Gender Bias in Character Creation

[alimdia]

I think the equivalent of a bulge slider would be a camel toe slider, but the latter would send the game rating through the roof.

[micropanther7]

But its just so disappointing when you set the buffet and forget to put out the meat LMAO!

Gotta say I love your sense of humour, goodness that had me creased up!


To the topic at hand (no pun intended, my bad D: ), more options is always a good thing in my opinion, I'm refraining from commenting on package sliders, trying to behave myself (for a change!)

[Jandor]

The difference is that video-games have frequently been created with the 'Straight Male Gaze' in mind and as such it is considered to be perfectly acceptable for female characters to have breast sliders and very skimpy gear options. Male characters, however, very rarely have even the hint of a bulge and body hair is often just as rare.

Yeah, it's definitely that, straight men would be outraged if they had the option to give their character loads of body hair and a massive dong.

[MoroMurasaki]

The difference is that video-games have frequently been created with the 'Straight Male Gaze' in mind and as such it is considered to be perfectly acceptable for female characters to have breast sliders and very skimpy gear options. Male characters, however, very rarely have even the hint of a bulge and body hair is often just as rare.

As far as a muscle slider is concerned, that isn't even an option for every male/race combination. Yet, mysteriously, the breast slider is an option for every female/race combo.

Seemingly unironic mention of "The Male Gaze"...

... thank you, internet, for never ceasing to amaze me.

But honestly in current year 2018 are we still letting this lazy rhetoric fly? Absolutely none of the characters in this game have real flaws or anything inherently unattractive about them, to say "the women are pretty, must be for men" is just as nonsensical as saying "the men are buff, must be for women" like... no, just no. They are all juat reasonably attractive people with enough variation between them to make distinct races.

Stop reading into this, it's silly.

[Ilyrian]

Seemingly unironic mention of "The Male Gaze"...

... thank you, internet, for never ceasing to amaze me.

Stop reading into this, it's silly.

It's not silly rhetoric - it's a legitimate theory from modern literary (and media) criticism. Overused, perhaps, but certainly not an internet buzzword. The Male Gaze (the straight part is naturally assumed) would explain the Male Bunny outfit fiasco, given that its is assumed that anything aesthetic related will be catering to the male audience first e.g sexualisation of the female characters (check), males lack costume options that the females have (check), breast sliders (check) this entire conversation (check).
Not saying we should all get wrapped up in it - bit it is a thing and whether you think it needs to be addressed is up to you.
Either way - this game does seem to skirt the line between legitimate MMO and dark wank-fantasy sometimes, which is hilarious and sort of endearing.

[Fredco191]

It’s odd how all characters have mostly ‘fit’ body types. They should have a ‘pudge’ or ‘plump’ slider....let’s see some players with bellies and muffin tops. For real, it would make character design more diverse.

YES! OHMYGOD-.. YES!

[MoroMurasaki]

It's not silly rhetoric - it's a legitimate theory from modern literary (and media) criticism...

The legitimacy of "The Male Gaze" as a viable and reasonable media evaluation standard certainly diminishes once you leave certain schools of thought behind, particularly third-wave feminism. Next people are going to start evaluating questlines based on the Bechdel Test.

This thread has gone off the deep end. If you think this game borders on a "dark wank fantasy"perhaps that speaks more to your own thought process than that of the dev team.

[Ilyrian]

The legitimacy of "The Male Gaze" as a viable and reasonable media evaluation standard certainly diminishes once you leave certain schools of thought behind, particularly third-wave feminism. Next people are going to start evaluating questlines based on the Bechdel Test.

This thread has gone off the deep end. If you think this game borders on a "dark wank fantasy"perhaps that speaks more to your own thought process than that of the dev team.

Oh don't be so prissy. It's a joke. But it's not not a thing.
Anyway - without wanting to derail anymore I'll leave it there but the Male Gaze has nothing to do with third-wave feminism, it's a completely separate thing.

[kikix12]

(...)would explain the Male Bunny outfit fiasco, given that its is assumed that anything aesthetic related will be catering to the male audience(...)

There is no such thing as male bunny outfit in real life. For a reason, too. It's simply unappealing to majority of men AND women since the original bunny costume that was made and so widely spread have simply made any attempt either ridiculous and unappealing...or a completely different thing.

If you're making a ball, it needs to be spherical. If it's not spherical, then it's not a ball. "Bunny outfit" is a specific piece that needs to be made in a specific way. And that is very feminine. If you want a bunny-inspired outfit...now, that's a different thing. But it's not a bunny outfit anymore (ironically).

(...)e.g sexualisation of the female characters (check)(...)

This is a ridiculous argument.

If they're attractive it's "oversexualization of female characters". If they're unattractive it's "degrading female characters". Seriously...

Making female characters is clearly sexualizing the characters. You know, that's why it's called a humans sex. Cause it relates to SEXUAL traits. It's absolutely, utterly, biologically impossible to not sexualize any male or female character in any way, shape or form. If you want to avoid sexualization look up "gray allien" images. That's how the character would need to look.

Besides, making unattractive or "normal"-looking characters is a lot HARDER than making attractive ones. That's because you need to ADD details. After all, everyone could be a lot more attractive if details that make them into unique people that they are would look more beautiful/handsome, since it's those defining details that cause displeasure. Symmetry (impossible in real life) and lack of imperfections (virtually impossible in real life) are sure-fire way to raise someones attractiveness in every persons opinion, regardless of gender. And that's the easiest way to design characters.

[TheMightyMollusk]

If you're making a ball, it needs to be spherical. If it's not spherical, then it's not a ball..

Unless it's American football.