Qorem Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 I'm really looking forward to this game, it makes me want to replay all of the old games (now, if I could just get PS:T to work properly...). However, something I really hope to not see is the stereotypical Damsels in Distress and other unpleasant tropes. I mean, this is a fantasy world, equality is a possibility! This isn't to say that Baldur's Gate, Planescape and all the other games are filled with such tropes, but I do think that it would be awesome if, when making Project Eternity, this is given some real consideration. Maybe talk to Anita, who is behind Tropes vs Women in Video Games? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krios Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 Gender equality in medieval fantasy games I am okay with that but I will want to see some damsels in distress. Variety is the spice of life. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HangedMan Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 Hey, maybe this time it's a Prince in need of rescuing instead of the princess! Yes? No? Maybe..? 10 Do you like hardcore realistic survival simulations? Take a gander at this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longknife Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 Chainmail bikinis give them massive amounts of defense. Somehow hardens their skin or something. "The Courier was the worst of all of them. The worst by far. When he died the first time, he must have met the devil, and then killed him." Is your mom hot? It may explain why guys were following her ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zephyr Falcon Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 First buy PS:T from gog.com and you can play it on your modern PC. When it comes to overused, unpleasant, boring, poor taste, etc. tropes - good writing is your salvation. In that respect I've fullest confidence in the writing being engaging, interesting, mature and not offensive. The "Damsel in Distress" is such an overused trope that even it's reversal has become a cliche in itself - Monty Python's Holy Grail and Shrek are prominent examples. Also in all my time playing BG, PS:T or IWD I never saw anything as sexist or offensive. Does your experience differ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Infinitron Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 (edited) Oh yeah, sure. A game made by Josh Sawyer is totally in danger of being sexist and patriarchal! We need the help of "Anita Sarkeesian" to make sure that doesn't happen! Edited September 23, 2012 by Infinitron 17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evdk Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 I'd say associating with Anita would be a PR poison at this moment. 7 Say no to popamole! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longknife Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 We should compromise and make the women strong, independent workers and fighters that don't have to take **** from no man and no man is her boss... But she's still got a killer body. "The Courier was the worst of all of them. The worst by far. When he died the first time, he must have met the devil, and then killed him." Is your mom hot? It may explain why guys were following her ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenup Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 (edited) Yeah, bring Anita Sarkesian here. We really had need for a stereotypical feminist(that even other gamer feminists and other females dislike) that finds fault where there isn't. Edited September 23, 2012 by kenup 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horocaust Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 There were two damsels in distress if P:T (they were even called precisely that!). One was leading TNO into an ambush by bandits, and the other was a demon in disguise. Mentioning that, I really don't think such cliches would be played straight, if at all. Have faith in the development team. 1 Updated my journal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonlight Butterfly Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 I fully trust Mr Sawyer to portray women in a respectful manner. I like Anita even though I don't always agree with her and I think the reaction to her has been a bit ott but she is not needed here. The Obsidian team are mature and intelligent people. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mabster Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 Hopefully mentioning Sarkeesian does not invoke the nonsense it does in some corners of the internet. I would like to point out that she is just an internet commentator among hundreds of others, and if you actually watch her Youtube videos, there is nothing in them to fuel the silliness that sometimes circles around her internet persona. Her Youtube stuff is mainly about presenting much discussed topics in well-produced, bite sized videos. Also, feminism is an important topic it should be discussed by as many voices as possible. OT: Going by their track record, I trust Obsidian to make a compelling narrative with more than just token or cliche female characters. That said, this is a useful discussion to have, even if a lot of folks are uncomfortable with it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrashMan Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 (edited) Maybe talk to Anita, who is behind Tropes vs Women in Video Games? Oh gawd....feminists... There goes the neighborhood..... And people actually funded that project? "pay me to play videogames nad make vidos like the ones you cna already find on YouTube anyway".. What sheep. What mindless sheep. Edited September 23, 2012 by TrashMan 6 * YOU ARE A WRONGULARITY FROM WHICH NO RIGHT CAN ESCAPE! *Chuck Norris was wrong once - He thought HE made a mistake! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Umberlin Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 (edited) People regardless of gender come in all flavors, with all manner of imperfections if not outright flaws regardless of said flavor. From my point of view going out of your way to portray either gender a certain way that's poliically correct and 'acceptable' is actually just as insulting as if you'd written every last one as a mindless subserviant prostitute. People come in all flavors. Not one respectful and acceptable flavor. While I do think every character should be written intelligently, with care and respect for the idea that they're trying to craft a convincing sentient being . . . the reality is that sentient beings can be pretty darn unacceptable. I'm all for respect, just with the caution that if you narrow your vision for fear of what people will think . . . sometimes all you end up with is too acceptable. The strong independant woman is fine, I just have the experience in my life that the person proclaiming that they're a strong independant woman that don't need no man is . . . anything but strong or indepedant. The strong women I've met in my life tended to think of themselves as anything but strong. Something to think about, if nothing else . . . because I don't really disagree with the sentiment of the thread, I just caution fanning the flames too far in one direction. Edited September 23, 2012 by Umberlin 6 "Step away! She has brought truth and you condemn it? The arrogance! You will not harm her, you will not harm her ever again!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nonek Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 Kreia, Falls from Grace, Cass. 2 Quite an experience to live in misery isn't it? That's what it is to be married with children.I've seen things you people can't even imagine. Pearly Kings glittering on the Elephant and Castle, Morris Men dancing 'til the last light of midsummer. I watched Druid fires burning in the ruins of Stonehenge, and Yorkshiremen gurning for prizes. All these things will be lost in time, like alopecia on a skinhead. Time for tiffin. Tea for the teapot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soulsource Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 Some claim that Sarkeesian exploits the equality topic just to become famous. I don't think these rumours are true in any way, but there are enough people out there who do and who might attack a game in whichs development she is involved. I agree that the issue is important, so if the developers want to have a focus on gender studies, I suggest them to ask a scientific institute for help, not a youtube phenomenon. I also agree that there should be all varieties of women and men in the game (young-old, skinny-obese, rich-poor, beautiful-ugly, mighty-powerless,...), in all social positions and I think that implementing "sexy" non-functional armour would ruin the games atmosphere (except of course if it also were non-functional ingame: Chain Mail Bikini: Armor Rating 0). On the other hand, I really liked that in Arcanum the physical starting attributes were slightly different (but overall balanced), depending on the characters sex. It would give the game realism, yet it's a dangerous thing to do, regarding negative publicity. That said, one final remark: I don't have anything against erotics and sex in games, as long as they stay confined to situations where they fit the atmosphere. 4 Crystalmancer of the Obsidian Order Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giantevilhead Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 (edited) The problem is not the tropes but the lack of representation beyond the tropes. For example, let's say that there are ten Chinese characters in a story and nine of them are evil. Even if all those characters are well written and fully realized, the main representation of Chinese people in the story is that they're evil. Now let's say that there are 100 Caucasian characters in that same story and twenty of them are evil. Even though there are more evil Caucasian characters, it's not as bad due to the fact that Caucasians in other roles get a lot more representation. You can have those tropes as long as you have adequate representation of other roles. You can have damsels in distress and evil temptresses and other tropes, as long as they don't constitute a big percentage of all women in the game. Just like how you can have male stereotypes like dumb jocks and sexless nerds and evil rapists as long as they don't constitute a big percentage of all male characters. Edited September 23, 2012 by Giantevilhead 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sorophx Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 Maybe talk to Anita[/url]? lol the only way I'd consider her in PE is as a minor NPC to make fun of in the game 3 Walsingham said: I was struggling to understand ths until I noticed you are from Finland. And having been educated solely by mkreku in this respect I am convinced that Finland essentially IS the wh40k universe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaldurenik Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 I'm really looking forward to this game, it makes me want to replay all of the old games (now, if I could just get PS:T to work properly...). However, something I really hope to not see is the stereotypical Damsels in Distress and other unpleasant tropes. I mean, this is a fantasy world, equality is a possibility! This isn't to say that Baldur's Gate, Planescape and all the other games are filled with such tropes, but I do think that it would be awesome if, when making Project Eternity, this is given some real consideration. Maybe talk to Anita, who is behind Tropes vs Women in Video Games? No 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theobeau Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 Regarding this topic, Soulsource and Giantevilhead have far more eloquently put forward the points I wanted to make. The developers in question also have a very good track record when it comes to writing female characters. 1 - Project Eternity, Wasteland 2 and Torment: Tides of Numenera; quality cRPGs are back ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
draft1983 Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 If i remember correctly, im sure in bg2 there was a fair few " princes in distress" And no, i don;t think we need a femenist hanging around. They don't want equality, they want the world to revolve around them and only them. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ausir Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 Funny how responses to mentions of Anita in this thread pretty much prove her right regarding sexism among gamers. 3 Pillars of Eternity Wiki * The Vault - Fallout Wiki * Wasteland 2 Wiki Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horocaust Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 And no, i don;t think we need a femenist hanging around. They don't want equality, they want the world to revolve around them and only them. philosoraptor.jpg If feminists don't want gender equality, then who does? 1 Updated my journal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aramk Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 Some claim that Sarkeesian exploits the equality topic just to become famous. I don't think these rumours are true in any way, but there are enough people out there who do and who might attack a game in whichs development she is involved. The whole point about character assination is exactly this. Create enough negativity around an individual so that they or their endeavours are discredited. If a project or group decided not pursue a project with her because of the rumours on the internet, then the harrasment achieved it's purpose. I agree that the issue is important, so if the developers want to have a focus on gender studies, I suggest them to ask a scientific institute for help, not a youtube phenomenon. Gender relations is a sociological issue. There is no "scientific institute" that has the final word. Certainly when talking about overused, unproductive female tropes in video game culture, the "experts" in the field will be those gamers most cognisant and effected by it. For Obsidian though, their characters as a whole are almost always unique and interesting. Gender tropes are a crutch for games that really lack true characterization and depth, and I've always felt that Obsidian create all their charcaters with great care and consideration. I don't think it is going to be a problem, and I certainly don't think they need to get anyone in to advise them. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Data4 Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 What is it with people trying to turn a fantasy world from a different age/time/dimension into a carbon copy of our own? I want to see the world of PE in all it's ugliness and grit. I want to see context-appropriate sexism, racism, and all those other -isms people get their panties in a wad over in our own world. I want to see the ugliness of humanity/elvenkind/whatever in full representation and in contrast to all the good qualities of the people of PE. Just don't try to shoehorn 21st century Earth sensibilities into the game where they won't be appropriate. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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