Over the past semester, I have been conducting research in order to gain a better understanding regarding the changes female video game characters have experienced over the years. Some of what I learned came as no surprise-- for example, the fact that even today, it is difficult for female protagonists to be taken as seriously as their male counterparts. There were many parallels between the progress of these programmed heroines and the progress of women in today's society. Although discouraging at times, such a relationship is also very inspiring.
As mentioned in my research paper, development for future video games entails the creation of a new generation of strong, independent, and intelligent female protagonists. Despite the past criticisms that stated it was impossible for females to be nothing more than objectified sex objects, more effort is being placed into true character development. Oftentimes, the idealistic character is one that fits the model of a “third wave” feminist—one who is strong, smart, and in love.
It is my hope that more steps are taken in this direction. No one has the right to tell anyone—not men, women, or children—what they should or should not be. Although seemingly silly to some, I feel this remains true for the video game industry as well. There should not be a single ideal image for any protagonist, male or female. Past images regarding what is “right” or “wrong” should be disregarded; always, the emphasis should be on gameplay and creating a connection between the player and main protagonist. With hard work and determination, however, I do believe it is possible to create a series of female leads that can prove to the world that women can truly be everything and anything they want.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shallowend24401/3391371899/sizes/m/
The Work:
Women Warriors Research Paper
Women Warriors Product Proposal
GameGirl Editorial
Final Product Representation
Over the past semester, I have been conducting research in order to gain a better understanding regarding the changes female video game characters have experienced over the years. Some of what I learned came as no surprise-- for example, the fact that even today, it is difficult for female protagonists to be taken as seriously as their male counterparts. There were many parallels between the progress of these programmed heroines and the progress of women in today's society. Although discouraging at times, such a relationship is also very inspiring.
As mentioned in my research paper, development for future video games entails the creation of a new generation of strong, independent, and intelligent female protagonists. Despite the past criticisms that stated it was impossible for females to be nothing more than objectified sex objects, more effort is being placed into true character development. Oftentimes, the idealistic character is one that fits the model of a “third wave” feminist—one who is strong, smart, and in love.
It is my hope that more steps are taken in this direction. No one has the right to tell anyone—not men, women, or children—what they should or should not be. Although seemingly silly to some, I feel this remains true for the video game industry as well. There should not be a single ideal image for any protagonist, male or female. Past images regarding what is “right” or “wrong” should be disregarded; always, the emphasis should be on gameplay and creating a connection between the player and main protagonist. With hard work and determination, however, I do believe it is possible to create a series of female leads that can prove to the world that women can truly be everything and anything they want.