Post on 05-Jan-2016
Game characters
Write two game character names on the index cards
Pass to front
Culture / Gender
Robin Burke
GAM 224
Outline
Admin Culture / Gender
Admin
Play papersNot finished grading (sorry)Overall better
• more As
Biggest problem• bottom-up description
Design Final Milestone
Culture paper
Strongly recommended reading Escapist Issue 17
entirely about women and gameslink on "Documents" page of site
Final Milestone
5-7 pages (1200-1800 words) Concept document
sell your game! make the reader want to play
(Actually considerably shorter than a full concept) Due 11/21
may not be late for any reason Value
most of the 20% value It must be clear from the design
that you really understand the original game's core mechanic
not just in its general outline, but in its details
Outline
Introduction A vivid description of the experience of the player.
Genre Background in terms of its genre, and relation to other
games. Narrative aspects
Aesthetics Overall aesthetic and thematic elements of the game.
Mechanics How your (borrowed) mechanic works. Any other important mechanics
Key Elements (optional) A few key elements.
• Levels, environments, objects, characters or avatar abilities.
Notes
ProposalI may ask you to modify your proposal
Not a formal academic paperno footnotes, citations, etc.creative license (within reason)
Peer Evaluation
I will email evaluation formFill out and return by email
Do so after your team is doneso you can report on everyone's
contribution If you don't turn it in
you get no vote on the efforts of your team
Characters and categories
Gender
Sexual identity, especially in relation to society or culture.
Usage note [The distinction between usage for "sex" and
gender"] is supported by the practice of many anthropologists, who reserve sex for reference to biological categories, while using gender to refer to social or cultural
categories.
Gender
The question of how biological categories are given cultural
meaning And how
the cultural categories that relate to gender affect our perception of biology
Some facts biological categories are (mostly) clear-cut cultural meanings vary widely between
cultures and times
Gender in games
Games have no biology there are no biological facts to discover
about game characters Games are cultural products
rich ground for looking at gender not just appearance but also activity
Some games encourage expression of identity gender identity necessarily included
Questions
CultureWhat cultural stereotypes about
gender show up in games? Play
What gendered play activities appear in games?
Worst case scenario?
Game features
Characters Texas cowgirl female ninja disciplinarian school teacher naughty school girl deviant nurse latex-sporting S&M slave
Features locker-room cam
Oops forgot to make it fun to play
Result total flop
Compare to male version
What are the differences?
Gender stereotypes
Action/adventure video games (typically) draw gender stereotypes from myths / fairy talesfantasy fictionsuperhero comicspulp science fiction / horroraction movies
Case study
Female Action Hero
Example 1http://www.us.playstation.com/Content/OGS/SCUS-97316/Site/
Example 1, cont'd
Example 1, cont'd
Example 2
Example 3
Example 4
Example 5
Example 6
Example 7
Example 8
Example 9
Characteristics
Male vs Female
Play activities
SimulationAre the simulated activities strongly
gendered ones? Narrative
How does gender figure in the story?
Simulation
What player roles do games simulate?
Constructing the player
How does the game envision the player?
Narrative
Example
Does this matter?
Monotonylimiting the space of design
possibilities Appeal
50% of possible consumers Harm
promulgation of stereotypes
Market opportunity?
Girl games Barbie Mary-Kate & Ashley etc.
Not perceived as an important market fewer buyers / lower profit low investment low production values
This is not progress
But
MMORPGssome titles more than 60% female
players Interestingly
Male players skew youngerFemale players skew older (avg. > 30)
Meanwhile
What about Korea?
Wednesday
The Game Industry "Death to the Game Industry"