Sexy Gaming: A Do's and Do Nots Discussion

[Fraught]

So there's the big DON'T: protective nudity. It's not sexy. OI! That goes for you too Kratos so don't think you're getting away with it.

Well, in God of War, anything else he could wear would be robes, and it doesn't make a big difference if he doesn't wear anything on his chest, or if he wears robes - they both can be penetrated with a blade as easily.
But. A robe can and will interfere with Kratos' fighting.
It only distracts.

 

[ExodusinFlames]

Well, in God of War, anything else he could wear would be robes

... and a fish costume

 

[Zombie_Fish]

This is a real problem. Whist a large amount of the world likes sexy images, such as in videogames, a large amount also think of them as offensive and patronising. And as the companies are still making quite a lot of money off of it, it does mean that more and more people will be getting frustrated about it as they keep on releasing games. It's just one of these problems that can only sort itself out once the world go for one side or another, but there'll always be somepone opposing the other side. And thus, it continues...

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

It occurs that I'm actually All FOR more nudity in gaming (male and female, equal opportunity here folks), but it should be in the right place, you shouldn't have a character "randomly" dressed in a slutty outfit, if they are, they should be a notable "sex as weapon" character, and there shouldn't be more than one of them. I can definately sympathize with dislike of the impracticality of so many female characters outfits however.

 

[KamachoMcSagget]

i agree, and you should have put a picture of duke nukem instead of the prince of persia guy (i can't remember his name, i haven't gotten very far and it's been billions of years since the last time i played it)

 

[Sayvara]

So on the opposite end... here's sexy:

Spoiler

[http://lhs.deviantart.com/art/M-A-Composit-5118988]
Click for original. Artist: LHS

Why is she sexy? Because she looks like she knows what the hell she's doing. She's well dressed for the job, got some smart lookin equipment, and has her stuff in order by keeping the bloody booger picker off of the trigger. All of it says that is a kick-ass gal.

I disagree. While I agree that she's sexy, I do not agree with the reasons you listed. Girls are not inherently sexy because they look like they know what they're doing or because they're registered asskickers.

Point taken, it takes more than just being competent. But(!) being competent is a requirement.

If the Action genre has taught me nothing else it's that when someone designs a female character whose main traits include being able to beat up a roomful of men, she is oftentimes also one of those over-sexualized "tries too hard" types.

True... *glances over towards Nariko*

That being said, the reasons I see the above fictional woman as being sexy:
She has a solid, believable design; she's not spilling out of her top or ridiculously busty(not that I have anything against that, but overlooking such an impediment would be quite unbelievable for someone who is in a combat situation or regularly enters into them); she has a cute, approachable face, not like many other laughable fictional women that look like models. Speaking of which, from the look on her face, she looks determined and confident; rather than posing like the aforementioned "trying too hard" types.

Cannot do anything but agree.

/S

 

[Programmed_For_Damage]

I think Vanessa from King of Fighters is a decent example of sexy done right. She is fit and toned, with average proportions, dressed in clothes that would be appropriate for fighting but still with a little bit of flesh revealed, has a bitchin haircut, can kick major ass and is a loyal wife/secret agent. What more could a guy want?

 

[Meta Like That]

I'd like to see a good, deep game sport all ugly characters. Just to really see the reaction.

 

[mrpenguinismyhomeboy]

Anyway, I just have to through this into the mix.

Spoiler

<img src=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3362/3481386852_04cf9174fe.jpg?v=0>

I have to think that Alyx Vance is one of the best female characters out there. She is still attractive without bluntly resorting to massive cleavage that far too many other games do.

Thank you.

 

[mrpenguinismyhomeboy]

I think we can have sexy on both sides, the only problem is figuring out what is sexy. As has been stated in this thread, several people have several different opinions of what makes a person sexy, and both males and females have their standards. The thing is that developers, for the most part, have a good idea of what males find sexy. What they don't have, is any idea what women find sexy. And i can't blame them for the most part. I mean, if women find Pyramid Head attractive, then who knows what they think is sexy?

 

[Carlston]

Can we preserve "Sexy" and appease both sexes?

Of course we can. However, the reason for the sexualization of female leads is simply because of the audience of gaming: Males, aged 30-35. We certainly could put more (oh, what's a famous attractive male...?) Zack Effron-esque chatacters in a game, but more likely than not, it won't sell. Having hot women, however, can sell TONS. Just look at DOA.

30-35? You stoned? Eidos when they made but woman (Lara Croft) targeted 17-27. And honestly...
At 34 the boobs that could choke a great white, and honestly that pic doesn't say "Strong or dangerous" woman. Her arms are twigs. Least they made Chun Li's legs look muscled out.
That just isn't...sexy, and same time the debate goes back to Barbies. Wha wha The unrealistic image of a woman. Yeah what about he-man figures. Everyone the star jock with the wash board abs? Men get it to.

Just remember sex SELLS. Period, but at times you know they can make a cute gal and not be... so fantasy based it's nasty.

Left 4 dead Zoey's kinda hot... and she doesn't have the magnum boobs bouncing around everywhere.

Tits on box= cash in bank

Liza from the Simpsons quote sums it up "If you cater to the lowest common denominator....you'll never go broke."

But yep...shame the "good" games don't put just as many tits on the box....

 

[RaptorZombieJesus]

I think that it's fine for game characters of both genders to be attractive, because, as a lot have put it, games are an escape. People don't want grim reality. But that is certainly not an excuse to not characterize a someone in a game. I also think people want someone they can connect to, a character that shows emotional depth and a cast that demonstrates an entire spectrum of personalities, not cookie cutter bombshells or cookie cutter space marines. The overly macho, gruff space marines are my biggest grief, oy vey, and I was just glad in Halo that Master Chief knows to just shut his gob. Or possibly he's just mute, either way big ups to Bungie on that one. Of course it's okay to have have busty bombshells be the centerpiece of your work, but it really gets on my (nonexistent) tits when developers try and fail miserably to characterize their cardboard cutout du jour because they thought maybe some depth would bring some maturity into some bland bloom-filled juvenile tits-travaganza instead of just owning it, and have fun with the 13 year old magnet they created and leave the dramatic characterization to the grown ups.

All I'm trying to say is that I don't think there is a fine line between trying to make a mature tale with a well developed cast of characters and the new bewbiesfest 69. It's a football field filled with broken glass, honey and fire ants between the two(Weird combo, I know)and trying to step into the other side will get you assf***ed three ways to Sunday.

Please point out the glaring flaws in my addtion, please, because I'm wirting this late at night with caffeine-shakey eyelids.

I know I left out the oversexualized male bits, just whenever I wrote tits add "and hulking biceps" into the horrible insanity I wrote as you read.

TL;DR - Nope there isn't one. Sorry

EDIT: Oh my god, I just read it and I'm all over the place man! First I'm all for integration of sexiness and characterization and then I'm all for leaving the two in seperate rooms. You don't know where I'm coming from! I'll leave it at that. It's effing late, I can't compose my thoughts right.

 

[Mr Inconsistent]

It really doesn't need to get ugly you know...

I'm pretty sure we can be civil over a subject like "sexy"

EDIT:

RapeLay is sexy.

This is...worrying...

Though I suppose while RapeLay is just fantasy... it makes Gaming and Gamers look bad and I don't think anyone can argue that it's anything BUT sexist and demeaning to women.

al of this^^

 

[Jupsto]

and I think the OP is trying to come out of the closet. he really like thats prince of persia guy huh?

I was never in the closet, I'm mildly bisexual with a strong preference for women... nice try though. More than anything The Prince is my go to "sexy male" example, this has been determined by regular debates with my female gamer friends over what a female gamer considers sexy, The Prince seems to be an example most female gamers can agree on. Hence why I used him.

fair enuf. at least you got your priorities right.

 

[purplegothchick]

I think it's possible for characters to be sexy without being scantily clad. I agree with the earlier posts about Faith from Mirror's Edge being sexier than Ivy from Soul Calibur. I just found her slightly disturbing.

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

Anyway, I just have to through this into the mix.

Spoiler

<img src=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3362/3481386852_04cf9174fe.jpg?v=0>

I have to think that Alyx Vance is one of the best female characters out there. She is still attractive without bluntly resorting to massive cleavage that far too many other games do.

I just don't find Alyx Vance to be all that fantastic myself... but I love to run against the grain so it may be my non-conformist instincts kicking in.

My personal favorite female character in gaming is Shion Uzuki from Xenosaga, it's unfortunate that in Xenosaga 3 she grows an intensely hoochy outfit.

 

[CaptainREBell]

By definition, a girl will have to look sexy in a game. It doesn't matter so much with guys, because you'll switch the camera angle so much you won't care about what he looks like.
Being scantily-clad gives you a lot of freedom in your movements, which could come in very useful when her job is to run around killing zombies or whatever. Just saying.

 

[Paragon Fury]

Anyway, I just have to through this into the mix.

Spoiler

<img src=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3362/3481386852_04cf9174fe.jpg?v=0>

I have to think that Alyx Vance is one of the best female characters out there. She is still attractive without bluntly resorting to massive cleavage that far too many other games do.

I just don't find Alyx Vance to be all that fantastic myself... but I love to run against the grain so it may be my non-conformist instincts kicking in.

My personal favorite female character in gaming is Shion Uzuki from Xenosaga, it's unfortunate that in Xenosaga 3 she grows an intensely hoochy outfit.

It would have been interesting to see what it looked like had we gotten to have all 6 games instead of condensing it to three....



On another note, I'm starting to see a slighlty bigger picture here. While not directly releated to the toopic at hand, the topic made me think of it.

THe thought is that so many of these "movements" and "groups", such as feminism/women's movement, civil rights etc. are running out of steam. It seems, now that they've pretty much slain the dragons all of them set out to, that they are making some sort of desprate bid to try and stay relevant and not lose their grip on something.

For the feminist/women's movement, its the depiction of women in the media and job treatment (Counterpoint - Media is the women's fault because it is they who decides what goes on in said material. As far as jobs.....ever think it might qualifications, not sexism, that stopped you from moving up?), the civil rights movement.....well, they try anything they think will stick.

Why is this? You won the war already....let us deal with the clean-up. We don't need you to hold our hands people.