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Part of critical thinking, or at least from the grad student perspective, is tearing apart and exposing the problem. Like all great politicians, the exercise is to point out what is wrong, fuck all if they have an idea on how to repair it. As I pointed this out to many a grad student friend I have, this point is, like all critical though, brushed aside. Tearing apart and pointing out is the easy part. The effort to correct from outsiders is what leads to pandering and over compensation (as an easy example, look at how no home security commercials feature anything but white people as the dangerous criminals).
When the issue of gamings sexism comes up, I don't get annoyed at the problem. I KNOW it's a problem. I get annoyed at how overblown it becomes sometimes (see: Hitman reaction), but I know it's a problem. Of course the problem is also, I am not a female, nor do I have that perspective and try as I might, my attempts to show that perspective are shallow, pandering, and desperate. It reaks like so many cblogs on this topic. The simpliest solution is actually the one you encourage.
Game Creation is definitely a boys club and that's a problem. Unfortunately, people aren't stepping up to solve the problem. Leigh Alexander will never join the games industry because she, frankly, has no ideas on HOW to fix the problem, only make her living bitching about it. When I went through college, few females entered my program, none made it through. Here we are, nearly 10 years later, slightly more enter the program, only one made it through. I welcome the female voice in the games industry but fucks sake, you have to ENTER the industry before changing it. Without that CRUCIAL step, every effort to include everyone will be as white bread and soulless as the average McDonalds commercial. We fought long and hard to make sure we didn't censor our industry only to water it down so no one would get mad. Meanwhile, long ago, CLAMP changed Manga by giving the female perspective on the male driven manga industry. Things changed for the better, let's get more CLAMP like over here.
When the issue of gamings sexism comes up, I don't get annoyed at the problem. I KNOW it's a problem. I get annoyed at how overblown it becomes sometimes (see: Hitman reaction), but I know it's a problem. Of course the problem is also, I am not a female, nor do I have that perspective and try as I might, my attempts to show that perspective are shallow, pandering, and desperate. It reaks like so many cblogs on this topic. The simpliest solution is actually the one you encourage.
Game Creation is definitely a boys club and that's a problem. Unfortunately, people aren't stepping up to solve the problem. Leigh Alexander will never join the games industry because she, frankly, has no ideas on HOW to fix the problem, only make her living bitching about it. When I went through college, few females entered my program, none made it through. Here we are, nearly 10 years later, slightly more enter the program, only one made it through. I welcome the female voice in the games industry but fucks sake, you have to ENTER the industry before changing it. Without that CRUCIAL step, every effort to include everyone will be as white bread and soulless as the average McDonalds commercial. We fought long and hard to make sure we didn't censor our industry only to water it down so no one would get mad. Meanwhile, long ago, CLAMP changed Manga by giving the female perspective on the male driven manga industry. Things changed for the better, let's get more CLAMP like over here.
I actually really love the idea of a game primarily designed to be an example of well written female characters. Sure, the game might be dull, or more like take the form of some kind of indie game, but I guess it could merely act as a thought piece. Heck, throw out an awesome mod, like The Stanley Parable, and you've got just as effective a piece as any marketable product. Something that gamers can try for free with low expectations which may surprise them.
She will be examining tropes (commonly overused themes or devices) regarding female video game characters... though I think most longer term gamers are pretty familiar with them and as they are a historically based, I don't know that anything can change (and most developers are likely very aware when they use a trope).
You are very right though that if she adds in something positive either by comparing the tropes of the past with current games that avoid these tropes or even creates some possible female character models, then it can lead to discussion that might bring about some actual change.
An indie game is certainly another option... though I think that just the character design element might be enough to forward better discussion on this topic.
... though like the Femshep Mass Effect debacle, it may end up simply creating further controversy. :(
You are very right though that if she adds in something positive either by comparing the tropes of the past with current games that avoid these tropes or even creates some possible female character models, then it can lead to discussion that might bring about some actual change.
An indie game is certainly another option... though I think that just the character design element might be enough to forward better discussion on this topic.
... though like the Femshep Mass Effect debacle, it may end up simply creating further controversy. :(
@Sheppy I feel the same way as you. I have a lot of friends who are really passionate about fighting sexism in games and sometimes I find it hard to offer encouraging sentiments that don't sound like they're coming from a typical pandering white knight. I do believe in the cause and if you express yourself intelligently, then I'll probably go along, but I usually don't get these things right away (the Hitman trailer I saw as a mayyybe, whereas what they've chosen to show of the Tomb Raider stuff leaves a lot to be desired.) But yeah, the only way I know how to make a difference is to get out there and give people an alternative, show people you know what you're talking about with physical proof.
@Jebus I had not heard of The Stanley Parable, so thanks for that! A mod is a great idea and would require much less in the way of resources to finish.
@Elsa I think you're right in that the AAA stuff is pretty set in stone. As with the current summer blockbuster movies, people are fine with what they've already seen. The way women have been portrayed in media since the beginning of media is a safe route to go. Yeah it's bad when you get down to brass tacks, but it's acceptable to the majority so it's what they rely on. I think some of it boils down to what Occams said in one of the recent Secret Moon Base podcasts; as games have matured, their stories have not. I think people at studios are tasked with writing a story, but they also have other shit to do, so they spend a bit of time and use tropes like templates as you point out and then It's Good Enough. You're correct in that there really only needs to be a character design rather than a whole game. As for the Femshep debate, she has red hair, always red hair! :D
@Jebus I had not heard of The Stanley Parable, so thanks for that! A mod is a great idea and would require much less in the way of resources to finish.
@Elsa I think you're right in that the AAA stuff is pretty set in stone. As with the current summer blockbuster movies, people are fine with what they've already seen. The way women have been portrayed in media since the beginning of media is a safe route to go. Yeah it's bad when you get down to brass tacks, but it's acceptable to the majority so it's what they rely on. I think some of it boils down to what Occams said in one of the recent Secret Moon Base podcasts; as games have matured, their stories have not. I think people at studios are tasked with writing a story, but they also have other shit to do, so they spend a bit of time and use tropes like templates as you point out and then It's Good Enough. You're correct in that there really only needs to be a character design rather than a whole game. As for the Femshep debate, she has red hair, always red hair! :D
I like the idea of using that kickstarter money to fund an indie game. That way she can still do the critical examination in the video series and then contribute a positive example with some sort of game.
