LMN8R
2861
Saints Row is a fantastic example that seems counter to its use in this thread.
Saints Row 4 had an extremely progressive and inclusive view into sexuality and humor. It got deserved praise for how it averted the usual misogynistic portrayal of women in games like GTA without taming itself, and was better for it. It was funnier because it didn’t back itself into predictable tropes, and it was also more fun because its open-mindedness led to more creative missions and more variety in side-quests for each character. Men and women equally liked raunchy sex, and there wasn’t boring objectification of women relegated as helpless prostitutes.
Even still, of course, it’s not perfect. A writer for Saints Row fully acknowledges things that could further improved. But if Saints Row 4 proved anything, it’s that improving things to continually avoid boring tropes will just make the games better and better. Not more tame, boring, and losing its entire identity.
And I don’t think anyone was attacked for it. Steve Jaros wasn’t doxxed, harassed, threatened, or anything similar because of these comments. Because he’s a man, and we all know that GamerGate is toxic misogynistic bullshit that rarely attacks men.
Scuzz
2862
as long as they make money…
You seriously underestimate the ability of Publisher marketing departments to can decent games for bullshit reasons.
Don’t take my word for it, ask any game dev who’s dealt with them.
There is a tangible cost to having to deal with PR issues over identity politics, be it for or against, as you’ll never appease the extreme side of opposing views.
Whether they decide to include 12 genders, 30 races and 20 sexualities in their games, or choose Mr Muscles and Miss Tits, or just settle on asexual gender less anthropomorphic blobs instead remains to be seen.
Please present evidence, any evidence AT ALL, that “identity politics” have affected any game’s bottom line. Any tangible impact you can think of. Games delayed, or cancelled, or negative impacts on sales figures. Take your time, let us know when you find something.
Hatred is now hugely anticipated, and will now have increased sales?
Besides, I am referring to PR departments dealing with boycott campaigns or this brand supports misogynoterrorism campaigns or just whatever twitstorm is underway due to someone somewhere being offended about something.
Exactly. They didn’t even have to do anything at all except say “hey, thanks for the attention everyone!”
Besides, I am referring to PR departments dealing with boycott campaigns or this brand supports misogynoterrorism campaigns or just whatever twitstorm is underway due to someone somewhere being offended about something.
So, no tangible cost since in general they just stay silent or release very wishy-washy generic statements. Basically no impact on sales so why would they really care or spend time, money or effort on it? They care only if they want to care, it is not necessary to a games success to be inclusive.
Timex
2868
Is Hatred really hugely anticipated by anyone?
I assumed it was basically just a PR stunt.
There are a few who say “I perceive x to be misogynistic/racist/homophobic but I fully support its right to be created and sold” but the majority do not give the impression of anything other than they want x to be banned.
If they can generate hateful screeds against some dead cartoonists within days of their deaths, it doesn’t give me the confidence they are anything other than ideologically opposed to anything they dislike to the point they want it eradicated from society. I don’t see them calling for a future where games that have passed their criteria happily co-exist in the market alongside lets call them “games appealing to the traditional demographic” after all, how do you adapt Europa Universalis and its ilk to appeal to someone who is ideologically opposed to the concepts of imperialism and colonialism?
The majority of who? How do they give you this impression? What games are in danger of being banned?
If they can generate hateful screeds against some dead cartoonists within days of their deaths, it doesn’t give me the confidence they are anything other than ideologically opposed to anything they dislike to the point they want it eradicated from society. I don’t see them calling for a future where games that have passed their criteria happily co-exist in the market alongside lets call them “games appealing to the traditional demographic” after all, how do you adapt Europa Universalis and its ilk to appeal to someone who is ideologically opposed to the concepts of imperialism and colonialism?
Relevance? Europa Universalis is of course in NO DANGER nor is any other game or gaming in general. The bogeyman “they” you keep referring to only have influence and power in your paranoid alt-reality.
I’ve already linked statements from Feminist Frequencys Jonathan McIntosh against colonialism and imperialism, as well as his support for “Je Ne Pas Suis Charlie” and his denunciation of Charlie Hebdo. Claiming Feminist Frequency has no influence or power at this stage in the game is … odd.
Oh man so what have they done to Paradox, then? EU has been a series for over a decade.
playingwithknives you’ve really raised the bar. People being offended over allegedly trivial things is bad and weak, being offended over NOTHING is what strong alpha males do. Also strong alpha males REALLY like racist cartoons. Total package.
Is it? What have they accomplished? What have they managed to ban, or even called for bans of? Beyond critique, what have they done?
I find it odd that you think they have any more “influence or power” than you, me, or any other blogger. Power to provoke twitter firestorms (against themselves, mind you) is not really power. It’s just the internet.
Soma
2875
Oh hey this is something: DA:I has more realistic (less patriarchal, less ham-fisted) romance! And some people think it is all for the better for video game as a whole.
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jan/14/boyfriend-dragon-age-inquisition-gay
here be spoilers
[spoiler]This character, all made up of polygons, designed and shaped and written by other humans who are probably nothing like him, gave me the most human response I think I’ve ever experienced in a video game. He apologised. He said he couldn’t change his nature. I accepted that, I said I was proud of him for standing up to his father, and when I chastised him for leading me on, he said he’d stop if I wanted, but that he really liked me as a friend, and that he felt our flirtatious banter was a part of that. Somehow, someone at Bioware had predicted this very situation - that I would fall virtual head over digital heels for the wrong man - and had written heartfelt dialogue just for me.
And yes of course, the “me” that Dorian was entangled with was the “me” in the game – a semi-magical, dagger-wielding dwarf. But I still felt like he was talking to me me – the me sitting cross-legged on the floor of her bedroom, eyes wide, reminiscing over all the heartbreak she’d experienced before, because it all felt just like this. Isn’t it odd how it’s taken so long to reach this stage in games – the stage at which human conversations and relationships feel real?[/spoiler]
Racist? That word does not mean what you think it does.
LOL see what I mean?
People brought to weeping for humanity over a handful of blog posts critical of ugly shirts and who stage boycotts over “Bring back bullying” and “Gamers are over” trying a late game switch to “Actually it’s about unfettered free expression, nothing is sacred” is a bold choice, though.
Timex
2878
It’s already been explained how folks supporting the hashtag movement of #JeSuisCharlie aren’t doing so out of support for Charlie hebbo’s content, but rather out of support for the notion that in a free society you are free to say and think things which are offensive to some.
This does not somehow imply that criticism is unallowed. Indeed, criticism of the societal status quo will often fit into that category, offending certain conservative elements of society.
It’s perfectly rational to criticize the content of Charlie Hebbo’s publication, while simultaneously supporting their right to publish that content without being murdered for it.
Reasonable people in a free society don’t require censorship of ideas they disagree with.
For instance, i think that gamers are over article was dickish, but i would never suggest that the author should not have been free to publish it. And the kind of threats made against those various authors fit into exactly the kind of bullshit that #JeSuisCharlie stands in opposition to.
Huh? You are arguing against strawmen that inhabit your own mind. All I wrote was about your characterization of the Charlie Hebdo cartoons as racist.
I didnt say they had attacked EU, they wouldn’t even know what it is, they aren’t gamers remember. I posed a question, how do you adapt a strategy and empire game to “be more inclusive” for a person who is ideologically opposed to imperialism and colonialism to the point they denounce Indiana Jones films?
