@JoBo: one of the things that was the bane of my existence was the fact that you had to catch a bubble before drowning. the countdown would make u a nervous wreck .
@BallPtPenTheif: I love these guys. Media Molecule goes along with the Team Fortress guys in awesome levels of providing new, original content and recognizing their fans
@Zhejan: I always come back to this game every 3 months or so. That's usually a large enough space of time for the community to make a ton more levels... packs like this only add to that fun.
@RockyRan: To create levels using water, you have to buy the pack. You can play in user-created levels featuring water without it though, as it'll be added via a patch before the DLC goes live.
@RockyRan: It will probably be like the paint guns. If you buy the pack, you can play the pre-made levels and make your own levels with water. If you don't, you can still play user-created levels with water in them, but can't create your own.
Interesting piece AJ. But even as someone who is quite often too willing too jump into "feminist" debate, though, I can't say I'm with you on all points.
Firstly- and it's been addressed by this point already- you really can't take issue with that helicopter getting shot down. In video games, the helicopter almost always gets shot down. And the pilots are usually male. The men have a far worse track record on that account, I think. I see what you're getting at, though.
Also, as a female gamer, I don't want Infinity Ward to pander to me. I don't want developers to feel they have to do something "special" other than make a fun, engrossing game to appeal to me. I don't want them to put a woman in if she's not the result of their own creative process.
Sure MW2 is "male fantasy." Of course it is. Guns, explosions, competition, camaraderie. It's male fantasy like going buying shoes and drinking cosmos is female fantasy. Both fantasies are essentially cartoons and don't even begin to encompass what men and women are all about. MW2 is not a statement of fact or ideology or preference- it's an adrenaline blast, a thrill ride. Take it for what it is.
The idea that women and girls aren't interested in gaming is such a self-fulfilling prophecy. The idea persists that women are elusive and thus we get inundated with dress up and horsey riding and baby sitting shovelware. I almost wonder if crap like that sitting on the shelves doesn't enforce the idea for women (who don't play) that the "real" games are for the men... the truth is as a woman gamer I've never (at least while I'm actually playing a game) had to feel like I'm not allowed in the treehouse. The games that I played extensively over the last year- Fallout 3, Valkyria Chronicles, Uncharted 2, Demon's Souls, Mirror's Edge, LittleBigPlanet, Bioshock, Resident Evil 5 (on the PS3 alone)- all come to mind. These are all brilliant games that any human being can enjoy.
The way I see it, this stuff is already out there, and I just won't begrudge MW2 for being what it is. Sure, it probably sold as much as most of the above titles I named combined, but I didn't get upset at the scarcity of women in the ensemble casts of Platoon, Full Metal Jacket, and Apocalypse Now (even if MW2 isn't on the same artistic level as those films by a long shot)- and I won't take issue with the new Call of Duty for the same reasons. Really, we can exist within the "male fantasy" every time we pick up a controller and play Call of Duty, Gears or Killzone. No one's keeping us out of the VIP club, and it's not every game's job to represent all groups.
@Bialia:
Mm, very good points. Maybe the self-fulfilling prophecy is the same for how "developed" games become as well. Very few games will be advertised on anything except being.. er .. young male fantasies (even if the games are different), after all..
@Bialia: What did you think about Valkyria Chronicles where in particular, the women were stronger than the men (Without Alicia, I would have never beaten the game).
Did you think "wow the female soldiers are better than the guys" or did you not think anything on the issue?
I ask since 3 of my girlfriends have noticed this and have stated this factoid to me. They pretty have the same mindset as AJ's article :S
@Goldwings - Wants a Part-time Santa Gig :D: I didnt notice this, but thinking about it, my team is almost all female, I think it shows that on some levels, there really isnt as big an issue as people love to point out.
Let me just say first and fore most "War" is a male fantasy just the same as preparing a nice dinner for a family is a female fantasy. That is to say that most males I know want nothing to do with full scale war as seen in Modern warfare. So to constantly refer to the events of the game as male fantasy is insulting.
Secondly, some of your arguments involve several "leaps of faith" to seemingly support your games are sexist agenda.
It's a pretty far stretch to say that a game is sexist for not featuring any female just as it would be to say a game is racist for not featuring any minorities.
I can go on and on about this but its easier to say that your argument (no matter how well intended) bring shame to the cause you hope to support.
@ZenGaijin: The terminology is wrong. That's really the articles only fault on this front. See, War isn't a male fantasy (as in something all men personally desire to play a part in) but a male ideal (something a social construct assumes all men SHOULD play a part in)
And that position is quite accurate, and not about to change any time soon.
For that matter, I'd also suggest that "sexist" is too restrictive a term (and WAY too prone to causing kneejerk reactions - as a glance at all the comments below us indicates). "Narrow Minded" makes more sense here, or perhaps "Short Sighted" if you're being optimistic. It's a problem endemic to the game industry as a whole, and the presence or lack of women is only a minor subset of that concern, all things considered.
On the other hand, I'm going to have to completely disagree with your analogy regarding a theoretical game not featuring any minorities. Assuming the game is set on a world stage like MW2, where you'd expect to see people of all backgrounds, this tactic is called whitewashing. And whitewashing is indeed a form of passive -often unintentional - racism.
online play aside, i might pay for some sort of monthly rental service akin to netflix... depends on if they have digital rentals day and day with the release of dvd/bluray releases.
thats my big complaint with netflix instant or disc and the itunes model as well... if i want to rent something the day it comes out i should be able to.
So, I've been keeping my eye out for good bargains for a Christmas present for the nephew. I have a $10 credit at Amazon (from NSMBW preorder), so I figure I'll order from them. I was thinking about Uncharted 2, which would be $40 with the credit, but I'm thinking I might go with this for $25 since I'm feeling pretty light on cash this Christmas.
I'm a bit nervous because the last game I picked out for him was a bit of a bust (Super Mario Galaxy). I made the mistake of buying him a game that I thought was "better" than what he requested. This time, he hasn't given me anything to go on. He's currently obsessed with MW2. So the question is, will he really like this game or should I play it safe and splurge on Uncharted 2?
@anabbeynormality: Even though you're a little strapped for cash (or just don't feel like spending it this holiday season), I would splurge for UC2. He seems to like online shooters, so that's a plus for UC2. UC2's single player was also incredible, so you can't really go wrong with it.
@anabbeynormality: Didn't like Mario Galaxy and is obsessed with MW2. Sounds like a typical Bro to me. Uncharted will probably work. Not so sure about Batman. Batman is for comic book nerds you know. If your light on cash try one of the other Bro games. Halo, Madden, Gears of War, Resistance, whatever other sports games are somewhat new, etc.
@shibathedog: Yeah, that's what I was thinking. He's not really into nerdy stuff (like I am). I did just snag Infamous from the Amazon lightning deals, so I'll think about giving that to him, but maybe I'll just keep it for myself and get him Uncharted 2. Then again, he'll probably play through whatever I give him for about a week and then go back to MW2, so maybe I shouldn't worry about it too much.
In fairness, at the time (a couple of years ago) Super Mario Galaxy was decently close in genre to what he requested, he got into COD later on. Plus, he was 12, in my view a little young. Actually at 14, I still think he's a little young for certain M-rated titles, like MW2, but that's up to his parents.
AJ, for what it's worth, I'd say that you and your "Sex and the City" Game Club, and this story being the result, has done more to damage perceptions about female gamers than any non-existent female special ops characters.
03:32 PM
02:55 PM
Looks great, and another game changer again this time with water (last was MGS' paintball gun).
01:32 PM
02:45 PM
02:51 PM
03:00 PM
03:17 PM
01:06 PM
12:06 PM
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11:30 AM
11:45 AM
So if you buy it, you can make levels with it. If you don't, you can still play community levels with it in.
11:28 AM
They might not have made the Youtube of Videogames but they've certainly made the Lego. (Lego videogames notwithstanding...)
And at least with Lego, unlike Youtube, you get a certain sense of accomplishment building your monument to wasted time and collectible hoarding.
11:17 AM
11:16 AM
11:18 AM
11:19 AM
12/14/09
Firstly- and it's been addressed by this point already- you really can't take issue with that helicopter getting shot down. In video games, the helicopter almost always gets shot down. And the pilots are usually male. The men have a far worse track record on that account, I think. I see what you're getting at, though.
Also, as a female gamer, I don't want Infinity Ward to pander to me. I don't want developers to feel they have to do something "special" other than make a fun, engrossing game to appeal to me. I don't want them to put a woman in if she's not the result of their own creative process.
Sure MW2 is "male fantasy." Of course it is. Guns, explosions, competition, camaraderie. It's male fantasy like going buying shoes and drinking cosmos is female fantasy. Both fantasies are essentially cartoons and don't even begin to encompass what men and women are all about. MW2 is not a statement of fact or ideology or preference- it's an adrenaline blast, a thrill ride. Take it for what it is.
The idea that women and girls aren't interested in gaming is such a self-fulfilling prophecy. The idea persists that women are elusive and thus we get inundated with dress up and horsey riding and baby sitting shovelware. I almost wonder if crap like that sitting on the shelves doesn't enforce the idea for women (who don't play) that the "real" games are for the men... the truth is as a woman gamer I've never (at least while I'm actually playing a game) had to feel like I'm not allowed in the treehouse. The games that I played extensively over the last year- Fallout 3, Valkyria Chronicles, Uncharted 2, Demon's Souls, Mirror's Edge, LittleBigPlanet, Bioshock, Resident Evil 5 (on the PS3 alone)- all come to mind. These are all brilliant games that any human being can enjoy.
The way I see it, this stuff is already out there, and I just won't begrudge MW2 for being what it is. Sure, it probably sold as much as most of the above titles I named combined, but I didn't get upset at the scarcity of women in the ensemble casts of Platoon, Full Metal Jacket, and Apocalypse Now (even if MW2 isn't on the same artistic level as those films by a long shot)- and I won't take issue with the new Call of Duty for the same reasons. Really, we can exist within the "male fantasy" every time we pick up a controller and play Call of Duty, Gears or Killzone. No one's keeping us out of the VIP club, and it's not every game's job to represent all groups.
12/14/09
Mm, very good points. Maybe the self-fulfilling prophecy is the same for how "developed" games become as well. Very few games will be advertised on anything except being.. er .. young male fantasies (even if the games are different), after all..
12/14/09
12:10 AM
Did you think "wow the female soldiers are better than the guys" or did you not think anything on the issue?
I ask since 3 of my girlfriends have noticed this and have stated this factoid to me. They pretty have the same mindset as AJ's article :S
02:35 AM
02:36 AM
12/14/09
Secondly, some of your arguments involve several "leaps of faith" to seemingly support your games are sexist agenda.
It's a pretty far stretch to say that a game is sexist for not featuring any female just as it would be to say a game is racist for not featuring any minorities.
I can go on and on about this but its easier to say that your argument (no matter how well intended) bring shame to the cause you hope to support.
12/14/09
And that position is quite accurate, and not about to change any time soon.
For that matter, I'd also suggest that "sexist" is too restrictive a term (and WAY too prone to causing kneejerk reactions - as a glance at all the comments below us indicates). "Narrow Minded" makes more sense here, or perhaps "Short Sighted" if you're being optimistic. It's a problem endemic to the game industry as a whole, and the presence or lack of women is only a minor subset of that concern, all things considered.
On the other hand, I'm going to have to completely disagree with your analogy regarding a theoretical game not featuring any minorities. Assuming the game is set on a world stage like MW2, where you'd expect to see people of all backgrounds, this tactic is called whitewashing. And whitewashing is indeed a form of passive -often unintentional - racism.
12/14/09
12/14/09
12/14/09
thats my big complaint with netflix instant or disc and the itunes model as well... if i want to rent something the day it comes out i should be able to.
12/14/09
12/14/09
I'm a bit nervous because the last game I picked out for him was a bit of a bust (Super Mario Galaxy). I made the mistake of buying him a game that I thought was "better" than what he requested. This time, he hasn't given me anything to go on. He's currently obsessed with MW2. So the question is, will he really like this game or should I play it safe and splurge on Uncharted 2?
12/14/09
12/14/09
10:41 AM
In fairness, at the time (a couple of years ago) Super Mario Galaxy was decently close in genre to what he requested, he got into COD later on. Plus, he was 12, in my view a little young. Actually at 14, I still think he's a little young for certain M-rated titles, like MW2, but that's up to his parents.
12/14/09
12/14/09