Gender and Diversity at E3 May 2004 |
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There is a lot in the press these days about women gamers and "gray gamers" and how broad the games market really can be. Needless to say, we still have a long way to go. |
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There have been steps forward - but companies like Microsoft and Eidos take a great leap backward when they employ porn stars to promote their games. That is - games that don't feature the stars or their porn in any way. I get it, tho. Even just signing autographs, Tara produced quite a line...exactly what the analysts and chain store managers are looking for. At least, so far. |
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I'm not against sexy or even physically exaggerated characters - I just like it when exaggeration is an equal-opportunity thing, and different body types are explored. More variety, more choice, more expression. Give us some Crumb or Coop women, some Tom of Finland! |
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Even something as Hallmark as this collection of canned styles and attitudes is ok (tho I'd find it more appealing if there were more than 1 person of color for every 20 or 50). Anything is better than the uber-masculine, homo-erotic power fantasy of titles like "The Shield" (more on this game in the general pix). |
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Still - there aren't a lot of powerful characters for us girls to grab on to without either donning leather halter tops, pointy ears, or demon fangs. Or crossing over to occupy a faceless male body. What would the faceless female represent? Can you even imagine a faceless female avatar? |
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Nice to see G4 interviewing booth babes this year - sure to get the scoop on the most important trends in the industry. At least some of the publishersare starting to give their props sensible footwear. I pray for their arches every year.
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This scene fascinated me. |
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And who are
these guys? Babe wranglers? |
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The Playboy bunny could not jump while playing Harmonix's Anti Grav. "I'll pop out!" Greg turned to me while she was playing and smiled. "She's pretty good!"
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Not only did 25 To Life look and feel generic...the cops vs. gang SOCOM-style gameplay left me feeling queasy. "Thug Life", "Urban Lifestyle" and "Gritty Feel" are some of the phrases you'll see in previews for this game. I found it offensive. |
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The striptease sections of Rumble Roses were also pretty pathetic. I wish someone would spend
the money to build some really high-quality, sexy, alluring characters,
and then - write a
game/story where that sexiness was motivated and compelling, part of the
action. Not tacked on to motivate the player like a carrot on a stick.
From an IGN preview: ...many of the maneuvers are said to leave opponents in, what we will call, "compromising positions".
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I have no idea what these two girls were doing at the show.. perhaps their mom works for a developer or publisher? |
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How strange it was to see their excited, fresh faces in the sea of bad night-club lighting, to hear child voices over the din of competing techno soundtracks. What are we doing to encourage these girls to keep playing as they get older?
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The gameplay in LL certainly won't scare them off with its complexity.
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I did like the trailer for Resident Evil Apocalypse... disguised as an ad for anti-aging creme that turns women into famished, killer zombies. Ah well. See you next year. |