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Gender Stereotypes in Oblivion

Oblivion_mithril1.JPGFrom the "people will complain about anything" department, this just in: female gamers are taking a break from their panty/tickle fights and making me dinner to complain about gender stereotypes in Oblivion.

Apparently, they feel aggrieved that male avatars tend to be stronger and have more endurance than female avatars. What do female avatars excel in? Intelligence, charisma, agility and willpower.

Gee, how crushing: to be hopelessly stereotyped by Bethesda's constabulary of misogynist bastards as beautiful, intelligent, strong-willed and charming. Meanwhile, male Oblivion players don't seem to be getting upset at all about being stereotyped by Bethesda as brutish lunkheads.

Bethesda — in a display of common sense which they really should have put to use when pricing their stupid horse mod — are defending themselves against the charges, sort of subtly pointing out how stupid it all is.

Bethesda Comments on Oblivion Gender Bias Concerns [Pass The Press]

11:40 AM on Fri Apr 7 2006
By brownlee
2,684 views
10 comments

Comments

  • In related news, Men are complaining that their avatars don't have boobs when they use the naked trick and demand equality.

  • If all women were just as strong and aggressive as men, why are there no major female MMA promotions in America and Japan?

  • *wah* Someone always has to whine. Why don't we just start portraying all females as body builders? Would that make them happy? If it makes them feel better, I always pick the female characters in just about any genre because they are faster. I prefer to attack more than less, even if the individual hits don't take off as much.

  • WNBA LOLS

  • Actually, if you read the ORIGINAL two posts and not the warped blogosphere version, the authors have a point. They were complaining that there aren't enough female character choices and the ones that are there are lame. For instance, read this point: http://ninthwavedesigns.typepad.com/guilded_lilies/2006/03... They weren't making any greater claims of bias. They were disappointed by the characters in the game. And frankly, they have a right to. More balanced genders would attract more female gamers and provide more variety in gameplay. So what's the big deal? Sounds like lazy game development to me, at least on the character front.

  • This just in... Women tend to be weaker than men! This news is sure to shock the world's population, and riots are surely to ensue in all the major cities. The scientist who discovered this fact has been taken to a secret location and will be given a new identity to protect him from the riots. The world may never be the same. Seriously... are these people stupid?

  • At least they dont need to wear a steel crotch

  • I read the original posts as well, and it doesn't come off as whining, in my opinion. People would be (justifiably) angry with stat-changing racial/ethnic stereotypes (+1 math for asian characters? +2 alcoholism to Irish?) - this is just a less egregious version. I can't be outraged, but I can't dismiss the complaints as needless whining either. "In related news, Men are complaining that their avatars don't have boobs when they use the naked trick and demand equality." It was meant to be snarky, but I think it raises an interesting point. Bethesda rendered those boobs and skinned them, because they knew people (guys, mostly) would take the characters' clothes off. Do you suppose they rendered and skinned penises? I don't think they did. This is sort of foolish from a purely business perspective - you're really catering to a 50% portion of the market (that you already have completely hooked), and acting to alienate another, vastly untapped, 50%. Or maybe I'm high, who knows.

  • "Do you suppose they rendered and skinned penises? I don't think they did. " do you suppose it is much more likely that the average female finds the naked female form to be attractive ... than an average male finds the naked male form attractive? news flash : the female form is attractive to more people (male or female). seriously. naked dudes are sorta funky looking.

  • x23, you're a bloke then, and speaking for all of humanity? Tsk. Bad post. Not worth commenting on.

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