idlehands

Sexual Objectification of Women in Video Games

Awson said
iirc, huge ol' boobies were an afterthought for the original game. Like one of the developers was like "Oops, I didn't mean to max out that variable. Must've put an extra zero in there somewhere. I better just undo..."

"Wait one second," his co-worker interjected.

And the rest was history.

Like that scene in Weird Science.

I guess I just didnt see how triangular shaped boobs were that attractive. I just liked her attitude.

Sexual Objectification of Women in Video Games

Dervish said Likewise, the latest incarnation of Lara Croft in the Tomb Raider reboot is definitely seen as a step in the right direction. She wasn't designed to be a sex object, she was a terrified 20-something who was in a survival situation where she slowly became hardened to the things around her and was driven to save her friend. I thought that was a pretty cool game, and I want to see more with that franchise.

Am I the only one who didn't think the old Lara was just a sex object?

Sexual Objectification of Women in Video Games

@ Imagination, I'm pretty sure he was being saracastic.

Sexual Objectification of Women in Video Games

Blitzkrieg said I like Card

He is pretty awesome.

The Rabbit Whisperer

Don't ask.

That's crazy with the rabbits, I've never seen anything like that. The closest was when I visited the university campus in Victoria, BC. They have a lot of rabbits.

Sexual Objectification of Women in Video Games

There's hope yet.

Sexual Objectification of Women in Video Games

Nex said
The fact that the person saving her is male is completely and entirely irrelevant. So is the fact that she's female, incidentally. Laura Croft is portrayed as a weak person growing stronger, who for now is dependent on a strong person until she has achieved her own strength. The worst thing you could possibly say about that is that it's not entertaining to play the weaker character. There are no comparisons to be made to society or objectification of women or anything else. You're drawing way too much from it, to the point that you're seeing things that aren't there.

I understand your point, and I'm sure if it was a stand alone video game that was not based off a series that has lasted for more than 10 years, then I'd agree. But the fact is, I don't like it and I think it takes away from her character in the end.

Sexual Objectification of Women in Video Games

Blitzkrieg said But you see that allot in games. Where they take a young girl and make her a killing machine for pure shock-value. I would hardly say that that is good for female representation.

I agree, because give her 6 years or so and she'd be clinging to a square jawed man with a permanent 5 o'clock shadow.

Sexual Objectification of Women in Video Games

Making a weak female character does not mean that you're saying every female is weak. Go read Kill Bones' post again and see if you really agree with what he said, or just decided to cheer him on because you know him.

I agree with him because I have the same opinion. I don't know him anymore than I know you, I just happen to find his posts more in line with how I see things.

It may not be saying 'all women are weak' but it's taking a character that a female would identify with and consistently making her the victim. Making her need a male hero to rescue her and that her focus is him while his is the objective of the game, whatever it may be. This is not a universal statement but given the fact that there are a lot of female gamers now, girls who grow up playing these games, I think that the industry needs to move on with the times. The princess doesn't always need to be helpless.

Sexual Objectification of Women in Video Games

Going back to what you said, objectification is more than just pixels of jiggly bits. Reducing a female to an object, by making her completely helpless or taking a strong woman then rendering her into a moron by giving her a love interest is just as bad. This isn't just about Tomb Raider, a game that can be used in the arguement for and against this topic. It is an example I can give because I have personal experience with playing the series since the debut.