[Talking to Women about Videogames is a series where Jonathan Holmes talks to different people who are women about the biggest videogame news of the week for some reason.]
Nintendo has a track record for including gender ambigious or otherwise unconventional characters in their games. From what I’ve heard, there’s been something of a culture clash over this between Nintendo of America and Nintendo of Japan. Rumor has it that part of the reason why Captain Rainbow, Freshly Picked Tingle Rosy Rupeeland, and Mother 3 were never brought to the USA was because of the gender-rebellious characters featured in both games; for fear that they would tarnish their family friendly image, and/or score a T or even an M rating.
Maybe they had nothing to worry about, as Zelda: Skyward Sword features at least one character who is more sexually provocative and unconventional than the entire casts of Mother 3 and Captain Rainbow combined, and that got an E +10 rating. Do you think Nintendo is primed to suffer some backlash from that? Will Kathy Lee Gifford be upset to see her Zelda-loving children get sexy-tongue taunted by a purple skinned man wearing earrings, a skintight jumpsuit, and white eyeliner?
What are your thoughts in general about gender non-normative characters in videogames?
Past Episodes:
Talking to Women about Videogames: 3DS 2nd nub panic
Talking to Women about Videogames: Gears 3 isn’t perfect?
Talking to Women about Videogames: Sexy vs. sexist?
Talking to Women about Videogames: What makes you want?
TtWaV teaser: Sony’s online sucks now?
Talking to Women about Videogames: I’m not a real gamer?
Talking to Women about Videogames: Fear for the future
Talking to Women about Videogames: Going mainstream
TtWaV teaser: Battlefield 3 Vs. Modern Warfare 3
Talking to Women about Videogames: You! Like what I like!
