do you really think the fighting game community is exceptionally immature? I don’t think there is anything really different from any other group of 16-26 year old males.
Well, that’s my idea–I’m hoping that the fighting game community WILL be different from any other group of 16-26 year old males, but in a good way. Maybe then, middle-aged men won’t be embarrassed to come back after years and years and play in fighting game tournaments with the boys and (maybe?) the girls.
All in all, since the main SSF4 tourney is still open to all genders, I basically see the additional women’s SSF4 tourney as a rare opportunity to recognize the best female players in the community.
In a male dominated community I see nothing wrong with recognizing the female players who fight the odds and demonstrate skills. It’s similar to the other special competitions that often take place at big tourneys (5 on 5 exhibitions, special demos, etc).
Plus, it has the added benefit of possibly helping the community grow.
good post, with really good points :tup:
I don’t see why anyone should be embarrassed. When men get together, they just act differently than when ladies are around. I don’t even think that is necessarily that bad. That’s why lots of guys go to bars with their buddies, or get together for monday night football, or whatever else.
I very much like the idea of getting more girls into gaming or “breaking the mold” more or less.
I don’t necessarily like the female tourney thing, I think it has too many issues and will blow up in our faces.
I’m not trying to rag on anyone who is for it, but I do think it says that message that women can’t compete with men.
Still, I’d like to see some way to say “hey there ARE women who play fighting games” and find a way for that to be a cool thing to draw in other girls.
Sorry I’m not phrasing what I want to say very well.
I like the idea of encouraging or empowering girl gamers, I just would like to see it done in a tasteful, respectful manner.
Yeah girls act mad different when they are by themselves as well. Shit just goes down. Sure there will be a few less “bitch” and “gay” comments with women around but they’re not taking the man out of the tournament. Niggaz still be beating their chests when they win and people will scream to lay hands on that kid.
What exactly do you mean by this?
Edit: I have this in my head now. [media=youtube]CEaRN7e5Q5o[/media]
back in the day when sf wasnt about hugging your opponents and being friends with the other player… aka when SF was a real competition… there was one tournament that was run with 3 divisions. this was a major tournament and consisted of beginner / intermediate / and pro. as far as having a male / female tourney, i think it would be much better to run somewhat of an amateur bracket instead. and as gamers we can obviously tell whos pro and whos not. i think this would allow newcomers, including guys of course, that are just starting to play to have a chance to compete and not get completely waxed. i honestly think this would be a much better solution and although there is less interest to the tourney organizers towards this, i think as a community in general this will have a better chance of success without causing any hard feelings towards any party regardless of sex or skill level.
Well, I think we can have a meaningful discussion about this. Let’s look at your examples. I don’t know about Monday night football, but Super Bowl Sunday is something that men try to make something they can share with their whole family, right? And bars are something men can hit up together after they’ve had dinner with the family, right?
EVO can keep some of the underground and shadier aspects of the scene, but I think it should have something for a audience that doesn’t think hardcore means having to listen to catcalls and fart jokes while playing a video game. That’s really what I want to stop. Keep it alive in the arcades (and ranbats, since I watch those too; I like stupid jokes as much as the next guy,) but for what is being billed as the biggest fighting game tournament in the world? When guys finally do get people that look up to them in their lives, like a wife and kids, I would think (I don’t know for a fact, since I have neither) they would want to give these people something worth looking up to.
Edit: ObsidianStray, this probably answers your question too.
The “chicks-only” SSF4 tourney will draw a lot of gaming media attention, and will turn the heads of the all-girl clans. That on its own make this a great move. Stroke of brilliance by Wiz, imo.
My first thought:
Great, a tournament that StarSlay3r can finally win and post about on her website.
I’m all for females competing in tournaments and everything, but separating them into their own bracket and watching a bunch of women play mediocre Street Fighter 4 (assuming that Chocoblanka isn’t going to make it) isn’t a fun exhibition.
I don’t see why a guy can’t hang out with his wife and kids while making fart jokes. It seems to me that most men, regardless of age, like humor that’s labeled as “immature” by women. I don’t see it as immature, but rather as masculine. And what’s wrong with it?
runaround-
You claimed that a female-only tournament was not sexist.
I claimed that it was, by definition, sexist.
You then agreed that a female-only tournament meets the first definition of sexism. It is sexist.
What word game is there to play?
If you want me to expand on WHY a women’s only tourney is a bad idea, it is because the creation and promotion of that tournament “fosters the stereotype” that women can’t play with the men. This isn’t basketball, where intrinsic physical attributes dictate the need for separation. In fact, one of the greatest things about video games is that, regardless of age or gender, most people are competing on a level playing field. Creating the second tournament “fosters the stereotype” that women can’t hang with the men. There are enough implicit barriers separating the women who want to play from the men… why make explicit ones? Bringing over top Japanese female players seems like a much more productive solution. Ultimately, though, it’s going to be up to the ladies to step up and compete. It seems like it would be easier for them if they were treated llike any other contestant rather than singled out on the basis of sex.
Finally… dude. Chill out. I didn’t write-off or express disdain toward your thoughts on the tournament. I disagreed on one specific point, and I expressed that clearly. The opinions are like assholes remark was meant to be self-deprecating at any rate. It wasn’t meant as an insult. No need to get your fur up. There are plenty of reasons why the tournament could be good. A tournament that distinguishes between who can or cannot enter on the basis of sex is sexist… but, just like the WNBA, that alone doesn’t make it bad. How the community (male and female) reacts to it will determine its value. As I said, I don’t like it, but that’s just my assh- opinion.
As a complete aside, I don’t like the idea of female-only chess tournaments, either. If the top female players want to inspire girls to play at the highest level, they should challenge and beat the best- whether they are women or men. Until they do, they will always be the “Best Woman” instead of “Best in the World.”
Ah well. We all have 'em, and they all stink.
I used to think fart jokes and stuff were things that women normally thought were tasteless till I met girls that would basically fart while I’m chillin with them no problem or burp in my face no issue. Like well kept beauty queen worthy girls n shit. Girls like that shit too. :lol: Of course this doesn’t happen on a nice date out with a girl but I’ll be damned if there aren’t some bitches that will just let one rip and laugh about it.
oh and btw, a woman just beat a man for a PBA (bowling) championship. this was the tournament of champions mind you so it wasnt some small bs side tourney.
ok so my examples so far consist of USMC ogre’s wife smashing bronson (top 3 at EVO) in tekken, and now kelly kulick beats the 2007-2008 player of the year in bowling. please tell me why women need their own division again?
Are any of those girls active in SF4 still?
Women have opened up a lot more in sports … before sports was pretty much a “guys only” thing too…way back when…
That’s how gaming is, girls are SLOWLY coming out of their shells. . .gotta support that in any way that people try to help, imo. Including their own tourney I suppose… You have to try and look at it from the shy girls point of view… not the “Girls can still compete why waste time on this crap” point of view…
I know JayJay is more than likely still active. She was a big supporter of 3S back in the day and I teamed with her for 3S teams last year. Unfortunately my lack of playing the game and using a new stick screwed us out of doing as well as we could have. Like literally if I could have taught her a few things she would have whooped people convincingly in that game. Either way she’s mad cool to chill with and got those thick ass legs. Aw snap I brought out the shallowness.