PixlBit

I'm not really sure how DRM relates to locked content on a decade-old Gamecube game.

Anyway, I'm listening to the latest episode of Giant Bombcast, and they spent a while talking about the SimCity debacle.  What I took from that discussion was that EA doesn't try to be evil or anything (nobody at EA is saying, "This went well/we wanted this."), but as a company they don't really work hard at fighting that image with the consumer.  DRM is a contentious subject, but it'd be naive to think that companies could do without it or similar measures.  Piracy has hit the PC hard, and that fact is evident in the giant drop in PC exclusives and measures that publishers are using to protect their products--really, their investments.  This isn't to say that EA or other companies can get off scot-free for crummy service or overly intrusive DRM, but I think fans and the gaming community on the whole need to look at it as a "'how,' not 'why'" issue.

"Gaming is a waste of time!  It only distracts you from issues in the real world, like being miserable with your life, career of choice, or marriage!  You should take up a 'grown-up' hobby...I recommend alcoholism."

What Mr. Miller said, x10.

Let me reclarify my statement a bit.

If I were to analyze a theme running throughout a certain form, it would help if I actually had some experience with it.  So, let's say I wanted to study racial-based themes in Medieval European artwork--not a hot topic like video games, of course, but let's assume in this situation, these are top sellers on the App Store.

If I, as both a researcher and presenter of a point, wanted my analysis to mean something, it'd help if I actually put some good time into the source material.  This means I'd have to study the art pieces of the time; the history of the art; the history of the cultures which produced the artists and their patrons (kings, clergy, etc.); and the history at those points in time.  And heck, that's the least I would have to study--I'm pretty sure it could get far deeper than that.

As such, my presentation wouldn't mean much if I were to leave the viewer with, "Wow, a painting of a moor and, here, a painting of the Wandering Jew!  Can you guys BELIEVE HOW RACIST ALL OF THIS IS?!  ARE YOU NOT AS ACADEMICALLY OUTRAGED AS MYSELF?!"  That would be lazy, if only because it required so little effort or skill in presenting a condemnation of a (modern) point-of-view.  It would also be a disservice on the larger scale because I, the creator, am leaving out a lot of other facts and perspectives because I may have been less than able and/or willing to research myself.

As far as this project's concerned, I am curious about her status as a potential gamer, because I would prefer someone documenting such a topic to have that kind of experience.  In the grand scheme, no, I'll admit that it isn't necessary, but like I said, I would rather this matter - which, I'll say again, is very important to discuss - fall victim to navelgazing in order to simply establish this point.

I respect any woman who can regard herself as a gamer and leave it at that.  Frankly, I'm actually pretty irritated by the whole "girl gamer" thing, because I find that it leads to this double-edged sword that makes no one happy.  On the one hand you'll have the vapid, obnoxious type who treats herself as a rarity in the community and uses that for a kind of gain (re: Maxim's Gamer Girl of the Year).  On the other hand, I think there really is that group of games journalists who are too eager to throw up a picture of an E3 booth babe or of Lara Croft and say, "You see this?! DON'T BE THIS! DON'T LET ANYONE DO THIS TO YOU!"

Like I said in my comment to this article itself, there's still a problem with sexism in games and gaming.  However, I'm not really sure if these kinds of "documentaries" are the best way of handling that issue.

Rather than just showing one side, the video only focuses on how women are objectified by this.

Well, yeah.  It's a discussion on sexism in a male-dominated industry.  If I'm going to put out an analysis or launch a dialogue about racism in America, I'm not going to put the radical views of the Black Panthers on the same level as, say, Jim Crow Laws, or any other multitude of racial issues against blacks/non-whites.

In short: there is an undeniable problem with sexism and video games.  From the way that some gamers (unfortunately more vocal ones) treat female players to the way the industry is complicit in promoting mysoginistic products (female depictions, booth babes, etc.), a person would have to be blind in order to not see it, especially in light of many of the demographics and definitions of "gamers."

That being said, I really have no idea what kind of authority Sarkeesian has to make these claims other than her study on gender issues.  Not to sound like a hard-nosed xenophobe, but I'm not really sure what her "cred" is.  If she really has been picking out the "easy targets" (Tomb Raider, Mario, etc.), then I would argue that her research may be a bit too short-sighted.  Does she actually game?  I'm not seeing much saying she does, and I do take some issue with that, because I think that lends itself to too much navelgazing on a subject that really does need to be discussed by all parties in the gaming world.

Oh man.  I remember reading about this game in Nintendo Power and EGM back in the day and being very psyched about it.  Then I finally got it and was like, "Holy crap this game is cool BUT WHY IS IT SO FREAKING HARD."  I never finished it, and never picked up the sequel, either.

Also interesting to note is that this game came out at a time when it seemed like everybody was trying to come up with some new mascot.  EGM pointed out, around that time, that platformers were making a huge comeback, and for Sony and Microsoft especially there was a big race to see what kinds of console "icons" they could claim for themselves.

You mean I CAN'T play this on my Atari 2600?!  Well what's the point anymore?!

What's it like?  Not really that spectacular, I guess.

You've got your Bible thumpers and holy rollers, sure, but not every other neighborhood or person is a member of Westboro Baptist Church or anything.  It's not as stark or "oppressive" as some would have you believe, trust me.