alanschu

I'm not sure what to think of this... hahahaha. The only poster to express it. For myself, I don't see the big deal (nor did I find it creepy - I thought she was just having fun), nor do I have any issue with her talking up Boone a lot, yet still have an opinion on the matter. I don't think the 50% split is as necessary as a fixed line, although I agree that some level of demand is necessary. However, the depiction of women in video games is not an issue that is solely put forth by women (or even "White Knights"). You have a few posts discussing this, including one where you admit that the project received government funding. This reminds me of a time when I, someone that loved basketball, grabbed a snow shovel for a few lunch breaks at school to clear off the outdoor basketball courts. I, in my foolishness, felt that this would give me some alone time with the hoop. Unsurprisingly, when people saw me shooting around, suddenly more people wanted to take part. I was pissed. With some maturity and hindsight, I also realize that I was wrong. I had no entitlement to exclusive access to the court, reflected in my protestations falling on deaf ears (between teachers and peers). Looking back, I realize I was naive. I didn't actually understand the consequences for my actions. Doubly so as it was a public school. To my point, your facility has received public funds, and by the sounds of it is even a somewhat public facility in general (the government funded hall). That you guys built it 30+ years ago leads me to, quite frankly, simply say "So?" You state that you didn't deny women access. Did you deny other people from making their own clubs? Because for myself, that'd be the issue. If it's in large part a public facility built with public dollars, and I do feel that anyone should be able to create their own club and apply for membership. Now, Sweden saying "50% of it must be for this women's club is probably a bit off." Assuming it was partitioned based on sizes of the clubs, I'd be less averse to Sweden saying "Each club should get proportional access." My point in illustrating my basketball story is that you need to understand the context by which you are making your decisions. First, what you did 30+ years ago, in an initiative that you give the impression of being some sort of "good for the community" type of feel, your position mostly just comes across as selfish. "We built this 30+ years ago, and therefore our club should maintain exclusive access for this facility, even though we didn't exclusively finance this initiative." Looking back at my basketball experience, I would still shovel off the court if I could go back today. I'd just understand that I shouldn't do it if I'm only interested in my own benefit. I can look back now and go "What I did was probably a net positive for the school in general." Or, I could continue to get pissy about it and feel that people took advantage of me, when in reality, I put myself in a position to be taken advantage of by being naive. Granted, your naivety was probably more justified, as the idea that competing clubs may, 20+ years down the line, also want to have access to the facility. But I am not getting the impression that your club *should* be legally entitled to exclusive access, based on public funding. I suppose it would come down to "what level of public funding?" As for the "go make it yourself," this is a pointless endeavour. All people saying is "I will find games more appealing if you change some decisions." From a purely utilitarian perspective, they're just saying "we're a market for your games, should you decide to pursue it more." And it's not a position held exclusively by women (or "white knights") either. It's more a reflection of games pushing for economies of scale, and the fact that there's been HUGE pushes to break down gender barriers for typically more masculine jobs in a lot of places (BioWare does a lot of initiatives for getting women in Math/Engineering/Sciences as well, and never mind "geek girls" are becoming more and more common IMO - or at least more public). As for "go make it yourself," I suppose I could counter that your football club could consider going and making their own new pitch, exclusive of any government funding, if you truly wanted exclusive access. But then, I don't know enough about Sweden's laws to know if it'd even be possible to do such a thing. I don't think "go make it yourself" is a truly beneficial perspective, but at the same time, I suppose I can at least say "I am."

That it has no apparent cause doesn't mean it doesn't have a cause, however. Having said that, this is quite the thread necro.... I had thought this thread was dismissed as a rather obvious troll thread. /shrug

Is it confirmed that you won't need the disc to play?

Kreia was attractive, to me at least, strong, intelligent and motivated. The fact that she remains cloaked and hooded throughout is obviously a thematic element, she is in a sense hiding. Personally one suspects that she would regard revealing clothing and such as rather childish, a blunt and obvious form of manipulation and pandering. By attractive I more meant physically. Sorry I thought that was clear.

The mails have been sent out quite a while ago for backers. Your friend should check his/her spam folder and, in case there's no mail, contact Harebrained Schemes. ERrrr, people are missing the point. I don't know (nor particularly care to be honest) if my friend already received an email. I'm saying why he didn't receive one right now while I did. I made no supposition that my friend was in any way concerned about a lack of an email or anything like that.

Well, I was more asking because my friend (a backer) didn't get the email, while I (I mere preorderer) did. Could be some reason like that. Regardless, I wouldn't be too worried about it. Receipts are typically emailed, so it might just be some level of "hey, here's my receipt" and they hook you up.

My gut check (i.e. completely spitballed hypothesis) would, aside from complaints about not being romanceable, be that she doesn't fit the 'mould' of the mentor type. But that's just my gut feeling.

Did you preorder, or contribute via kickstarter?

Yeah, I agree. I never found Gamebryo to be a strong engine for human characters. Though it does other things quite well. I'm curious how Kreia would have been received if she was virtually the exact same character, by a more ostensibly "attractive" character. Heck, even keep the same voice and every other trait... just make her model an attractive one.

I can't speak on behalf of LadyCrimson, but that someone is chilled and good-natured doesn't mean that they don't still notice these things, and also feel that maintain the status quo is preferred. I'd describe all of the gaming women I know (many of which are co-workers) as being rather good-natured and chilled. It doesn't mean that they are completely satisfied with the way things are, nor does it mean that if things ended up staying where they are that they wouldn't still enjoy gaming. I think the TV/film analogy works to an extent, especially with respect to timing. Gaming is still quite new, and historically the very platform it existed on was marketed as a male thing, so there's some level of "catching up" to do. What I find is a lot of fear that with, say, Anita pointing out (to the point of overstating IMO) damsel in distress, it means that the only solution that is acceptable is to never have a woman being captured be the motivation for a man in a game ever again. Or that, if we increase awareness of the over sexualization of women in games to press change, it means that we can never have sexy/attractive/whatever women ever again. I'm totally in your boat that I don't think it needs to be all or nothing, and that increased variety (in more things than just sex as well) is good. Granted, as I mentioned earlier, there can be additional technical challenges that complicate this, but I think recognizing that it's possible to still have attractive characters with varying body types between games (rather than within games) is still a good thing. A character like the modern Lara Croft, in the recent Tomb Raider, I thought was very well done.

I do think it finds its stride as the seasons go on. Lee and Clem in particular, but also Kenny and some of the other characters that you meet later on.

Boston roflstomped them. Wasn't expecting that!

Ah yes, White Knights! To be clear, I want less overt objectification of women (and men) in games, because I dislike it. It takes away from the game for myself, as I tend to find it distracting. Caricatures can work fine (I laughed my ass off in Saints Row The Third), but there's a place for it and I'd prefer greater representation of a wider array of body types and clothing, because I feel it adds to the experience. It also, however, does have technical limitations (especially from a console perspective) to have a wide variety of body images. If I can only choose one, there's a greater chance that I'll choose an attractive body type for both men and women.

Given that his full line was: I'd disagree. The fallacy that he used, was in the first line: Go to The Mary Sue and start a topic like this, and you'll get more opinion from women. As for the ratio, I don't actually know what the demographics are. Most may not "care" in the same way that I can still playthrough NWN despite Aribeth's armor. I'd agree that most don't care... enough to bother posting about it. Because most don't care to post about anything at all. Does their lack of concern about being active internet users immediately imply that they aren't concerned about anything else? I'd disagree.

Risk overstated. My credit card was automatically canceled one time, because it was compromised due to a theft. A physical theft, of a store where I made a physical purchase. The only way to ensure that no one nefarious can ever get my credit card information is to not have a credit card. Further, my (very basic and elementary) credit card offers 100% fraud protection anyways. If my card is compromised and purchases are made on it, it is up to the vendor to ensure that I am not scamming them when I challenge the charges. My Dad actually was burned by this, as a computer seller, when someone bought a computer from him and had a courier pick it up. Charges were disputed, sweet piss all my Dad could do (this was probably about 15 years ago too). In the only time that I had to challenge a charge on my credit card (when I had canceled service but I continued to get charged), it was effortless. I concede it may be different in other countries, which is a sucky deal for them, but it's not something I am concerned about. In fact, I'm probably more likely to lose my physical credit card. If Steam gets hacked (which they have in the past), I won't freak out because it's not necessary. I was a bit more concerned when the Student Loan board, which has things like my Social Insurance Number, was compromised. Fortunately my Student Loan account was not on one of the physical hard drives that was stolen from a server farm, so I was not at risk.

Sweet jebus. I might need to cut myself off. Preordered EU4 and Rome 2 today. Shadowrun soon. WL2 soon. Still playing CK2 and SR3. And I just saw an interesting expansion for Civ 5. FFFFUUUUU Someone somewhere list all the games coming out this year so I can tell myself if it's safe for me to remove my credit card from steam so I don't bankrupt myself!!!!

Patently false. Their influence is in large part why these changes are happening. I know some here feel that gaming is still a very male thing, and while males are still the majority demographic, the internet has made a stage for minorities to more easily be heard. I met my fair share of FemShep's at Calgary's Comic Con just over a month ago. Part of the reason why FemShep resonates so strongly with them is because they love how strong of a female lead FemShep can be. She has the option to dress in very attractive formal wear and the like, but leads her soldiers as the fans feel would be an appropriate way. You are free to believe that these people just don't care, but I'd say you're wrong. Same goes for places like The Mary Sue which is a geek site dedicated to geek women, and why so many women get behind the Hawkeye initiative.

As a motorcycle rider, as physically attractive as that woman may come across, she loses a near infinite number of points for clearly being stupid. Perhaps I speak too emotionally, as motorcycle accidents strike a bit close to home for me, but I think my uncle put it quite eloquently. People who ride like that are just skin donors.

I hear what you are saying Alan but do you really think that the outfits of characters like Viconia and Isabella are disrespectful to women? You have to look at the reasoning for it. I like Isabela. I think she's a strong character, and the clothes she wears fit her character. Many, MANY people have (incorrectly) dismissed her as nothing more than a sexpot. Part of what makes Isabela's character interesting as a female character is that she's written and created as a sexual creature not specifically to be sexually appealing to males. She's dressed that way because that's the type of character that she is, and it's consistent with her character in that game. If Isabela looked the way that she did, but did not have the character to go along with it in an appropriate way, yes I would have considered it disrespectful and unnecessary. It's would come across as (yet another example of) pandering to a very specific target audience. I don't think this is necessary, and actually think it's a net negative to growing and expanding gaming in general. That said, I do consider Isabela's dimensions to be a bit outlandish. Her dress and attire would still work (and be sexy) even had things been scaled down somewhat. BioWare is hardly exempt of this, and it's something I do hope changes some more. Something like Aribeth, however, is the type of thing that makes me roll my eyes. I didn't mind it much a decade ago, but I think it's pretty stupid now. I have no basis for Viconia's outfit, however. The only one I know of is this:

I think it's less a fear of boobs and more a better grounding in reality and respect. It's likely also symptomatic of gaming demographics changing.

I'm okay with that!

Might need to send ye olde seer to do it the old fashioned way!

Shortly after many of his council moved on to other parts of the world to learn and expand Vestisland's exposure, Olaf received a letter from Oddr, in Uppland. "Things are proceeding swimmingly here my lord. I thought you might appreciate this gift." He looks out into the courtyard and sees an attractive young woman. Oddr you dog! Of course you know the answer to that! Barring that, the next several months turned out to be rather uneventful, aside from rallying calls for young, able bodied men to join Hrymjaskjodlr's military. After rounding up several hundred men, Olaf, still nursing his wound 6 months prior, set sail on a fleet of longboats to scout out the isles of Britannia... Olaf has plans of military conquest... and intends to leverage the wealth of heathen Catholics... not his own people! After a few weeks on the water, they reach the northern tip of Eire. One of Olaf's captains steps into Olaf's chamber: My Lord. Our scouts have found something interesting. Turns out many in these lands have raised their banners to march against King Ivar to the east. A smile erupts onto Olaf's face: Well this is rather well timed on our parts then. I'd much rather be able to scour this coast with impunity, and it seems like we just might have that chance after all! We'll disembark here, and lay siege to their forts. You will scour this coastline and check for any armies marching back this way! The Captain nods. Understood. If we're lucky, their men will be too far to respond, but if not, we'll be sure to notify you immediately. With that, so began the Siege of Gartan, in the county of Tyrconnell. Olaf surrounds the fort, while dispatching men to bring food and valuables back to the long boats. With the siege proceeding mostly uneventfully, after a weeks, a courier arrives at Olaf's base camp: News from my captain my lord. We have spotted soldiers crossing the Irish Sea. They are flying the colours of the County of Tyrconnell... Olaf lets out a deep sigh. Unfortunate. The siege will have to be abandoned. We'll have maybe 7 days at most. Lets take the next 5 ensuring we get as much of value as we can before we depart. On the plus side, we have the ability to strike at other targets in the region. Perhaps with Ivar causing havoc out east, we try something on the northern part of that island. Over the course of the next two weeks, two significant events happened. First, news from back home. His concubine is carrying child. All hope that a strong, male heir will be born! Next, the County of Ross has been fully ransacked. Only the valuables that could be carried into the Forts were sufficiently protected. As Scottish troops moved in to interject, once again Olaf summoned his levies onto his longboats. Olaf inquires with the fleet captain about how much more the boats can carry. The captain responds: We are maybe about half our capacity my lord. Armies are still scattered about, and we could probably take another attempt at one of the Irish counties! Olaf ponders for a moment: A good idea captain. No sense returning home with anything less than all we can carry. I also have an idea I think just might fool people. Set sail for Tyrconnell! The captain barks out the order, and the orders signaled to the rest of the fleet. Still, the captain is a bit surprised: On our way my lord. But why Tyrconnell? Olaf confidently responds: Two reason captain. FIrst, there's a lot more there that we weren't able to take with us. Second, that Keep may still be somewhat weakened... I am confident that I can take it with a little more time. Plus... it's a damned fool thing to do and they won't expect it. The captain smiles to his liege, and moves about to carry out the orders. Despite being marauding for several months now, the spirits of the men remain high, and they all agree that they feel they have unfinished business at Gartan. Siege is laid, and for several months the slow, arduous process is taken out. Still, in a siege it's better to be on the outside, than the inside. Olaf is able to pillage the land for foods, while the Irish face issues with starvation! The following day, in a desperate attempt to weaken the siege, the defenders sally forth to meet Olaf. Now, they are just making it fun for our faction's leader! The siege resistance starting to crumble, a few tidbits of news have come from Bersi, in the lands of the far East: My lord, I thought you might find it interesting to know that our reputation at warfare has spread even this far. The emperor of these lands seek to recruit our kind to lead his troops! I anticipate that House Hrymjaskjoldr's fame will reach this far eventually, with time too! As the siege is days away from being over, a messenger comes forward with some news for Olaf I HAVE A SON! The cheers of the men echo surrounding the Keep. Unbeknownst to Olaf, but much to his good fortune, it turns out that the men of Tyrconnell had been routed in battles with Ivar. The land was at his mercy. Still, Olaf was not completely reckless. Reports came in that his longboats were full up... they couldn't hold anymore. Calling off further attacks, they return to the sea and head home. After all, there's no point in plundering and pillaging, if you can't take it back with you! Still, upon his arrival he acknowledged that it is indeed, good to be the chief!

Fair enough. I don't know too much about the Vikings haha. I am, however, looking forward to doing another playthrough but as an Irish Count, and seeing if I can stave off the hordes. I won't have the monies which is the biggest challenge I think. Might have to pick a non-coastal nation just to make sure they don't just run in and stomp all over me!

Never mind that the game does have a progressive tutorial