Theescapist 018.Pdf
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Over the past week, I have been What makes me especially happy about “A man’s work is in danger of inundated with responses to last week’s this past issue is that people all over the deteriorating when he thinks he has issue. I must say, as an editor, this is web are having intelligent, reasoned found the one best formula for doing it. absolutely thrilling. Many of you have discussions about that “something” – If he thinks that, he is likely to feel that called for some manner of response to about why more women are not involved all he needs is merely to go on To the Editor: I greatly enjoyed several articles from the “Girl Power” in gaming. This is surely a good step in repeating himself. […] so long as a “Women in Games” by Chris Crawford. issue. Others just wished to express the right direction, toward balancing the person is searching for better ways of His article quickly pinpoints the major distaste or agreement with a writer’s scales of the gaming population, at least doing his work, he is fairly safe.” problems with getting women involved in words. Thank you to all those who wrote, in the realm of gender. games. I’ve always found it significantly both to me, and on your own blogs and In an effort to continue this ideal of easier to get girls interested in The Sims sites, about our issue on women in This minor rumbling among gamers and eschewing complacency and studying than it is to engage them in a riveting gaming. developers as a result of this article is a new viewpoints, this week’s issue of The round of Unreal Tournament. very positive thing. Philosophers and Escapist, “Otaku,” looks east. Pat Miller As a female gamer myself, I understand notables over the years, from Aesop to ponders his experience at the university Another trend I’ve noticed, however, is well that there are a bunch of us out Thomas Edison, have commented on the with Japanese foreign exchange students that women tend to be very engaged by there. I also understand that despite dangers of complacency. I sincerely and what it means to be “otaku.” Allen puzzle games. Perhaps the social aspect this, the percentage of women gamers is believe that it is crucial to examine the Varney looks at a handful of foreign, in isn’t the only thing that’s missing, but much lower than the percentage of beliefs we have, to have them all senses of the word, games. And, also a “balancing multiple variables” women in the population as a whole. challenged. We cannot truly defend our returning this week is John Tynes with approach that puzzle games have. Puzzle This tells me that something is going on own beliefs unless we have learned to do his Contrarian Confession. Find these games are a visual task somewhat akin to keep women at a distance, be it game so by study, discussion and articles and more in this week’s issue of to foraging: you’re looking for the right design itself not appealing to women or introspection. And if last weeks’ issue The Escapist. pieces and the right place to make those the gaming community as a whole not has led you to any of these, then from pieces fit. Often, you need to balance being a very female friendly place (to my perspective, and I daresay our Cheers, short term goals with long term goals: borrow some ideas from the articles, writers’, it has served its purpose. To Do I go for the big point combo now and letters and blogs I’ve received). quote Nobel Prize-winning playwright, risk leaving a gap, or play it safe and Eugene O’Neill: ensure an easier progression? A game designer truly dedicated to this Mammoths, the women were at home serve? Tasks to perform that require to the ludicrous conclusion by Crawford question would perform controlled using their brains to figure out what one’s wits, as well as physical prowess. A that female brains prefer soap operas experiments to find out the answer. plants, berries, etc., served what variety of interesting characters. and bodice-ripping novels and, therefore, nutritional purposes; how these could be games that would include such. J. Azpurua used to cure various ills and wounds, Fast forward from primitive to modern etc. (Thank Jean Auel and the well- woman: Why the “traditional” female After aptly pointing out in the beginning To the Editor: It was refreshing to read researched The Clan of the Cave Bear et roles have become devalued, of his article that some game developers the most interesting and amusing article al.) Back then, women were the doctors, unappreciated, disrespected, and the “just don’t get it” when they “splashed “Women in Games” by Chris Crawford nurses, teachers, even priests/shamans consequences thereof for society, is around banners showing a woman in a which comes from a different (what today we would call another discussion. However, it is low-cut dress,” Crawford, ultimately, perspective, that of evolutionary “professionals“). perhaps this devaluation which has led seems not to get it. psychology. After the excellent historical wrap-up of our social history, however, It is not only social reasoning that Christine L. Peeler the conclusion Crawford draws about women excel in and like to use, but what would appeal to modern women in reasoning in general. Give me something To the Editor: Mr. Alam quite games is questionable. I, personally, with a good plot, which requires brain unintentionally brings up the real never watch soap operas or read power (not brawn power) to figure out problem with objectification in gaming. “bodice-rippers.” (Gag!) And I don’t and solve the best way to address a He acts all offended about the think I am the exception to the rule. problem/challenge. A good mystery, a objectification of women with the end (The question of why some people do good adventure, suspense, choices, level boss of the Prince of Persia demo. enjoy such fare is for another forum.) options, puzzles, etc. Yet this is by far not the first case of it at all in that game. What about the main What Crawford fails to acknowledge is Good graphics and explosions and character, the strongly objectified male? that primitive women didn’t just gather interminable, mindless battles with Why wasn’t that just as offensive? berries, roots, etc. for eating, but for enemies mean nothing to my female medicinal purposes also. This required brain (yawn) without a mental challenge: Has anyone thought to ask women much trial and error, figuring out doses, For example, a quest that requires gamers whether or not they’re offended? what they were good for, and then decisions, decisions that have Anecdotally, my wife isn’t, and her remembering countless numbers of consequences; a choice of paths to favorite game is God of War, a game plants, organizing them, etc. One could explore; an emotional challenge: Why that doesn’t lack either class of argue that while primitive man was out should I embark on this dangerous objectification. Heck, when she found the running around hunting Great Wooly journey? What good purpose does it mini-game on the boat, she played it for a half hour, giggling like a maniac the supporting women in games please let the first MMOG to realize this and make whole time. And on a wider scale, me know, as I would happily support it. a great game that doesn’t compel its according to the ESA, 44% of gamers best customers to confront “zomg send are women. That certainly doesn’t sound Keep up the great work, and I love your me pix pls thx” is going to win. like women are being driven away in site design! droves. Jeb Adams Mark Bennett Robert Myers To the Editor: At the end of the article To the Editor: Whitney Butts’ excellent (which was both amusing and To the Editor: Re: “OMG Girlz Don’t article on her very existence should be disheartening), I noticed the following: Exist on teh Intraweb!!!1” I’m a gay required reading for every manager, video gaymer who plays online all the marketing team member and developer Whitney Butts is the “woman behind the time. I’ve had to put up with holding my of Internet-savvy games. Here’s a list of curtain” at The Escapist. Her existence tongue in raids and matches, and her qualities I could discern - which one revolves around the fact that understand the hassle outing yourself should a game company be working on? Mathematics is the key to the universe, can involve. She is: Intelligent (she can write); a and that she alone is the square root of subscriber (to at least WoW); all evil. I’ve always understood that female community-oriented (frequenting IRC gamers have a hard time too, but until channels dedicated to the game); and As someone with an interest both in reading your article today I’ve never incredibly annoyed with her fellow morality and mathematics (among other really made the connection in my customers. things), this is quite an interesting head. It’s almost surreal people’s statement. Is Whitney Butts the reactions when they find out who they’re I’ve recently read articles about whether embodiment of an imaginary moral playing with, but it’s also frustrating or not the MMOG market is saturating, system (and unique to boot)? If so, when all you want to do is have a fun well, it appears it will miss an entire what does such a system look like? My match with your friends.