Tag: image

Posted on

Orisa

Many excited readers informed us of the new Overwatch tank character, Orisa, as well as her child prodigy creator, Efi.

One thing we can say from the start is that Orisa is easily the first female-identified character in the game to whom “can I fap to her?” obviously wasn’t a design priority. So there’s no robo-ass or boobs to show and sexualize.
That said, she’s a modified battle robot, so unless Blizzard lowered their standards to super sleazy, it was a given she wouldn’t have arbitrary secondary sex characteristics. 

That said, Omnics having gender in the first place is pretty complicated issue, storytelling-wise, as some are considered non-gendered machines (Bastion) and other are mechanical people (Zenyatta), which makes it akin to “Why does Goofy wear pants, but Pluto doesn’t?” sort of philosophical problem. 
Though Orisa’s story, given that Efi converted her from one kind of robot into another, seems to explain her being female quite well. 

It’s also nice to see how since the open beta, number of female tanks in the game rose from 0 to 3 out of 6, making it the first currently the only gender-balanced class in Overwatch. 

Efi herself being an African girl is good in terms of diversifying cast, though we’re still yet to see a black female character who is also playable. 

~Ozzie

If we are to engage in the oddity of gendered robots it’s good that the explanation be something outside of gender roles or excuses for literal objectification of women.

It’s really good to see Blizzard actually applying some of the principles they’ve been talking about at the GDC.

image

It would however, be even better if they remembered that while it’s important to have diversity in your secondary cast, it’s even more important to have it in your primary lineup.  That and robots are not (yet) an audience for your games.

– wincenworks 

more Overwatch on BABD | more Blizzard on BABD

edit: Thanks to @randomentalist for pointing out that support class used to be gender-balanced after introduction of Lúcio, but before Ana.

Posted on

Black Desert Online

@avatarwill113 submitted:

A Dark Knight from Black Desert Online. It’s so incredible generic and dreadful.

image

I do get the feeling that Black Desert Online crew does more research looking through Lady Gaga’s wardrobe than any textbook.  Sadly this doesn’t make them unique in the slightest, just perhaps the most blatant. (x) 

image

Of course, Lady Gaga is trying to get attention through some combination of shock and novelty, and is hopefully not expecting to get trapped in mortal combat at any moment.

– wincenworks

Posted on

the-hittite:

Just so we’re clear, Chandra, Torch of Defiance wears the most practical version of her armor to date. (The least practical goes to the manga adaptation of The Purifying Fire.) But compared to the armor designs worn by other residents of Kaladesh, it seems a little out of place.

For those curious regarding the fore-mentioned manga:

image

Essentially the spectrum highlights the problems that happens if a company like Wizards sets a vague design for a character then tries to “fix” it (depending on their priorities on any given day) without ever changing it in a meaningful way.

In this case, if you compare to the previous images of Chandra from the official Magic the Gathering imagery, the changes are:

  • Swapped chainmail for scalemail (both of which are absent in the manga)
  • Given her more substantial faulds (which are decorative in the manga)
  • Given her a weird collar/gorget thingie
  • Added extra cloth to her loincloth and made it heavier
  • Made her boots go all the way up to (presumably) her groin
  • Given her actual hair instead of just fire

So essentially all her redesigns and attempts to redevelop her were all preemptively critiqued in 1994, by known intellectual Lisa Simpson:

– wincenworks

Posted on

Donnie Yen and Fans Campaigning For Him to be Cast as Namor for Marvel Studios

Donnie Yen and Fans Campaigning For Him to be Cast as Namor for Marvel Studios

So apparently Marvel has finally reclaimed the movie rights for Namor, the most empowered superhero and apparently Donnie Yen and his fan base have a great suggestion for who should play the lead!

I have to say, I can’t think of a man who could bring more empowerment (x):

image
image

Now that would be a comic book movie worth seeing!

– wincenworks

Posted on

Okay. So a lot of people want us to talk about For Honor, specifically as a positive example (rather than it’s odd design decisions that we noticed on first announcement or that it’s a game where everyone is white, covered up but coded white by culture or Japanese).

The female designs are better than the usual we see, there are a few ongoing issues though like their determination to gender exactly ¾ of the classes as male, and ¼ as female… and their determination to make sure you notice the ladies have boobs (and are smaller).

So yes, it’s better than most, has some really cool designs, and can be counted as another game that has female combatants who grunt like they’re trying to kill someone rather than get them off – but it has it’s own issues.  If you like fantasy combat games and warrior women, it’s got definite appeal.

What I found more interesting:  after Game Theory made a video of it’s usual quality standard – a whole bunch of historical weapon/armor enthusiasts rushed out to debunk it and try to spread awareness not to believe misinformation in popular culture! (examples here)

image
image
image

Meanwhile it’s hard to find any sort of video talking about female armor that isn’t grossly apologetic or rushes to stress that it’s not opposed to bikini armor in a fantasy setting etc.

If only recognizing people’s humanity and representation as as important as preventing misinformation about Vikings, Samurai and Knights.

– wincenworks