Female And Male Representation In Videogames

[112]

I would have loved to have done an essay such as this! so much personal insight could have been used here. If only........

perhaps you could mention the social and cultural diversities that exist in different countries and explain how they affect the perception of male and female characters in gaming. I would love to hear your conclusion to suchan assignment. Keep me posted pwease.......

112

[chevkoch]

karlidog, I only just now came round to fully read your posts above and I really enjoyed your thoughts. Another quick look into my games collection left me again with only one title that could be considered having an authentic female main character: Parasite Eve.

If the games industry delivers experiences that are almost exclusively tailored to a male audience, and let's assume men actually want what they get in this context (judging by sales figures), what kind of experiences are you women gamers looking for in videogames?

[lostn]

Girls are usually portrayed either as tough femme fatales (any game which has a female for the main character, such as FFX-2) or damsels in distress (usually when a guy is the main character, and the girl is his insecurity-filled love interest). Either way, they're usually made to look sexy and voluptuous.

If you want an example of stereotyping, try writing on the DOA series. The girls in DOA are pretty much the star of the game.

[James Harvey]

Lucasarts adventure games buck the trend somewhat... I don't think Elaine in Monkey Island is ever a typical damsel in distress or a femme fatale. Ditto Laverne in Day of the Tentacle. They're characters in their own right.

There must be more examples...

[James Harvey]

[The Boatman]

I'd recommend reading 'From Barbie To Mortal Kombat', a couple of years old now but it still makes some good points.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0262531682/ref=sr_aps_books_1_2/026-0007633-5021231

[neoglow]

Thanks for all your input guys and girls, its been a big big help, all I have to do now is write 2500 words about it

* Now where's the copy / paste text button (just kidding) *

When Ive finished I could post it on here if anyone is interested, 112 is eager to read it (Is he on my course too? ) It'll be a big post though, have to ask the mods.

M.