objectification of women in video games

[gbpxl]

Since I largely quit playing new games around 2007 or so, I don't know if this trend ever stopped but I think it's a worthwhile discussion. I personally don't like seeing idiotic needless displays of women in every racing game or fighting game I play. Of course, context is key here. Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball had lots of scantily clad beautiful women. But... they're on a beach, in hot temperatures, and they're athletes. It makes sense.

However, a game like Cruisn' USA where a random trophy girl pops out of nowhere when you win the race? Come on, that's just stupid. Even though racing is a male dominated genre/sport, the game assumes that there aren't prepubescent boys, homosexual men, or heterosexual women playing this game. Same goes for Off Road Challenge where a sexy blonde randomly stands there while you pick upgrades for your truck. Not sure what she has to do with aftermarket truck parts. Is she an ASE certified mechanic? Does she own the parts distribution warehouse where I am buying these parts? Something just doesn't add up there.

And of course going back to my comment about context... again- sometimes it makes sense. Posters of Japanese swimsuit models in Metal Gear Solid 2. Well yeah, you're on a Russian vessel filled with soldiers, virtually all of whom would be hetero men. It makes sense.

There's a fishing game on the Xbox with a woman on the cover in a bikini. What does that have to do with fishing? I've been fishing many times in my life, I've never seen any swimsuit models wearing bikinis as they're reeling in a bass. And again that is a very male dominated sport so I am not sure how the cover makes any sense.

I can give the female characters in Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat a pass because there are half naked men in those games as well, but clearly the animations were meant to appeal to a 13 year old boy discovering masturbation for the first time.

Leisure Suit Larry is a game with attractive bimbos. I'm fine with it. The game centers around a horny desperate guy trying to score. It makes sense. So yes, in the context of that game, it's fine.

This is the same thing we see with Hooters, Tilted Kilt, and other similar restaurants. Because really, when you're hungry, isn't the first thing you think of "damn I really wish I could stare at some waitress's rack right now!!"?

Who are these products and establishments even catering toward? If someone wants to see a naked woman, they can go on Google and see it in five seconds. If they need to see it in person, they can go to a strip club. I am just trying to get into the mind of someone who needs to have women dressed in tight revealing clothing everywhere they go.

And I'm still waiting for the male version of Hooter's. I'm assuming that doesn't exist because women can get laid at any moment, whereas an average schmoe can only be aeound it when he's paying for it? What would that restaurant be called? "Pecker's?" Damn that's a million dollar idea. In this age of women's rights, I think it'd be a runaway success.

Anyways, what are your thoughts? Do you play these games with your 10 year old son? Would you let your daughter watch you play them?

[Alianger]

I wonder if this means OP will make such a post about non-white representation in games 6-8 years after it was a hot topic.

[leatherrebel5150]

I envy you OP. Your must be living a pretty good, stress free life, if this is what you spend time focusing on. I’m over here worrying about bills and a leaky roof like a fool.

[gbpxl]

I wonder if this means OP will make such a post about non-white representation in games 6-8 years after it was a hot topic.
LOL. I don't keep up with the "hot topics" of the moment. I don't care about peoples' skin color when I play a game. To me, that is a false equivalency. Unless it's something like a football game where every single player depicted is caucasian. That wouldnt even make sense, considering the racial makeup of the actual NFL. I dont notice any unrealistic racial depictions in video games like I do with half naked women being depicted

[gbpxl]

I envy you OP. Your must be living a pretty good, stress free life, if this is what you spend time focusing on. I’m over here worrying about bills and a leaky roof like a fool.
Nothing to envy here, trust me. Hell I dont even own a house, so you got one up on me there at the least

[SpaceHarrier]

Of course, context is key here. Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball had lots of scantily clad beautiful women. But... they're on a beach, in hot temperatures, and they're athletes. It makes sense.



So, I've .. ehem .. done some light research on this series. There is still quite a lot of objectification, what with the creepy photo mode where you can watch the ladies stretch, sun themselves and roll around in the sand. For hours and hours and

anyway



Senran Kagura is game that debuted on the 3DS in 2011 so they could show glasses-free 3D melons bouncing. It became a series.

"The sequel improved on the original, by enhancing breast physics and clothing destruction" - Wikipedia

[Gameguy]

Unless it's something like a football game where every single player depicted is caucasian. That wouldnt even make sense, considering the racial makeup of the actual NFL. I dont notice any unrealistic racial depictions in video games like I do with half naked women being depicted
It's a plus that there's plenty of games that stay realistic by going against racial stereotypes, like Super Mario Bros going against the stereotype that white men can't jump.

[YoshiM]

So, I've .. ehem .. done some light research on this series. There is still quite a lot of objectification, what with the creepy photo mode where you can watch the ladies stretch, sun themselves and roll around in the sand. For hours and hours and

anyway



Senran Kagura is game that debuted on the 3DS in 2011 so they could show glasses-free 3D melons bouncing. It became a series.

"The sequel improved on the original, by enhancing breast physics and clothing destruction" - Wikipedia

I that's light research, I wonder what full on "deep work" would be like investigating such a game.

[Rickstilwell1]

PS1 Lara Croft's pokey polygons might poke a Pokemon's eye out.

[Emperor Megas]

"I've never seen any swimsuit models wearing bikinis as they're reeling in a bass. And again that is a very male dominated sport so I am not sure how the cover makes any sense."

I had to read that three times. I wasn't sure if I was missing something or if you were being obtuse or just trolling.

You honestly don't understand why they would use an attractive women clad in beach wear to market a male dominated recreational sport? Fereal?

[gbpxl]

"I've never seen any swimsuit models wearing bikinis as they're reeling in a bass. And again that is a very male dominated sport so I am not sure how the cover makes any sense."

I had to read that three times. I wasn't sure if I was missing something or if you were being obtuse or just trolling.

You honestly don't understand why they would use an attractive women clad in beach wear to market a male dominated recreational sport? Fereal?
I guess I'm just a fucking dumbass, what can I say.

[Mad-Mike]

The demographics they are going for are....

- The 13 year old boy who just discovered he likes T&A and wants to see some in a way that his parents might not notice (to them it was just a stupid video game)
- The older horny, girl-friend-less gamer who needs some extra "tools" for his imagination, or is drawn into the game by her "assets"
- The Classic "Macho" man, it'll draw him in because just like the Car Show or the Football Game he goes to, they have scantly clad women involved somewhere, so it's "cool"
- Randy Adult(s) who find comedy - this is where Leisure Suit Larry comes in, see some T&A and action, AND get to laugh your butt off at your player character and his misfortune

TBH, I'm not sure what to think because I never really looked to video games for sexual content, I looked to video games to enjoy the game regardless of the graphics. That's why I'm probably one of the 4 people left in the world who can still stomach an early Atari 2600 game without thinking "this is so primitive". But I've met many of the above myself and it's little wonder as to why there's objectivication of women in games.

But there's also other things too - a great example is Postal 2 which does all of this: Objectifies Women (Postal Babes), Shows Stereotypes (Taliban NPCs, African Americans), Anti-LGTBQ stuff (a certain set of Arcade games they had placed around, certain accents for certain male NPCs wearing certain clothes or colors), making fun of the homeless. It'd make anyone staunchly PC barf. The only reason I still play something like that, is because I can ignore all that or see it as a almost satirical view of what is wrong with our society, which kind of drives the violence in-game, the issues we fail to resolve in real life, embodied in a game with no real consequences, so that the rat bastard or the social justice warrior inside can let free their rage and anger on a virtual world as what could be quite a healthy outlet.

[gbpxl]

The demographics they are going for are....

- The 13 year old boy who just discovered he likes T&A and wants to see some in a way that his parents might not notice (to them it was just a stupid video game)
- The older horny, girl-friend-less gamer who needs some extra "tools" for his imagination, or is drawn into the game by her "assets"
- The Classic "Macho" man, it'll draw him in because just like the Car Show or the Football Game he goes to, they have scantly clad women involved somewhere, so it's "cool"
- Randy Adult(s) who find comedy - this is where Leisure Suit Larry comes in, see some T&A and action, AND get to laugh your butt off at your player character and his misfortune

TBH, I'm not sure what to think because I never really looked to video games for sexual content, I looked to video games to enjoy the game regardless of the graphics. That's why I'm probably one of the 4 people left in the world who can still stomach an early Atari 2600 game without thinking "this is so primitive". But I've met many of the above myself and it's little wonder as to why there's objectivication of women in games.

But there's also other things too - a great example is Postal 2 which does all of this: Objectifies Women (Postal Babes), Shows Stereotypes (Taliban NPCs, African Americans), Anti-LGTBQ stuff (a certain set of Arcade games they had placed around, certain accents for certain male NPCs wearing certain clothes or colors), making fun of the homeless. It'd make anyone staunchly PC barf. The only reason I still play something like that, is because I can ignore all that or see it as a almost satirical view of what is wrong with our society, which kind of drives the violence in-game, the issues we fail to resolve in real life, embodied in a game with no real consequences, so that the rat bastard or the social justice warrior inside can let free their rage and anger on a virtual world as what could be quite a healthy outlet.
Well Leisure Suit Larry is different. You know what youre getting. Youre not playing this game with your 8 year old son. I guess Im in the minority when I say that when I want a fishing game... I just want a fishing game...

[Gameguy]

Well Leisure Suit Larry is different. You know what youre getting. Youre not playing this game with your 8 year old son. I guess Im in the minority when I say that when I want a fishing game... I just want a fishing game...

There's a fishing game on the Xbox with a woman on the cover in a bikini. What does that have to do with fishing? I've been fishing many times in my life, I've never seen any swimsuit models wearing bikinis as they're reeling in a bass. And again that is a very male dominated sport so I am not sure how the cover makes any sense.
If it's shown directly on the cover, is it really a surprise that it's in the game?

[gbpxl]

If it's shown directly on the cover, is it really a surprise that it's in the game?
I never played it. I had assumed there werent actual half naked women in the game and the cover art was chosen for the American market

[Gameguy]

I never played it. I had assumed there werent actual half naked women in the game and the cover art was chosen for the American market
So which fishing game are you having problems with then? Which one isn't just a fishing game?

[YoshiM]

"I've never seen any swimsuit models wearing bikinis as they're reeling in a bass. And again that is a very male dominated sport so I am not sure how the cover makes any sense."

I had to read that three times. I wasn't sure if I was missing something or if you were being obtuse or just trolling.

You honestly don't understand why they would use an attractive women clad in beach wear to market a male dominated recreational sport? Fereal?

The British (if I recall correctly) had some tennis game which had an ad of a woman tennis player’s backside facing the camera with one side of her skirt held up by her hand while holding the box of the game. The action resulted in exposing a cheek.

I want to say this was maybe early 90’s but it shows what the gaming demographic was then.

[turboxray]

For the record, I've definitely had ex's wear bikinis while we went fishing or on the lake, or whatever. I mean, it was near water.. most girls I know like wearing swimsuits. So.. just sayin.

[Gameguy]

For the record, I've definitely had ex's wear bikinis while we went fishing or on the lake, or whatever. I mean, it was near water.. most girls I know like wearing swimsuits. So.. just sayin.
You're saying women tend to wear bikinis when outdoors and near or in water? Are you sure? Wouldn't a full length dress be more likely?

[gbpxl]

You're saying women tend to wear bikinis when outdoors and near or in water? Are you sure? Wouldn't a full length dress be more likely?
I cant post photos on here for whatever reason but the game is Pro Fishing Challenge for the original Xbox. On the back cover it says "Size Does Matter" and below that, a a half naked supermodel reeling in a fish. I mean, do you really need everything spelled out for you?

[ncman071]

LOL the Wokeness is real in this thread lol

[Gameguy]

Ok, I think I fixed one of the issues with another Xbox fishing game.


https://i.postimg.cc/KcJfx2Cm/Pro-Cast-Fishing.png https://i.postimg.cc/65Z8zVrF/Pro-Cast-Fishing-2.png

[gbpxl]

Ok, I think I fixed one of the issues with another Xbox fishing game.


https://i.postimg.cc/KcJfx2Cm/Pro-Cast-Fishing.png https://i.postimg.cc/65Z8zVrF/Pro-Cast-Fishing-2.png
Well you didnt fix it, you just turned it into a more unrealistic picture. Women dont wear burkas when they go fishing. The cover was fine to begin with. That wasnt the game I was even talking about.

[gbpxl]

LOL the Wokeness is real in this thread lol
Why is that a bad thing? Is it better to be woke or asleep?

[Gameguy]

Well you didnt fix it, you just turned it into a more unrealistic picture. Women dont wear burkas when they go fishing.

https://i.postimg.cc/q780kKS6/8574d3982cf334eb5baab4167ae8cd1e.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/ZRxwKYJL/fishing.png


The cover was fine to begin with. That wasnt the game I was even talking about.
What did you say earlier?


There's a fishing game on the Xbox with a woman on the cover in a bikini. What does that have to do with fishing? I've been fishing many times in my life, I've never seen any swimsuit models wearing bikinis as they're reeling in a bass. And again that is a very male dominated sport so I am not sure how the cover makes any sense.
The cover you're talking about has the woman holding a fishing rod. Maybe the woman actively fishing has something to do with fishing? The cover I posted just has a woman on it staring outwards at the audience and doing nothing else.

You also said that it doesn't make sense that a woman would be on the cover as it's a male dominated sport, but the cover I posted with a woman on it "was fine to begin with". You're not really consistent with your complaints. Or maybe when you were asking about "objectification of women in video games" you really only meant the specific examples in your original post as those are the only games that objectify women under the specific conditions you outlined.


In any case the specific game cover you mentioned is well known as an extreme example of controversial game marketing, it's not like it's a normal type of cover that every company regularly uses.
https://wackoid.com/game/10-retro-video-game-ads-that-wouldnt-be-allowed-today/

[turboxray]

You're saying women tend to wear bikinis when outdoors and near or in water? Are you sure? Wouldn't a full length dress be more likely?

Look, not all of us live in places like "cold as fuck Canada". So no haha.

[Tenjikuronin]

Not sure about video games, but I tend to buy comics based on how much cleavage is on the cover (looking at you, Zenescope...lol)

[gbpxl]

https://i.postimg.cc/q780kKS6/8574d3982cf334eb5baab4167ae8cd1e.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/ZRxwKYJL/fishing.png


What did you say earlier?


The cover you're talking about has the woman holding a fishing rod. Maybe the woman actively fishing has something to do with fishing? The cover I posted just has a woman on it staring outwards at the audience and doing nothing else.

You also said that it doesn't make sense that a woman would be on the cover as it's a male dominated sport, but the cover I posted with a woman on it "was fine to begin with". You're not really consistent with your complaints. Or maybe when you were asking about "objectification of women in video games" you really only meant the specific examples in your original post as those are the only games that objectify women under the specific conditions you outlined.


In any case the specific game cover you mentioned is well known as an extreme example of controversial game marketing, it's not like it's a normal type of cover that every company regularly uses.
https://wackoid.com/game/10-retro-video-game-ads-that-wouldnt-be-allowed-today/This is way more than I care to argue about fishing games, a genre I care little about, but regarding the difference between the two, I think someone would have to be blind to not understand why one is ridiculous while the other is fine.

And yes you proved me wrong, out of the millions of burka wearing women on Earth, there happen to be some that go fishing, just as I am sure there are some that wear bikinis and some that are completely naked. but that is far far from the norm. that would be like a cover of a dude wearing a mankini while driving a sports car. I'm sure there's a picture of that out there somewhere but I dont care to search for it, nor does it make any sense at all.

[Bloodreign]

The British (if I recall correctly) had some tennis game which had an ad of a woman tennis player’s backside facing the camera with one side of her skirt held up by her hand while holding the box of the game. The action resulted in exposing a cheek.

I want to say this was maybe early 90’s but it shows what the gaming demographic was then.

Davis Cup World Tour on the Mega Drive, the ad also somehow appeared in US magazines at the time. Doesn't expose just a cheek, but the girl's entire butt.

https://retrogamingaus.com/2299/video-game-ad-of-the-day-davis-cup-world-tour

[YoshiM]

Davis Cup World Tour on the Mega Drive, the ad also somehow appeared in US magazines at the time. Doesn't expose just a cheek, but the girl's entire butt.

https://retrogamingaus.com/2299/video-game-ad-of-the-day-davis-cup-world-tour

Ah…thanks for the memory boost. I read about it somewhere many years back but couldn’t think of the title and totally forgot the amount of exposure.

[Emperor Megas]

Goddamn that 'fixed' cover was funny. 😄

[Highwind Dragoon]

Everything tends to be oversexualized nowadays, to be honest.

I mean, can they tone it down a little bit? Being turned on all the time can't exactly be healthy for your mental well being.