Personal Inquiry Part 2

More Gaming Mysteries......

Women in Games

Despite my Sorrows of the lost games in my previous post, another question I would like to query is where have all the women been in gaming? By women I mean the strong, domineering, feminist females. Now, although lately, we've been seeing more of them in video games today e.g. 'Gears of War', 'Bayonetta' and *sigh* 'Tomb Raider', why do women continue to inhabit the more passive, less impacting roles than their male counterparts.

I'm not denying that there are females in games, but their roles seem so menial.  I would of liked to use 'Elle' in 'The last of us' a lot more than was presented or at least see her have a greater role in the games DLC (expansion) which was announced by developers 'Naughty Dog'. Similarly, I would have also liked to see 'Elizabeth' take a stronger role in 'Bioshock Infinite' than the supplier role she has occupied. Additionally  the release of the greatest rated game of 2013, GTA 5, despite amazing response across the gaming world, one female gamer was 'disappointed' by the game, stating how she couldn't give the game a 10/10 because of the lack of strong female characters; and to be honest I think it's true. 

Another case of this particular issue is in an interview with the Call of Duty developers, where a female member of the audience asked  about the absence of women in their games. Funnily enough, the trailer of the new COD game 'Ghosts' reveals a women, being the introduced to the battlefield. Therefore summing up that in a contemporary world women can take on the same roles as men. So why has it taken so long?

Could we assume that like civilization  the gaming world is going through and mirroring the same evolution and development as western civilization, where this male dominated world is now being more equal and presenting more opportunities for women in gaming like today's society.

However, despite our progress, there is also a deterioration of the female model in games. Examples I present are Juliette Starling' from 'Lollipop Chainsaw', 'Amber & Crystal' from 'Dead Rising 2' 'Ivy', 'Morrigan' and all other female characters from 'Soul Calibur', 'Mortal Kombat' and 'Darksiders', the list goes on. I mention these women because these are the one's who stand out most to me with their over exaggerated curves, massive chests and skimpy outfits  Being a man, naturally I can't really complain, but at the same time these characters sensual appearance, through my eyes, seems to degrade the portrayal of a strong, hardened woman. Lets love our female characters, not lust them!

To conclude my discussion, I'm not trying to put a stop to the idea of a voluptuous sexy female character, I would just like to see more of the Catwomenesque type of woman from 'Batman Arkham City', who uses her sensuality as a weapon against her enemies and refuses to become a victim of a patriarchal society. I mean, where have they gone in games, where are the 'Alyx Vance's' ,the 'Nariko's', the 'Queen Victoria's', the 'Boadicea's'. Where have all our strong women gone? why are they so few in number in our games. Male gamers, I think it's time for you to stop thinking with your phallus and start thinking with your heads and female gamers you need to speak up a lot more! It's about time women to become empowered. Hooah!!

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Game On!