One thing that this class has done is opened my eyes. It has made me look at things in a different light and pay more attention to things. One thing that I have noticed is that there are a good number of female lead characters in video games. Yes, when you calculate the ratio compared to the number of male lead video games, they are a minority, but there are still a good number of games with women kicking as much tail as the guys do. I first thought about this when i saw an ad for the game Bayonetta. This game follows a witch who is on a quest to uncover her past. Another game serious that has represent women is the Final Fantasy Series, which has always featured a lead cast of both men and women. Both of these are apart of a list of games that include a female lead in a primarily action oriented game, a terrain that was supposedly just for the guys. Each game shows the women as powerful and strong, not the damsel in distress that women were formally represented as. This is not a new trend though, there are two major female leads in two of the most popular video game series' ever. Those two women are Lara Croft from Tomb Raider and Samus Aran of the Metroid video game series. Lara has been a dominant female lead for over ten years. Each game involves her stopping the bad guys by using her strength and dominance. The character of Samus has been "a female in a male-dominated role, Samus has been considered both a breakthrough for female characters in video games" says Nadia Oxford of 1up.com. Samus has been a regular character in the video game world for over 20 years and was the first female to become an a true action hero in the video game industry. Now with this discussion of some much good there is some bad in all of this. The biggest issue facing the female leads is the way they look. Most of these female leads are dressed ridiculously showing more then needed and these women are primarily seen as sex objects. Lara croft is notorious for showing to much with her regular attire being a low cut top and very short shorts, so this common trend is something that should be changed if there is to be a greater emergency of serious dominant female characters. While there dress code is a growing issue, at least women are representing a growing trend of lead characters in video games. At least it's a step in the right direction.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Apparently Girls Can Kick Ass Too
One thing that this class has done is opened my eyes. It has made me look at things in a different light and pay more attention to things. One thing that I have noticed is that there are a good number of female lead characters in video games. Yes, when you calculate the ratio compared to the number of male lead video games, they are a minority, but there are still a good number of games with women kicking as much tail as the guys do. I first thought about this when i saw an ad for the game Bayonetta. This game follows a witch who is on a quest to uncover her past. Another game serious that has represent women is the Final Fantasy Series, which has always featured a lead cast of both men and women. Both of these are apart of a list of games that include a female lead in a primarily action oriented game, a terrain that was supposedly just for the guys. Each game shows the women as powerful and strong, not the damsel in distress that women were formally represented as. This is not a new trend though, there are two major female leads in two of the most popular video game series' ever. Those two women are Lara Croft from Tomb Raider and Samus Aran of the Metroid video game series. Lara has been a dominant female lead for over ten years. Each game involves her stopping the bad guys by using her strength and dominance. The character of Samus has been "a female in a male-dominated role, Samus has been considered both a breakthrough for female characters in video games" says Nadia Oxford of 1up.com. Samus has been a regular character in the video game world for over 20 years and was the first female to become an a true action hero in the video game industry. Now with this discussion of some much good there is some bad in all of this. The biggest issue facing the female leads is the way they look. Most of these female leads are dressed ridiculously showing more then needed and these women are primarily seen as sex objects. Lara croft is notorious for showing to much with her regular attire being a low cut top and very short shorts, so this common trend is something that should be changed if there is to be a greater emergency of serious dominant female characters. While there dress code is a growing issue, at least women are representing a growing trend of lead characters in video games. At least it's a step in the right direction.
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First off I know that I am a guy and therefore may be slightly biased but I do see the growing trend of female lead characters in video games to be a good thing. It is a step in the right direction indeed and hopefully we will see a stop to games like DOA beach volleyball and more games with females as characters in games like MW2 or COD and etc... I do see that as a long shot but hopefully will be possible.
ReplyDeleteThe only female characters in male video games have giant boobs are only there to fufill some guys fantasy by controlling her every move. Boys a predominately the one who play video games to begin with so the women in the games are created by men for men portray them as sexual objects. What kind of woman is going to fight evil with glasses and a skin tight suit with most of her chest haning out. Sorry not many.
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