Blizzard "Trying Not to Oversexualize" Female Overwatch Characters

[mad825]

*looks at thumbnail for new article* Oh, so it's okay to reduce the sexiness of females but males are apparently an exception? That's kind of sexist.

 

[Clive Howlitzer]

They aren't trying very hard.

 

[bjj hero]

I wonder what hell say when his daughter asks "why does the pale lady not need armour on her titties?"

They dont look much different than most other female charecters. Amazing figures in tight outfits. This is hardly the golem in dragonage were talking about.

 

[Dalrien]

Order of Sexualization because why not:

1.Widowmaker
2.Symmetra
3.Mercy
4.Pharah

Widowmaker seems to be the only "offensive" character model though I suppose people don't care.

 

[Flammablezeus]

Trying not to oversexualise? How about, I dunno, just don't do it? Seriously, it's just silly and always takes me out of the game completely. I haven't been able to take games that do this seriously since I was very young.

 

[Artaneius]

How sad that gaming companies have to be forced to announce this kind of statement in the vain attempt to "appease" gamers with political and social agendas... Makes me very depressed that we allowed RL social issues to enter gaming communities and culture. Someone please make me a time machine where I can stay permanently in the 80s-early 00s gaming forums.

 

[Darmy647]

...I know these comments are mostly speaking the mind about the sexualizations but...you know, I've YET to see gameplay for this game and at all, and let me just say i am DAMN impressed.

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

A brand new, super-looking IP is announced from Blizzard and all the lot of you want to talk about is how much the Widowmaker's ass offends you. Sure, let's not talk about the aesthetics of the game, or the varied approach to the classes (I speak as a TF2 player and ex-WoW veteran).

No, how the women are portrayed is the hot-topic.

You guys might not realize this, but sexy women exist and they know it. Blizzard creates game worlds that are extremely fantastical in nature. In these fantasy settings, women are presented to show off their bodies. It has been this way for years. I don't give a rat's ass what the characters look like except to identify them on the other side of my crosshair.

Really, the fact that this statement from Blizzard had to be given at all is kind of sad, really. The game looks like a grand ol' time. Let's just enjoy it for what it is and probably what will be: a game.

 

[Dogstile]

Christ this is news? Its one character out of a fuck load. Its a cool character design, the way it all comes together will be instantly recognisable and it goes with the character name. Its a gimmick, get over it.

 

[JarinArenos]

I've seen enough reports of "See in this gameplay footage how this woman is brutally shot to death, and the player receives a point" to know there are people offended by the simple inclusion of females in any form.

I'm surprised we haven't heard anything about the mass genocide of all these nameless, faceless, unimportant male henchmen we all seem perfectly happy to slaughter, to be honest.

The typical problem is that you have female death being sexualized, not that there's any existence of female enemies at all. That's a vitally important distinction. Female antagonists can be awesome, and there's nothing wrong with female mooks as long as they're not dressed in bikinis and die in porn poses.

On the topic of faceless henchmen... you might guess from my previous paragraph that I'm all for balancing out this particular population. But then again, I'm all for a (non jack-thompsan-esque) conversation about the need for games to have the slaughter of so many faceless mooks in the first place. Violent video games can exist, sure (god knows I've enjoyed plenty of them)... but is it seriously so difficult to come up with game mechanics that rely on something other than insane levels of mass murder? Indie gaming has some interesting examples in this area... but I have trouble remembering the last major triple-a game release that didn't involve A) Killing large swathes of enemies, or B) Licensed sports properties.

 

[NiPah]

Trying not to oversexualise? How about, I dunno, just don't do it? Seriously, it's just silly and always takes me out of the game completely. I haven't been able to take games that do this seriously since I was very young.

They do it because there's a larger market for people who like sexy characters then those who think it's silly.
But companies always like to test the waters so to say, maybe the market is changing a bit, I do hope this does well...
Not that I'll ever play it.

 

[dragonswarrior]

Someone please make me a time machine where I can stay permanently in the 80s-early 00s gaming forums.

Yes. Please. And then stay there.

Really, the fact that this statement from Blizzard had to be given at all is kind of sad, really. The game looks like a grand ol' time. Let's just enjoy it for what it is and probably what will be: a game.

Ah of course. We should just ignore the enormous section of the population that really enjoys playing video games but is bothered or made uncomfortable by the fact that everyone that shares their gender all have the same unrepresentative body type that allows for zero power fantasy from said gender and all dress in clothing that is more appropriate at a burlesque show than a battlefield.

I mean clearly they should just get over themselves and enjoy the games because you enjoy them. You aren't bothered by it so despite the enormous difference in various human psyche's and the fact that such statements are the very fucking definition of male privilege they should give up on an issue that is clearly only in their imaginations and stop asking for anything because it's mildly annoying for you.

Yep. Totally cool man. Totally cool.

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

Ah of course. We should just ignore the enormous section of the population that really enjoys playing video games but is bothered or made uncomfortable by the fact that everyone that shares their gender all have the same unrepresentative body type that allows for zero power fantasy from said gender and all dress in clothing that is more appropriate at a burlesque show than a battlefield.

I mean clearly they should just get over themselves and enjoy the games because you enjoy them. You aren't bothered by it so despite the enormous difference in various human psyche's and the fact that such statements are the very fucking definition of male privilege they should give up on an issue that is clearly only in their imaginations and stop asking for anything because it's mildly annoying for you.

Yep. Totally cool man. Totally cool.

Well, I'm just glad somebody here sees things the way I do.

 

[jackpipsam]

"She saw a World of Warcraft cinematic of the Dragon Aspects, and my daughter was like, 'Why are they all in swimsuits?' And I was like, 'I don't know. I don't know anymore.'"

This. Just this.
Hopefully as gaming goes on we'll have a lot less of this nonsense.
I am fully supportive of Blizzard desexualizing characters, it's just ridiculous as it is now.
I mean it wasn't even a range of swimsuits, it was just all stupid looking g-strings.

 

[Dogstile]

Ah of course. We should just ignore the enormous section of the population that really enjoys playing video games but is bothered or made uncomfortable by the fact that everyone that shares their gender all have the same unrepresentative body type that allows for zero power fantasy from said gender and all dress in clothing that is more appropriate at a burlesque show than a battlefield.

Yep. Totally cool man. Totally cool.

Not all the characters are revealing.

As a white male, the above body type is representative of the population of people that will be playing this game.

These robes are exactly what I would wear to a battlefield with guns.

 

[Jenvas1306]

Ive got a little look at overwatch and I like it.
I really despise the way all female League of Legends characters looks the same and have "sexy" as one of their primary attributes. I also dislike TF2 being a sausage fest.
I am however totally fine with characters being sexy, as long as it doesn't get into the way of their job and doesn't comprimise them being badass. (it also helps if its not just the women being focused on in such a way especially in promotional art)
Overwatch has an interesting looking rooster of characters.

TDLR: sexy is fine in the right place and the right amount.

But now I gotta see more of actual gameplay. after all: its a game.

 

[Jetfan007]

The typical problem is that you have female death being sexualized, not that there's any existence of female enemies at all. That's a vitally important distinction. Female antagonists can be awesome, and there's nothing wrong with female mooks as long as they're not dressed in bikinis and die in porn poses.

On the topic of faceless henchmen... you might guess from my previous paragraph that I'm all for balancing out this particular population. But then again, I'm all for a (non jack-thompsan-esque) conversation about the need for games to have the slaughter of so many faceless mooks in the first place. Violent video games can exist, sure (god knows I've enjoyed plenty of them)... but is it seriously so difficult to come up with game mechanics that rely on something other than insane levels of mass murder? Indie gaming has some interesting examples in this area... but I have trouble remembering the last major triple-a game release that didn't involve A) Killing large swathes of enemies, or B) Licensed sports properties.

To the bolded point, do you believe ragdoll physics to be sexist? 'Cause the only time you'll ever see "porn poses" is in a game with ragdoll physics or poorly implemented 'realistic' physics. Is bad coding sexist?

On henchmen, many games have done exactly that. Does that mean that there shouldn't be games with henchmen? Are henchmen a problem? Are henchmen in movies, comics, TV, books, etc a problem? Should every character in a story be named, with a full backstory?

 

[Johkmil]

We want girls to feel kick-butt.

This should be the core mantra for the development of any female playable character in such a genre, as it can lead to improvements in presentation and representation without losing sight of the main goal: making a video game.
Make characters that fulfill their function regardless of whomever the player is, and most of the problems will work themselves out on the way. Appeal to new audiences without stooping to the lowest common denominator. Sexiness might display confidence or jiggle physics - a character that is designed as a female power fantasy will almost certainly still be attractive, but with better posture and stronger head on her shoulders.

 

[The Lunatic]

Fine with me.

Admittedly, it does feel a little forced. But, whatever, it's their artistic choice and all that.

I'd prefer less "Robots and brutish monsters are always male unless it's a spider." though.

However, I do wish them luck in convincing the professional victims and rampant complainers. I'm sure they'll find somebody to whine about.