Reader Dead Hex found this — apparently it was posted in mid-April and we missed it? But it's a concept video that dares asks the question, what if Nintendo developed Halo 3?

Oh, most of the punchlines are predictable stereotypes (you see, Nintendo develops games like this and Microsoft develops games like this) but, c'mon, some of it's pretty clever. Especially the final level. And the aerial combat. As soon as they take off, I was waiting for Starfox and ... yep, it doesn't disappoint.

Gal, Guy and Villain [Major League Gaming, via Typing Loudly, thanks Dead Hex.]

Having played pretty much the entire series (being, sadly, the resolute gamer I am) and basically noting how much they've pulled from such sources as The Godfather, Scarface and New Jack City, I can not remember a single positive image for Blacks, Mexicans, Cubans, Jamaicans, Colombians, Haitians, Italians, Puerto Ricans, Chinese, Japanese, one Jewish lawyer (!) and soon in the upcoming game, Russians and Serbians; not to mention the constant lampooning of liberals and homosexuals. Mind you, of course, there are never any white gangs.

Now I am sure there are some white street gangs out there, but you're more likely to see the odd white guy in a mainly Black or Mexican gang, because dammit, their gangs are just that much cooler than anything a bunch of white kids could come up with.

I don't think the portrayal Grand Theft Auto has anything to do with racism. EVERYONE in Grand Theft Auto is a larger-than-life caricature. Corrupt cops are more corrupt. Geeks are geekier. Slutty women are sluttier. The snozberries taste like snozberries.

As for the lack of positive images in the series, who can you single out as a completely positive character in GTA? There are no role models. There are no white knights without tarnished armor. This is the seedy underbelly. What did you expect?

Racism - [Big Smoke Street Corner via Game Politics]

A study, commissioned by PopCap Games, showed that women love a good game of Cake Mania, and they aren't shy about it. After media content providers were determined to deliver advertisements catering to the young male bracket on consoles, the study by Information Solutions Group (ISG) reveals that casual gamers are "predominantly female."

In another article:

Leading Japanese mobile company NTT Docomo has published a study on mobile gaming demographics showing that female players are much more likely to play before sleep... Figures showed that 59% of female users play mobile games more than four times a week in comparison to 51% of male users.

I say, all this proves is that our boyfriends aren't doing a good job entertaining us. Kim Phu

Study Says Women Dominate Casual Gaming [Wii QJ]
Who Plays Before Bed? [Next Gen]

"If Blacks and Latinos are always portrayed as the villains, or as the victims who get killed often and easily, that is code for powerlessness," said Kansas State University psychologist John Murray, who's studied violence and stereotypes in the media for the past 30 years. "These image persist because too few minorities are in the industry."

Jones goes on to suggest that the solution lies in more young Black and Latino children stop playing the games and start making them, and I agree completely. Not only would it help with their own self-image, it could help everyone understand each other a little bit better. Michael Fahey

The Bad News and Good News of Obsessive Video Games Part 1 [Black Voice News via GamePolitics]

Isn't it remarkable, then, that we've reached a point where a long-established insurance company can reasonably expect to gain customers by saying, effectively, "You shouldn't worry if you've got Farmers insurance, because gamers are standing by"?

Remarkable, and hugely beneficial. Because if no one sees it coming, we can shotgun a lot more of our classmates before we hit three stars and the fuzz shows up. Go forth and conquer! Eliza gauger

UPDATE! The stupid thing auto-plays. It is now behind the jump for your pleasure.

Gamers Are Standing By [Terra Nova]

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]