Alternately, Japanese games are way more likely to have designs catering to women and even gay men. Look at League of Legends. All the women are sexualized and yet not a single male character was designed to have sex appeal.I'm not claiming that Western games are perfect. But comparing how likely a AAA Japanese game is to have a very overt emphasis on male fanservice to how likely a Western AAA game is in 2017, there's very clearly one that outweighs the other. The entirety of this industry and culture has a problem of bigotry of all kinds, including sexism.
I'm not claiming that Western games are perfect. But comparing how likely a AAA Japanese game is to have a very overt emphasis on male fanservice to how likely a Western AAA game is in 2017, there's very clearly one that outweighs the other. The entirety of this industry and culture has a problem of bigotry of all kinds, including sexism.
My problem with that argument is that we are seeing more and more Western games with female leads that very much aren't sexualized. Hell, even in Mass Effect it was a problem where EVERYONE was sexualized, and by ME3 Femshep was a huge focus. Horizon is coming up, and my favorite game of all time, Life is Strange, has a female LGBT lead character. Of course, I may have blinders on- I'm much more like to play a game with a female lead in the first place, or at least one that lets your create your character. I'll consider the idea that I'm just jaded by sexist gamers and anime fans.Do you think part of that has to do with how much smaller a presence women have in Western games in general?
Western games with significant female characters are often just as sexualized. Since it was a late edit, I'll reiterate: look at all of Blizzard's games, Mass Effect, Tomb Raider, League of Legends, DOTA2, etc.
No, those are different things. An attractive character doesn't necessarily imply sexual pandering. Think Zafina from Tekken vs. Mika from Street Fighter.I assume by "sexualization" people mean "attractive female character designs" which is actually a pretty big plus in my book.
My problem with that argument is that we are seeing more and more Western games with female leads that very much aren't sexualized. Hell, even in Mass Effect it was a problem where EVERYONE was sexualized, and by ME3 Femshep was a huge focus. Horizon is coming up, and my favorite game of all time, Life is Strange, has a female LGBT lead character. Of course, I may have blinders on- I'm much more like to play a game with a female lead in the first place, or at least one that lets your create your character. I'll consider the idea that I'm just jaded by sexist gamers and anime fans.
I feel like there's a reason you don't hear masturbation jokes about a game like Mortal Kombat, you hear them about Dead or Alive. Both have heavily sexualized characters, and I chose fighting games just to have a good enough comparison. One of these is very clearly a fighting game first and foremost and the other is a vehicle for boobs first and foremost.Sure, but my point is that if someone wants to wank it to video game characters, they don't need to look Eastward.
Today in things I wish I said, but don't have the ovaries to.For a certain segment of gamers, the patriarchal sexist culture in Japan spilling into video games seems to be that 'certain something' that they seek, consume, and violently defend.
For a certain segment of gamers, the patriarchal sexist culture in Japan spilling into video games seems to be that 'certain something' that they seek, consume, and violently defend.
I haven't seen anything remotely resembling an interesting boss battle in Horizon. It looks like western jank.I love how Japanese games tend to focus more on boss battles and fun flashy action-combat. In recent console generations western developers seem not to focus much attention on boss battles or interesting ones at least. Although it looks like Horizon Zero Dawn might have some cool bosses from what I seen.
Also I love how a lot of Japanese games have some quirky shit in them even when their trying to tell serious stories like in the Metal Gear Solid or Yakuza games. Lightens up the mood a bit.
I feel like there's a reason you don't hear masturbation jokes about a game like Mortal Kombat, you hear them about Dead or Alive. Both have heavily sexualized characters, and I chose fighting games just to have a good enough comparison. One of these is very clearly a fighting game first and foremost and the other is a vehicle for boobs first and foremost.
Western jank, and you just quoted a post citing Metal Gear Solid and Yakuza.I have been thinking: maybe it's not something Japanese developers have, but rather what isn't there. Think of dynamic vs canned dialogue: western AAA prefers the former, but it comes off as awkward because of what it fails at doing.
I haven't seen anything remotely resembling an interesting boss battle in Horizon. It looks like western jank.
I'm not going to say you're wrong, that's an entirely valid viewpoint. You've given me a lot to think about!I would say that MK is more a vehicle for ultra violence, which tends to overshadow the ridiculously sexualized designs and movesets.
And DOA is one example, but you also see that sexualization and mockery in more legit fighting games like Street Fighter and Blazblue.
In terms of Western fighting games, you also have Skull Girls, which is another game that is bursting at the seams with pandering.
I think the reason we tend to gloss over Western sexualization is because it is more familiar and normal to us, as opposed to Japanese games which are the Other.
People played Super Mario Galaxy for the T&A?Yeah, don't kid yourself. For most of these people it's boobs. See the amount of bitching about "censorship" that happens when a character is even slightly covered up.
I was not addressing that part of the post at all.Western jank, and you just quoted a post citing Metal Gear Solid and Yakuza.
I disagree entirely. Games trying to be movies might have been a valid argument in 2011, but definitely not anymore.Its the Jank and Gameyness we love so much. I pretty much stopped buying western titles other than gears cod and madden. Everything else can take the L. Got no time for movies
MKX is a return to form, though. Looking at current fighters, I'd say Killer Instinct and MKX are pretty much free of sexual pandering compared to Street Fighter, KOF, ArcSys stuff, etc. (DOA is DOA and will always be DOA, I just don't understand why Street Fighter needed to be DOA too). At least KOF has a ton of diverse female characters and not only Mai-types, and I also think Tekken is good at not being ridiculous with the pandering.I would say that MK is more a vehicle for ultra violence, which tends to overshadow the ridiculously sexualized designs and movesets.
And DOA is one example, but you also see that sexualization and mockery in more legit fighting games like Street Fighter and Blazblue.
In terms of Western fighting games, you also have Skull Girls, which is another game that is bursting at the seams with pandering.
I think the reason we tend to gloss over Western sexualization is because it is more familiar and normal to us, as opposed to Japanese games which are the Other.
I think you are right, but I do think many Japanese games focus more on refined level design and game mechanics over other aspects, and many people prefer that approach. There are plenty of western games that do this too, but the western AAA space is fairly homogenous and safe compared to what comes out of Japan.I disagree entirely. Games trying to be movies might have been a valid argument in 2011, but definitely not anymore.
I genuinely can't tell if this is sarcasm.western games listed in gaf's goty top 20: uncharted 4, doom, overwatch, inside, ratchet & clank, hitman, the witness, dishonored 2, deus ex: mankind divided, xcom2, battlefield 1, firewatch, titanfall 2
hmm looks like wall-to-wall overly realistic movie-like games with cold, lifeless artstyles. thank god for japanese devs
It's definitely sarcasm...like obviously soI genuinely can't tell if this is sarcasm.
For me Japanese games tend to embrace being whimsical more. Even if the story is super silly. I appreciate the break from super serious times to have some fun with the characters.
Japanese games prefer to be games instead of trying hard to be like movies or TV shows.
I think that's basically why I like them more.
MKX is a return to form, though. Looking at current fighters, I'd say Killer Instinct and MKX are pretty much free of sexual pandering compared to Street Fighter, KOF, ArcSys stuff, etc. (DOA is DOA and will always be DOA, I just don't understand why Street Fighter needed to be DOA too). At least KOF has a ton of diverse female characters and not only Mai-types, and I also think Tekken is good at not being ridiculous with the pandering.
There is a huge difference between something like MGS and Uncharted. MGS has long, skippable cutscenes but gives you full control during gameplay. Uncharted forces you to waddle around slowly and trigger movie like scenes with automated actions with minimal input.I cant agree when some of the biggest franchises are like Metal Gear and Final Fantasy (and other jrpg). Even pokemon has more cutscenes than ever now.
Doom was easily the most pure gamey game of the big budget games that year, and if you're talking about indie games its even more likely theyre that way inclined.
I think that Japanese games are more diverse than Western games.
There is a huge difference between something like MGS and Uncharted. MGS has long, skippable cutscenes but gives you full control during gameplay. Uncharted forces you to waddle around slowly and trigger movie like scenes with automated actions with minimal input.
It is becoming more common in Japanese games though. The MGSV prologue is atrocious and many people complained about the car pushing moment in FF15.
I cant agree when some of the biggest franchises are like Metal Gear and Final Fantasy (and other jrpg). Even pokemon has more cutscenes than ever now.
Doom was easily the most pure gamey game of the big budget games that year, and if you're talking about indie games its even more likely theyre that way inclined.
MGS is notorious for its lengthy cutscenes/codecs. But I dont think thats what people mean by cinematic these days. Flashy cutscenes are oldschool, the trend seems to be about creating blockbuster-like setpieces you can kind of play through...Anyway, MGSV is more 'gamey' than ever, tighter controls and way less cutscenes.Skipping cutscenes in MGS is like skipping most of the games. Granted I havent got much farther than the prologue in mgsv.
For a certain segment of gamers, the patriarchal sexist culture in Japan spilling into video games seems to be that 'certain something' that they seek, consume, and violently defend.
MGS is notorious for its lengthy cutscenes/codecs. But I dont think thats what people mean by cinematic these days. Flashy cutscenes are oldschool, the trend seems to be about creating blockbuster-like setpieces you can kind of play through...Anyway, MGSV is more 'gamey' than ever, tighter controls and way less cutscenes.
I haven't seen anything remotely resembling an interesting boss battle in Horizon. It looks like western jank.
It looks like western jank.
western jank.