feministgamingmatters:

Somebody used this gif to “prove” that Metal Gear sexualises men the same as women:

Do people really think this is equivalent to Quiet (et al.) or are they being disingenuous?

I find it hilarious how dudes will insist that if people really knew about Metal Gear Solid they’d know about Raiden and that he was (allegedly) as objectified as Quiet… despite the fact Raiden and his butt run (very late in the game) were both surprises to the player (and the development team) and Quiet was used heavily as marketing material a year in advance of MGS V being released.

That and well, I could only find one figure of Raiden breathing through his skin:

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It’s almost like he wasn’t intended to titillate or something.

– wincenworks


#nakedness doesn’t equal sexualisation

Continuing the theme of false equivalence… yes, we have seen (and commented on) people who proudly claim that Raiden’s naked run justifies Quiet’s “breathing through skin” un-costume. 

We’re also familiar with the general confusion between sexualization and nudity. Vast majority of the Status Quo Warriors conflate bare skin with being sexual, so by that logic, Conan/Kratos/Zangief are equally, if not more sexualized than their scantily-clad female peers and therefore sexism is “solved”.

This, of course, willfully ignores the simple fact that not only so much more goes into sexualization than nudity (like framing, posing, expressions etc.) or that there are different ‘decency’ standards for bodies of different sexes

(especially nipples), but also how bare skin itself doesn’t yet guarantee sexyness. 

That’s why @partsal‘s female barbarian comparison is still a perfect example of how completely different character premise can be conveyed with the same amount of bare body:

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~Ozzie

yoonmiraechan:

One day I was playing MGS5 with my brother in the living room and my mother came home from work and looked just in time when Quiet shows.

And she become anger and ask to us “what the hell you’re playing?”
“An game, Mom”

And she laugh laud enough to scare my dog

“Why has an millitary dominatrix in your game?”

“Mom, really, her story it’s sad”

“ That does not justify she go to a shootout dressed in a bikini my dear”

If your action/stealth game features bikini-clad female soldier characters that your players are embarrassed to show to their moms, you’re probably doing something wrong.

We should all follow the lead of this wise mother who doesn’t see how “her story is really sad” is even supposed to explain Quiet’s ridiculous appearance.

~Ozzie

yoonmiraechan:

One day I was playing MGS5 with my brother in the living room and my mother came home from work and looked just in time when Quiet shows.

And she become anger and ask to us “what the hell you’re playing?”
“An game, Mom”

And she laugh laud enough to scare my dog

“Why has an millitary dominatrix in your game?”

“Mom, really, her story it’s sad”

“ That does not justify she go to a shootout dressed in a bikini my dear”

If your action/stealth game features bikini-clad female soldier characters that your players are embarrassed to show to their moms, you’re probably doing something wrong.

We should all follow the lead of this wise mother who doesn’t see how “her story is really sad” is even supposed to explain Quiet’s ridiculous appearance.

~Ozzie

BABD Recommends – Game Mods Edition

While many major developers fall short on a regular basis, but thankfully there are people who work diligently to correct their shortfalls.  And here are the works of a few whom we particularly recommend.

Despite the many perils of looking through mod sites, and the things that I can never unsee, I still love modders and the way they allow players to adjust their own experience and add the kind of content they want to see.

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Sadly due to the nature of systems involved, most of these are only available for PC only.

Dragon Age: Origins

Dragon Age 2

Dragon Age: Inquisition

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Mass Effect 3

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

Have fun!

– wincenworks

* This mod unfortunately had a “fair skinned” version added, which we do not recommend.  Just say “no” to white washing.