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[RooMHM]

gee, what will he do with those pics later

Publish them on NeoGAF?

 

[mogor]

I love the awkwardness.

At least she seems motivated, I don't know much about the game, but she is pure enthusiasm.

 

[Vermillion]

Well, Drake is a bit oversexualzied. In a way it's like they tried to go for a nice middle ground with a protagonist most women would find attractive.

Also, if Drake's pants got any tighter I think he'd have a pretty nice ass. >_>;

Yeah, a middle ground. He's hot but not oversexualized.

 

[Hcoregamer00]

There are some of my cosplayer friends who are booth babes for e3, it pays for their college so I am not going to hate.

 

[MiniBossBattle]

It's hard to get women into game development. Even I don't really want to go into it myself. I simply see code, realize the dauntlessness nature required for programming, and decide I don't much to do it with it. >_>;

My wife is an animator. We need more women in the industry. Oddly enough, I find more women in facebook/iOS game development studio more than working on console gaming.

She had to work the booth one E3. I guess having three dude producers behind the booth wasn't compelling. She thought it was weird when dudes asked to take pictures with her. She was just handing out key chains or whatever in her company's t-shirt.

 

[Sophia]

There are some of my cosplayer friends who are booth babes for e3, it pays for their college so I am not going to hate.

Do they enjoy it, or are they just doing it out of desperation?

 

[Onemic]

Yeah, a middle ground. He's hot but not oversexualized.

Van is the closest thing there is to an oversexualized male.

 

[deim0s]

It's Ashley Williams!

 

[thebaroness]

:snip:

Ah I actually agree with you Femmey. I'm not a fan of KOS-MOS, Shion, or Xenosaga as a whole. It will forever be a stain upon my favorite game of all time.

Give me Elly anyday....mmmmmmmm

 

[Santiako]

He's oversexualized the wrong way.

 

[Nista]

It's Ashley Williams!

Don't insult that poor girl's face like that!

 

[Hcoregamer00]

Do they enjoy it, or are they just doing it out of desperation?

The ones I know personally do it because they love video games and it gives them a way to do e3. They are cosplayers, so they would dress up at an anime con, I could imagine for most of them that making the jump to a gaming con is not a big jump, especially if there is a financial incentive.

 

[Sophia]

The ones I know personally do it because they love video games and it gives them a way to do e3. They are cosplayers, so they would dress up at an anime con, I could imagine for most of them that making the jump to a gaming con is not a big jump, especially if there is a financial incentive.

If they actually enjoy it, it doesn't seem like there's anything wrong with it. I'd certainly take the chance if I was attractive enough. And lived near the convention center. ><;

Ah I actually agree with you Femmey. I'm not a fan of KOS-MOS, Shion, or Xenosaga as a whole. It will forever be a stain upon my favorite game of all time.

Give me Elly anyday....mmmmmmmm
[IMG ]http://www.gameaxis.com/img/blog/2997/Image/ellie_small.jpg[/IMG]

I like Elly's character and personality, but there's no denying she was meant to be sexualized to some degree, given the comments in the Perfect Works* + how much more artwork she has over the other cast members. I usually let it pass given it's one thing in a sea of amazingly well written and balanced cast members.

(*Also: This)

 

[Vermillion]

Van is the closest thing there is to an oversexualized male.

Probably so. Interestingly enough, it's done by not changing his body, just leaving him with a vest. Whereas women are more sexualized my increasing their cup sizes, their asses... you know,I think that also speaks to the expectations of men vs those of women. Vaan doesn't look utterly ridiculous. So now, instead of "are men sexualized as much as women," we have "can men be sexualized as much as women"?

 

[ASTROID2]

That's jest to funny. Can't stop laughing.

 

[shintoki]

The ones I know personally do it because they love video games and it gives them a way to do e3. They are cosplayers, so they would dress up at an anime con, I could imagine for most of them that making the jump to a gaming con is not a big jump, especially if there is a financial incentive.

*Wishes he was a girl*

This would be seriously awesome for me. Cosplay and E3!

 

[Onemic]

Ah I actually agree with you Femmey. I'm not a fan of KOS-MOS, Shion, or Xenosaga as a whole. It will forever be a stain upon my favorite game of all time.

Give me Elly anyday....mmmmmmmm

Xenogears is probably in my top 3 games of all time. I couldn't get theough half of xenosaga ep. 1 so maybe that's why I don't really have much of an opinion on kosmos at all.

Shame ill never be able to play xenoblade though. Release that on ps3 plz.

 

[domlolz]

uh oh, hover hand, 2/10 would not bang

she is leaning on the desk

You know, I think Nintendo handled "booth babes" the best back in 2010 when they unveiled the 3DS.

I think all these ladies are pretty and attractive, without the need to parade around in skimpy clothing. I feel like this is a nice alternative and should be the standard.

If I remember correctly were all those girls previously instructed about how the 3DS works. So they weren't just there for pure eye candy but also there to explain how everything works. However is the length of the cord really kind of awkward.

lol if you don't think that thing wasn't in the least bit awkward or demeaning for the women involved. I was pretty shocked by what nintendo did there, it's like they read up about objectification, thought that it was a great idea and did that little stunt. They literally attached a device to the womens bodies and used them as portable demo units. It's fucking ridiculous.

Boop.

https://twitter.com/br/status/210776861825957889

 

[ArjanN]

Because the games and presentation are oversexualized and extremely masculinized?

Again, by looking only at "hardcore" or "E3 friendly" games and gamers, you're taking the small group of women who don't seem to mind and using them as a model for the entire group. A small subsection seems willing to tolerate these deficencies, and their behavior will not be representative of the behavior of the larger group. Empirically on a larger scale, it is obvious that the extremely violent, highly sexualized nature of video games is very repellant to most women.

Which is again why virtually all of the most popular games with women don't fit these tropes; Nintendogs, the Sims, Angry Birds, Farmville, Wii Fit, etc.

It think it has much more to do with the fact that most "gamers's games" are based around challenge and competition which are typically things men are into, while women are more into social elements.

 

[thebaroness]

If they actually enjoy it, it doesn't seem like there's anything wrong with it. I'd certainly take the chance if I was attractive enough. And lived near the convention center. ><;



I like Elly's character and personality, but there's no denying she was meant to be sexualized to some degree, given the comments in the Perfect Works* + how much more artwork she has over the other cast members. I usually let it pass given it's one thing in a sea of amazingly well written and balanced cast members.

(*Also: This)

Don't say that Cosplay is for everyone, and it's fun! And yeah getting to be a part of something you're already a fan of and would be doing otherwise is a lot of fun.


And I never said she wasn't. I wasn't asking her to not be sexy. I like Elly just the way she is!

 

[Kinyou]

lol if you don't think that thing wasn't in the least bit awkward or demeaning for the women involved. I was pretty shocked by what nintendo did there, it's like they read up about objectification, thought that it was a great idea and did that little stunt. They literally attached a device to the womens bodies and used them as portable demo units. It's fucking ridiculous.

Reggie did it too.

 

[domlolz]

Reggie did it too.

epic win

 

[TAJ]

Wow, so now Nintendo booth girls are offensive to people? SMH

The 3DS girls are the only offensive ones in this thread.
That was seriously creepy.

Yes, this is the legitimate problem with "booth babes." It's not that I'm some strict, conservative moral preacher.

It's that I recognize this may turn others completely off. The objection isn't an ethical one, it's a practical one -- I don't want video games to forever remain the domain of 16-35 year old, testerone driven, oversexed males, but this sort of thing is so repellant to everyone else and makes it harder to expand beyond that. It's exactly the sort of problem that comic books had: while I'm sure the "core" audience of comic books loved the gritty, "badass" dudes and absurdly proportioned superhero women, it was also so repellant to almost everyone else that comic books never really moved beyond that core audience and are still stuck there, even today, in a world where movies based on comic book heroes can do huge box office totals.

Lingering Butt Shots of ScarJo: The Movie has sold $1,355,000,000 in tickets so far to a four-quadrant audience.

 

[Opiate]

It think it has much more to do with the fact that most "gamers's games" are based around challenge and competition which are typically things men are into, while women are more into social elements.

I think its all fo the above -- most "hardcore" games aren't challenging these days. What you're describing makes sense of Starcraft or League of Legends, but not for something like God of War, Gears of War or Grand Theft Auto, all of which are easy, non challenging, non competitive games.

In fact, I'd exclude "challenge" from this list. Girls seem perfectly willing to play challenging games -- word games like scrabble or crossword puzzles require a significant vocabulary and can be much more challenging than, say, God of War, but are significantly skewed towards women.

Competition does seem to be a male preoccupation. "Challenge" does not, I think.

Lingering Butt Shots of ScarJo: The Movie has sold $1,355,000,000 in tickets so far to a four-quadrant audience.

False equivalence. "They both do it" does not equate toe "they both do it in exact and equal proportion."

 

[Nista]

lol if you don't think that thing wasn't in the least bit awkward or demeaning for the women involved. I was pretty shocked by what nintendo did there, it's like they read up about objectification, thought that it was a great idea and did that little stunt. They literally attached a device to the womens bodies and used them as portable demo units. It's fucking ridiculous.

Boop.

https://twitter.com/br/status/210776861825957889

I thought the tethers were more to prevent people making off with the demo units at close quarters. If they just hand you a free-floating 3DS/WiiU, I wouldn't put it past some E3 goers to make off with it into the crowd.

I think Brenda's a bit up on a pointless soapbox about self-esteem and E3 there, but whatever. I'm not jumping on that bandwagon, until the industry stops making games that objectify and sexualize women for profit. (i.e. when pigs fly)

 

[TAJ]

I thought the tethers were more to prevent people making off with the demo units at close quarters. If they just hand you a free-floating 3DS/WiiU, I wouldn't put it past some E3 goers to make off with it into the crowd.

I think Brenda's a bit up on a pointless soapbox about self-esteem and E3 there, but whatever. I'm not jumping on that bandwagon, until the industry stops making games that objectify and sexualize women for profit. (i.e. when pigs fly)

Tether them to a fixed object like every other company.

 

[domlolz]

I thought the tethers were more to prevent people making off with the demo units at close quarters. If they just hand you a free-floating 3DS/WiiU, I wouldn't put it past some E3 goers to make off with it into the crowd.

What was wrong with how they usually showcase handhelds? Like, when they aren't attached to people

 

[TAJ]

False equivalence. "They both do it" does not equate toe "they both do it in exact and equal proportion."

Except that they do?
Here's where you scramble to find atypical depictions of Black Widow.

 

[Spirit of Jazz]

No words.

Clearly the dude's just awestruck by the blond girls third arm.

 

[Opiate]

Except that they do?

No, they don't, here, let me help you.

First of all, the films held up as the pinnacle of the medium are very rarely oversexualized; "popcorn" flicks, sure, but the oscar winnersand critical darlings, not so much.

By contrast, many of the most violent, gratuitously sexual games are in fact the games we hold up as the pinnacle of the medium: things like Grand Theft Auto, where you can run around indiscriminately killing hookers, God of War, which requires little explanation, and Halo, where you slaughter millions of aliens with big guns. These are the games we talk about as the heighth of the medium, which get the critical adulation and Game of the Year awards.

In other words, it isn't just that these games exist -- every medium has its escapist pap -- it's that we hold them up in highest regard.

Second, while it's difficult to measure "gratuity," I have difficulty believing you can seriously equate the two. While we get lingering butt shots of sexy women in action movies, video game women quite frequently wear clothing that would not be physically possible -- as in, it wouldn't even hold up if worn in real life. Not only do we get gratuitous butt shots of Felicia in darkstalkers, but she's wearing a literally impossible outfit in the process.

Lastly, even in escapist pap where on must accept gratuitous sexuality, video games do a much poorer job of catering to both audiences. For every scarlett johansen butt shot, theres a contrived scene where Thor has shirt off, or Captain America does, and so forth. By contrast, I suggest that there are 100 felicias and lara crofts and god of war babes, we get perhaps 1 absurdly proportioned, highly sexualized man to compensate.

I don't think anyone can genuinely put this argument forward. It's obviously silly.

 

[outlawedprod]

ASUS likes booth babes! What's the big deal with them at E3? =p
http://ceoworld.biz/ceo/2012/06/05/disappointed-with-the-sexism-of-the-asus-nice-rear-tweet

 

[thebaroness]

Boop.

https://twitter.com/br/status/210776861825957889

"Booth babes make me feel bad about myself", is just about the worst statement you can make if you're tying to be taken seriously by your male counterparts. You don't like the way things are being marketed? Then fight for your cause, "Oversexualized models are devaluing the industry I love." Don't bring up personal self esteem issues, or else people will label you as nothing more than a whining shrew.

 

[ponpo]

Another day another flickr search.

MARKMAAAAAN.

Too lewd I'm out.

 

[ScOULaris]

Me reading through this thread:

"Would. Would. Would. Would. WOULD. WOULD. WOOOOULD!! AAAAAUUUUGH!"

 

[TAJ]

No, they don't, here, let me help you.

I never mentioned games. Nice straw man.

 

[Opiate]

I never mentioned games. Nice straw man.

I'm not following -- this is a direct comparison between the seuxalization in games and in movies. That is the entire premise of our discussion.

 

[pigeon]

Second, while it's difficult to measure "gratuity," I have difficulty believing you can seriously equate the two. While we get lingering butt shots of sexy women in action movies, video game women quite frequently wear clothing that would not be physically possible -- as in, it wouldn't even hold up if worn in real life. Not only do we get gratuitous butt shots of Felicia in darkstalkers, but she's wearing a literally impossible outfit in the process.

It's actually pretty charitable of you to describe Felicia as wearing an outfit.

 

[TAJ]

I'm not following. This is a direct comparison between the seuxalization in games and in movies. That is the entire premise of our discussion.

I only compared The Avengers to comics. Movie Thor is actually portrayed as prettier than comics Thor usually is.

 

[-KRS-]

It's actually pretty charitable of you to describe Felicia as wearing an outfit.

Yup. Felicia is actually nude. That's her fur. So it's actually even worse.

 

[ViewtifulJC]

The whole booth babe thing is just weird, and a little creepy, lol. Paying women to stand around video game events so nerds can take pictures with them hugging/hover handing is just a bizarre-ass concept to me

 

[FStop7]

I thought the tethers were more to prevent people making off with the demo units at close quarters. If they just hand you a free-floating 3DS/WiiU, I wouldn't put it past some E3 goers to make off with it into the crowd.

If it were just about that then they could have used a variety of people rather than only pretty young ladies.

 

[ArjanN]

I think its all fo the above -- most "hardcore" games aren't challenging these days. What you're describing makes sense of Starcraft or League of Legends, but not for something like God of War, Gears of War or Grand Theft Auto, all of which are easy, non challenging, non competitive games.

In fact, I'd exclude "challenge" from this list. Girls seem perfectly willing to play challenging games -- word games like scrabble or crossword puzzles require a significant vocabulary and can be much more challenging than, say, God of War, but are significantly skewed towards women.

Competition does seem to be a male preoccupation. "Challenge" does not, I think.

Challenging yourself seems related to competition to me.

Games like GoW, GeoW and GTA are still not really easy for people who don't play games much. Not to mention the multiplayer modes.

While modern games have become easier/accessable, most "hardcore" games at least thematically they're still based on conflict and competition.

 

[Nista]

If it were just about that then they could have used a variety of people rather than only pretty young ladies.

Except even in previous years, Nintendo has always hired booth help from these agencies that provide all women. So they didn't single out one year to be completely objectifying.

I've been hit on the head by flying pokemon thrown by the same Nintendo-hired ladies long before the 3DS existed. Good ol' E3 violence nostalgia!

What was wrong with how they usually showcase handhelds? Like, when they aren't attached to people

If I recall correctly, it was to be able to walk around and entertain people waiting in the HOURS LONG line to even get to the area with the handhelds that were affixed to kiosks. If you've never been to a Nintendo booth at E3, you could not imagine the boredom that ensues unless you have special press dispensation to skip the line.

 

[rCIZZLE]

The whole booth babe thing is just weird, and a little creepy, lol. Paying women to stand around video game events so nerds can take pictures with them hugging/hover handing is just a bizarre-ass concept to me

I'm a big fan of the cosplaying booth babes. The others I don't really get beyond them making the atmosphere more enjoyable for the people in attendance. Kind of like hooters waitresses or football cheerleaders.

 

[pigeon]

I'm a big fan of the cosplaying booth babes. The others I don't really get beyond them making the atmosphere more enjoyable for the horny men in attendance. Kind of like hooters waitresses or football cheerleaders.

Clarified!

 

[Vermillion]

But we're all a little bit gay

 

[Femmeworth]

Which reminds me - what is an oversexualized guy anyways? Perhaps it's because I haven't seen much of them, but I can't tell what you'd do to oversexualize a guy, considering women don't seem to enjoy the extremes. Adding more muscles? No, that's not attractive... see, oftentimes, the men that women find attractive seem to have more balanced bodies and softer features.

I honestly don't know either, since I'm not sexually attracted to men.

Hmmm, I guess those count.

 

[rCIZZLE]

Clarified!

Sorry man, some of us like pretty girls. Don't know why that's a crime.

 

[CambriaRising]

Clarified!

Yup, you have to be horny to like looking at pretty girls.


Clearly.

 

[RedSwirl]

Here we go. TGS 2009 did it right:

http://kotaku.com/5369938/how-to-dress-a-tokyo-game-show-booth-lady
They managed to make all the girls look attractive without looking like they were degrading themselves.

From the looks of E3 2010 I thought all the shows were moving in that direction, but I guess not.