Square Enix honors fans' desire for original Tifa chest, canonizes bra size.

[BrawlMan]

It is kind of funny that these articles come out about objectifying video game characters, when the entire internet is basically filled with rule34 of the characters.

They mad about how a character looks in their games, meanwhile fanporn of that character is alrwady everwhere else. It really is pretty funny.

And yet you have more than enough of the sexist/racist jackasses on Twitter crying about the new look of Lara Croft, because she looks like a "trans woman". This actually happened last week. Also, these photos happen accusing any woman that's not attractive enough by their pathetic standards as trans or whatever to throw insults and hi there pathetic insecurities.

The journalist that complain about pretty woman or whatever, don't even fall under my radar much at all. Not that they did much to begin with most people don't take them seriously and it's usually clickbait nonsense. What I do take issue are with the actual sexist assholes trying to harass either the voice actor or model actor, because they don't look "pretty enough or were made intentionally ugly". And even when a woman or the character they're voicing is attractive and sexy looking, they still feel the need to harass or act like they lost something because the characters not wearing a Chinese dress out in the middle of fall season Spain. These people are way bigger issue than some nobody journalist crying about fan service in a game. We've been through this already more times any of us care to count. They will always be the bigger issue and I'll call them out way more than the journalist usually. I'll have my moments of course when a journalist say something that's completely fall or you know they're not backing it up. With that said I don't even care about them. I stopped caring about them a long time ago. Even before the whole complaining about pretty woman thing, I stopped giving a rat's ass about those journalists by the time DmC reboot released or when nearly every video game critic kept giving the Call of Duty games higher scores or downplaying their actual problems with later installments.

 

[hanselthecaretaker2]

Doesn't that then mean that women who show their breasts or wear revealing outfits are exhibiting a form of exhibitionism? And if so then are you not supposed to look?

That depends on context, doesn't it.

Can’t help but be reminded of this classic -

 

[PsychedelicDiamond]

We got one lady who looks like the love child of Robert Picardo and the fem gremlin from Gremlins 2 and another lady who's burly and covered in scars and exhaust ports, on top of the fact that you can choose your pronouns and put dicks on girls and vadges on dudes. And not a peep from reactionaries, while TLoU2, Horizon: Forbidden West, Spider-Man 2, and Starfield... well, you know. It makes me wonder whether they're even aware BG3 exists since you'd think they'd have a field day with that one. Or is it just that they only go after the super popular titles for maximum clicks? Surely not, right?

No, I think if anything, Baldur's Gate 3 is too popular and too widely acclaimed for them to try to drag it through the mud for that. They aren't going for stuff almost everyone actually likes. They latch onto stuff that's at least somewhat divisive.

 

[BrawlMan]

Can’t help but be reminded of this classic -

Oh look, back when Dave Chappelle actually tried. I remember this part of the stand-up. Always imagined what would be the reaction of the female villains or minions from from all the different brawlers. Most of them probably wouldn't care or would be indifferent. Some would find it funny, and someone like Poison will probably find it more than amusing.

 

[BrawlMan]

No, I think if anything, Baldur's Gate 3 is too popular and too widely acclaimed for them to try to drag it through the mud for that. They aren't going for stuff almost everyone actually likes. They latch onto stuff that's at least somewhat divisive.

Spider-Man 2 I wouldn't even consider "somewhat divisive". These jackasses hate on anything that's different from them or tries to trick people into thinking these games are worse than they are, and no they are full of crap. Usually. The same douchebags were crying "dangerous politics", Miles Morales final side mission that gives a shout out and honors the BLM movement. Thankfully, most sensible people call them out, told them to fuck off, and they shut their mouths and crawled back into their little holes for a while.

 

[Ag3ma]

You're saying it like it's a bad thing. It's the most normal thing in the world. Hooters makes it their business model. I think at 2024 it's time to stop acting like it's odd to wanna look at a nice pair. Or to use it as a way of shaming people and invalidating their points when they're correct.

There is certainly nothing wrong with liking large breasts.

However, we might be derisive when the same people clamouring for imaginary women to have massive tits for them to fantasise over also start trying to dispute sexual objectification of women (which they almost inevitably do). After all, as already mentioned, "normal" is not the same thing as "good".

 

[Satinavian]

For me this is part of the problem. It's hypocrocritical of these articles to exist. Why is the sex and nudity in BG3 perfectly fine to fetishize, but when people want Tifa or Lara Croft or Samus or whoever the fuck to look a certain way (whatever excuse that brings) then it's an issue? It just doesn't make any sense why one is okay and the other isn't. Or why people can express annoyance over a change to Mary Jane and it's a problem but you can fuck all the wild animals you want in other games.

There is no consistency in the shaming and that's kind of the issue to me because it's just confusing.

I would say the reason is that Tifa, Lara and Shamus are well known icons of pop culture and linked to charished childhood memories of many people while the only ones who know and care about the BG characters are people playing BG. The only chance Larian would have had to start a similar controversy was with Viconia and Jaheira but those only have late and minor roles in the game and the number of fans tof the original BG is miniscule compared to the fans of FF 7.

 

[McElroy]

I do like the addition of the scar here, as a callback to Sephiroth slashing her in Nibelheim

Yeah, but it was originally smaller, they had to make it bigger for the boob surgery.

 

[BrawlMan]

would say the reason is that Tifa, Lara and Shamus are well known icons of pop culture and linked to charished childhood memories of many people while

I know you're not excusing it, but it just makes it worse from those type of people who get so negative about their precious "dolls and waifus" being criticized. Or expect every female to look exactly like them or be "perfect". Also, not every one of these guys grew up on Tifa, Lata, etc. Plenty of these guys are either fake fans (usually Ultra conservative or Ultra right) that infiltrated like usual, or only tangentially "grew up" with them. IE, they're only fans of the character because of either fan art, erotic fan art, or hentai. They never played the games or only watched somebody play them some of the time, or only get their stuff through fanfics, and fanon interpretations too.

 

[Casual Shinji]

No, I think if anything, Baldur's Gate 3 is too popular and too widely acclaimed for them to try to drag it through the mud for that. They aren't going for stuff almost everyone actually likes. They latch onto stuff that's at least somewhat divisive.

Hmm, I don't know. It's popular, but is it popular enough to reach outside of the gaming sphere? Is it popular enough to serve as clickbait? It could just be that the reactionary nerd environment doesn't overlap much with that of the Baldur's Gate/D&D fanbase. But neither TLoU2 nor H:FW not Spider-Man 2 were (initially) divisive among fans. With H:FW there was absolutely zero change to the main character's face and reactionaries freaked the fuck out over supposed ugliness on purpose. Almost as if in that 5 year period between games the face hadn't changed, they just had.

 

[Chimpzy]

*nervously clicks* Awwww, that's cute

Isn't it just?

I was also bemused by this. What if Lara Croft was male. Some of these look familiar, I think maybe based on old promo art.

If Lara Croft Tomb Raider Was Male - Fan Art

Artist Ulysses0302 renders these super sexy fan art versions of a male Lara Croft named Nathan Thomas. I would for sure play this video game!

mediachomp.com

But, it's not "What if Lara Croft was male", is it? Not really. It's "What if Lara Croft was male, but still shown as female Lara would've been"

Also, the sole comment points out he should be wearing a crop top. Which is absolutely true.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Also, the sole comment points out he should be wearing a crop top. Which is absolutely true.

He has sensitive nipples, I'll bet.

 

[Chimpzy]

He has sensitive nipples, I'll bet.

Nonsense, those bad boys cut steel

 

[Satinavian]

I know you're not excusing it, but it just makes it worse from those type of people who get so negative about their precious "dolls and waifus" being criticized. Or expect every female to look exactly like them or be "perfect". Also, not every one of these guys grew up on Tifa, Lata, etc. Plenty of these guys are either fake fans (usually Ultra conservative or Ultra right) that infiltrated like usual, or only tangentially "grew up" with them. IE, they're only fans of the character because of either fan art, erotic fan art, or hentai. They never played the games or only watched somebody play them some of the time, or only get their stuff through fanfics, and fanon interpretations too.

No one would have cared about those idiots where it not for Tifas and the others popularity. Internet randos spouting nonsense is a connstant background noise. People only listen or reply or are outraged when it is about something they are invested in. And only then any kind of controversy can exist.

 

[BrawlMan]

No one would have cared about those idiots where it not for Tifas and the others popularity. Internet randos spouting nonsense is a connstant background noise. People only listen or reply or are outraged when it is about something they are invested in. And only then any kind of controversy can exist.

Those randos are pretty heavily invested all right! Guess what? They're the ones constantly outraged about some dumb thing or replying. We've all seen where this has been going for the past half a decade and it shouldn't be the surprising to you. Popularity or not. And let's say if it's something that got popular or was obscure that focuses on women, people of color, or combination of all above those same idiots will get scared and cry "woke" or complain that the piece of fiction "got lucky" or some dumb bullcrap the downplay its success.

I know there are plenty of good insane fans out there, but it doesn't stop the toxic, entitled, it really selfish ones crying about not getting everything they want even when they got what they wanted or better. It's never enough for these assholes. Lara craft in her new form looks more or less identical to how she looked in her classic version, and you have some idiots calling her "trans woman" as some type of insult. That's how bad pathetic these in the souls have gotten. I usually ignore them, but there are times where you got to say something or just let the link or footage speak for itself I'm just glad I don't live my life on Twitter or on Facebook like these dumbasses. Forget the grass, they need to touch the forest... And possibly the ocean too. Hopefully they don't drown it.

 

[Satinavian]

Those randos are pretty heavily invested all right! Guess what? They're the ones constantly outraged about some dumb thing or replying. We've all seen where this has been going for the past half a decade and it shouldn't be the surprising to you. Popularity or not. And let's say if it's something that got popular or was obscure that focuses on women, people of color, or combination of all above those same idiots will get scared and cry "woke" or complain that the piece of fiction "got lucky" or some dumb bullcrap the downplay its success.

Eh, i don't do social media and couldn't care less about them. The only exposure i have is the occasional Youtoube recommendation and even that has gone back since i made a point of "don't recommend this channel" every time i see the word "woke" in the title instead of just ignoring it.

Why should i care ? If i were looking for stuff to be outraged about, there is way worse online. But i am not even looking for stuff to be outraged about.

Half of those guys are trolling anyway and trying to get your attention by being particularly unagreeable. And most of the rest are just sad nobodies.

 

[BrawlMan]

Eh, i don't do social media and couldn't care less about them. The only exposure i have is the occasional Youtoube recommendation and even that has gone back since i made a point of "don't recommend this channel" every time i see the word "woke" in the title instead of just ignoring it.

I do the same. They're still an issue and YouTube likes bumping these type of people up. You avoid them as much as possible, but most of these people get off scot-free or YT is enabling their behavior. YouTube has been doing this since 2017 and beyond. Appealing more to Ultra right and conservatives. It's what led to the stupid insurrection in the first place, cuz so many social media platforms and able to try to act like there wasn't a problem and played "neutral".

Why should i care ? If i were looking for stuff to be outraged about, there is way worse online. But i am not even looking for stuff to be outraged about

I don't either, but they do and they keep cropping up. I avoided most of the time, but these butt fucks won't let it be. They won't let anyone be happy.

Half of those guys are trolling anyway and trying to get your attention by being particularly unagreeable. And most of the rest are just sad nobodies.

I'd say it's not even half of them are trolls anymore that was the case, they're not helping or making things better. Fuck em too. I agree that they are sad nobody's, but they either don't want to admit it or don't even realize this. Almost none of them ever will and will continue to live in a sad State they put themselves in.

 

[Satinavian]

They're still an issue and YouTube likes bumping these type of people up. So you should hear in the least of trying to avoid them as much as possible and you two LED most of these people get off scot-free or enabling their behavior. YouTube has been doing this since 2017 and beyond. Appealing more to Ultra right and conservatives. It's what led to the stupid insurrection in the first place, cuz so many social media platforms and able to try to act like there wasn't a problem and played "neutral".

Now that is actually a complaint i can agree on. YT and the others boosted the most controversial and outragous things to create engagement and thus money. They literally put oil in every fire they could find and gave the most horrible people extra reach. And it is still the mostly the same, only slightly lessened by tighter legal bounds.

I'd say it's not even half of them are trolls anymore that was the case, they're not helping or making things better. Fuck em too. I agree that they are sad nobody's, but they either don't want to admit it or don't even realize this. Almost none of them ever will and will continue to live in a sad State they put themselves in.

Of course trolls don't make things better. But what do you do with trolls ? You ignore them. And you should do the same with youtubers and influencers riding those topics. They are earning money with engagement and reach. They don't care whether you agree with them or offer rebuttals - that you care at all is a win. And if you complain about them elsewhere, it is even more of a win because it gets their name out and gets their talking points talked about more.

Oh, and of course it is the same with the complainers complaining about the complaints. Those are also just trying to make a controversy/keep it alive and make money of it.

 

[BrawlMan]

Of course trolls don't make things better. But what do you do with trolls ? You ignore them. And you should do the same with youtubers and influencers riding those topics. They are earning money with engagement and reach. They don't care whether you agree with them or offer rebuttals - that you care at all is a win. And if you complain about them elsewhere, it is even more of a win because it gets their name out and gets their talking points talked about more.

That depends on the trolls. Some can be ignored, but there's others that just keep pushing it and makes things worse for everybody and they don't care what side of the political or social spectrum you are on. The whole "ignoring" them part is nothing more than a lip service sticks and stone speech. it becomes a big problem when they set off the wrong people or causes those already unstable to be even more unhinged or do something dangerous and stupid that can harm, hurt, and kill others. Unfortunately, these type of scenarios have happened and still do.

 

[Satinavian]

That depends on the trolls. Some can be ignored, but there's others that just keep pushing it and makes things worse for everybody and they don't care what side of the political or social spectrum you are on. The whole "ignoring" them part is nothing more than a lip service sticks and stone speech. it becomes a big problem when they set off the wrong people or causes those already unstable to be even more unhinged or do something dangerous and stupid that can harm, hurt, and kill others. Unfortunately, these type of scenarios have happened and still do.

Yes, that happens.

But would responding change it ? I think not. By responding you just make them talk more and longer (because they feel rewarded by your attention) and you tell all the algorithms that it is worth spreading their words far and wide because people like you engage with it.

I never said they were harmless. But unless they post something illegal you can have taken down and prosecuted, "ignoring" is still by far the best you can do, even considering that they might push someone else to take real world actions.

The whole attention economy is deplorable.

And i nowadays really dislike anyone pointing to randos on the internet saying bad things. Because any outrage and controversy only helps them and their talking points in the end.
I do care if people in power say bad things. Because they could abuse said power. I also do care if sizable numbers of nobodies as in relevant percentages of the population agree with certain opinions.

And the whole culture war nonsense is rotten as well. It is just a way to mobilize people via their tribal instincts to do whatever by building some us vs. them narrative. Every opinion gets projected to the whole "other side" and they are all in cahoots to ruin your day. Everything becomes a big conspiracy.

I hate this so much. You can't even have any nuanced discussion of difficult topics because people are trained to look for partisan angles everywhere.


Of course it is better if you leave the anglosphere and the US influence. But there are way too many people trying to copy the very same arguments and topics in other languages and try to get famous this way.