The Muse Ponders A Little T and A
Jiggle technology. The term never ceases to make me laugh. “Realism’ fans think its only fair that as graphics approach the photorealistic stage and physics engines grow ever nearer to accurately approximating real life, that a female avatar’s chest should bounce when she runs. Bra-burning feminists wail at the objectification and subjugation of womyn in the gaming industry. Where is the middle ground? Is there one?
GamerGod.com writer The_Muse has put together a very well written piece exploring female body image in gaming, and contrasting it to similar practices in the film industry. She makes some excellent points that help to explain why I can love the Tomb Raider games so much without feeling threatened by the dimensions of my rendered heroine. In games, says The_Muse,
suspension of disbelief is heightened; it would have to be. A gamer knows that those dragons and orcs aren’t real; those breasts sure aren’t either! …There is no pressure, only sighs of annoyance at the developers who try to cater to over-sexualized, under-stimulated “geeks.”
Since we know that those images are fabrications, we can enjoy them in game – we can suspend our disbelief with the safety net of cognizance that no one, especially our significant others, will ask us why we can’t have a bust like Lara Croft’s. This won’t happen because we know that bust is a digital one; it truly exists only in the game coder’s mind, not reality.
I know that it’s longer than some of you would care to spend poring through what seems to be ‘chick gamer propaganda’, but if you stick with it I guarantee you’ll find that the author well constructed points dealing with body image in the gaming industry, and why having a sexy night elf with tremendous breasts is actually not such a terrible thing. Food for thought on both sides of the line.
I will admit that I oscillate on this topic an awful lot and probably come off as a fence sitter. I understand where the author is coming from, and largely agree that as entertainment, games offer us women a chance to escape our every day doldrums and be someone else for a little while. Sometimes small things, like upskirting, can make me cranky, and other times, like with Lara, I don’t particularly care that she’s presenting women with an unrealistic, unattainable image. I guess it’s all about your level of interest, or tolerance about the subject, that sets down where your “Line That Must Not Be Crossed” lays. The funny thing is that as I read more and more articles in the gaming blogosphere, I realize that men too have these lines, and they too can feel insulted by these representations. There is middle ground everywhere and the debate is widening. Why then, must we square off as the guys vs the girls, as the case seems to be, with each side playing their expected roles of attack and defend? If we’re all such intelligent individuals, why not act as such, ditch the team play, and enter into a open dialogue reflecting our own thoughts and feelings, not those we think we’re supposed to have.
Very interesting. I’ve never really had a problem with my sexy night elf’s breasts. In fact, even the “stripper dance” has never really bothered me, as I have control over it. I do think there are things, however, that extend beyond the ‘big breasts’ issue, or the expectations people may or may not place on women because of images in a game.
My main issue, for example, with the night elf, isn’t the dance nor the breasts, nor the the fact that her Kick Ass Armor is little more than a bikini. It’s in the bounce-giggle they added in when the elf is standing still. I hate it. I hate it because I have no control over it, and it looks idiotic and bimboish. That’s entirely my own pet peeve though.
Games like GTA, concern me in that you have the opportunity to not only pick up a hooker, but beat her to death to regain your money. I’m greatly disturbed by this, no matter how much I tell myself ‘it’s just a game’, because it is. But then I think, ‘Is it really?’ I don’t know.
My feelings on the gaming industry go back and forth, like yours. I think they do a lot right, a lot wrong, a lot of questionable things, a lot that one can manage to justify, a lot that one probably can’t.
I do think there needs to be a shift in their portrayals of females. I can certainly live with big boobs and a sexy avatar. But there are certainly issues that I hope start changing.
I’m a guy. I’m a gamer. I’m annoyed to no end by “jiggle” technology.
It’s been said elsewhere and better, but I wish gamemakers would focus more on gameplay and story.
If I want to experience mind-blowing visuals, I’ll watch a DVD, wander around deviantart or just take a walk outside. (Outdoors has some *seriously* high resolution.)
I play games to experience a game, not an interactive movie.
Anyway, that’s a wrap on the rant. Thanks for listening.
i like boobies
Ah yes Ingrid, the infamous bounce-giggle, scourge of brainy women everywhere. It really is annoying, and far too prevalent.
Anon: Well I thank you for sharing your thoughts, and would just like to add that the outdoors has the BEST resolution, and the most realistic boobies that Moco could ever hope for. Three cheers for nature.
I’m a guy. I’m a gamer. I’m enamored to no end of “jiggle” technology.
It’s been said elsewhere and said better, but I wish gamemakers would focus more on packing even more of their time packing polygones into chestesses.
If I want gameplay I’ll play Geometry Wars. When I play DOA Volleyball, I want a different type of polygonal experience entirely.
Jesus christ, that’ll teach me to post while playing PDZ. That could not be more incoherent. Anyways, I did a better job over here: http://www.joystiq.com/entry/1234000560072221
I hate men and their petty need to see my big boobs bouncing around, let alone seeing any boob animated and ‘giggly’ in a game. Get over it, they are a set of fleshy bags filled with tissue and fat, not sexy.
Now, a high, tight, perfect butt… that’s different. Come on ladies, you know what I mean.
Thanks for the great intro here – it’s the best I’ve seen on the web. As for the comments from men and women, I’m glad that your lead-in writer acknowledged the pro and con element of “jiggle” and body appearance referenced in the article. I also seemed to notice that women are MUCH more receptive to this article than MOST men have been – I keep getting torn apart by men who didn’t *really* read the article. Hmmmm, wonder why that is?
On a side note – great website here! I’ll come back often!
vc: To each their own. I’m definitely not going to hold it against you that you like a little wiggly jiggy. I don’t understand, however why there has to be this separation between gameplay and graphics.
I want both dammit.
muse: Thank you for stopping in! Your article was very interesting and it summarized an issue that I myself found it hard to clearly explain to someone. I hope you’ll stick around Play-Girlz in the future, we’d love to continue hearing your opinion.
thanks for the invite! I’m just glad to see people making sense when they talk about games and the issues surrounding them!
quote: I want both dammit.
Hey, when I expressed my annoyance, I wasn’t trying to suggest that I don’t *enjoy* the jiggling. I was just trying to say that if I have to choose, I’d choose gameplay over graphics by about a factor of 20.
In short, and IM(notso)HO:
Planescape: Torment > Zork > Bikini Karate Babes**
** I am not making up this game to illustrate a point. Unfortunately.
Unfortunately, there’s an (unfortunately somewhat justified) attitude among developers that they must take advantage of every technical improvement on newer hardware. This leaves too little time to work on the story or gameplay.
I’m not certain where I saw it (but probably in the GamerGods.com article referenced in the article above,) but I read recently that on newer hardware, developers must spend lots of time on the graphics because lower quality graphics are much more noticeable on great hardware. Or somesuch.
So, if I had to choose, I’d go with gameplay. Unfortunately, I desperately want to choose but my range of choices is slowly shrinking.
Yeah, um… so I’m pretty tired and I had a nasty time at work today, so if this is overharsh, my apologies.
-Sort of Anonymous Coward (who may yet reveal his secret, and entirely mundane, identity)
Sorry in advance for any deja vu I cause with this comment, but my browser crashed while posting and I’m 92% sure that my comment didn’t make it. What follows is probably the only part of the whole sad, bloated, longwinded, lost comment worth anything. Glad the gods of browser instability were looking out for me this time.
Please understand, I like the jiggling just fine.
In short, and IM(notso)HO:
Planescape: Torment > Zork > Bikini Karate Babes**
** I am not making up this game to illustrate a point. Unfortunately.
I also want both, dammit.
If I had to choose, I’d take gameplay over graphics about 20 times out of 19. (Yes, 20/19. I’m a professional math geek. Don’t try this ratio at home.)
Since I find it to be increasingly the case that I can’t have both, I fervently want to choose gameplay.
My frustration is that there have been few recent games where I get to make the choice. Graphics are winning way too much.
I think a lot of this was conveyed (and better) by the GamerGod article (READ IT!). However, my judgement is impaired by my 14 hour work day today; apparently I felt the need to pass the suffering on to all of you. I apologize.
-Pseudoanonymous Coward
Yup, I’m really tired. I was thinking of another article (and I’m pretty sure it was also on GamerGod, hence my confusion) while writing the above. Still, um… yeah. I’m going to sleep before I post anything else.
good night!