One of the hot button issues that keeps popping up is how female characters in video games are depicted. This can range from wearing ‘bikini armor’ to being a ‘stereotypical damsel in distress’. Since the controversial preview video of the latest Hitman game came out, people are either turned on or up in arms over this latest blatant sexual depiction of women.

A few weeks earlier at the Kickstarter website, a video was posted talking about female characters and how they are treated in video games. Here is link for those who are interested -
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/566429325/tropes-vs-women-in-video-games

There are a lot of arguments; some written well, others not written well. People who have dealt with gaming in one fashion or another have something to say about the matter of the treatment of women characters in video games.

Too bad it all leads to a giant pile of Jack Squat and Jack already left town. Talking about a problem or issue never solves anything. Pointing fingers and saying its someone’s fault does not help in the least. Writing articles or making documentaries about the issue will not fix the problem. Most importantly waiting for someone else to fix the problem will never happen.

What does change things is innovation and making the thing or ideal that will change things for good or bad. Only by personally grabbing the proverbial bull by the proverbial horns can changes be made. Look at these historical events.

Did Martin Luther King Jr wait for some one else to take the lead for the Civil Rights Movement? No, he took the lead and inspired others to help get rid of segregation and other racial injustices that were happening in America.

Did the Wright Brothers and others who were trying to create a fully functional flying machine wait for others to build it for them? No, the Brothers and others took the initiative and made their own attempts at a flying machine.

The Founders of the United States sure as blazes did not wait for someone else to win them their freedom.

The only way to fix this problem with female characters in video-games is through innovation and being the one who takes an active role.

“But Graeystone, what kind of innovation is needed to fix these issues with female video game women?” you may ask.

“Make a decent game that does not treat the female characters the way they are in most games,” is my reply.

Simple solution is simple for cryin’ out loud! The video I mentioned raised over $100,000. Shoot, the Grim Dawn project raised over $500,000. Look at that; innovation plus funding.

Its apparent that if a bunch of developers/programmers got together and do a Kickstarter, chances are they can create a game that will put female characters in a better light. The game sells well. Companies and developers see how much more money can be made by ‘toning it down’ with female characters. They in turn create good games that lessen the blatant sexuality and stereotypes toward the female characters.

Until it dawns on people to be innovative like that, the problem will never go away. It will not even lessen the problem in any way, shape, or form. Until active innovation happens all we have to look forward to is the typical female video game character and the people who spend their time whining and complaining about the problem. To be honest, I do not know which I find more offensive but I know this much; innovation will get rid of both the problem and the complainers/whiners.