Final Fantasy XIII-2 Brain Blast quiz walkthrough
18 hours 26 mins ago
My Little Pony, and girly games in general, are sexist, perpetuating countless stereotypes that prevent girl gamers from getting the respect they deserve.
I’ve had plenty of discussions in the past about games that suck. Still, there are plenty of marvelous titles out there that make up for the hailstorm of crap that lands on my plate each year. And where do I find most of them?
Online, baby!
Yet, each time I browse through a site’s game selection, I’m greeted with a flash of DayGlo flowers, a heinous assortment of “cute” animals with obscenely large and teary eyes, and dozens of bobble-headed cartoon damsels sporting an over-abundance of makeup and jewelery, going total ape-shit over the promise of yet another shopping binge.
Oh, and pink ponies with hearts tattooed on their ass. I see a lot of those, too.
So what’s wrong with these games?
They’re horribly sexist and need to be destroyed, is what. They’re disgusting in every sense of the word, and are the epitome of all that is bad in the Universe.
Not to mention most of them are about as gaudy and nauseating as a Lisa Frank product.
Perpetuating countless primitive and archaic stereotypes, all they’re really good for is leveling a table with a gimp leg. I’d recommend against this, however, as the explosion of color radiating from the packaging of many of these “girly games” is certain to blind anyone careless enough to gaze upon it...
News story attached to:
Latest comment:
Most recently commented on by on May 14, 2009
Most recently commented on by on May 14, 2009
Comments
We need gender differences, why? Because the genders are different. That's why. So it's not even a matter of simple need; it's a matter of needing, what we HAVE. If you're a man, be a man, if you're a woman be a woman, if you're a boy be a boy, if you're a girl be a girl, if you're a child be a child, if you're an adult be an adult - if you're human BE human. how ridiculous that that should have to be stated.
Equality does not mean the same, equality means, that we're all born equal, as human beings; nothing more nothing less - a blank slate. But not equal in what we choose to do, or else there'd be no meaning to those choices. Same, is not synonymous with equal. It's all too easy to say, 'make everyone the same, and then they'll be equal'. What use is it then? And it's too easy also, to say 'let's be different for different's sake'. What use is that, if by doing that you take away what makes their lives worth living? People will always have things in common. And they will always have their individual differences. Thats the way it is. it's neither right to force that, either one, nor to "disallow" it, either one; simply let things be, as they are, natural. Do what makes you happy. And remember, it's all part of a larger picture.
Removing stereotypes do not remove gender differences. Because a woman works in an auto-repair shop, for instance, is she any less feminine? Because a man works at a day care center or a hair salon, is he any less of a man?
It goes both ways: if a guy drinks beer and watches football, or if a woman spends her day in the kitchen, does that make them more of a man or woman? I don't think so.
Are you implying that a little girl's infatuation with the color pink, dresses, fashion, and shopping are genetic? I always thought those interests could be attributed to social expectation and constraint. You know, ridiculous labels developed over thousands of years of widely enforced social norms and values.
It is possible for someone to be an individual without playing into a gender role, you know. So really, the only true differences are physical, chemical, and biological.
Certainly, there's no harm in people playing these girly games. But there's also no denying they're superfluous with sexist qualities, targeting little girls under the assumption that they're into this sort of crap.
No-one gives a shit who your favourite or least favourite person is, what are you man, a dog? Stop baying start barking my friend. Or else you wont be heard.
It doesn't make it sexist, it makes it targeted to a demographic that obviously enjoys the material.
This game wouldn't be made if nobody were buying the toys, just because it's mostly girls buying the toys, and thus the target demographic of this game, doesn't mean it's sexist.
But you do make a powerful point with:
No-one went to the moon by living in constraint. No-one flew by living in constraint. No-one scaled Everest by living in constraint man. Social expectation is a self-imposed prison. Of the mind. You must be aware of it, but not let it dictate your decisions; either in a positive OR negative fashion. Stop shunning the responsibility and have some balls, do the RIGHT thing, not neccessarily the expected or unexpected thing.
It's simply the status quo. If a million people jump off a bridge does that make it right? no. does it make it wrong? no. It simply means one million people have jumped off a bridge. if you wish to make it one million and one, then you can, if not, then dont. Would you live your whole life, supercedeing social expectation in favour of joy? Achievement? Rightouesness? Love? LIFE?
Perhaps you will. But kids dont care about that stuff man. They're not even aware of it yet.
If the expectations of a society are not things that will give you joy, then either you, or the society, are ill. Both can be remedied, so long as the source is honestly identified.
In response to PerryPiekarski,
No equality does not mean the same - should a murderer be punished for his crimes; and yet an innocent be punished also? They're EQUAL as human beings; but they are not the SAME, in the choices they've made. Should someone who has studied for years upon years to be a doctor, become a doctor; and then someone who has NOT studied, also be a doctor? Again, they are EQUAL as human beings, but not in the choices they've made - ergo not the same. One is qualified to be a doctor, because he's made it so. One is not.
Ah man, this is why everyone is an idiot. Where is your brain man? Can you not see there, that I am not talking about genetic infatuation with pink; but rather, the fact that because little girls have the thing in common of BEING little girls, that they will also share interests? Liking pink, doesnt make you a little girl. Yet many little girls, LIKE pink, there are reasons for liking pink, or anything. If you have no reason; that means you dont like it. you wanna remove that and say "OH EVERYONE LIKES IT JUST BECAUSE ONE PERSON DOES BECAUSE WE'RE ALL THE SAME" no we're not the same mate - EQUAL not SAME. why should you, or anyone, tell us otherwise? Why should you, or anyone, tell us that they should not be "allowed" to do the things they wish to, because it's "playing into stereotypes"? They have a reason, you dont. This is bullshit man, people live, people die. If you spend that short time worrying about how the world sees you, then you will not live.
It's people like you mate, that cause those little girls to grow up too quickly. What you're talking about here, has no serious genuine implication, upon the real world, for the general populace, it's crap. People like what they like, all you will achieve with this, is to take that away from them, and simply change those "stereotypes" into what you think is acceptable, and from what you're saying here, I get the feeling what you think is acceptable, is to remove them. Remove all difference. Creat a "super race" yeh? WHy not go a step further, go the whole nine yards, remove sexual organs, they're different, by your logic they must be holding us back This sort of talk, this sort of dust-kicking, issue-creating; is what IS holding people back, and imposing limits on them. Ridiculous.
I'll say this again, and I'll elaborate, as you seem to have missed the point - if you're a man, be a man. What does that mean? It means be proud you're a man. Dont play into ANY stereotypes, you should be living first and foremost for yourself, not for people's view or opinion of "what you are". you think that by playing by someone else's "stereotypes"; that by acting like a "woman", or acting like a "child"; it makes you free? Nah mate. You're not a woman. You're not a child. Be a man. Vice Versa.
And the point is, only you know how to do that. No-one can tell you. Be what you are; don't tell other people what they are. Complete bullshit man, stop worrying about these things, and do WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. Because by worrying about these things, you're still letting them control you. And not only that, you're telling us we should be controlled by them. That's what I dont like.
Lastly, the real differences are NOT physical, chemical, or biological; no. The REAL differences are YOUR CHOICES. that's what changes the balance. Do what you want; and you'll find, that people who are similar to you are, will have similar reasons, and will be doing similar things, that's the way the world is, leave it be, I'll give you the advice my nan gave me as a child "stop playing with it or you'll break it" it's not a toy. A lot of Little girls like Pink. They havent been alive long enough to think of anything beyond that. WHy make them grow up so fast man? Leave em be, let em think about pink all day for a little while longer, the world is gonna chew em up and spit em out soon enough. no need to speed that process up; they grow, they learn - you're doing no service by putting this weight on children.
With that being said, both genders in our house still share the same likes. The boys will sleep with Care bears, sometimes put on the girl's high heel dress up shoes, and enjoy watching Tinkerbell. The girls dig monster trucks, LEGO, Spider-Man, and Sponge Bob. They all range between 2-6 and generally have a great time playing together no matter what the theme of the moment is.
I'm not sure I would label My Little Pony sexist anymore than I would G.I. Joe. True, their target audience is in fact gender specific.....but I don't consider that to be the definition of sexism. The toy doesn't discriminate against anyone......it's parents who determine what is appropriate for their child in the end. So if anything parents are the ones being sexist.
The toy reinforces gender stereotypes, though, no?
I think parenting only goes so far, especially with advertising being everywhere. And I think marketers/advertisers separate people into groups with stereotypes cause it makes them more money. The word 'sexism' aside, this is a bad thing, in my eyes.
It's like my daughters love monster trucks and when they see them my ex freaks out and wants to hand them dolls. I ask her.....why? Why does it affect her so much if the girls want to roll cars on the floor and make truck noises? She has no good answer for me.
Anyways, my only issue with this article is the use of the term "sexist" when it should really be "stereotype". Just because there's a cute pink horse with vibrant colors through out the game, doesn't mean that it's sexist against men. To me that would mean that the author is playing into the stereotype just as much as the company that manufactured it.
I think the definition of sexism can be loose, though, but that is the nature and beauty of language -- we each have our own interpretations. I think in this debate it's pretty much just semantics and we all seem to agree in actuality, which is nice.
Love that story. People should think more and consume advertising less.
This article reminds me of an ad I saw at a GameStop some years ago for "girl games," which consisted of some Little Mermaid and My Little Pony titles and some young girls looking excited. The ad read, "Let's show the boys what we can really do!" Most confusing advert I ever saw in my life.
Not to mention Ubisoft's press conference last year, when they were going on about reaching female gamers with their new line of wedding dress design games for the DS. Or when a Toshiba rep joked that I would like their new gaming laptop because it came in red, which "is almost like pink," he said.
Sorry for the rant. Down with stereotypes, man!
That's called responsibility. There are SOME stereotypes i.e. get an education, get a job, be a good father, be a good mother, be faithful etc so on and so forth, that serve a righteous purpose. You can STILL of course, choose not to do them. Take a look out your window there's proof enough of that.
But there are some things, that you have to accept, are about responsibility; empowerment of the self. And that is something that needs be shown to children.
Certain toys, are given to children, that will instill some sense of SOMETHING into them - an abacus, a motor car, a doll; these all represent some aspect, of adulthood - mathematics, mechanics, motherhood; toys are an education tool, education of life.
So where you say "stereotype", I say responsibility. The problem is, you're argung over who says, who should have what, and proposing to solve it by saying, let's swap who has what and let's all change roles, and let's remove all meaning and then everyone can have anything. No. If you remove what it means, then of course it no longer means anything. Therefore it's no longer needed. Simply a waste of space, it'll be nothing, it'll do nothing. You either HAVE roles, and purpose or you dont; that's absolute. and if you do, those roles must serve some purpose. Or else what you do means nothing; because you do it for no reason, and there will be no consequence or repurcussion to it. Nothing.
This leads into the second point;
Thats what's WRONG with the language. The language is TOO loose. you can say anything, and it can mean anything, that is not language - we should be saying what we MEAN. If people are disagreeing about something they agree on in spirit; then the language; or their command OF it, has failed.
Take that to it's ultimate conclusion. people will go to war, as they do. And they'll be fighting, killing, dieing over something they agree on. Why? Ridiculous man.
How is this sexist? I guess I missed the part where this is a required curriculum of girls around the world...
Of course, it's targeted at girls. How many boys do you see with my little pony toys? There's no reason a little girl can't play this Pokemon, Lego Star Wars, etc... It's just targeted at girls it's by no means degrading them.
I never even mentioned anything about sexism going both ways, obviously it does, but you lost me there man I was talking about something else entirely. I was talking about responsibility.
And it's not how I see the world man. that's how the world is, if you're looking at it direct. Things could be a lot worse; be aware of that and dont let em be so. Ultimatly do what makes you happy, not what makes other people happy. Or upset.
I dont even like those words; I was just pointing out that with regards to what you said there, that's generally what they're called, in the mainstream. If there's gonna be the whole "stereotypes" debate on this article, get ready to hear em a few times man
NO!!!!!
Tis the way of life.
This news story is archived and is closed to comments now.