Gallery of the Day - Pixelated Boobs

[wulf3n]

The thread was derailed when the OP deiced to toss in a throwaway paragraph trying to make it out like this was meant to provoke discussion the spend much more page space going "LOOOOOK BOOOOBIESSSSS".

Great, and how is that presumption going to further any discussion?

Oh and I don't buy your excuse of try to pass them off as "examples". I think its safe to say that 99.99% of people who use these forums know what Laura croft and Samus look like, or are at least aware of the Dragon's Crown controversy. "example images", (on the off chance that was the actual intent, which I doubt) were not necessary.

Whether or not they are "necessary" is irrelevant. What's relevant is that EVERYONE not just on side or the other is more interested in bitching about pointless triviality than conduct any actual discussion.

Effectively. People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. If you wan't an actual discussion on these issues, then discuss the issues.

 

[major_chaos]

If you wan't an actual discussion on these issues, then discuss the issues.

The entire point of my first post in this thread was that this thread's existence and the replies some people are making is (IMO) evidence that sexism is apparently a much larger issue in the gaming community than I had thought.

 

[wulf3n]

The entire point of my first post in this thread was that this thread's existence and the replies some people are making is (IMO) evidence that sexism is apparently a much larger issue in the gaming community than I had thought.

Which is the problem with having a preconception about this thread, it only serves to feed itself.

You believe the article is sexist. You open it, see only the sexist elements, pass anything that would indicate otherwise as I don't believe that was their intent, and use it as evidence that sexism is a larger issue than you thought.

edit: but that's not really what I have a problem with.

It's the blaming one group when both are equally responsible.

 

[KissingSunlight]

When people complain about sex, it actually shows more about that person's sexual hang-ups than it does morality and social problems. I sincerely believe that this person has a problem with all these video game characters. I love Halo. I never once thought Cortana is a sex object. She was more like Tinkerbell. A digital fairy that helped out Master Chief. That goes with most of the examples that this person (I can't tell what gender the article writer is or if the name was made up.)list as examples of negative sexual depictions of women.

 

[Lonewolfm16]

So we can't have intelligent discussion AND also enjoy ogling hot females?

What exactly is the discussion value here? The majority of the posts on this thread are going "lolololol buttmad feminists xD xD xD", so its less a "discussion" and more "everything wrong with this community in one place". If you want tits, there is porn all over the internet, go find some.

And if you are female, and uncomfortable with the idea of scantily clad, big breasted women I question why you went into a thread/gallery entitled "pixelated boobs".

First of all, I'm male and straight, so this isn't "not to my tastes" its "not the time or the place". Second, my issue is that this was posted by staff. If you are going to make staff posts they should have some value, either as thought provoking articles or as news. If this guy wanted to just post sexy pictures he should have done it on his pervy livejournal, not on the Escapist front page.

I don't like this thing, therefore no one else is allowed to either.

More like " I hate what this thing represents" and therefore it worries me that it exists. I would rather not frequent a site apparently run by the guy who wrote FATAL.

the community is overwhelmingly male and straight, so this gallery appealing to the majority is unsurprising.

So fuck minorities? This sounds eerily like the asinine non logic that makes publishers scared to have female leads in games.

Each thread for a Western game doesn't have to have a equivalent one for a Eastern game.

An article about a western game doesn't normal make anyone feel uncomfortable or objectified, so that really isn't a good comparison.

So, I have a suggestion. If you want a thread dedicated to the ogling of hot men, make one.

Its not so much that I want one, its that if the same guy who posted this also posted the gender inverse he would come across a bit less like a creep. Tell me when he does so and I will withdraw my accusations.

You.. you do know this is a gaming website, right? Intellectual discussion is great, but some things are just for fun. To enjoy something, even if its not "highbrow" is hardly evil. Sometimes you just want a distraction from the mundane and frustration of normal life. I think there's a word for that. Oh yes, Escapism. As for this representing everything bad with the community, I agree. A simple celebration of sexiness in gaming draws immense amounts of ire from this community. Go figure. As for it having value, people enjoy ogling sexy chicks, and gaming, so naturally people might enjoy a cross between them. Again, its simple entertainment, not every little thing needs to be thought provoking. Even from staff. As for what it represents, it represents that some people like seeing sexy big breasted ladies, and other people like drawing/animating them. Not really a very big deal. And no, not "fuck minorities", just you generally want to post things that most people will enjoy. Of course, there's plenty of room for more niche stuff, its just inevitably less popular. In this case a gallery of gaming's hottest guys is less likely due to popularity. Though I actively encourage someone to make one. Also, if the fact that some people like seeing sexy chicks, and other people draw/animate/put them in video games, bothers you, I find your take on human sexuality oddly naive and puritanical. And if you feel personally objectified by something that never had anything to do with you, then you have severe social issues. Also, I fail to see how liking big breast makes someone a "creep", but if that's all it takes to earn the label, then I don't mind "creeps" at all. Also, if your issue with this is it makes women feel uncomfortable, why would a equivalent, opposite gender gallery solve that? Its ok as long as everyone is uncomfortable?

 

[Hithlain]

I guess the "Biggest Junk Bulge" in gaming will be forthcoming then?

 

[Evil Smurf]

This is a stupid article, this is not buzzfeed. If the rest of the site was like this, I'd leave.

 

[Hero of Lime]

This is definitely NOT what the escapist forums need at the moment, or anytime. Hoo boy, it's already five pages long too, I just came here to say this, then slooooowly back away.

 

[Kieve]

This is definitely NOT what the escapist forums need at the moment, or anytime. Hoo boy, it's already five pages long too, I just came here to say this, then slooooowly back away.

Five pages of people being offended, or laughing and "drinking the tears" of those people.
Honestly? I'm more offended that they put Samus Aran up there.
She's an intergalactic bounty-hunting badass.

Spoiler: Boobs are NOT her defining feature.

I mean c'mon, if you're gonna objectify a character in a videogame, at least pick a worthy target. 9_9;

 

[Tanis]

Lets bring this thread down even MORE...with something from Urban Dictionary:

Jugs and orbs and darts and gourds
Elmer Fudds and bouncing Buddhas
Sweater stretchers, lung protectors
Beach umbrellas, frost detectors
Scooby Snacks and snake-eyes dice
Jell-o molds and high-beam lights
Every day I probably use
99 words for boobs

Humpty Dumplings, Hardy Boys
Double lattes, Ode to Joys
Hooters, shooters, physics tutors
Bobbsey Twins and bald commuters
Double-WMD's
MRE's and PFD's
Snow-white dwarfs, Picasso cubes
99 words for boobs

Gerber servers, holy grails
Whoopee cushions, humpback whales
Flying saucers, traffic stoppers
Super Big Gulps, Double Whoppers
Pillows, billows, Don DeLillos
Soft-serve cones and armadillos
Pimped-out hubcaps, inner tubes
99 words for boobs

Midget earmuffs, warming globes
Strobes and probes and frontal lobes
Knockers, honkers, knicker bonkers
Smurfs and Screaming Yellow Zonkers
Tannin' cannons, Mister Bigs
Big bad wolves and Porky Pigs
Jogging partners, saline noobs
99 words for boobs

Two-point jumpers, Bambi's Thumpers
Rubber baby buggy bumpers
Rutabagas, Chi Omegas
Schwag the showgirls show in Vegas
Congo bongos, bowling pins
Fast-pitch softballs, siamese twins

Those are 99 words for boobs

.
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-EDIT-
Captcha was "hush puppies".
Shit...THEY'RE LEARNING!

 

[barbzilla]

It is absolutely infuriating that this here here and utterly disappointing that this article made it past whatever sort of review process the Escapist has.

At best this is a failed attempt to get some laughs at the expense of those who would question the overly-sexualized depiction of women in video games. At best this is a suggestion that gender issues have no place in the discussion surrounding video games At best this is an attempt to ridicule or satirize the notion of holding video games to the same standards of content that all other art is. And when the best possible interpretation of an article is as an attempt to limit the scope of the conversation surrounding video games, then forgetting the insult to those affected by the issues, you do a grave disservice to video games themselves and their place in culture as a whole.

I will say I'm heartened to see as many commenters here as there are decrying this sort of thing. There was a time, not too long ago, I think, when those who recognize the misogyny in an article like this would fume in private and not speak up--certainly, that would've been the case for me. But here, many people have stood up and voiced their displeasure and disappointment, which will only make others feel empowered to do so the next time something like this happens. And that is what leads to change.

To The Escapist, I'll say this. I originally thought about threatening to cease consumption of your content. I thought about threatening to contact your independent content producers and call their attention to whether they, many of whom have been vocal in the cause of bringing awareness to gender issues in the medium, want to continue producing content for a site that posts something like this. I thought about contacting advertisers, many of whom understand that misogyny is no longer acceptable for this medium. But I'm angry right now, and it would be rash to act while I'm still so infuriated. However, I will ask you this:

When you post an article, would you rather it appeal to the audience that sees gender issues as something worth discussing in video games, or the audience that (as we have seen in these very comments) uses "feminist" as an insult? Think on it, please.

--A disappointed fan

I am pretty sure you just said that you want video games held to the same standard that all other art is... Have you consumed any art from other media recently? Just curious, because boobs have been artistic content since art became a word. There are literally cave drawing depicting large breasted women. I don't care what artistic media you choose, or what age you choose it from, there will be examples of boobs (and sexual references in general) being present (though in books you don't see them as much as you are told about them).

I was going to expand on my rebuttle, but I don't think it is really needed.

 

[Flight]

Wow, a lot of self-righteous people flipping out here. Well played, Escapist! Satirical or not, this is hilarious to watch unfold.

But it's just terrible content in general. Front page space is valuable, and this is apparently what Escapist values on their front page. Satire or not, that's just... it comes off badly on them. A lot of people value professionalism in this climate where a distinct lack of it is abundantly evident in 90% of gaming websites, and this only goes to soil the Escapist's. It's not "self-righteous," I hope, to expect genuinely quality content; especially from a website with a subscription service.

I agree. If this is a joke, it's not a very good one, I'm afraid.

 

[major_chaos]

A simple celebration of sexiness in gaming draws immense amounts of ire from this community. Go figure.

If you think this is ire, Tropes vs Women must have started your monitor on fire.

As for what it represents, it represents that some people like seeing sexy big breasted ladies

So basically, yes we are slowly becoming /v/ with a thin pretense of civility. And also continuing to get weird looks from non-gamers because this is what they think we all are.

just you generally want to post things that most people will enjoy.

Like something about videogames instead of boobs?

Also, if the fact that some people like seeing sexy chicks, and other people draw/animate/put them in video games, bothers you,

I was the at my local Gamestop this morning to get Dragon's Crown the second the store opened. Take from that what you want.

And if you feel personally objectified by something that never had anything to do with you, then you have severe social issues.

I don't feel objectified, I was saying that the Escapist's few female members might.

Also, I fail to see how liking big breast makes someone a "creep",

Its obsessiveness that makes it creepy.

Also, if your issue with this is it makes women feel uncomfortable, why would a equivalent, opposite gender gallery solve that? Its ok as long as everyone is uncomfortable?

In my experience guys seldom are made uncomfortable by shirtless men unless its because they are afraid of "catching the gay". men and women do not have the exact same reaction to everything.

 

[RandV80]

I've never played the Halo series, but is it just me or does something seem off with Cortana's proportions? Like the boobs are two low on the body or the neck is too long, or a combination of the two. To try and frame it that seems like a huge gap between her chin & her boobs, almost like it's in grandma proportions.

 

[Psychobabble]

Gallery of the Day - Pixelated Boobs

With all of the hullabaloo surrounding the release of Dragon's Crown, its abundance of boobs and whether or not it is fair to judge a game by its art style, we are celebrating the history of boobs in videogames with this brief look back.

Should a videogame review take artistic style into account when grading the overall experience of a game? Where do artistic liberties end and when does commentary on current social issues take precedence? These are all important questions that have dominated the forums in recent days and if you have thoughts on the matter, this thread is for you. Remember, their eyes are up here.

Permalink

Edit: An earlier version of this thread didn't include the full introduction. We fixed it.

Thank you for that prejudicial and childish little dig at your readers integrity. I could have considered this an honest questioning of game and gamer values up until you just turned it into an outright accusation. Just who among your readership is that little comment aimed at? Just the males? Or in the case of female readers that consider themselves straight are you also implying they are closet lesbians? And when it comes to me personally, I always remember to look a woman in the eye instead of at her breasts. You know why? I was raised with something called manners. I do indeed have sexual drives, however I don't let those instincts alone define who I am. No amount of silly shallow escapist fantasy entertainment is going to change that.

I recently subscribed to the publishers club because I felt that out of many gaming sites The Escapist was one of the few that actually had intelligent and witty people behind it. People who thought for themselves and didn't pander to popular opinion. Thank you DrStrangelove for making me not only doubt that impression, but question the wisdom of my investment.

 

[Observer4k9]

What the fuck? Are you fucking kidding me? Why is this kind of thing here? Have the number of people visiting this site fallen so far they have to use the promise of tits to get people to visit the site?

 

[NoeL]

I've never played the Halo series, but is it just me or does something seem off with Cortana's proportions? Like the boobs are two low on the body or the neck is too long, or a combination of the two. To try and frame it that seems like a huge gap between her chin & her boobs, almost like it's in grandma proportions.

That's actually what a lot of women (of those proportions) look like without bras on. She might have a more uncommon body shape among models/pornstars/whathaveyou but it's not an unrealistic portrayal of the female body.

EDIT: OT... yeah, what was the point of this gallery? The content's a little low brow for this site, and if it was intended as satire is that really an appropriate response to the people that seem to have a problem with this stuff? Even with the edited intro, the motivation behind this gallery is fuzzy to me.

 

[Azaraxzealot]

This is a stupid article, this is not buzzfeed. If the rest of the site was like this, I'd leave.

It may very well get there with all the tabloid links that appear at the bottom of articles and videos, those "EXP" videos that are basically all the things we're not allowed to post about on the forums, the rules that actively encourage hypocrisy (seriously, if contributors get to talk about their forays into activities that are considered "dubious" in gaming circles then we should too), the banning of members who really didn't deserve it (RIP Vault 101), the escapist news with its very own version of Jessica Chobot, the return of Top 5 With Lisa Foiles, the debacle with Extra Credits, it's not unfair to say it's becoming more like IGN every day.

This post is just something else to add to the laundry list of ongoing problems here. The only reason the forums aren't exploding with complaints, however, is that the more bad changes happen to the site, the stricter the mods get. I mean, they won't even let any news get through that isn't "sponsored", meaning that if you, yourself, made something cool and wanted to tell people about it, they'd take down your post and put a black mark on your record. It happened when I said I made a game and tried to share it to get feedback (yet we're allowed to say we WANT to make a game or post game ideas? how does that make sense that it's only legal to post about making games up until you ACTUALLY follow through with it).

Though it's not like what I or anyone else here says will change anything (I'd be pleasantly surprised if they did), I have been keeping that in for too long and this shameless post here just got the floodwaters going.

 

[Xan Krieger]

I don't get all the people getting mad at this, if the Escapist would make this a daily thing I'd be visiting a lot more often. Also it needed a lot more images so have a "Gallery of the Day Pixelated Boobs part 2" with like 20 pictures.

 

[Do4600]

www.escapistmagazine.com(www.arguing_about_gender_politics.com)

What you guys made this gallery and left out the most busty video game character of all time?

Spoiler

...hahahahahahahaha! Well played. Well played indeed.