I appreciate your very polite reply, i'm slightly taken aback, thanks! It helps make up for all the times i've been quoted on the Escapist by people with a less hospitable attitude towards my views.Badger said:I totally agree with your 'cheap and lazy' comment - well said. And perhaps I didn't articulate my point properly, which was meant to infer that both the gaming industry in general, and gaming males in general, don't account for the potentially offensive, even damaging, portrayal of overtly sexualized females. Just as I would be disquieted by lewd male anatomy being viewed by my young daughter, I'm sure she'd feel the same way about my indulging the latest Skyrim porn armor. Again, my point, which you make so much more clearly, is that this sort of characterization engenders disrespect, and quite possibly offense, at a level we're all too desensitized to.
Thanks again for your perceptive clarification. And yes - I'd be disappointed if the Elder Scrolls stooped to that.
I think most gamers do want more interesting female characters in their games, the trouble is with the whole debate is that it's related to feminism and many young male gamers have a knee-jerk reaction against anything even related to those sorts of ideologies. Part of me thinks that the push for more developed female characters in games should aim to disassociate itself from feminism and make the argument based purely on advancing artistic quality in games and increasing female participation. I've watched some of Anita Sarkensan's videos, and i do agree with a lot of what she says- BUT, whilst i hold no grudge against her or her views, i feel she's inadvertently turned the whole debate about female sexualisation in games very toxic by kicking down the door and marching into the debate waving the flag of feminism in a very unsubtle manner.
As a final note, you'd also think that the average male hetrosexual would be instinctively in favour of anything that might attract more females into gaming. Who here wouldn't want want a gamer-girlfriend?