Damn, I don't go around saying to my mates, I wish I looked like Marcus fenix, thats sure to bring the girls rushing in... oh wait, no, thats locust....
I'm a normal guy, not fat, and not fit, I guess I'm in the average or "I have some weight" category. I don't feel bad when I'm playing Marcus Fenix or some other bulky character because of two reasons:
1. It's practically impossible 2. It's damn fugly
Yeah, I hate strong bodies, I'm not a woman nor gay to admire this kind of thing, I like being average and I mostly play girls on games too, they're far more interesting than the bulky guys to me (excluding the games where you can't be anything other than a bulky gay) hehehe
Reading the article and the rebuttal by Mr. Owens, I guess I have this much to say...
While I do believe that there are a small percentage of people that wished that they looked like their on-screen alter-egos, there are a reasonable amount of people who are actually glad that they don't look that way for different reasons.
Personally, I used to weigh more at 235 lbs at 5 foot 9 inches (69"), while I were in Active Duty. I were always running and working out in my off time because that was all I were interested in at the time. Having said that, I had alot of ankle and knee problems with that weight. You try to run with a full ruck sack in full rattle with that weight, and you start realizing how limited you are in terms of speed and mobility.
Since those days, I trimmed the bulk off. I'm still pretty fit at 185 lbs, and my legs, knees and hips don't kill me anymore. I am more mobile, I can run without killing myself in my lower body, and my ankles don't kill me anymore.
So, no... I (personally) don't feel the need to envy that. I imagine that to some degree, it could possibly be the other way around! Speaking from experience by example of this passage, of course.
Btw: People of all types can get "play". It depends on if you have anything good going on in your life or not.
Soldier_CLE says DON'T STOP AT THE STAR! REVOKE THE WHOLE DAMN THING, OWEN!!! was starred
Soldier_CLE says DON'T STOP AT THE STAR! REVOKE THE WHOLE DAMN THING, OWEN!!! was unstarred
Wow ... lot of ignorant people here commenting. It's clear that a lot of those making comments have no concept of how academic research is done or the value it has. It suffices to say that very little research has been done in the field -- meaning, you start at the beginning questioning basic assumptions to make sure they are accurate, then you build from there.
I get more self concious at the way Men are portrayed in Television than in video games.
According to every commercial and television show I've seen in recent memory men are all sexually deviant and simple minded idiots who wouldn't be able to dress ourselves in the morning and should be ridiculed as such. Luckily for us our "loving" wives are willing to put up with our constant bumbling.
The only time I've ever been annoyed at video game body image is when a game with a fairly robust character creation system still won't let me make a character with a bit of a pudge or a scrawny little scrapper of a dude.
@Diddy_Mao: Good point. I hate being treated as if I can't keep my dick in my pants. As if the only reason why I would ever start up a conversation with someone at a bar is to pick them up. Sorry, but I don't "cruise" for chicks, don't care for one night stands, and have zero interest in cheating around. Furthermore, not all men are bumbling oafs. Yes, we screw up. It's a human thing, not a male thing.
Not too long ago I held the door open for a younger lady that was walking into the store I was leaving. I hold open doors for people. It's polite. It's how I was raised. As the girl walked past I heard her say, "if you're just gonna do that just to stare at my ass, I can open my own damn doors." The funny thing was, I wasn't even looking at her direction. I was looking both ways down the street for traffic.
It really stuck out at me that, since I'm a guy, it is assumed that the only reason why I would open the door for someone of the opposite sex is because I am really a hypersexual, objectifying, ogling perv that has ulterior motives of checking out hawt ass, all while in the guise of being nice. And women wonder why so many guys nowadays are such jerks. Men have been accused of having so many ulterior motives, why bother being nice? Open the car door for your date, you're being a chauvinist and saying women can't do things for themselves. Hold open a door, you're obviously not trying to be nice, but trying to steal a view of some of booty. Pay for the meal, you're saying that women can't make their way and must rely on men for financial support.
Sometimes, just sometimes, a guy is doing something nice, caring, and/or polite because they are nice, caring, and/or polite and, despite any paranoid misgivings, actually don't have any ulterior motives other than just to do something nice, caring and/or polite.
I like your points, but it makes me wish there was a woman in here agreeing, since I was told women are always right.
Or, as my ex showed me, really good at acting like they are.
Women are just as bad as men. Sure, we don't have the same faults, but relationships are so seldom like they are usually portrayed in sitcoms.
Yes, I am tired of it too.
@stupid_mcgee: Funny enough, here in Sweden we say "Thank you" to the common curtsey of holding the door up for another. I guess it is a cultural thing, and I shall copy that woman in your example to make my life more "american".
Coincidentally, this guy I know is just as you describe that we're not. You can't walk down the street without him pointing out how lovely women look in their short short skirts. Upon which I will slide him a snide remark.
I tried to live up to Wrestlemania 2000's standards, but the whole "square body" look turned out to be quite unbecoming. Also, completely flat and monstrously ugly facial features pose many health issues and awkward social gatherings.
I'd say consult a plastic surgeon, but I really don't know how that meeting would go.
Better yet, go to the store, grab a couple Sharpies, maybe some eyeliner and go to town- you'll be rolling around, screaming "Hyeah!" in your green tunic in no time.
@Bogulmon: He said "most," and I'd assume he's well aware porn games exist. I believe he meant for a mainsteam release, something outside the realm of porn or strip poker/mahjong.
I'm pretty thin, got decent tone but not much in the way of bulk. So if I need to feel good about myself, I just play a JRPG because at least I'm not an anorexic, androgynous shemale.
I don't feel insecure at all when I play as buff dudes in games... oh right, that's because I look like they do. I work out four times a week and I look damn good. I'm not the stereotypical gamer... even though I do play games alllll the time.
@Twilight_Heaven: Yeah, bragging in the comments on a blog is totally awesome. All these people who don't know you, what you look like, and even if you're telling the truth is really, really impressed by you and your mad skillz.
@Twilight_Heaven: Man, your whole post was one big brag. Do you meet "stereotypical gamers"? They stopped being sweaty nerds ages ago. They look like anything now.
@Elias Dargakis: Yeah, totally nailed my personality. And of course, arguing on the internet is entertaining, to differ from you I can admit to something like that. I also have the remarkable ability to spell someone's username correctly.
@Twilight_Heaven: You guys took it a little too seriously, and I can tell some of you seem a bit jealous. I didn't mean for it to sound like a big brag, though. If you want pics, I'd be happy to show them to you. By the way, no, I'm not an Xbox guy... I'm a PS and MGS guy. And no, I don't wear a hat backwards and have tattoos and drive a hummer.
@Twilight_Heaven: Right on, dude. I'm with you, I ain't no doughboy. In fact, this one time some dude was like all up in my face at this party, so I totally uppercutted him out the window of his house and into the window of the next door neighbor's house, and also there was like this outline of a flaming dragon on my fist.
We should lift weights together sometime. I'll totally spot you, bro.
12/28/08
12/28/08
1. It's practically impossible
2. It's damn fugly
Yeah, I hate strong bodies, I'm not a woman nor gay to admire this kind of thing, I like being average and I mostly play girls on games too, they're far more interesting than the bulky guys to me (excluding the games where you can't be anything other than a bulky gay) hehehe
12/28/08
While I do believe that there are a small percentage of people that wished that they looked like their on-screen alter-egos, there are a reasonable amount of people who are actually glad that they don't look that way for different reasons.
Personally, I used to weigh more at 235 lbs at 5 foot 9 inches (69"), while I were in Active Duty. I were always running and working out in my off time because that was all I were interested in at the time. Having said that, I had alot of ankle and knee problems with that weight. You try to run with a full ruck sack in full rattle with that weight, and you start realizing how limited you are in terms of speed and mobility.
Since those days, I trimmed the bulk off. I'm still pretty fit at 185 lbs, and my legs, knees and hips don't kill me anymore. I am more mobile, I can run without killing myself in my lower body, and my ankles don't kill me anymore.
So, no... I (personally) don't feel the need to envy that. I imagine that to some degree, it could possibly be the other way around! Speaking from experience by example of this passage, of course.
Btw: People of all types can get "play". It depends on if you have anything good going on in your life or not.
12/28/08
FYI: Beer gives you breasts.
12/27/08
12/27/08
12/27/08
12/27/08
According to every commercial and television show I've seen in recent memory men are all sexually deviant and simple minded idiots who wouldn't be able to dress ourselves in the morning and should be ridiculed as such. Luckily for us our "loving" wives are willing to put up with our constant bumbling.
The only time I've ever been annoyed at video game body image is when a game with a fairly robust character creation system still won't let me make a character with a bit of a pudge or a scrawny little scrapper of a dude.
12/27/08
Not too long ago I held the door open for a younger lady that was walking into the store I was leaving. I hold open doors for people. It's polite. It's how I was raised. As the girl walked past I heard her say, "if you're just gonna do that just to stare at my ass, I can open my own damn doors." The funny thing was, I wasn't even looking at her direction. I was looking both ways down the street for traffic.
It really stuck out at me that, since I'm a guy, it is assumed that the only reason why I would open the door for someone of the opposite sex is because I am really a hypersexual, objectifying, ogling perv that has ulterior motives of checking out hawt ass, all while in the guise of being nice. And women wonder why so many guys nowadays are such jerks. Men have been accused of having so many ulterior motives, why bother being nice? Open the car door for your date, you're being a chauvinist and saying women can't do things for themselves. Hold open a door, you're obviously not trying to be nice, but trying to steal a view of some of booty. Pay for the meal, you're saying that women can't make their way and must rely on men for financial support.
Sometimes, just sometimes, a guy is doing something nice, caring, and/or polite because they are nice, caring, and/or polite and, despite any paranoid misgivings, actually don't have any ulterior motives other than just to do something nice, caring and/or polite.
12/27/08
Or, as my ex showed me, really good at acting like they are.
Women are just as bad as men. Sure, we don't have the same faults, but relationships are so seldom like they are usually portrayed in sitcoms.
Yes, I am tired of it too.
@stupid_mcgee: Funny enough, here in Sweden we say "Thank you" to the common curtsey of holding the door up for another. I guess it is a cultural thing, and I shall copy that woman in your example to make my life more "american".
Coincidentally, this guy I know is just as you describe that we're not. You can't walk down the street without him pointing out how lovely women look in their short short skirts. Upon which I will slide him a snide remark.
12/27/08
12/27/08
12/27/08
"Is that what a real man is supposed to look like?"
12/28/08
12/27/08
And quite honestly i don't think i'll ever be satisfied with the way mine looks at this point...
12/27/08
12/27/08
12/27/08
12/27/08
I'd say consult a plastic surgeon, but I really don't know how that meeting would go.
Better yet, go to the store, grab a couple Sharpies, maybe some eyeliner and go to town- you'll be rolling around, screaming "Hyeah!" in your green tunic in no time.
12/27/08
My eternal shame still only has google images to bring me down.
12/27/08
12/28/08
12/28/08
12/27/08
I'm pretty thin, got decent tone but not much in the way of bulk. So if I need to feel good about myself, I just play a JRPG because at least I'm not an anorexic, androgynous shemale.
12/27/08
12/27/08
12/27/08
12/27/08
Lol, right now shadow odin is probably thinking:
"Well!!...........at least I got 2 eyes!111"
*later that day*
mom: "hi, what have you done today?"
shadow odin: "hi mom! I like, totaly pwned a guy, on the internet!"
12/27/08
@Elias Dargakis: Yeah, totally nailed my personality. And of course, arguing on the internet is entertaining, to differ from you I can admit to something like that. I also have the remarkable ability to spell someone's username correctly.
12/27/08
12/27/08
We should lift weights together sometime. I'll totally spot you, bro.
12/28/08