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Political correctness invades the MMO world.
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Some people in this thread are being really really disingenuous regarding female proportions in gaming. I hate political correctness, but let's not lie to ourselves. Most games are made by guys and purposefully hypersexualize the females and create hyperheroic males.
Let's remember that it's a work of fiction, for one. Secondly, it's nothing new for the Fantasy genre. Take a look at every single movie cover art or poster from the 80s. If it was a game that was promoting ultimate levels of realism then I'd take issue with it invading the game. Otherwise, meh. If we're talking about realism, I'd be significantly more concerned about the armor will all the exposed flesh (kinda defeats the purpose). Also, if we're looking for hyper-realism, I'll be expecting the ability to streak Frank the Tank style through hub cities. I mean how long are these characters going to wear that underwear for?
I get the whole objectification argument, and I appreciate that. Generally speaking, though, the male characters in these games, with few exceptions, are the stereotypical hero archtype, chiseled all over.
I've read a LOT about this subject over the years and I get the impression that women think that by having this in a game, men will expect it in real life. I have to say that's a fallacy. I think that, for the most part, when you put down the game, you return to reality.
I've actually never requested that my wife act like someone in a game. On the other hand, I've heard countless times how Christian would do X or how would do better, more romantically, or more thoroughly than me. Christian would have taken the garbage out in his underwear and walked in sexy slow motion.
Am I offended by any of this? Not really. However, I don't really see this any differently than big boobs in a game. I think people take this sort of thing too seriously, though. Let's cure terminal illnesses, solve the whole World Peace puzzle, then we can worry about getting those annoying big boobs out of games. Unless we find a way to create a big boob ray to just give everyone big boobs. Then you'd probably have to leave it in there.
Crazkanuk
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Azarelos - 90 Hunter - Emerald
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Welcome to George Orwell´s 1984 totalitarian society
we are right in the middle of it, thanks to brainwashing of the politically correct opinion leader minority
I think people are reacting to percieved outside threats to their favorite hobby. Without direct comment from the devs, we cant know for sure what prompted the change, perhaps beta feed back, perhaps a small vocal group, perhaps marketing, perhaps the designers changed their mind, we dont know.
But its easy to label a boogyman (feminiests, a few article writers, small vocal forum populations, ESRB ect) and attack it when there is that void of not knowing, so thats what people do, it's what we've always done as a species.
I'll be honest the VERY first thing that came to my mind about this was feeling like having larger breasts was something to be ashamed off. Sure maybe that wasn't their intention to make people feel this way but the breast size really wasn't so big it looks unnatural. I felt that they seemed pretty reasonable and perhaps a D cup.
Really? What kind of person shames the size of a NATURAL looking breast. I totally get if the character is walking around with breasts 2x the size of her head but come on now.
(Though I hear they only boosted the size down to about a C cup which is only slightly less "large." Seems like this whole thing was pointless to even announce it. I bet they could have gone unknown and no one would even tell a difference.)
Free to play = content updates for the cash shop. Buy to play = content updates for the cash shop.
Subscription = Actual content updates!
Going around pretending that large breasts aren't a sexual stimulus for lesbian and straight males is a little silly.
Obvious answer is to put a slider on the breasts so players can make them whatever size they want. I think people who are offended by mature body parts have a tendency to levitate toward the cutesy games where player characters are children / cherubs / pets. It's hard to strike up a balance when the world of mmo's are for children and adults. Maybe rate games G, PG, PG-13, XXX?
Also note that those defending breasts had better be defending male body parts with equal fervor, tyvm.
Will it matter if the game sucks?
Will it matter if the game is awesome?
it's simple, you wanna conquer the asian market?
give em huge boobs.
you care about the rest of the world?
yea, you can also have small boobs.
whatever, reducing the characters to their boobsize is kinda... low imo *G*
see what i did there? bazinga!
"I'll never grow up, never grow up, never grow up! Not me!"
Hint: "Mah virtual bajoobies got smaller oh noes" does not qualify.
Actually, they have BETA forums up and running so there could be individuals that are playing beta that have complained.
My opinion, I think that the concentration on such topics IN A GAME are outside the realm of what should be discussed. Gameplay should be the issue and not the size of anatomy parts.
Let's party like it is 1863!
Vanishing Nipples Scandal clear back in '04.
But the 'political correctness' motive is always an assumption without evidence. We're never provided with an explanation of why an art decision was made, nor are we entitled to be. Could be as simple as 'lead artist decided he'd like fewer clipping problems'.
"There are at least two kinds of games.
One could be called finite, the other infinite.
A finite game is played for the purpose of winning,
an infinite game for the purpose of continuing play."
Finite and Infinite Games, James Carse
Size of body parts is a game play issue. Role playing issue.
No, I get the point, theoretical outside forces trying to alter game content, tell people what is acceptable/what is not/forcing morality, minority being catered to ect, ect.
Problem is the decision ultimately comes down to what the game devs/publisher want to do. Everyone complains about everything constantly, im sure people wanted them bigger as well, more/less chainmail bikinis, ect. The devs decide which complaints are worth listening to, if, in fact this was in response to complaints, which we will probably never get evidence for or against
How does same sex PC/NPC relationships (LGBT stink in SW:TOR) affect clipping or artwork? How about a PC's skin color?
Here is Kyleran's FULL post. Read it again. He is spot on. I underlined the important parts you conveniently "forgot", to make it easier for you.
Is THAT "evidence" enough for you?
- Al
Personally the only modern MMORPG trend that annoys me is the idea that MMOs need to be designed in a way to attract people who don't actually like MMOs. Which to me makes about as much sense as someone trying to figure out a way to get vegetarians to eat at their steakhouse.- FARGIN_WAR
It might not be PC just an aesthetic choice. If they shrunk the breast down from Jessica Rabbit levels to Guild Wars 2 levels is there really a problem even for men. There is such a thing as too much - even for breasts. Not that it really matters - the women of GW2 are the best I have ever seen and people still hate on it.
Poor MMO designers - no matter what they do the haters hate on em.
Evidence of "political correct-driven agenda", rather than a simple art director decision?
No, evidence would involve something concrete, not "I think they were motivated by/for".
Art director decisions are, you know, what the lead art director gets paid to make. All the time. Is he "oh noes caving in to pressure"? What pressure, and how come we never hear about it anywhere but forum yackyack?
This. Unless the director comes out and says - well because of fan protest we shrunk the breast size - i think it was likely done to create better looking women.
I've read those two articles posted on page 2 or 3 of this thread (or was it the first page?) as "sources" and neither mention breast size reduction. Neither mention breast SIZE at all, if I recall correctly, but instead point out the stupidity of breasts on rock and reptilian species, which is true.
...Frankly, I don't think reducing the size of the breasts on a robot or rock-based species will do anything to fix those problems, either. The articles are very much correct that the females look stupid because they LOOK LIKE AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT SPECIES, but that doesn't have anything to do with breast size.