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Why do some women criticize sexualized character designs?

Are you fine with sexualized character designs?


  • Total voters
    253

Dunki

Member
This is actually something i can relate to a little.
Playing a viking brute and a female elf archer in skyrim. Go to SkyrimNexus to check for propper armor mods.
9/10 Mods are skimpy or semi nude CBBE or UNP for females.
Thats because most people who can do these mods are also more nerdish and love the fantasy like style which we do not see anywhere in mdoern games anymore. Modders always add something to games that they are thinking is lacking off.
 
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JimmyJones

Banned
Why don’t these crazy feminists target people like the Kardashians who are warping young girls minds instead of FAKE COMPUTER GAME CHARACTERS?
 

chriskun

Member
I think this is mostly a problem with Japanese game developement, which depresses me because it’s one of the reasons why their industry has struggled the past ten years. I’m all for people making sexy games but keep it to games where thats the point. Chun Li having triple D’s isn’t helping anyone or serving a purpose.
 

Clear

CliffyB's Cock Holster
This is a highly disingenuous topic; the complaint is only taken seriously because of the group(s) primarily levying it. If it was made by a religious traditionalist group, the perception would be completely different. If it was a Christian fundamentalist "Moral Majority" crying out that these characters are indecent, it would be hand-waved away; but when the same sex-negativity comes from a progressive or feminist angle its given undue credibility despite the issue being the exact same thing.

Its vapid bullshit that doesn't stand up to any real critical thought; it boils down to the same censorious crap peddled by self-righteous zealots who believe what they hold to be true, to be true for everybody.
 
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Meh3D

Member
The women I know don't give a flying fuck about this at all. Just fat betas on the net.

Women is a rather broad term, it's usually inconfident women who complain about it.

As if post like this weren't bad enough in regards to amount of bigotry in this thread, the likes are even more disheartening.


OP:
I have issues with some games and how they portray women. I don't like how women are portrayed in the Soul Calibur series for example (Ivy for example.) It's interesting that the posters quoted are not only intolerant of other views, they also state these views different from their own have little to no worth; because they come from "fat betas / inconfidents". This is precisely the problem in gaming here. Woman who look like this are of value and this message has been dominant in gaming for far too long.

Gaming is changing everyday as technology gets better, so do the experiences. I feel that there are developers out there looking to make sure these new experiences are approachable to everybody. That's a good thing for the industry and gamers alike.
 
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brap

Banned
which depresses me because it’s one of the reasons why their industry has struggled the past ten years.
What? Are you trying to say western games are any better? Give me some japanese shit over 3rd person emotional cinematic walking simulators and 3rd person survival crafting shooters any day.

Chun Li having triple D’s isn’t helping anyone or serving a purpose
It's not harming anybody either. Tired of people acting like big tits can't just exist.

SHOUTS OUT TO ALL THE GIRLS WITH BIG TITTIES THAT WOMEN ARE ALWAYS DISCRIMINATING AGAINST

I feel that there are developers out there looking to make sure these new experiences are approachable to everybody. That's a good thing for the industry and gamers alike.
It's a good thing that games are watered down, dumbed down, bland, safe trash made for anybody instead of people having an artistic vision? Enjoy your white bread bullshit while I play japanese games because I'm not afraid of the human body.
 

CatCouch

Member
As if post like this weren't bad enough in regards to amount of bigotry in this thread, the likes are even more disheartening.


OP:
I have issues with some games and how they portray women. I don't like how women are portrayed in the Soul Calibur series for example (Ivy for example.) It's interesting that the posters quoted are not only intolerant of other views, they also state these views different from their own have little to no worth; because they come from "fat betas / inconfidents". This is precisely the problem in gaming here. Woman who look like this are of value and this message has been dominant in gaming for far too long.

Gaming is changing everyday as technology gets better, so do the experiences. I feel that there are developers out there looking to make sure these new experiences are approachable to everybody. That's a good thing for the industry and gamers alike.
I do want to see more games that reach wider audiences but that does not mean games like SoulCalibur are a problem. If you want more games for more people you have to allow games you won't like yourself or you run the risk of making games less appealing by trying to be everything to everyone. Tolerance is a two way street. Games are an art form, they can and should appeal to many different audiences. The shaming of an already existing audience isn't helpful. Change should not equal replacing an audience. Characters like Ivy have every right to exist.

Cherry picking only two comments to attribute the thread is not helpful, imo. It gives me the impression you're calling everyone here a "bigot". There are a lot more comments here than the three sentences you quoted. I want to see more games not less. More variety added in, not content subtracted out. I don't see how that can be considered bigoted.
 
Just read the title. Didn't read anything else.

Overly sexualized character designs are cringe as fuck, depending on the kind of game that they show up in. Quiet in MGS5 was just fucking embarrassing and made me actively uncomfortable to play that game while other people were around. It also massively worsens the "neckbeard 30YO incel living in their parents basement" gamer stereotype.
 

Clear

CliffyB's Cock Holster
Just read the title. Didn't read anything else.

Overly sexualized character designs are cringe as fuck, depending on the kind of game that they show up in. Quiet in MGS5 was just fucking embarrassing and made me actively uncomfortable to play that game while other people were around. It also massively worsens the "neckbeard 30YO incel living in their parents basement" gamer stereotype.

Not to be rude, but if a girl in a bikini-top disturbs you that much, how do you cope with the nudity in the average cable-drama?
MGSV is hardly Game Of Thrones after all!
 
Not to be rude, but if a girl in a bikini-top disturbs you that much, how do you cope with the nudity in the average cable-drama?
MGSV is hardly Game Of Thrones after all!
No, you're right, but the nudity and sexualization in GOT is actually fitting and appropriate to the show. Quiet's character design comes across as being both out of place, and also desperate and obnoxious. Its like the devs went "LOL what if a 16 year old who watches porn all day but won't have a girlfriend by the time he's 40 tried to design a female character?" It was made worse by the complete horseshit justification for her appearance. If Kojima just straight up said "I just wanted a sexy lady in this game" that actually would have been better. The "She breaths through her skin!" or whatever the fuck it was explanation was just idiotic. There's already a character in MGS3 like that, but he looks like a frigging tree.

Its similar vibes to Miranda's romance arc from ME2. She *could* have been a really interesting character, and almost, was, but was constantly being undercut by pointless, porny shots and the romance arc itself wraps up like it was written by a bunch of incels who had no idea how actual relationships work... or at least was designed to pander to them. "You did a nice thing for me, so now I'm going to fuck your brains out!"
 

brap

Banned
Its like the devs went "LOL what if a 16 year old who watches porn all day but won't have a girlfriend by the time he's 40 tried to design a female character?"
She *could* have been a really interesting character, and almost, was, but was constantly being undercut by pointless, porny shots and the romance arc itself wraps up like it was written by a bunch of incels who had no idea how actual relationships work... or at least was designed to pander to them. "You did a nice thing for me, so now I'm going to fuck your brains out!"
Do you hate yourself that much for being a straight male? And fucking lmao at thinking this is any different than all the other games that have sex in them. What the fuck were you expecting? Also, your posts read like you're a 30 year old incel who desperately tries to defend and stick up for women because he thinks that's gonna get him laid. Call any women 'queens' lately?
 

prag16

Banned
Just read the title. Didn't read anything else.

Overly sexualized character designs are cringe as fuck, depending on the kind of game that they show up in. Quiet in MGS5 was just fucking embarrassing and made me actively uncomfortable to play that game while other people were around. It also massively worsens the "neckbeard 30YO incel living in their parents basement" gamer stereotype.
Gotta strive to cringe as hard as possible to rack up those internet wokeness points in order to win approval of the virtuous masters e.g. Klepek, Walker, et al. Alas, the hardest cringers probably aren't women, but rather woke men cringing FOR them. Keep working towards replacing the stereotype you're afraid of with another stereotype.
 
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Protip: anyone who throws around the term "incel" instantly invalidates their argument, we can do better than that.

And Quiet's character design is fine, the people overreacting to it are a perfect example of what I hate, it's just a girl in a bikini, have we really regressed to the point where that's shocking to people? Metal Gear as a series has always hot guys and hot girls for both men and women to enjoy, is Quiet maybe a little racier than any other female character before in the series? Maybe, but don't act like there's no precedent, what about Meryl in her underwear? Sniper Wolf's cleavage? Fortune in a one piece swimsuit looking outfit? Eva in Snake Eater? The Beauty and Beast corps in 4? Those pinup posters you could ogle in 2, 3 and 4? Nobody cared about all that stuff but suddenly Quiet is a big deal? Get da fuck outta here with that regressive, anti-sex nonsense.

And who gives a shit what gamers are stereotyped as? Mainstream culture has never liked games or gamers, why do we care what they think? You're gonna want to make games worse to please some unpleasable group that doesn't care about games in the first place? Get da fuck outta here.
 
S

SLoWMoTIoN

Unconfirmed Member
As if post like this weren't bad enough in regards to amount of bigotry in this thread, the likes are even more disheartening.
Bigotry? Because I know women, some that aren't gamers who don't care about this at all? Why is that a bad thing or even complaining about likes? lol
 
I truly feel when females people see characters that are more visually attractive than they are, they feel uncomfortable and a sense of inferiority. Guess the average characters to them feel more realistic and relatable to them?

What I do not understand is, no one seems to EVER have a problem with musicians, actresses, models, instagram people, celebrities, etc filling themselves up with enhancements, surgeries, make up, etc to look aesthetically pleasing to men mostly.

Video games are a form of expression like any other entertainment. If the creator wants half naked women running around their game, that’s their prerogative. If you do not like it, then don’t support it. Imo, we should not try to make everyone conform to our philosophies and viewpoints. It hinders freedom and creativity and makes the video game industry homogenized and boring. I think there is room for 2b from nier, Chloe from uncharted, Aloy from horizon and quiet from mgs5. You know, some variety in female protagonists.
 
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I think this is mostly a problem with Japanese game developement, which depresses me because it’s one of the reasons why their industry has struggled the past ten years. I’m all for people making sexy games but keep it to games where thats the point. Chun Li having triple D’s isn’t helping anyone or serving a purpose.

What’s wrong with women with large breasts? They do exist in real life and Chun li always had a fairly large chest. Not everyone woman have to be an a or b cup in an environment when people look they are on steroids, can warp, can electrocute and throw fireballs out of their hands at will.
 
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Dunki

Member
I think this is mostly a problem with Japanese game developement, which depresses me because it’s one of the reasons why their industry has struggled the past ten years. I’m all for people making sexy games but keep it to games where thats the point. Chun Li having triple D’s isn’t helping anyone or serving a purpose.
there is some Youtuber called Liana Kerzner who has big boobs and also does a lot of videos about representation of women in games. She actually is happy that there are characters like Ivory from Soulcalibur. And she often said that games including women with large breasts is deemed as sexist totally ignoring that these women also exist. She also loves to cosplay these they are fitting more with her own figure. So I do not know why this is a bad thing.
 

onlyoneno1

Member
This is bullshit, if any woman doesn't want to be sexualized then she should dress modestly, rather than provocatively. End of discussion. No one watches a girl in bikini and then goes apes over a nun in robes.
 

Dunki

Member
This is bullshit, if any woman doesn't want to be sexualized then she should dress modestly, rather than provocatively. End of discussion. No one watches a girl in bikini and then goes apes over a nun in robes.
It really does not matter what women or men are wearing. if they fit their taste everyone gets sexualized no matter what they are wearing. But then it is something very natural in the first place. For examle there are a lot of men liking bog boobs because it is also a sign of fertility.
 

Vtecomega

Banned
Do you hate yourself that much for being a straight male? And fucking lmao at thinking this is any different than all the other games that have sex in them. What the fuck were you expecting? Also, your posts read like you're a 30 year old incel who desperately tries to defend and stick up for women because he thinks that's gonna get him laid. Call any women 'queens' lately?

Lmao, I like this guy.
 

e0n

Member
No offense, OP, but do you actually care about this topic? This is the same thread title on another forum with similar phrasing, but now with zero examples.
 

Geki-D

Banned
So OP never actually showed up again to reply to any of these points others have brought up? Classy, next time, get a blog OP.
 
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onlyoneno1

Member
It really does not matter what women or men are wearing. if they fit their taste everyone gets sexualized no matter what they are wearing. But then it is something very natural in the first place. For examle there are a lot of men liking bog boobs because it is also a sign of fertility.
Indeed, but the topic is specific about skimpy clothing, that is why talked about just clothes. I mean seriously, get the SJWs away from gaming. If they don't like something, then don't buy it. And stop telling the others what to do.
 
S

SLoWMoTIoN

Unconfirmed Member
What’s wrong with women with large breasts? They do exist in real life and Chun li always had a fairly large chest. Not everyone woman have to be an a or b cup in an environment when people look they are on steroids, can warp, can electrocute and throw fireballs out of their hands at will.
Chun Li also has fucking huge hands and those actually bother me.
 

Whitecrow

Banned
"Having preferences should be prohibited as long as no one have preference for me."
"Being beautiful should not be more attractive as long as I'm not."
"I think that sexualizing women is bad for us because they set false expectations (says a woman while being totally unaware that men face the exact same problem)"

Immaturity, basically.
 
I've only come across such women on the internet. All women I know IRL like to look sexy and I know a couple of girls who only play mmo's. They adore the skimpy costumes. Clearly the market caters to those who buy the games and so it should keep doing so.
 

Boss Mog

Member
I think this is mostly a problem with Japanese game developement, which depresses me because it’s one of the reasons why their industry has struggled the past ten years. I’m all for people making sexy games but keep it to games where thats the point. Chun Li having triple D’s isn’t helping anyone or serving a purpose.
There's a Kpop girl group called Cosmic Girls (WJSN) and they have a Chinese member named Cheng Xiao who is pretty much Chun Li come to life. She has a large chest and large thighs, so women like Chun Li do exist in real life so why can't they be represented in gaming?
tumblr_p62od8yUQy1v69hruo2_400.gif
tenor.gif
tenor.gif
 

Vtecomega

Banned
Yeah, pretty much all women are fucking ugly in games now. HZD, TLOU 2, RE2, DMC5. Can't let unattractive women feel bad that video game characters look better than them I guess.

Aloy from Horizon is the perfect example. It drives me insane just looking at her hideous design for more than a few seconds. She looks like Blake Griffin for fuck sakes.
 

Razzorn34

Member
Yeah, those hands lol. I don’t know what’s up with sf and huge hands and feet. Design choice?
It's a design choice. They do that to make attacks easier to see, and to add emphasis. It's no different that any other game that wants to add emphasis to the weapon you are using. If you've never noticed, things like guns and melee weapons are always extremely over-sized in video games. Like 2x-3x larger than a normal weapon would be.
 
I think there is room for 2b from nier, Chloe from uncharted, Aloy from horizon and quiet from mgs5. You know, some variety in female protagonists.

That's all I'm asking for is some variety, I wouldn't even want every single female character to be like 2B, it just depends on the game, but to say we can't have any that are like 2B? Fuck that.

If there's a silver lining it seems like the reception to Nier Automata was positive, I didn't really see much hand wringing and pearl clutching over 2B and her ass, I think SJWs have mostly learned to leave Japanese games the fuck alone after the negative reception over Polygon's review of Bayonetta 2.

They haven't loosened their iron grip on western games though.

Indeed, but the topic is specific about skimpy clothing, that is why talked about just clothes. I mean seriously, get the SJWs away from gaming. If they don't like something, then don't buy it. And stop telling the others what to do.

The creepy thing with SJWs is this goes further than just video games and actually applies to all media, this is most clear with the example of Marvel comics.

Basically they've grafted onto the idea of transforming all of entertainment into bald faced propaganda in order to try to brainwash people into thinking the way they want them to think.

That is why it's not enough of an answer for them to just say "if you don't like it, don't buy it" this is more than just entertainment, they believe this is a fight for the future.

I've only come across such women on the internet. All women I know IRL like to look sexy and I know a couple of girls who only play mmo's. They adore the skimpy costumes. Clearly the market caters to those who buy the games and so it should keep doing so.

This is what I don't get is a lot of female gamers like to live vicariously through sexy female characters, why it supposed to be seen as a slam against them?

I don't have big muscles like most male game protagonists but shit, that's part of the fun of playing as one.
 

Dunki

Member
I truly feel when females people see characters that are more visually attractive than they are, they feel uncomfortable and a sense of inferiority. Guess the average characters to them feel more realistic and relatable to them?

What I do not understand is, no one seems to EVER have a problem with musicians, actresses, models, instagram people, celebrities, etc filling themselves up with enhancements, surgeries, make up, etc to look aesthetically pleasing to men mostly.

Video games are a form of expression like any other entertainment. If the creator wants half naked women running around their game, that’s their prerogative. If you do not like it, then don’t support it. Imo, we should not try to make everyone conform to our philosophies and viewpoints. It hinders freedom and creativity and makes the video game industry homogenized and boring. I think there is room for 2b from nier, Chloe from uncharted, Aloy from horizon and quiet from mgs5. You know, some variety in female protagonists.
That is all most of us are asking. This slut shaming of characters like Quiet needs to stop. I never judge characters based on what they are wearing.
 

Geki-D

Banned
There's a Kpop girl group called Cosmic Girls (WJSN) and they have a Chinese member named Cheng Xiao who is pretty much Chun Li come to life. She has a large chest and large thighs, so women like Chun Li do exist in real life so why can't they be represented in gaming?
How big are her hands, though?
 
That is all most of us are asking. This slut shaming of characters like Quiet needs to stop. I never judge characters based on what they are wearing.

Slut shaming is the perfect term to use and it's ironic that women will defend other women in real life over this sort of thing, for example there's a blog by a group of New York City feminists that like to be topless or even fully nude in public and will happily post pictures on their blog of their naked bodies and hey, that's great! More power to them!

But public nudity is ok but a fictional video game woman wearing a bikini is not? What a stupid ass double standard.
 

th3o

Neo Member
Our culture and global entertainment is driven by beauty standards, beauty standards have always existed, it just so happens that the standard nowadays for a woman is skinny, big round butt and voluminous breast. For men it's the muscle gym selfie guy. Yeah, so what?
In other centuries the beauty standard for men and women was different. There will always be standards whether we like it or not and therefore it's plain dumb to try to bring SJ or feminism forward in this area. I know feminists who actually adopt the skimpy style and turn it into being something progressive. (Islam countries anyone?)
And i have yet to see a woman who is by the standard definition of "beauty" beautiful and who complains about this kind of stuff.
Sorry (not sorry) to say, but loudest feminists are either unattractive men or unattractive women. No wonder they complain. Bet they would not if they would get all them modeling contracts etc.
 

Zeusexy

Member
Not disappointed by your answers so far, GAF.

I think it's a non-problem, because most women don't give a fuck if a random guy jerks off to anime/videogame characters. And while I'm not one to fap on this kinda stuff, I always appreciate good looking characters or fanservice when done right.

Why do some armchair activists that don't even play videogames care? It's a mistery. Like PETA, instead of focusing on real world problem, they try to ruin other people's hobbies injecting their political bullshit into them.

I also think the term sexist is vastly misused. A person discriminating another just on gender basis is sexist. A fictional character having big boos and being half naked is not. That's called character design and you can like it or not but it doesn't damage anyone at all.

Case closed. Now let's move on to meaningful and productive discussions instead.
 
Our culture and global entertainment is driven by beauty standards, beauty standards have always existed, it just so happens that the standard nowadays for a woman is skinny, big round butt and voluminous breast. For men it's the muscle gym selfie guy. Yeah, so what?
In other centuries the beauty standard for men and women was different. There will always be standards whether we like it or not and therefore it's plain dumb to try to bring SJ or feminism forward in this area. I know feminists who actually adopt the skimpy style and turn it into being something progressive. (Islam countries anyone?)
And i have yet to see a woman who is by the standard definition of "beauty" beautiful and who complains about this kind of stuff.
Sorry (not sorry) to say, but loudest feminists are either unattractive men or unattractive women. No wonder they complain. Bet they would not if they would get all them modeling contracts etc.

And they want you to believe that "beauty standards" are solely a cultural invention but it's not, what we're really talking about when we say someone is "beautiful" is that someone has good genetic health and our brains are hardwired to detect that hence a person with good genetic health looks "beautiful" to us.

Some of its cultural sure, but not 100% like SJWs want you to believe.
 
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EDMIX

Member
Not disappointed by your answers so far, GAF.

I think it's a non-problem, because most women don't give a fuck if a random guy jerks off to anime/videogame characters. And while I'm not one to fap on this kinda stuff, I always appreciate good looking characters or fanservice when done right.

Why do some armchair activists that don't even play videogames care? It's a mistery. Like PETA, instead of focusing on real world problem, they try to ruin other people's hobbies injecting their political bullshit into them.

I also think the term sexist is vastly misused. A person discriminating another just on gender basis is sexist. A fictional character having big boos and being half naked is not. That's called character design and you can like it or not but it doesn't damage anyone at all.

Case closed. Now let's move on to meaningful and productive discussions instead.

AMEN!

Its not even that I disagree with them either, simply that I don't get the point to all the complaining. MAKE YOUR OWN GAME AND MOVE ON!!!

Let developers make what they want, stop attacking developers for making a choice on what they want their character to look like, story to be like etc

MOST will agree with this BASED ON THIS THREAD!

If anyone REALLY agrees with what I'm saying, also agree with it REGARDLESS of the situation. Its called having integrity folks. If you really believe this is wrong, it needs to be wrong regardless of who is doing it, not simply because its some whining sjw.
 

petran79

Banned
Nintendo games (except XC2) are the safest bet for non-sexualised characters and are also popular among women and girls, though even Miyamoto was criticised for his male centric view and he was made aware of Annita's videos by a journalist.
Imagine if something similar was asked to a renowned artist or film director. They'd kick that journalist out for being disrespectfull
 
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Dunki

Member
Nintendo games (except XC2) are the safest bet for non-sexualised characters and are also popular among women and girls, though even Miyamoto was criticised for his male centric view and he was made aware of Annita's videos by a journalist.
Imagine if something similar was asked to a renowned artist or film director. They'd kick that journalist out for being disrespectfull
This is also something that gets me. People always say that games should be judged as strongly as Movies or other media but in my opinion it is way more strict and draconic in video games. these standards some people have are almost impossible to fulfill unless you burka them up, make them the main protagonist with no flaws at all.
 
This is also something that gets me. People always say that games should be judged as strongly as Movies or other media but in my opinion it is way more strict and draconic in video games. these standards some people have are almost impossible to fulfill unless you burka them up, make them the main protagonist with no flaws at all.
That's something I don't understand, really. If we're supposed to judge them as "art" or movies, then it's all subjective. No matter what, people will complain. I can definitely differentiate between fiction and reality and chastising an entire culture for making something I don't agree with is pointless. I definitely think that whomever wants to be a harbinger for good and justice in the world would do so by volunteering and helping others than getting upset on social media and on the internet.
 
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