Check Out the Dragon Age Hotties in Maxim: UPDATED

[Alucard3Dark]

I'm slightly confused and thoroughly displeased with this article. The sarcasm feels vapid and forced, with the attempt at a "humorous, pop culture reference filled rant" coming off as uninspired instead of relate-able. The shots against Maxim are, more or less, justified: with their writing being roughly at the middle-school meathead level - as reported. This doesn't infer anything about the reader-base or the models, however. Accusing EA and Bioware of this kind of thinking feels like a projection of the writer's own personal feelings on Maxim readers and models instead of genuine outrage that EA and Bioware are marketing towards video gamers that like boobs.

Additionally, the shots against the girls are cheap. The girls are models and they made potentially career making decisions by joining one the biggest video game producers on a huge budget game. The game may not look exactly like the models, but there's definitely a resemblance and, coupled with the Maxim press, will put their faces out there for other firms to see. Video game press linked with eye candy? It's not a new concept, nor is it under-appreciated by gamers. (See: http://www.e3girls.com/main.cfm?CFID=7444405&CFTOKEN=80931240 )

From the marketing side, Bioware and EA have been putting out, like it or not, solid marketing aimed at different demographics:

"Do you buy games based on a boobs per minute ratio? We have boobs!" (See: http://www.maxim.com/girls/girls-of-maxim/84692/exclusive-girls-idragons-agei.html )

"Do you regard your numbered special edition copy of Baldur's Gate II among your most valuable possessions? This is the spiritual successor to Baldur's Gate!" (See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1ty5KFPyqw )

"Do you own a PS3 or Xbox 360 and retain the attention span of a red-bull shotgunning chipmunk? We have lots of action and loud rock music!" (See: http://dragonage.bioware.com/gallery/videos/ )

This game looks and (from the early reviews) sounds to be one of the best RPG's released in the last few years with something for everyone. Exposing as many people as possible to a new license created by one of the best game developers in the industry can only draw more people into buying the game. Good sales on this game will lead to more games from Bioware. I haven't read a single bad review for a Bioware game. Ever. If I then take the outcome of more Bioware games as being a generally accepted good thing - I'm left to wonder what, aside from the poor writing, the downside to the Maxim spread is?

So I guess I'm still confused - what was this article trying to accomplish again? -

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

So I guess I'm still confused - what was this article trying to accomplish again? -

Boobies.

And probably spelt like that as well.

 

[shadow skill]

EA has basically hijacked the entire process ever since they took BioWare over when Dragon Age was still in mid-poduction and through marketing made it into something that it's not. I'm still drooling over this game, but turning it via marketing into a metalhead sword-and-boobs bloodfest instead of a better version of "The Witcher" isn't something I appreciate. These Maxim shots only exacerbate it.

Why is it that the female character models in Western RPGS that I have played or seen screenshots of, regardless of whether the game is good or not look so damn UGLY?! The art for the cards you get after sleeping with women in The Witcher look ten trillion times better than the character model in the game. In this game the women seem to all look vaguely masculine as well. As another person said the concept art for Morrigan looks way better than the actual in game model. (Granted her in game model is not that bad.)

 

[GloatingSwine]

The girl on the right is fit as fuck. The CGI one on the left looks moody and constipated.

Didn't you hear. Dragon Age is GRIMDARK. People are not allowed to be happy.

 

[Amnestic]

EA has basically hijacked the entire process ever since they took BioWare over when Dragon Age was still in mid-poduction and through marketing made it into something that it's not. I'm still drooling over this game, but turning it via marketing into a metalhead sword-and-boobs bloodfest instead of a better version of "The Witcher" isn't something I appreciate. These Maxim shots only exacerbate it.

Why is it that the female character models in Western RPGS that I have played or seen screenshots of, regardless of whether the game is good or not look so damn UGLY?! The art for the cards you get after sleeping with women in The Witcher look ten trillion times better than the character model in the game. In this game the women seem to all look vaguely masculine as well. As another person said the concept art for Morrigan looks way better than the actual in game model. (Granted her in game model is not that bad.)

Dunno what you're on about. I thought my incarnation of Commander Shepard was fairly attractive.

And the lasses from Jade Empire weren't exactly hard on the eyes either. What Western RPGs have you been playing?

 

[Doug]

UPDATE: It turns out that while Maxim has no problem throwing up photos of anyone willing to flash a sideboob, the folks who work there want to make sure they maintain their standing with the meathead crowd. The text that originally accompanied the photos, it turns out, was a bit on the condescending side. To wit:

"Unless doing it kinky-style with your significant other, role-playing is the second nerdiest thing you could possibly do. Playing role-playing video games is No. 1, which puts Bioware's upcoming RPG Dragon Age: Origins at a severe disadvantage in the 'make us interested' category. Fortunately for them, they've got a couple of aces in the hole: sneaky seductress Leliana and shapeshifting mage Morrigan. Both are possible romantic companions in the game, but you don't have to wait until the release date to fall in love with them. We've got exclusive photos of real-life hotties Alleykatze and Victoria Johnson who lent their sexy curves to their video game counterparts."

Compare that with updated entry:

"Cut from the same cloth as their previous Baldur's Gate series, Bioware's upcoming RPG Dragon Age: Origins thrusts players into a world of magic, nobility, and bloody battles. Lots and lots of bloody battles. But, killing off seven-story tall dragons and no play makes one's game character a dull boy (or girl). Fortunately, the developers included a couple of ways allowing one's avatar let off some virtual steam: sneaky seductress Leliana and shapeshifting mage Morrigan. Both are possible romantic companions in the game-the second best kind of sex, next to the real thing!-but you don't have to wait until the release date to fall in love with them. We've got exclusive photos of real-life hotties Alleykatze and Victoria Johnson who lent their sexy curves to their video game counterparts. That's some levelling up we can all get behind!"

Wait, a magazine devouted to shallow soft porn for horny kids thinks they can look down on us? Well, joy-of-joys.

 

[Doug]

EA has basically hijacked the entire process ever since they took BioWare over when Dragon Age was still in mid-poduction and through marketing made it into something that it's not. I'm still drooling over this game, but turning it via marketing into a metalhead sword-and-boobs bloodfest instead of a better version of "The Witcher" isn't something I appreciate. These Maxim shots only exacerbate it.

Why is it that the female character models in Western RPGS that I have played or seen screenshots of, regardless of whether the game is good or not look so damn UGLY?! The art for the cards you get after sleeping with women in The Witcher look ten trillion times better than the character model in the game. In this game the women seem to all look vaguely masculine as well. As another person said the concept art for Morrigan looks way better than the actual in game model. (Granted her in game model is not that bad.)

In this case, yeah, the pair of in game characters don't look so good, but wtf are you talking about when you say all RPGs are like that? As for JRPGs, they have uniformally underage to the point of creepy girls - how's that better?

 

[Doug]

Who wants to bet there will be another ludicrously overblown fiasco calling Dragon Age a porno game ala Mass Effect?

No dice there, cowboy.

AT any rate, I have a sneaking suspicion that Bioware is just using the whole blood, gore, and tits angle as bait for the kind of people who thought Transformers 2 had a decent plot; lying in wait to spring a well written and thoughtful RPG on them.

Either that or I'm a hopelessly deluded fanboy.

Wait, why not? The truth didn't stop FOX NEWS MAN from decrying it as a child corrupting porn simulator based on 1 minute-ish of tastefully discrete sex. What'll stop'em this time?

As for Dragon Age, I've been reading the books and the backstory seems pretty good and well thought out. And to be honest, is there really anything wrong with blood, gore, etc? To be honest, most games don't even feature 1/10th of the blood a realistic scenario would, heh. Just because the fuckwit Transformers 2/Michael Bay fans like it as well doesn't make it bad

I'm giving that 'Jouneries' flash game they made a try as well. Seems alright, for a flash game.

 

[Vanguard_Ex]

Ended up hitting the Maxim site and found the other images.
http://cdn2.maxim.com/maxim/files/2009/10/20/exclusive-girls-idragons-agei/victoria-johnson_l5.jpg


Very yes.

 

[shadow skill]

EA has basically hijacked the entire process ever since they took BioWare over when Dragon Age was still in mid-poduction and through marketing made it into something that it's not. I'm still drooling over this game, but turning it via marketing into a metalhead sword-and-boobs bloodfest instead of a better version of "The Witcher" isn't something I appreciate. These Maxim shots only exacerbate it.

Why is it that the female character models in Western RPGS that I have played or seen screenshots of, regardless of whether the game is good or not look so damn UGLY?! The art for the cards you get after sleeping with women in The Witcher look ten trillion times better than the character model in the game. In this game the women seem to all look vaguely masculine as well. As another person said the concept art for Morrigan looks way better than the actual in game model. (Granted her in game model is not that bad.)

In this case, yeah, the pair of in game characters don't look so good, but wtf are you talking about when you say all RPGs are like that? As for JRPGs, they have uniformally underage to the point of creepy girls - how's that better?

I said all of the ones I have played or looked at, how does this translate to all? What is the reason for being so defensive? Incidentally there is a German study that concluded that women's faces reach their most attractive at about fourteen years on average. Furthermore human faces that are more symmetrical tend to be considered more attractive. This probably explains in part why Asian art like that found in Anime, and JRPGS tend to feature faces that are unnaturally symmetrical. All of that said I would say that both are equally bad.

EA has basically hijacked the entire process ever since they took BioWare over when Dragon Age was still in mid-poduction and through marketing made it into something that it's not. I'm still drooling over this game, but turning it via marketing into a metalhead sword-and-boobs bloodfest instead of a better version of "The Witcher" isn't something I appreciate. These Maxim shots only exacerbate it.

Why is it that the female character models in Western RPGS that I have played or seen screenshots of, regardless of whether the game is good or not look so damn UGLY?! The art for the cards you get after sleeping with women in The Witcher look ten trillion times better than the character model in the game. In this game the women seem to all look vaguely masculine as well. As another person said the concept art for Morrigan looks way better than the actual in game model. (Granted her in game model is not that bad.)

Dunno what you're on about. I thought my incarnation of Commander Shepard was fairly attractive.

And the lasses from Jade Empire weren't exactly hard on the eyes either. What Western RPGs have you been playing?

Mass Effect, Morrowind, Oblivion, The Witcher (Good game need to beat it some time.), Fable, Fable 2 (Though in the case of the Fable games the character models are more goofy than ugly.), KOTOR/KOTOR2. I haven't really liked any of them. (The character models.) The Witcher is particularly horrendous. It's as if they tried to make anorexic female bodies and then proceeded to put a man's face on half of them. I feel like googling to see if there is a mod to put bags over the heads of all the female characters...

 

[Doug]

EA has basically hijacked the entire process ever since they took BioWare over when Dragon Age was still in mid-poduction and through marketing made it into something that it's not. I'm still drooling over this game, but turning it via marketing into a metalhead sword-and-boobs bloodfest instead of a better version of "The Witcher" isn't something I appreciate. These Maxim shots only exacerbate it.

Why is it that the female character models in Western RPGS that I have played or seen screenshots of, regardless of whether the game is good or not look so damn UGLY?! The art for the cards you get after sleeping with women in The Witcher look ten trillion times better than the character model in the game. In this game the women seem to all look vaguely masculine as well. As another person said the concept art for Morrigan looks way better than the actual in game model. (Granted her in game model is not that bad.)

In this case, yeah, the pair of in game characters don't look so good, but wtf are you talking about when you say all RPGs are like that? As for JRPGs, they have uniformally underage to the point of creepy girls - how's that better?

I said all of the ones I have played or looked at, how does this translate to all? What is the reason for being so defensive? Incidentally there is a German study that concluded that women's faces reach their most attractive at about fourteen years on average. Furthermore human faces that are more symmetrical tend to be considered more attractive. This probably explains in part why Asian art like that found in Anime, and JRPGS tend to feature faces that are unnaturally symmetrical. All of that said I would say that both are equally bad.

Sorry. I just get worked up every time someone brings up JRPGs. Especially seeing as the Escapist seems to have a large hardcore JRPG fan club who constantly just state that RPGs are automatically inferior to JRPGs. As a result, I tend to overreact somewhat.

Anyway, I find it alittle odd this survey came to the conclusion 14 yrs olds == the most attractive. Personally, I don't see it - I probably saw it when I was 14 myself.

I'm surprised you didn't like, say, Ashley Williams (Mass Effect) at least attractive - the blue one I can understand, heh.

 

[ma55ter_fett]

Am I the only one who really can't take female characters in fantasy games seriously?

The characters are always too slender and delicate to use a weapon in real life, it's just laughable.

Spoiler: Now, if female adventurers looked like this...

..then I wouldn't have a problem.

OT: I always thought the women in Dragon Age looked pretty plain anyway...

Bioware would never use an adventurer who looked like that in one of their games. They want to create boners in their player base not kill them.

 

[Flying-Emu]

Am I the only one who really can't take female characters in fantasy games seriously?

The characters are always too slender and delicate to use a weapon in real life, it's just laughable.

Spoiler: Now, if female adventurers looked like this...

..then I wouldn't have a problem.

OT: I always thought the women in Dragon Age looked pretty plain anyway...

Sorry, not into the interracial thing.

Spoiler

Fnar fnar, she's a half-orc.

 

[Swaki]

this is so cheap, and it makes me embarrassed about having pre-purchased dragon age, worst of all this seems like a step backwards, not just for the game or for gaming but for mankind all together, assuming we cant be entertained without a love interest or a pair of titties bouncing around should be punished whit 2-5 years of prison (2 years to games like half life and phyconauts and the likes, and 5 for resident evil 4 and such)

 

[IxionIndustries]

The girl on the right is fit as fuck. The CGI one on the left looks moody and constipated.

I must agree. Those two look nothing alike..

 

[Undercover]

Wow. Ok its pretty obvious that the Edmonton branch of BioWare isn't handling the model/character conversion

Yes, they are.

Dammit! See, this was one of those smartass comments (from ME? NO!) where;

A: You're taking a shot in a self-deprecating way
B: You secretly hope to hell you're not right.

Ok, my original point was even though the character modelling may be going on here in Edmonton I doubt those two girls are locals. And yes I know I'm just a google search away from finding out, but I just don't care that much. (See: B)

 

[thiosk]

wow

the quoted article snippits are pretty indicative of how stupid maxim magazine really is.

 

[Joeshie]

Oh dear, sweet jesus. I'm hoping that the first thing modders jump on is that fucking ugly face. She looks like a constipated ogre. I don't need supreme beauty or anything, just something that is pleasant to look at.

 

[Cortheya]

NO you do NOT mock RPG games or Bioware! But you do post hot pictures of real life girls the RPG characters are based on. 50/50 fail/win ratio

 

[CloakedOne]

Am I the only one who really can't take female characters in fantasy games seriously?

The characters are always too slender and delicate to use a weapon in real life, it's just laughable.

Spoiler: Now, if female adventurers looked like this...

..then I wouldn't have a problem.

OT: I always thought the women in Dragon Age looked pretty plain anyway...

I whole-heartedly support a movement for women to look like this in video games. They should anyway if they swing those enormous swords and the like. Why are so many afraid of strong women? Sure, men are getting better about women who are mentally/magically powerful, but we still have a ways to go, apparently, when it comes to accepting and supporting women who are physically strong.