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[Preview] Overwatch: Zarya - Sure to be a Fan Favorite
SBFord
Former Associate EditorMember LegendaryPosts: 33,129
Few things are better than a Russian power lifter. Zarya is an iconic new addition into the Overwatch character list. She packs a massive punch and plays as a solid tank class in the game. At PAX East, Blizzard announced Zarya and McCree to the fans. Zarya is a very solid tank with mid-range attack abilities and some great defensive specials. In the psycho-paced game of Overwatch, Zarya will quickly become a fan favorite despite her low speed.
Read more of Garrett Fuller's Overwatch: Zarya - Sure to be a Fan Favorite.
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Comments
So now we get the stereotypical brute female? Not much of an advancement
I second this. We need strong female protagonists, but this is not the way to go about it. Zarya is nothing more than a token addition, with only a cardboard cut-out masculine personality attached to her. She isn't defined. She isn't interesting. She's just an eyesore.
For a much better example of strong female characters, Brandon Sanderson's works would be a great source. Vin from Mistborn and Jasnah and Shallan from Stormlight are great examples of powerful women from various walks of life and various levels on the "femininity scale."
For a better example in the moba genre, I'd say that Vayne from League of Legends is a pretty strong icon - intimidating and strong without losing her femininity just for the sake of doing so.
So when can we get our hands on this???
Oh and Garrett, interesting spelling of "medium" in the 2nd paragraph... #Tipex
Far too much talk on the philosophical implications than on the flippin' game!
Do you really play video-games to somehow "further gender equality" or some other grand ideal like that? Because I doubt you'll have much success from your living room couch....
All this talk of feminism and the need of strong female characters. Come on. I'm almost disgusted. It's a video game with over exaggerated heroes for both sexes. Really. In-depth and complex characters aren't really a thing in these sorts of games so screaming injustice for women is revolting because every hero there is equal.
Males are treated the same way. Yet you don't complain about lack of complexity with them, no, no. Devs need to take /extra/ focus and /extra/ time on their female heroes because that's fair and just. That's fair treatment.
I'm honestly sickened by some of these responses, grow up.
I know Blizzard are gradually tackling with representation of individuals (although especially women) in games, and why not. It's a first step.
I would like more overweight or thin males though, not just the usual "buffs" that they have in all their games. I always loved to create all sorts of characters: overweight, small, tall, slender, etc. It's all fun and games, so I don't necessarily stick to the "hero archetype".
Fun stuff to add as a distraction:
- Character in a wheelchair/disability (GW2 golem-asura-girl got positive reception),
- Transgender character,
- Subcultures (goth, punk, rap, etc. - like ETC glam metal)
I don't know how Asia/"eastern World" in general will react to this though.
Let's be honest, there is still much debate going about these inclusions in the "western world". I can't imagine it will be easier in some of these places where the game will be distributed and the culture is completely different.
I suppose games are part of culture as much as movies, music, etc., so it is their role and responsibility nonetheless.
You absorb these things without noticing. Now the question is: what is "these things" you want people to absorb without them noticing? Gender equality or not, homosexuality, disabilities, etc.
The more you spread an idea, the more widespread it becomes, the more likely it is to be considered normal and be accepted.
So there are real implications, even though the impact isn't tangible and happen very slowly over the course of many years. Sure, we can - and will - have gameplay discussions as well, but this is just looking at some other aspects of the game.
Nothing wrong with that.
As I'm saying above, "influencers" who have access to a large number of "minds" (game companies, pop stars, movie stars, whatever) have a responsibility and can use this "influence" in a variety of way. I'm glad Blizzard chooses to do this.
I do not believe blizzard added this character to express some political BS like "gender equality" or "ignoring the social stereotype", i believe they added the character simply because they wanted to.
And i already like this one :P.
Boobs are LIFE, Boobs are LOVE, Boobs are JUSTICE, Boobs are mankind's HOPES and DREAMS. People who complain about boobs have lost their humanity.
You can thank certain people for ruining our fun in the industry currently. It's simply because they're jealous and wants to take over something they have no interest in to begin with.
As for the character, at first glance i had to double check if it was a woman or not.
Actually, they said rather specifically that they were expressing such things as a result of fan input.
Everything can be put into a box - i.e. stereotyped.
Get over it!
At least they are adding in more variety.
They add in a "strong female character that is not overly sexy yet still feminine" and someone, without a doubt, will look at it and say-
"Oh, that's just like X."
I mean, one example I can think of right away is Carol in The Walking Dead.
Strong, feminine, not sexy. Do we really want a Carol in all of our games?
Yet she is STILL a stereotype. Battered housewife turns badass. J Lo anyone?
"Woooo! I just shot the gay guy and blew up the kid in the wheelchair!"
Yep, sounds like progress to me. I'm not sure this is the "inclusiveness" everyone is dreaming of.
"I'll never grow up, never grow up, never grow up! Not me!"
"Woooo! I just shot the gay guy and blew up the kid in the wheelchair!"
Yep, sounds like progress to me. I'm not sure this is the "inclusiveness" everyone is dreaming of.
Large staff? What are you talking about?
Blizzard has 4 games running now and 2 games in development. Of course they are going to need a large staff.
All current Blizzard games have been very successful so Im not sure why you think they cant pay their employees.