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The Women of Video Games

Well, I'm noticing that I have somewhat of a theme going about women and how they are portrayed and such... so since this week's blog needed to be something relating to video games, I'll continue my theme.

I honestly never really noticed how sexist video games are until a class discussion about them; I don't know if I have been desensitized to it, or if it's because of the video games I play. I love the Final Fantasy games, and usually, the female character is at least equally as strong and important as the male character. Mortal Kombat is the same; female characters are equal. Other games I enjoy don't really take on any sexual role; in Little Big Planet, the player has the choice on how they want to decorate their little Sack Person, and can make it male or female.

I remember, however, getting really frustrated while watching the boyfriend play Resident Evil 4; especially when he unlocked the "special" outfit. The main character, Leon, has to save the U.S. President's daughter, Ashley. Can we say little bimbo? Especially when she gets her special outfit. She's almost totally helpless, completely dependent on Leon to save her. It's almost like she's some sort of prize; like she is this super sexy but fragile thing that needs to be rescued and protected. Chivalry is cool and all, but it's old. The only reason that women are not as capable as men are when it comes to fighting and defending is because society limits them; until recently, it was unfit for a women to be tough and physical. Games like Resident Evil 4 don't help this; how can women ever really learn to stand up for themselves if they are constantly being drilled with the message that they need to be protected?

The whole sexualization thing is also a big issue when it comes to video games; it's the Barbie scenario all over again. The majority of female video game characters look like Playboy models (and, we're talking, straight from the magazine, photoshopped and all). Big boobs, little waist, long, lean legs... will society ever learn?! I'd like to see a report on how many women look even relatively close to this fake image (and we're not counting the ones who have been altered in any way).

The somewhat comforting thought is that, even in the smallest way, game producers are slowly catching on to this. After many complaints of the characters in Final Fantasy X-2, the creators of Final Fantasy decided to make some changes. There are three main characters in FFX-2, all three being women. While they kick butt and do a lot of neat things that most female characters don't do, it's their appearances that's disturbing. All three are extremely, almost unrealistically thin. For sure not average female proportions, and no curves (with the exception of nice sized boobs). Also? You can change their outfits- and the majority of the outfits are, well... skimpy. While they're pretty cool concept wise, they're very revealing. And how necessary is that? Not very. However, because Square Enix received complaints about these characters, they decided to use French women to model their female characters after for Final Fantasy XII. The female characters for FFXII look much better, much more like real women, then do the girls from FFX-2.

Regardless, now that it has been brought to my attention, I really believe that sexism needs to be reduced in games big time... especially since almost as many women play video games as do men.

Purrrr!!!

Disappointment!

The boyfriend and I are extremely disappointed in the Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince video game...

...way sad.

I mean, EA games could have done SO much better. This game had potential to be extremely cool; it's Harry Potter, for crying out loud.

I'm glad we didn't buy this game; I'm glad we didn't pay money to rent it. Mike actually got a free month long trial for Game Fly, so, knowing his girlfriend and potential future mother-in-law love Harry Potter, ordered the game for us. We decided to test it out... and were in awe at how totally lame it was. It seemed more like a computer game for elementary school kids than anything. I was hoping for something more a long the lines of, say, Resident Evil. Not quite as evil as that, or gory, but shit, the book itself is scary. The book is not written for elementary school kids; it has a lot of things that kids won't understand.

Yet the video game is extremely childish!

So now we know... unless the game has EXTREMELY good reviews (such as Little Big Planet), don't rent it if it's rated E. Just because it's rated E for everyone, doesn't mean it's for everyone... not if it's going to be as crappy as HP.

The Double Edged Sword

There's no denying that we are becoming more and more digital/technology based.

Sheeze.... I remember, in elementary school, that most kids didn't even really know how to use a computer. I was an extreme exception; as a young child, my dad was attending Oakland University, working towards a double degree in industrial engineering and technology. We've had a computer in the house at all times, from at least when I was 3 years old... however, the majority of my friends didn't even start getting computers until I was in middle school. I also had, and knew how to use, the internet way before my peers.

Yet now... I work at an elementary school, and was literally floored to see just how computer literate even the little kids are. We're talking 6 and 7 year olds. It kind of creeped me out, to be completely honest.

Not that I'm doubting the internet. I love the internet; I'm a total internet junkie, and probably spend way too much time on my computer. Hell, I even put a special table in my work-out room, so I can prop my computer on and watch videos on YouTube as I bike or run on the treadmill.

The fact is, it can honestly be dangerous, and almost crippling in some way...

...and again, I'm embarrassed to say, that I'm a good example.

I'm an extreme introvert. I have never been a social butterfly, never been into the party scene, and never had a very close group of friends. But online? I'm more social. I'm not saying that the relationships I form online can ever be 100% friendships, because if we don't meet face to face, how could it be? It can be close, and you really can meet some amazing people whom you'd never cross paths with otherwise, but it's not the same. Sadly, that's why I like it, in some ways. There's so much less pressure. It's like being in a safety bubble, where you only reveal so much, and can hide flaws. I mean, I don't try to lie and pretend to be someone I'm not, but I can also keep the things that I feel insecure about to myself.

So there's the social aspect that is double-edged; you can make friends and keep in touch with people, but it can also contribute to introvert-ness.

But there's also content. There's no denying that the net is a wonderful educational tool for people of any age... but there's also a lot of dangerous content and ways to be harmed. My favorite show is Forensic Files; I don't know how many episodes I've seen where a computer is confiscated, and authorities find junk that the killer looked up online to contribute to his or her plans.

And it also makes me wonder... are we becoming too reliant on technology and the internet? And is it a good thing or a bad thing? Is it cool that kids do almost all of their research online, or is it crippling them? Is it cool that they would rather sit in front of their computer, than play "make-believe" outside? I can't answer this, and to be honest, I don't think anyone can just yet. We're too new into this technological, internet-crazed age to be able to tell... I mean, if I can remember being the minority with an email address at age 11, and am now only 23.... that's just 12 years. In 12 short years, we've gone from the average American home barely having a computer, to everyone from age 8 to 78 having a Facebook and Twitter... that's pretty crazy.

So is the internet a good thing, or a bad thing? I think, really, it's too soon to tell; for now, it just looks as thought it is a double-edged sword.

BOO!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

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