some things are not comprehended, but felt

[avishi]

meicdon13 linked this article in one of her posts, and it was such a good read (including the comments) that I had to post something about it. It's really just to share my own personal experience with the gaming world.

I'm a RPG gamer, specifically JRPG, so I can't say I share the same sentiments as those girls who play online games (FPS, MMO, etc.) and

Comments

[meicdon13]

Times I like it: When a girl fights in a skirt and accidentally lifts it during a skill execution
Times I don't like it: When a totally decent female character gets a long pan shot under her skirt as she walks into a scene

I have no problems at all with fanservice. I love fanservice. What I don't like is fanservice for the sake of fanservice. Like you, I don't mind pantyshots if they appear when the girl does a kick or some similar move - naturally, the skirt flies up when that happens. But if it's, like you said, a really random shot while she's walking, I wouldn't see the point and be annoyed.

My basic idea of equality between sexes isn't about stopping men from objectifying women, but being able to objectify men without being judged for it. If the dudes can do it, why can't the girls do it?

[avishi]

What I don't understand is why men use the "men are objectified too" argument. Male objectification is totally different from that of female objectification in a sense that some female characters were created just for SEXUAL FANSERVICE. But male objectification isn't necessarily all that sexual -- rippling muscles can be a sign of strength, and can be appreciated even by male gamers. it's even necessary for some characters to have muscles. But big boobs? What exactly is the purpose of that in a game? I would totally understand if it serves a kind of purpose... maybe squirting poison fluid? But if it doesn't, then the whole point of it is just sexual fanservice, is it not? Maybe there are times when there are pan shots over male crotches, but that's totally rare, compared to how many females characters getting nipple slips and all that.

[dia_aren_marie]

maybe squirting poison fluid

ohmygod why

[avishi]

HAHA
Sorry for the mental image. That's the first thing that came to my mind.

Actually, there's this character in a game I played who used her boobs in battle. Well... this is a totally different case because they all turn into demons and she happens to have mouths on both boobs. She talks with them and eats with them, LOL. Doesn't bother me, though. Demons in that game have different disturbing forms, so it wasn't anything offensive for me.

[ibfeemkaum]

Mm, this is an interesting piece. I've discussed it before with my brother a few years back, but I think, now, I'm mostly just kind of like, "Meh" about most of it. If I don't have to play it, I have no problems with it.

But anyway, I find it offensive sometimes. I don't like it when women are portrayed only as sex objects, but if they can kick ass while doing it, I don't particularly care (so long as they're at least somewhat covered still).

BUT, I guess this is why I generally prefer to play male characters (then again, the only online game I play is MapleStory, which doesn't count for shit really)...and not a lot of JRPG games have leading females anyway.

[avishi]

If scantily clad characters can kick ass, they're not portrayed only as sex dolls then. Because in that way, they become a femme fatale character at the same time. And that's the problem. That's what games normally do to "justify" these characters. They want to include a badass female character, but in attempting to do so, they are afraid to make her boring or uninteresting to male gamers, so she has to be a "girl" as well by showing off her flesh. Or something like that. Again, as the article stated, it is the male privilege that game companies consider when making these games.

If it's about choosing characters, I actually like playing male characters just as much as I like playing female ones. Of course, it would be nice to play as a female protagonist for a change, or to include more female characters in my party (despite them being objectified beyond reason), but... That all changes when they suck. Ultimately, I don't care what gender they are, as long as they're strong. That's what matters in a game, after all.

[ibfeemkaum]

Roflmao. I see your point in your last statement. I agree.

I guess I've grown accustomed to seeing women portrayed in such a way in games that I can turn a blind eye. My brother hates playing with me because I get all "Wait, how can she move around so easily and do this or that with such big boobs? And how is it that her clothes don't suddenly just slip and reveal everything beneath?"

I feel that, no matter what, really, women will always be that way in games. There's really no point in letting it get to you because it'll continue to happen and I don't plan to get an ulcer over it. Besides, they objectify women all they want in games...I do it whenever I want in my mind to men. =D

[meicdon13]

(Sorry to butt in)

Besides, they objectify women all they want in games...I do it whenever I want in my mind to men. =D
Pretty much my reaction, too. I've long accepted the fact that ~*fanservice*~ is going to be a huge thing in any sort of fandom, my take is just, "If dudes get girls in thongs, why can't I have a dude in a thong?" That's my more "realistic" take on equality between the sexes.

I guess male privilege just irks me because they're more or less saying that what I want (sexy, sexy, fanservice-y men) is already there WHEN IT'S NOT.