Women and Video Games

[haeralis]

Hey guys! For my final project in class, I'm doing a presentation on women in the gaming community. If you have any research/articles/studies/interviews/discussions about women and video games, women as gamers, how women are portrayed in video games, etc. I would love to read them.

Comments

[eternitat]

I would like to see more female protagonists of video games. More FF female protagonists- the only true one is Terra Branford. And I'd like to see Zelda kick even more arse.

[zidane]

the only true one is Terra Branford

orly

[haeralis]

There's Terra, Yuna, Ashe, and Lightning...? Ashe is contestable since FF12 doesn't have a protagonist per se, but she is one of the head members of the cast ensemble. Is that everyone?

[zidane]

Terra, Yuna (X-2), and Lightning are the three official female protagonists according to Square (unofficially, significant portions of fandom read Celes as the protagonist of VI and Yuna for X).

If you want something to drive you crazy, looking at the dichotomy between Square's female characters vis-a-vis the way the company discusses them would be ... well, a thing (Lightning was described as 'more fragile' than Cloud, they had to make Jecht a bad guy for Dissidia because 'otherwise we would have to put Yuna in it ...')

[socchan]

Okay, I'm sure there's, like, a bazillion more over at Shakesville (and that's not even getting into the Fat Princess posts, oy -_-a), but to start with: I Want To Play, Too

Linked in the comments of the above post is Deidra Kiai Productions, a small website with feminist games made by a woman (available for free!). A class presentation may not the perfect venue for such a thing, but if you think there's a place for it, I'd bet money that she'd be willing to answer a few questions for you. I think she has industry experience? But I'm not positive, so :|a

Riot Nrrd is more general girl nerdery, but the links should have at least a few about gaming and gals (as well as other feminist aspects, but those are less your focus).

I'll ask about more links over at Shakesville tomorrow :) I imagine I'll be able to come up with a few more at least.