Hitman's "Attack of the Saints" Trailer and the misguided people that defend it.

[AzrealMaximillion]

For context on what I'm about to discuss skim through this (posted earlier today):http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.385298-IO-Changed-Hitman-Absolution-Following-Nun-Controversy

Also go through a few of the forum comments about it.

Now then, I'm greatly disappointed that people seem to be getting mad at the developer for changing the Saint's portion of the upcoming Hitman: Absolution. Mostly because they don't even know what the hell their getting mad about. Some people are mad because they seem to think that the game's trailer caused offence over the sexualized latex clad nuns. While it may have done so, that's not what the big controversy was about. There seems to be a group of people commenting for the sake of being mad (happens a lot these days). Judging from the tone, lot of the comments are people who think the IO Interactive is pandering to feminists. Those people have missed the point.


The reason that a lot of people got pissed wasn't due to typical video game misogyny. People were angry with how the new Hitman was being portrayed. The trailer made mainstay fans of the series feel like the game was going in the same direction as most video games, what with the Hollywood style random explosions and the over the top sillyness that has never been a major part of the Hitman series. Instead people are taking the chance to randomly bash feminists or anyone who views the trailer as unfriendly to women.

On one side the original controversy was about the integrity of the Hitman series being jeopardized to pander to whatever market research firm says is the general market. On the other side people who have no idea about the original controversy are vilifying IO for changing the game for reasons that weren't the main issue.

That's the way I'm seeing it, I want to know if other are seeing it this way as well.

I want some opinions here. Debates too. (Keep it clean and know that you're talking about)

Here's a couple of questions:
Are some people just blowing hot air when it comes to being mad at IO for making the changes it has?

Do you agree with IO for making said changes?

Do you think people should research a topic before getting fired up about it?(Kind of obvious I know but its for discussion's sake)?

 

[Shadowstar38]

Well, the whole feminist thing was what was being thrown around the loudest when this trailer came out. I can see why people would be confused about the root problem.

I never found the trailer wasnt sexist. I just found it to be silly as hell, and worth a few chuckles. But it's just a trailer. There's no need to pull that whole section out of the game if they play it straight the whole time.

 

[Scrustle]

I think at least some of the people who were angry at this news were angry because they feel like IO are somewhat trying to backpedal on the whole issue. Like they are giving in to the critics. That's a concession of failure and therefore a sign of weakness. They're not really angry at why it happened or whether it was justified that it happened, but rather simply the fact that it did.

 

[Vrex360]

I said it once before and I stand by what I said.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.376929-My-views-on-the-controversy-over-the-new-Hitman-trailer?page=2#14702444

But to simplify it was not not not the fact that women died that was controversial. It was the overt sexualization of them while it was happening that turned people off. What really pissed me off about this whole issue was how 9 out of every ten people speaking out against the controversy ignored that point.

 

[TheCommanders]

I mostly just thought it was weird that they put out a trailer that had almost nothing to do with what Hitman games are like. They're usually about being somewhat intelligent about how you get to and take out your targets, and therefore, the best assassins are the ones that are subtle or stealthy. Aaand cue the incredibly unsubtle nuns who walk up to the front of a hotel, face one direction, blow up the hotel and then just stare at it in their knickers until 47 can sneak up behind them and ambush their stupid asses. It was just stupid; the fact that it was women being killed didn't have anything to do with why it was stupid.

Lol, captcha- Ladies first

 

[Gorilla Gunk]

what with the Hollywood style random explosions and the over the top sillyness that has never been a major part of the Hitman series.

And now I'm convinced you've never played a Hitman game in your life.

 

[neonsword13-ops]

The trailer made mainstay fans of the series feel like the game was going in the same direction as most video games, what with the Hollywood style random explosions and the over the top sillyness that has never been a major part of the Hitman series.

Sorry, wut?

OT: I honestly don't understand the controversy behind it.

You had the liberty to kill anyone you liked in the previous games. Even women. (OH SHIT R U SERIOUS?!)

So why is every one so worked up about it? Because they look like nuns? If I recall, religious costumes and such were always part of the Hitman series.

3 - Not in the faintest bit disrespectful to nuns. These girls are obviously dressed as nuns for a reason other than spitting in the eye of the church. Whether it be their gang statement, or part of whatever heist they are trying to pull, this is like saying Hitman is simultaneously racist against all the races he has dressed up as over the years.

Well.. they do call it "The Saints" trailer, so that could very well be the case. Good point there.

 

[Negatempest]

Oh, entertainment in general has treated women far worse than what that trailer did.

Were the "evil" nuns dressed as sex symbols? yes.
Were they all nearly in a perfect hourglass shape? yes.
Can you call this part the trailer sexist? sure.

What was not done?
Were the women kidnapped in anyway? No.
Were they as fragile as a butterfly? No.
Did they need a man's help in the trailer? No.
Were they nagging/complaining? No.


I, as a guy, would feel far more offended if it showed the women in "kitchen" clothing, tripping over themselves, and acting like a damsel in distress. This trailer was interesting in the form that 6 assassins could do nothing on the Agent.

 

[IanBrazen]

The trailer is just ridiculous I don't find it offensive that 47 is beating up women who are trying to kill him. I find it offensive that they have to oversexualize them to the point of it being soft core porn.

A group of fake killer nuns sounds intriguing if its done in a subtle and intelligent way, putting them in skin tight dominatrix outfits was not the right way to go.

I personally think that both sides are missing the point of why this offends people.

but if im out of line someone let me know.

 

[AzrealMaximillion]

what with the Hollywood style random explosions and the over the top sillyness that has never been a major part of the Hitman series.

You couldn't be more wrong.

Exhibit A:

The game has had tons of goofy and dark humour through it.

Dark and Goofy is one thing. (Again Hollywood has done the Dark and Goofy thing a lot) It's the utter ridiculousness of the fact that it was an explosion filled trailer that portrays this random seemingly choreographed American film style fight scene when the Hitman series has been about stealth and finesse. The series has had goofy "bits". Those are humourous and yet add to the dark world of being a Hitman in ANY situation. The trailer for Absolution was a mistake. That trailer was what the wanted to sell the game on. Tits Explosions and Blood. Not what the series is known for.

 

[AzrealMaximillion]

I said it once before and I stand by what I said.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.376929-My-views-on-the-controversy-over-the-new-Hitman-trailer?page=2#14702444

But to simplify it was not not not the fact that women died that was controversial. It was the overt sexualization of them while it was happening that turned people off. What really pissed me off about this whole issue was how 9 out of every ten people speaking out against the controversy ignored that point.

Agreed. The people just seem to be getting mad for the sake of getting mad. Its the fact that they don't even know what the hell their really mad at.

 

[Jumplion]

Oh, entertainment in general has treated women far worse than what that trailer did.

Were the "evil" nuns dressed as sex symbols? yes.
Were they all nearly in a perfect hourglass shape? yes.
Can you call this part the trailer sexist? sure.

What was not done?
Were the women kidnapped in anyway? No.
Were they as fragile as a butterfly? No.
Did they need a man's help in the trailer? No.
Were they nagging/complaining? No.


I, as a guy, would feel far more offended if it showed the women in "kitchen" clothing, tripping over themselves, and acting like a damsel in distress. This trailer was interesting in the form that 6 assassins could do nothing on the Agent.

So, because other mediums do even worse, and this particular trailer did not include other stereotypes of women, that excuses them from any sort of criticism or claims of sexism? Just because it's not sexist in one area does not make it non-sexist if it goes the opposite route.

A few things I will say in summary of my thoughts on this trailer:
[HEADING=3]2 - Not degrading of women. If anything it's portraying a group of hard core 'strong' women who are not dressing to turn 47 on. But women should be relieve that we're finally slaughtering the fairer sex in an industry where muscular, handsome men have been slaughtered for years.[/HEADING]

Again, because it supposedly "promotes" positive gender stereotypes and does not include other gender stereotypes, that excuses it from criticism and claims of sexism? This is just an extremely narrow viewpoint to have and very flawed in logic. Women shouldn't feel "grateful" that they're show being as "capable" as men, that is just a more extreme side of this sexism stuff. "It's not degrading because the women are kicking ass!" is not a consolation, especially with how rare that specific act is already.

Besides, the controversy did not come up because they were women kicking the crap out of a dude. It was for how sexualized and glorified the women were and how their deaths were depicted.

 

[PrinceOfShapeir]

what with the Hollywood style random explosions and the over the top sillyness that has never been a major part of the Hitman series.

You couldn't be more wrong.

Exhibit A:

The game has had tons of goofy and dark humour through it.

Dark and Goofy is one thing. (Again Hollywood has done the Dark and Goofy thing a lot) It's the utter ridiculousness of the fact that it was an explosion filled trailer that portrays this random seemingly choreographed American film style fight scene when the Hitman series has been about stealth and finesse. The series has had goofy "bits". Those are humourous and yet add to the dark world of being a Hitman in ANY situation. The trailer for Absolution was a mistake. That trailer was what the wanted to sell the game on. Tits Explosions and Blood. Not what the series is known for.

Really? You've never played Hitman in the Psychotic Style where you just lay waste to the place? Huh. And I'm pretty sure the Hitman series has never shied away from sexiness either.

 

[Pickles]

what with the Hollywood style random explosions and the over the top sillyness that has never been a major part of the Hitman series.

You couldn't be more wrong.

Exhibit A:

The game has had tons of goofy and dark humour through it.

Dark and Goofy is one thing. (Again Hollywood has done the Dark and Goofy thing a lot) It's the utter ridiculousness of the fact that it was an explosion filled trailer that portrays this random seemingly choreographed American film style fight scene when the Hitman series has been about stealth and finesse. The series has had goofy "bits". Those are humourous and yet add to the dark world of being a Hitman in ANY situation. The trailer for Absolution was a mistake. That trailer was what the wanted to sell the game on. Tits Explosions and Blood. Not what the series is known for.

Really? You've never played Hitman in the Psychotic Style where you just lay waste to the place? Huh. And I'm pretty sure the Hitman series has never shied away from sexiness either.

Yeah I remember a level in Contracts that involved some kind of S&M party in an abattoir..
I wasn't terribly offended by the trailer, although I can understand both the oversexualisation and gameplay arguments. But as far as gameplay goes it doesn't seem too drastic, you could be an unsubtle as you wanted in the previous games if that was your thing.
There is also the fact that they were trying to ambush him - its not like a typical scenario where 47 is casing the joint with plenty of planning time.

 

[Something Amyss]

You had the liberty to kill anyone you liked in the previous games. Even women. (OH SHIT R U SERIOUS?!)

It's almost like that wasn't the problem in the first place. Kinda like gamers never got in an uproar over Grand Theft Auto's "fuck and kill hookers" or Saints Row's Morningstar or the Hooker Assassins in one mission. Or like the myriad women in fighting games who get beat up.

 

[Mirroga]

I think people who know Hitman can agree more on that the title should've been "...and the misguided people that attack it."

Removing the oversexualization and goofiness in Hitman is not Hitman. I think it started simply because games these days have become so mainstream that the advertisements these days can easily be seen by the masses, especially the extreme feminists and news media.

Has today's society been so overtly desensitized that silliness and weirdness in games is too silly now that it needs to be removed in every "serious-like" FPS/Assassination game? Look how rare Serious Sam and Saints' Row-like games are these days. I do not want my Hitman to become another take-me-seriously brooding type of game.

 

[The Madman]

The only thing that offended me about that trailer is how obviously little IO must think of their fans intelligence if that's the sort of stupid shit they think will sell copies of their game.

It was just a dumb pandering little video and frankly I'm glad the developers seem to have learned something from its reception. I mean jeez, I purposely seek out and enjoy cheesy retro B grade movies and that was still one of the dumbest things I've ever seen short of deliberate parody.

 

[crazyrabbits]

Dark and Goofy is one thing. (Again Hollywood has done the Dark and Goofy thing a lot) It's the utter ridiculousness of the fact that it was an explosion filled trailer that portrays this random seemingly choreographed American film style fight scene when the Hitman series has been about stealth and finesse. The series has had goofy "bits". Those are humourous and yet add to the dark world of being a Hitman in ANY situation. The trailer for Absolution was a mistake. That trailer was what the wanted to sell the game on. Tits Explosions and Blood. Not what the series is known for.

Just saying.