http://shoryuken.com/2011/11/24/an-observation-of-the-sexualization-of-females-in-fighters/ This is the link in Question.
So, like many others, I had me a good read through it to try and see what they’d like to say today. I enjoyed the one writer’s article about how fighting games may one day attain Boxing levels, though the inaccuracies of some of the statements confounded me, I found a few points I agreed with.
However, I can’t let this article slide.
The man who wrote it, who’s name I have forgotten because he’s forgettable, obviously did any real research into the subject matter that he wrote about. He missed several key elements, found new ways to make us despise his ‘Flip Floppy’ arguments, and rather than take any side himself, he used an Ambiguous Neutral Statement as a closer. I cannot stand that. He has no faith in what he writes about, and neither should we.
Now, I enjoy the new articles and the bouts of writing that come from SRK, mostly because I like to take a step back and enjoy the more intellectual levels of the fighting community. However, with this trend, I find there is little intellectual activity actually going on. Let’s begin by addressing this article piece by piece.
First of all, he began by using the all too common Dead or Alive franchise, where the titties on these women bounce more than Nemesis’ Rocket Launcher Hyper Combo. Dead or Alive’s selling point, and gimmick at that matter, had always been the intricate use of their body physics to create a more visually appealing dynamic for its player base. The player base in question was a series of male players ranging from the teens to the adults. It follows the simple formula of… ‘If there are breasts just thrown out into the open, men will flock to it like a prostitute that’s half off’. And you know what? It worked. Does that mean women have been objectified to make money? Yes. And no. For the reason that Dead or Alive may have a target audience of men, the male fighters within the game are just as equally over appealing. Most have wash board stomachs, shirtless motifs for their costumes, perfectly chiseled faces, and voice actors whom most women would die for. Sometimes women are objectified, sometimes the men are too. You only look at the women because they yell louder and bleed all over the place (Not to mention the obvious reasons why most men look at them.)
He then goes on to pick on good ol’ Chun-Li as though she had done something wrong. What’s that Chun-Li? You have massive thighs because you need them for capturing criminals and knocking a gent out in a single blow? Oh, so you say that the occasional panty shot results from clothing designed for easy movement? If a man wore your clothing, would his groin be protruded out for all to bear witness to? It would? I see! Well you heard it here folks, Chun-Li makes very obvious points for her clothing of choice. Now, if he had mentioned Sakura-- Oh wait a moment; He didn’t. He neglected one of the most obvious of choices, and instead substituted Cammy. Oh yes, Cammy just wants to lay with all the randy young gentlemen, and not kick your shins out or blow out your knee caps with her dive kicks and spiraling leg drops. Yes, Cammy and her teeny tiny buttocks and her mosquito bite breasts.
Sir, I cannot forgive you for this article. I could if you had simply picked a side and stuck with it, but no, you simply said ‘Well it could be a good thing, but it’s a bad thing too’ and walked away as though you had finished for the afternoon.
Good day to you sir.