some themes that I uncovered within war/combat games is phrasing that encourages hyper-masculinity and completely ignores the role that females play within the game. This particular game cover was modeled after the game Metal Gear Solid 3 for Playstation. I decided to combine actual elements seen on game cover and take a satirical twist. I also included a description detailing how the game included a training program that helps players familiarize themselves with the game  and its functions because we discussed how our (female) lack of general knowledge of video games, especially with controllers, puts us in a disadvantage and is very intimidating.

Women of War is HERE. Based on our experiences, reflections and ideas regarding video games I decided to create a imitation of video game for women that consisted of various characters from different games. As Jessica has expressed, the portrayal of women in video games is degrading. Female characters are shown wearing a minimal amount of clothing as possible and in submissive positions. Furthermore, their roles in these games are usually minimal and passive. It is no surprise that females find it more difficult to become interested with video games because of their insulting content as well as unrealistic characterizations of the female identity. What women would fight wearing high heels and a bra?

Women of Reality is HERE. In oppositions to “Women of War”, I’ve recreated this new game called “Women of Reality”. I thought that the title was appropriate because instead of having  naked and submissive characters, the female characters have been redressed and repositioned in dominant and fierce positions. This newly designed game cover is directed to a female audience because the women characters no longer hold minimal and passive roles within the games and portray and encourage a strong, independent female identity. This game will also attract a female audience because it excludes elements (that we have discussed) that repel women from games, such as biased and unrealistic versions of female beauty and the objectification of women.

Interview with a Gamer

Hey crowd,

Here are the videos of my recent interview with my friend Dan, whose knowledge of video games supersedes most of ours.  We chatted about marketing, nerds, exclusive space and “bimbos in chain-mail bikinis”.  We also had a few laughs along the way, and Dan offers some advice for girls (or anyone really!) that want to get into games, as well as some game recommedations throughout the interview.

Give it a watch, and thanks so much to Dan for donating his time!
-m.

Poster

<—– Poster of Figure-8 Female Characters

This is the poster that I made for our presentation and for the blog. The black outline represents the notorious female figure as seen in many of the videos games available on the market. I cut out characters such as Lara Croft, Wonder Woman, Princess Peach and mortal combat ladies. They all have one thing in common: barely any clothing!
Perhaps this is what draws so many guys to these games. Not only is this sexually objectifying but it sets unrealistic standards for women.
Sorry guys, but these bodies aren’t anything close to being natural, they will only exist on your screen or under the knife.

Arcades= No girls Allowed!

So there seems to be a consensus that  video games are generally attractive and directed  to a male audience.  I find this gender separation to be restrictive and oppressive. Sure, we (females) can avoid feeling awkward or left out when our boyfriends are playing video games by simple avoidance but because of the huge popularity of video games today its becomeing harder and harder. Plus, why should we feel restricted from engaging in the same activities that apparently bring them sooooo much happiness. Personally, i like playing video games (minus the unrealistic and degrading depictions of women within). I confess, I want in!

A few weeks ago, i went with some of my friends to Dave and Busters. For anyone who  has never been there it is like one huge arcade for adult and children, there’s also a bar, a restaurant and etc. I remember approaching a video game that required using a gun to kill zombies, … and i loved it. Yet i remember approaching the game with hesitation knowing that i was in a male dominated sphere. And also while i played i was being watch by some guys waiting their turn and i felt like i was under serious pressure. In my head i though ..” They expect me to suck, and for their turn to be up real soon” . So i made it my goal to succeed to the next levels and prove them wrong.. and I did! In between check points i nonchalantly look over my shoulders expecting to see faces of admiration but instead i saw faces full of frustration and disgust! i was wasting their time and was soo unwelcome in this male dominated arcade.  To them i was simply another girlfriend following their boyfriends and trying to blend in. From that game on i stood by carrying and collecting my boyfriends tickets from game to game, (like many other girls i saw), just dying to get outta there.

It wasnt until this assignment that i have really reflected on my experience that night. Additional to all the other reasons why women have been barred from participating in video games, the fact that we are simply unwelcome really drives the message home; the gender separation within the realm of video games has created another social space with an invisible sign “No Girls Allowed”

Do Not Enter: Authorized Male Personnel Only

Reading the posts of my classmates has really forced me to think more about why it is that gaming is such a male dominated space, and what its effects are on both men and women. So far, the most obvious feature of this male inhabited sphere is competition. Whether it’s trying to score the most goals in a hockey game, or seeing who can steal the most cars, competition is the name of the game.

It should come as no surprise that winning is part of gaming, but what really seems unfair is that women are automatically assumed to have no interest in this drive to beat the other player. Looking back at elementary school, I can remember the boys playing soccer in huge groups at recess, while I sat and watched with my female classmates. Why? Why didn’t I just get up and go and ask to play? I think part of it was fear. Fear of being the only girl, fear of standing out, and fear of just making a complete fool of myself. But it always looked fun. The boys were always having a great time together. They had something to bond over, and I wanted to be a part of it!

I think gaming also creates a space where men get to share common experiences which propel them forward in their lives. It’s like the ever present boys club. Video games, in my mind, are the equivalent to the corporate golf trip. It used to be that the men in companies would go golfing together every once and a while. They would play the course (please excuse my obvious lack of golfing terminology) then have drinks and sit down for dinner together. And, up until recently, women never took part in these outings. Suddenly, women began learning how to play golf. There was this huge surge in interest among women, and among my friends, to learn how to golf! Why? Well here’s the thing – these golfing trips were a way in to the ‘boys club’! These men spent hours together (often with their bosses) getting to know each other, and we realized that if we wanted to get a raise, a promotion, or be considered a real part of the company, our participation would be crucial. So isn’t our exclusion from golf the same as from video games? And if we choose to participate, won’t the effects be similar?

Maybe all of this is part of an underlying reality of our world. It really boils down to propping up men as the ultimate person – strong, competitive and skilled – while women take the backseat and watch as men have all the fun. So next time my friends are tossing around a soccer ball, I think I’ll join in. We should all try it! If you’re reading this blog, keep this in mind for the next time you’re left sitting down. Maybe it will be embarrassing, but at least we’ll have experienced it. At least we won’t be sitting on the sidelines wondering what it would be like. We’ll be trying it and actually getting better at it. I’ll become a competitor – will you?

Wii directed to both sexes?

Well i had the weekend off from work so i decided to invest some time into playing my wii. We actually own two consoles in my house, one specifically for my brother, the xbox, and a Wii for myself. It sounds a little ridiculous that there is only 2 of us in this house and we both have our own consoles. We had a bunch of our cousins come over and decided to play “Halo” although i was against the idea of playing this game, i decided to try it since everyone around me was playing. Mind you everyone around me were just guys.

Let me explain this game to those who are not sure why i reacted the way i did. So, depending on how many people want to play, the screen splits up into 4 squares, leaving each player to their own little screen. The purpose of this game is to pretty much try and kill all those around you by using the weapons you find and take from those you’ve killed. (A link to what usual Halo gameplay looks like on a screen HERE.)  I was starting to get restless from the fact that i kept losing. It wasn’t so much of me being a sore loser but the fact that an xbox controller has so many buttons that i had no idea what each one did. So, not wanting to look dumb i began to press numerous buttons and got no where.

These games should really have a practice round or some sort of tutorial because boy was i lost. After playing “Halo” i begged everyone to play wii with me. I realized i had to actually beg the guys in my family to play wii because they didnt see the action and suspense in playing games such as bowling or “Wario- Shake it”.  However, i did. I thought it was fun, and there were only a few buttons on the controller, it was pretty much “idiot proof” before each game they tell you which buttons do what and to try and use it before actually playing the game. The games seemed a lot more colourful and user friendly and were targeted pretty much to everyone.

Since i work at Futureshop, while doing this project i started to focus more on the targeted audience for this console and games. I realized it was a lot more women than men and began to wonder why that was. Like a good sales associate i asked some women, why they didnt go for the new ps3 console or even xbox 360 and the response i got was “well wii has the wii fit and thats what i really wanted.” Wii fit is a game that pretty much allows you to lose weight while doing some exercises. Not directly targeted to women, but guess what!  It seemed like it was 80% women purchasing it from that store. It just really makes me think why women, like myself  prefer wii over any other console. is it because of the losing weight factor and the ease or simply because the games seem easier and less competitive?

Have you guys actually seen the wii fit commercials?  They have women and young girls doing yoga and all these other exercises to stay in shape and of course they have a man, an elderly man, trying to stay fit. What does this message mean?? My personal opinion – all the other console manufactures should try and target more women players because it seems like they already got the male audience on lock… in many ways.