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BaD Kitchens! Game controversy Zex!
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 On 02/06/2014 at 08:37 PM by BrokenH See More From This User » |
I might as well be accused of implying this!
So, a scene in my game has sparked the flames of debate recently. Surprisingly, it’s not what I would consider the most controversial scene in the story.(No,not Deidre's "revelations" found in the high school) Rather it’s a scene that takes place in the kitchen where three of the female protagonists drag off “the new girl” to get to know her.
To put the event in context, a more serious conversation happened moments before in which every character was discussing an upcoming battle with a parasitic supernatural entity as well as the possibility of getting their fallen comrade back from the clutches of death.
Two people had an issue with the kitchen scene. One implied just by the conversation “being in the kitchen” in relation to female characters it somehow is a subversive attempt at sexism. The other person was quick to remind me not all females talk about “girly things”. I think that is a valid criticism yet it’s been my experience when you gather four women in one room they “usually” do talk about more feminine topics. (Same logic applies when gathering four men into a room who talk about “guy stuff“. And yes, I acknowledge exceptions to this rule can and do exist!)
When I wrote the scene I knew it was in the backdrop of a tense situation. Personally when I’m in a uncomfortable predicament I talk about normal things and joke around to calm my nerves. As such, I conveyed that through Amy, Deidre, and Kara as they were introducing themselves to ANGI. Yes, I suppose they could have went into discussing “the art of war” but had they done so I feel as if the scene would have been forced and that my female cast would have seemed less natural and less human.
I like Anya but do not think every female character in video-games should be a cookie-cutter copy of her.
Beyond ANGI, no other female protagonist was a military brat or had a battle related purpose. Deidre is “tough” but is too much of a “lone survivor” to have joined a gang. Amy inflicts a strict aerobics and exercise regime upon herself to have an edge in fights but once again, she never joined the military. Kara was simply “the popular girl” in HS and while she is athletic and healthy she is not truly a “warrior”. (Though her innate Dandalion abilities certainly give her the upper hand!) My point is these are “normal females” despite their extraordinary origins. I cannot picture them bringing up tactical strategies when getting to know a new person.
When Deidre compliments ANGI’s vibrant red hair, Amy brings up ANGI’s flawless young features based upon her own insecurities, and Kara asks ANGI about her personal life with Tim I was NOT being sexist. I was simply trying to create a casual conversation based upon whom was having it. (And to set the record straight,Liam is the character who is implied to love cooking. Thought I'd throw that out there!)
Often in game design we are told to avoid “stereotypes” but everyone seems to have their own subjective opinion on what stereotyping is. I was told bluntly that women enjoy videogames and comic books too. Uh yeah, I know that already! Deidre is a big fan of the fantasy card game soulmorphisis which exists in the fictional universe Gutterdelve takes place in. Amy likes Harry Potter and Twilight. (Both things that would get her branded as a “nerd” by certain other girls) Kara is a “closet geek” and Ben brings this up while talking to her in one of his memories.
But I digress, I cannot expect people playing my game to soak in every detail and know the material as well as I do. That’s an unfair expectation. I just wish people were not so “hyper sensitive” and didn’t look for red herrings in places that have none! Put metaphorically, a windmill is not a dragon no matter how much we wish for it to be so!
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