There's no doubt that Duke Nukem Forever is going to upset some people. In a world where you can't even make a joke that happens to have the word "rape" in it without someone throwing a hissy fit, a game in which a musclebound meathead objectifies women is sure to set off some alarms. Gearbox boss Randy Pitchford, however, thinks that's a good thing.
"I'll tell you what, if some feminist organisation that is doing a great job advocating women's rights worldwide, which I think is really important, can get some advantage by using Duke ... go for it," he said. "How is there a downside for humanity? Go for it. Take it. Use Duke. That would be awesome.
"If anyone can better our world through the use of anything, and if Duke is a tool to help them do that, that's fine. The people that are entertained ... The choices people make are their choices."
Pitchford added that Duke isn't a misogynist, but a hedonist, saying that he's a selfish man who uses anybody for anything, and that includes treating women like sex objects. He explained that Duke Nukem Forever is satirical, emphasized by the fact that men get turned into pigs by the alien antagonists of the series.
Seems like a roundabout way of saying "haters gonna hate", which is what I'd have said.
Personally, I think words like "misogynistic" are getting thrown around so much online that their true meanings are starting to get devalued. They get slapped on videogames, movies and individuals almost like a weapon, an insidious exploitation of emotionally-charged labels in an effort to bully people into keeping their mouths shut. It doesn't matter if it's a harmless joke or not, everything gets tarred with the same brush, and I think it makes a mockery of serious hate issues.
That, to me, is more harmful than any fictional character doing imaginary things to a not-real woman.
Duke: Pitchford welcomes feminist anger [Eurogamer]
Contest:
2:40 PM on 02.22.2011 | 
Someone is bound to get pissed off at DOOK.
Of course that was a joke.
But it's funny how often people that protest games end up actually improving sales. Like the parental warnings , a kid sees "m-ature" and that's what they want even if they don't understand it and getting it is almost like a badge of cool and is expected of underage kids to already have it .
I kinda hope they don't go all out against these games but it would be cool if we could slowly trim out the fat / find ways to better rate games and the audiences exposed to things their parents should keep them away from.
Duke Nukem= pure adult-centered fun
Women are an inferior gender and will always suck at everything in comparison to the almighty male= misogynistic
Pitchford wants free publicity even a report or 2 in FOX news. Nothing to see here, move along.
Still wondering if I should get Duke Nukem Forever. (I only learned about it a few months ago.)
*ahem*
Okay, I'm done. Also, everything Sorrows Neptune said. Dickwolves is a prime example. That same week the government started debating the rewriting of what is defined as rape and scaling down protection of the victims of rape. Where were my feminist then? It was mighty lonesome at the homefront while everybody was crying about a t-shirt.
And to more relevant matters this guy asking for controversy is a little sad to watch. That said, it wouldn't surprise me if it happened, but does he have to make his want for it so painfully obvious? Can't he pretend like Rockstar?
Anywho.
Pitchford is obviously familiar with the Streisand Effect.
You're supposed to wait till people actually complain Randy not call them out.
That actually sounds like a great idea for a new series Jim. Just sayin :)
That comic has always upset people. That's the general offensive nature of the comic. Nothing really exploded until the t-shirt happened. Or perhaps that's my perspective since what I saw as actual controversy didn't start until the t-shirt went for sale. I wouldn't call "Bah! I'm offended!" actual controversy. That's just one side being PO'd without any real argument other than feeling, well, offended. But I've seen that over many-a Penny Arcade comic since I started reading it a few years back. The t-shirt bit was something entirely different.
^THIS.
His parents already made that mistake.
Doesn't the chip off the ol' block mean anything to anyone?
HAS THE WHOLE WORLD GONE FUCKING INSANE?
But, I can't blame them for that.
When people get bored with Duke Nuk'em silly antics, and they will, gamers just moving on to the next thing that more interesting.
I hear "Dickwolves" and I'm thinking a group of "loose, slutty women on the prowl for d*ck". If anything, men need to be on the watch for… the "Dickwolves", they are cumming for you.
great line, will be quoted in the future ;-)
I doubt that's really going to be an issue.