http://www.destructoid.com/why-the-mass-effect-3-femshep-vote-was-the-wrong-move-208186.phtml

This entire post reads like an op-ed from someone with way too much personal interest in the subject, and a serious chip on her shoulder. Oh wait, that's exactly what it is.

It sounds like you're not happy with the decision, so you're blaming the process (or at least scrambling to find some fault with it). These types of votes actually aren't unprecedented in gaming by any means - I seem to remember some Nintendo Power content contests back in the '90s. It's becoming quite the trend too; Tiger Woods 13 will feature it's namesake on the cover as well as a golfer chosen by the public. I'm sure it'll keep going; in a world of social networking it's easier for players to influence the game. Just ask now-noted athlete Greg Jennings.

Have you considered at all that this was a BioWare attempt to extend an olive branch to female gamers who are frequently marginalized by developers and publishers alike, and haven't been represented on the face of previous Mass Effect games? With an almost 90% male fan base and a measly 18% of players of any gender choosing a FemShep, including a female Shepard in ads at all is actually a pretty surprising move, maybe even an admirable one. Then again, BioWare stirred up a bit of anger with their relationship options in Dragon Age 2 and didn't bat an eye - my guess would be that the percentage of gay and lesbian players is equally negligible (you'll excuse the term, but in this industry anything under 10% is considered just that). This isn't new. They give you a choice in game for a reason. Now they gave you a choice outside of the game.

You seem to be asserting that your problem was with the fact that there was a voting process at all, not the proffered choices or the end results - then you proceed to fill your article with snarky comments and frequent drudge up of the accusations of whitewashing and misogyny. You need to ask yourself this - would you have furiously pounded a spiteful article into your keyboard if BioWare had just come out with a trailer featuring the rail-thin ample-breasted, blonde, blue-eyed FemShep5? I think we both know the answer is yes.

Seriously, do the PC police have to show up at every turn? Can't a game just be a game? Most of us play games to get away from the bullshit that runs rampant in "real life". It's not like BioWare (or the polled voters) picked the character for you to play, they just created one image you have to look at twice, or once even if you choose not to watch the trailer now that you've seen the winner of the polls and decided you don't like it. I'm not a very big fan of broccoli; I make a habit of not eating it, but I certainly don't demand that my local supermarket not stock it.

What more do you want? They posted a half dozen pictures using several of the, what, dozen hair colors available? Then a few people bitched. Then most people voted and picked the option a few people bitched about. Sounds like it's not your day. Tough. I guess you would have been happier if it was an asian FemShep? After all that's the most predominant race therefore making it the most "fair" choice? No, then they would be sexualizing an asian woman in the tradition set by "Shanghai Express" in the 1930s. DAMN THEM! But seriously.

But no, you're not concerned with the perceived misogyny or whitewashing that you reference so frequently, you're just mad because you feel that there shouldn't be a vote? But... you think there shouldn't be a vote because no male character has ever had a vote. And it seems like they've sexualized a non-sexual character and made it into a "Beauty Pageant". But you're not mad because you're bitter. Guess what, I've never seen a beauty pageant winner with such a cold stare or wicked grimace as the half dozen possible FemSheps presented - when I evaluate beauty I take into account facial expressions that suggest genital mutilation might be in my future if I my eyes linger on the wrong part of the womans body, and I would guess most men think the same way.

I'm going to hazard a guess that you're the same Sophie Prell who penned the super-cynical "Men, beards aren't as cool as you think" a few years back when you were just a wee journalism major at prestigious Iowa State (I'll admit, I'm not above a quick googling and frankly I didn't know who the fuck you were and It's the first published work that comes up). If so I think that shows a little history with both your sexism and your weird fascination with and perceived importance of peoples hair. With that in mind, I've got a few questions for you.

First off, do you really think men with beards are all in the double-digit IQ range, and if so, do you really support "culling them out" of society"? I tested out to a not-so-shabby 133 when I was in my tween years, and more recently a 129... I suppose that the latter test was post-beard so maybe you've got a point there.

Secondly, do you really think you're not purporting the same bigotry you seem to oppose by complaining the in the manner you have in this article? I suppose all thin blondes with blue eyes are airheads incapable of of being strong and independent women, eh? That's a GREAT message to send to a group of young women who already have enough terrible messages being thrown at them every day. I'd guess there are a few successful, intelligent blondes out there who take offense at your comments and implications.

Standards of beauty effect both sexes, and tend to be unhealthy. For every girl who aspires to be a "Skinny Blonde Barbie Doll" there's a boy who wants to be a "Muscly GI Joe with a Gun". For every diet pill advertisement there is a beer advertisement. For every push-up bra, a grow-your-penis pill. In most cultures, beauty goes hand-in-hand with standing out from the crowd; blonde hair is less common and therefor it stands out. Same goes for blue eyes. If you're really so bitter, you might find some small personal victory in that scientists believe blondes to be genetically linked to a less successful, less intelligent pre-human who was only mated for curiosities sake (or, because they stood out) - or you could grow up and loosen up.

I guess what I'm saying is that you didn't hear chubby guys like myself whining like a fucking toddler when the Shepard on the cover looked like an underwear model and there wasn't even an option to give him man-tits like ours in the game. At least you can give her your own favoritest hair do if you want to. People have differing opinions and in this case the company gave the honor of picking the inconsequential trailer design to the majority of the fans.

I'm going to hazard a guess - you've experienced some sexism in your life, be it individual or institutional. Maybe some racism too? It's out there, and it sucks - nobody wants to be on the receiving end. My advice is you take it to a shrink or a good friend, rather than taking it out on a gaming company for an innocent decision on the part of their designers and apparently their fan base too.