I agree with most of this. As a female gamer I am sick of being told I should be offended at various female characters because their...hot? So? There are allot of hot guys in games too is that sexist?
There is a lack of well written female characters but then as said there a lack of well written characters all round. A female character being sexy isn?t a problem and while I don?t like the over the top sexy outfits, where you look at and think how the hell dose that even stay on BUT that?s more because I just don?t like that OOT style in general. With the leather and the hair gel and the giant swords.
Sometimes I actually find it more ?sexist? when I see people making such a big uproar over a female characters appearance. Like for example Miranda from mass effect 2. I will admit to having mixed feelings about this character, mostly due to the tits and ass shots (It's kinda akward for me when they do that and makes me feel alienated I gues) but I hear allot of people going on about her and how she completely over sexualised (well she is meant to be GE?ed), she is only there for sex appeal (which I find odd because she is actually one of the more plot relevant squad mates and most agree she is the most useful in battle on higher difficulties) and how she has this huge boob window (which again confuses me because she doesn?t. Her pants are strangely moulded to her ass but her top isn?t that bad. I wear tops that low.) and how she nothing but a whore and how dare she dress like that. To me that is sexist. I even heard the comment ?she doesn?t have that shy, girl next door thing like a real girl. She is just a slut. Bioware is sexist? WTF? Is a woman not allowed to be sexy and know it? Would her character be drastically improved if she wore a sack, thought she was ugly and was shy? It?s not like she is even hitting on you or throwing herself at your feet if you?re a male shep. In fact she is reluctant to even get in a relationship and is mostly business.
Also I was playing Tomb raider the other day (can?t remember witch one) and my brother saw me and asked ?why they hell are you playing that? There something I should know about?? (implying that I was lesbian) but I don?t play the game to ogle at her ass I actually like the games and believe it or not I like playing as a strong sexy female. There is nothing wrong with that. I think Lara is actually a pretty good character depending on what game you play even if she is somewhat sueish.
That said I have never played bayonetta or even vaguely interested in it because I was completely put off by what she looks like and I had heard allot of bad things about it and how it was aimed at immature teen-age guys. Perhaps I should give it another look?
I also agree that not all female characters need to be strong and badass, you can a more ?soft? female character who needs to be rescued and that?s ok. You can have a female character who is strong but realises she is female and her own limitations (I may be a girl myself but honestly girls in RL are just not as strong physically as guys tend to be. We don?t build up muscle the same. Sorry but its true), you can have a female character with a mix of different traits.
Not all girls are the same; you can?t point to one particular female character and say yes this is what female characters should be like all the time. The 2D anti girl female character is just as bad as the 2D girly girl female character. Its kinda sad that this needs to be said at all.
Personally I would like to see some older scared style female characters (you get that with guys, probably because older scared guys still look hot. Hell depending on your taste it adds to sex appeal), a few Mama Bears because I think that would interesting and some more of the ?normal? kinda characters because I prefer that and there is too much of the same in the game industry (that one goes for both male and female characters).
What I don?t like is when the sex appeal is all the character is or all marketing focuses on, or if every girl in the entire game (not just one) are just weak pathetic things that only dose what the men tell them too.
I also have a particular hatred for the ?innocent? girl sex object thing. You know, where they are meant to be all naive or young and there is nothing but boob, ass and wet T-shrt shots. It less about what they are wearing and more in how they are presented usually.
I also tend to hate it when I play a game and all the male cloths and armour look awesome and practical but the same outfit on a girl looks stupid. I would like to give my character pants please! I don?t want a mini skirt. Ah well, I suspect that is largely a personal taste thing.
There is one of topic thing I disagree with. All characters being romancable and bi. NO! I don?t think all characters should fall for you. To me this makes the characters all feel less real and more like dolls for you amusement. I don?t like kirking and I don?t think all characters should be bi. Sexuality is part of who a person is and part of who a character is.
Just to be clear I have no issue with SS romances and I wouldn?t? have an issue with a strictly gay/lesbian character I just don?t think they should all be bi so you can jump them.
Also on the Enslaved thing. I think the issue was more that...well putting a slave headband on the guy and forcing him to do as you say is kinda a dick move. I mean, given the situation I can see why she did and I would probably do that as well but that doesn?t stop it from being a dick move.