ALTEREGO'S PROFILE

Wow! that blog is awful... Anyway, I don't really mind characters (either male or female) with really nice bodies, or that like to show skin. I see that mostly as the portrayal of an ideal of beauty, even if a little skewed; Or I see it as simple characterization if the game is of the less serious kind. What I dislike is when the game or people show a poor attitude towards those characters, or towards sexuality in general. And I think these are two totally different things.

I find it both sad and funny how the Tomb Raider series has been criticized from the beginning as one of the major offenders regarding this issue. And how it has been necessary to redesign the character of Lara Croft a couple of times now, each one with a more "realistic" breast-size and personality.

But if remember correctly, the creators have stated that they never intended for Lara Croft to become a "sex symbol", they just wanted a good action heroine. Sure, they gave some sex-appeal, but they also gave her a strong personality, and class. And this is evident in the games because there is no gratuitous imagery, no lewd language, nor anything of the like. Is mostly action packed game-play coupled with intriguing tomb-raiding story lines. ...Surely how the game was later publicized did take a part. But I think it was mostly the people's fault, both detractors and "fans" who can't see past the "polygons"

So, answering the question. Should we as developers take note of gender and sexuality? Sure. It sounds like the right thing to do. But there's only so much responsibility we can take. At the end is up to each person's maturity how much weight is given to the way things are portrayed in videogames.

My name is mahashanaH. But those who fear me call me "The Essence Devourer" And those who don't, learn to do so as soon as I turn them into empty vessels of their former selfs... So you'd better know what's best for you, lowly creatures.

Heh; Fail or not, I like it. I think you look lovely~ %.%