Female game characters - stereotyping - EvBoard

rain_clouds · 07-08-2004, 06:20 AM

I realised that with some games like zelda and mario games have a female character that has a big pink dress and blonde hair, and when make attacks or moves in some ways hearts come out.
game companies are totally stereotyping

Lecari · 07-08-2004, 06:27 AM

Yeah, but there's also games such as Lara Croft and No one Lives Forever where the main female character has brown hair and no dress, and when they attack, blood comes out.

I think the main reason that Zelda and Mario use these stereotypes as they were originally designed for young kids and based around typical fairy stories.

You're going to get stereotypes everywhere - and females are not the only targets, and not just in video and computer games.

Llywelyn · 07-08-2004, 06:32 AM

Ever play Metroid? As in the original?

**Kaydee** · 07-08-2004, 06:43 AM

hmm... I really don't see stereotyping in video games, except for maybe the way the femall characters are actually built, kinda like a barbie doll. There is nothing like seeing a female character kick some butt!

Paradise · 07-08-2004, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Llywelyn

Ever play Metroid? As in the original?

I must reiterate this question.

central park · 07-08-2004, 06:54 AM

well zelda and mario are like the 2 of the oldest games. so they are prolly based on older stereotypes and are kinda old fashioned.

**Miles D** · 07-08-2004, 08:27 AM

*shakes head*

1985. Gauntlet. Valkyrie. End of discussion.

Llywelyn · 07-08-2004, 08:51 AM

Yellow elf needs food badly?

sweet_raptured_light · 07-08-2004, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amy_lee_rox

well zelda and mario are like the 2 of the oldest games. so they are prolly based on older stereotypes and are kinda old fashioned.

That's true. If you look at the newer Zelda games, she has a lot more to do, instead of just getting herself kidnapped and getting poor Link to rescue her over and over again. They're changing the games to fit in with the new times

bluesdealer · 07-08-2004, 09:14 AM

Uh, sorry but I'm not seeing it. Even if we ARE talking about Zelda (great games by the way), Princess Zelda still kicks major butt despite her feminine appearance. Plus, you are referring to two games out of many; two very OLD games at that. There are countless games now with a female protaganist. Most newer fighting games' number of female characters is either equal to or almost equal to the number of male characters. Also, the female characters are balanced to fight just as effectively as the male ones, even though this would be unlikely in real life due. Lennnox Lewis vs. Layla Ali?

So actually, video games as a whole are allowing both women and men to escape from reality for a short amount of time and just have a little fun. This is why they were created in the first place.

07-08-2004, 06:20 AM	#1 (permalink)
rain_clouds Ice Queen Join Date: May 2004 Location: Anywhere But Home Age: 20 Posts: 412 Points: 1,290.41 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 1,290.41 Donate	Female game characters - stereotyping I realised that with some games like zelda and mario games have a female character that has a big pink dress and blonde hair, and when make attacks or moves in some ways hearts come out. game companies are totally stereotyping __________________ Hunt me, As i lay dead, Find me In you head, Crawling beneath, The spiders web

07-08-2004, 06:32 AM	#3 (permalink)
Llywelyn Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Age: 28 Posts: 728 Points: 3,295.90 Bank: 10,183.13 Total Points: 13,479.03 Donate	Ever play Metroid? As in the original? __________________ "'Love' is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own... Jealousy is a disease, love is a healthy condition. The immature mind often mistakes one for the other, or assumes that the greater the love, the greater the jealousy. " -- R. A. Heinlein

07-08-2004, 06:43 AM	#4 (permalink)
Kaydee Mommy 2 Be !! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Chesapeake, VA Age: 27 Posts: 1,547 Points: 6,703.75 Bank: 112,708.65 Total Points: 119,412.40 Donate	hmm... I really don't see stereotyping in video games, except for maybe the way the femall characters are actually built, kinda like a barbie doll. There is nothing like seeing a female character kick some butt! __________________ Space for rent!

07-08-2004, 08:27 AM	#7 (permalink)
Miles D Pigstick on a Lip Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Memphis, TN Age: 31 Posts: 3,027 Points: 8.48 Bank: 262,447.30 Total Points: 262,455.78 Donate	shakes head 1985. Gauntlet. Valkyrie. End of discussion. __________________ I need a new signature. Eek!

07-08-2004, 08:51 AM	#8 (permalink)
Llywelyn Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Age: 28 Posts: 728 Points: 3,295.90 Bank: 10,183.13 Total Points: 13,479.03 Donate	Yellow elf needs food badly? __________________ "'Love' is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own... Jealousy is a disease, love is a healthy condition. The immature mind often mistakes one for the other, or assumes that the greater the love, the greater the jealousy. " -- R. A. Heinlein

07-08-2004, 06:27 AM	#2 (permalink)
Lecari Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Age: 22 Posts: 69 Points: 100.00 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 100.00 Donate	Yeah, but there's also games such as Lara Croft and No one Lives Forever where the main female character has brown hair and no dress, and when they attack, blood comes out. I think the main reason that Zelda and Mario use these stereotypes as they were originally designed for young kids and based around typical fairy stories. You're going to get stereotypes everywhere - and females are not the only targets, and not just in video and computer games.

07-08-2004, 06:54 AM	#6 (permalink)
central park Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: rancho cucamonga, cali Age: 25 Posts: 643 Points: 11,417.60 Bank: 5,563.50 Total Points: 16,981.11 Donate	well zelda and mario are like the 2 of the oldest games. so they are prolly based on older stereotypes and are kinda old fashioned.

07-08-2004, 09:14 AM	#10 (permalink)
bluesdealer Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: San Marcos, TX Age: 23 Posts: 350 Points: 1,247.65 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 1,247.65 Donate	Uh, sorry but I'm not seeing it. Even if we ARE talking about Zelda (great games by the way), Princess Zelda still kicks major butt despite her feminine appearance. Plus, you are referring to two games out of many; two very OLD games at that. There are countless games now with a female protaganist. Most newer fighting games' number of female characters is either equal to or almost equal to the number of male characters. Also, the female characters are balanced to fight just as effectively as the male ones, even though this would be unlikely in real life due. Lennnox Lewis vs. Layla Ali? So actually, video games as a whole are allowing both women and men to escape from reality for a short amount of time and just have a little fun. This is why they were created in the first place.

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