fat_princess

You have likely read by now that some female gamers are quite upset over the Sony title Fat Princess.  In the game players control a princess whom they must feed to make her fat enough that she can’t be caught.  Yes, it is far from the Shakespeare of games.  However, the notably crude game concept has offended some, and they’re being vocal about it.

Two different blogs run by female gamers have voiced their concern and upset over the game, but that isn’t the real issue here.  You see, whether the game is in bad taste or not, the bigger issue exposed has been from the reaction both blog posts have received.  In a move very reminiscent to the uproars over sexism toward Jade Raymond and racism in the Resident Evil 5 trailer, gamers have exposed quite a bit about their general attitudes.

Whether it be in the comments on the respective blogs or forum posts across the Internet, calls of the two female writers being “feminists a-holes” and “ugly” abound.  Why?  Why do gamers react this way to any criticism?  Compare this to this past weekend’s minor dust storm over violence in The Dark Knight.  Many parents complained that a film marketed at kids (and yes, and film with a line of toys at Wal-Mart is marketing to kids) was far too violent for most.  In response, not too many film fans flew off the handle calling the parents “a-holes” or “ugly.”  Instead, they accepted such criticism as a necessary evil for being accepted as mainstream culture.

Gamers, on the other hand, are much more likely to attack anyone who dares to criticize their hobby.  It’s in this way that gamers continue to isolate themselves and their hobby.  As games have gone more mainstream, thanks to casual titles and systems such as the Wii, gamers have gotten more venomous to those outsiders coming in.  Flashback to twenty years ago and almost anyone was accepted to play a round of Super Mario Bros.  Flashback thirty years ago and it was commonly accepted to have Pac-Man arcade cabinets in bars and other “mainstream” locations.

Now, however, gamers seem threatened that their little niche hobby is being taken from them.  They complain not just about the Wii’s lack of games targeted at the hardcore (an understandable affront to many), but about it even bothering to market to moms, dads, and grandparents.  When video games get taken seriously by others than just nerds (and therefore sometimes draw criticism), they don’t simply flinch, but violently shake–often spewing attacks on the person.

But criticism isn’t the death of games, but its beginning.  Gamers still hold a grudge against Roger Ebert for saying games are not art, but until someone raises such an argument then there is simply no one even talking about it!  Take this stink over Fat Princess.  Agree or disagree, but the idea of self-described feminists taking an active role in video game criticism is a thing to welcome, not condemn.  All other major art forms have had such schools of thought as feminist and queer theory applied to them–so why not games?

Because it might make for some uncomfortable moments for some.  Some, who have secluded themselves almost entirely within a fantasy reality of elves and space marines, will have to open their eyes and see that other people (people not like them) exist and want in on the fun, too.  That’s a scary proposition to many nerds who feel something special and unique is being taken from them.  Note the backlash from some as anime and comic book lore (thanks to movies) have gone more mainstream.  Still, it is something they will have to come to terms with as progress is rarely stopped once it begins its downhill roll.

Gamers often clamor for respect, but it won’t be earned this way.  A knee jerk reaction to someone daring to raise concerns over a game will accomplish nothing in the minds of the mainstream public.  Instead, it reinforces the stereotype of all games as nerdy losers who don’t know how to talk to women.  These two women writing may be far off the mark or right on the bulls eye with their criticism, but it’s the male gamers who look off their rockers.  Of course, thanks to this uproar these two women also have a lot more material to blog about when it comes to the misogyny of gamers.


Related posts:

  1. Sly reporter infuriates gamers by questioning their literacy
  2. Gender bending quite common in MMOs
  3. Nintendo throwing DS "Tupperware" parties for women
  4. Why the media loves to hate on gamers
  5. Video games and sex mix like oil and water