My Wife, the Casual Gamer, Reacts To: Dragon’s Crown

FrontBurnr: It's like an after school special. My wife and I play Dragon's Crown and talk about what was wrong or right about the game.

[kingdip90]

Remind me to call sony and complain about how degrading it is to my gender the next time kratos is in a game wearing next to no clothes

[agentxk]

Sure, I'll also remind you to read the story too

[kingdip90]

I did, I especially liked that the wife of the author (assuming its not you) realized that the game in of ir self wasn't overtly sexualized and that it was just the art style.

I only made that original comment because of the original offense of the art style people only seem to be offended at the objectification of womem and not men, in the past battle for sexual equality it seems people really lost focus.

The peoblem is the objectification of any gender, not one over another. If we are going to be sensetive we should be so accross the board

[agentxk]

Ok, I understand. Yes that is my wife and she didn't so much take offense as she was more perplexed. She's seen worse.

After she saw that males got the exaggerated treatment as well, she was a little more relaxed about it.

[RememberThe357]

@kingdip: Well thats how our society works. And honestly I like it. The mystery of whats underneath is kinda what keeps me going. When I step into a club it's the one that looks the classiest that catches my eye, it's like that Santana song Smooth comes on lol.

But on topic, I'm not surprised in the least how this guys wife reacted, the art design is a bit over the top. But understand that the perception of gender has a lot to do with this. Kratos nearly naked equals strength while these chicks nearly naked means sex. It's just how we look at it. It might be cultural but it is what it is.

[Army_of_Darkness]

I hope they have unlock-able bathing suit, monokini outfits for the ladies after you clear the game;-)

[miyamoto]

Its nice to know many gamers prefer the Amazon as their avatar or first lady of choice to kick major butt.

It was love at first sight for me with the Amazon and kindled a fire desire for me to play her as soon as a get this game.

Yup I know it when I see it.

Good article.

My girl (who is a non-gamer")after watching 10 minutes of The Last of Us said, " It looks like a beautiful game dear." I was so happy to hear that from her.
Sometime non gamers are great critiques of a video game.

Remember Yamauchi of Nintendo approved games just by seeing them and not playing at all.

[dredgewalker]

I've been exposed to too many anime and manga to see the designs as over the top. In the end the design controversy gave the game more public exposure.

[Kevin ButIer]

lol sure ...the art style...

If u know what I mean

[kingdip90]

@remember

Yes kratos being naked is a show of strength and power which also ties into virility, lets not forget the mini game in god of war where you have to pump women to climax.... because its manly!!!! And no I'm in not way saying thats a good steriotype

[Mounce]

Yea, I agree with kingdip90.

Both genders get their own obvious roles of over-exaggeration. Most cases though is males don't give enough of a fuck and just go with it.

Most cases you got men like Heavy from TF2 or Bob Parr from The Incredibles all being girthy men with STUBBY thin little twig legs while women are twiggy-bodied with curvy-proportions or exaggerated boobs while men have exaggerated muscles that can also be found on characters from Gears of War who have the body structure as if their muscles were infact Watermelons being shoved under their skin at every bicep, tricep or hamstring.

Woop.

Course the Sorceress has overly-giant-god-damn boobs that'd for sure annihilate her spine if it weren't thanks to likely her own magic or Space Magic making it so she doesn't dislocate her spine from the HEAVINESS OF THEM. Buuuut, yea....that's the guys' art style and if you don't like it. Don't buy the game as they always say.

[Stallion]

Okay, now imagine Kratos has a massive, outlined bulge with its own physics.

[Rushing_Punch]

No feminazi going on? What is this world coming to?

[Lovable]

Send this article to Gamespot NAO!!!

[dragonyght]

serious question why ppl discriminate against woman with big breast being represented in games or any other media. they were born with. they didn't ask for it. why is it a taboo thing, why it is acceptable for every other category for lack of better therm but not them
-_-

[ifritAlkhemyst]

Women should cover themselves up they want to be taken seriously. They should be ashamed of their bodies.

[Dunpeal]

We of the TALIBAN conglomerate are now recruiting. We see you're of the proper mindset.

;)

[ifritAlkhemyst]

Since people apparently cannot understand blunt sarcasm please know, I'M JOKING!!! I'm a huge supporter of women's rights.

Please stop PM'ing me about much of a misogynist asshole I am.

[ifritAlkhemyst]

How about who cares?

Talk about the games and leave the politics out of it, regardless of what position you take.

We put way too much stock in the power of "discussion". It's really fairly pointless.

[cleft5]

Good read and it was interesting to see what this writer's wife thought of the whole thing. For the most part I agree with her, but I really don't mind any of the characters. The point of this game is to be over the top ridiculous in character design, they achieved that.

[CLOUD1983]

I dream of an age sometime in the distant future were women will stop be annoyed & complain every single time they see a female char in a video game with huge tits & just accept the art for what it is, especially when we speak for Japanese games, people over there appreciate this kind of art why we can't STFU & enjoy the game w/o crying about over-sexualization & feministic bullsh1t... seriously I'm tired of sh1t like that.

[Xer0_SiN]

im not talking about this article, just talking in general about this topic. if youre SO sensitive about the whole ordeal. just shield your damn eyes! turn away, avert your attention elsewhere. we dont tell you how to cook rice or clean the bathroom. sheesh!

[KShinigami]

Not to sure what the commotion about this game is, seems to the average 2D rpg. The only difference is that this game takes sex appeal to whole other level. I'm not sure why many people are supporting this but do people have mix sexual desires and entertainment so badly.

@ kingdip90 the difference between this and GOW is that is the intention, kratos is not sexulised.

[kingdip90]

As I've said before how is a game that contains a mini game I which you have to tap a button to control kratos as he sexually pleasures a woman (or two) to climax not sexualizing kratos?

[KShinigami]

@ kingdip90 That's not sexulising kratos at all but the women in the game which makes my argument even more valid. If this mini-game was the other way then yes it would be. And also how would you perceive the game in that case?.

[Hicken]

It's not about sex appeal, but sexualized designs. There's a difference, though slight.

Kratos and EVERYTHING about him is sexualized. It just so happens that it's not something that affects straight men.

Women love bald heads, exposed muscles, and dudes that take charge. Of course, not EVERY woman feels this way, but MANY do.

Which is no different than the fact that not all men- even straight ones- are turned on by the same things.

Dragon's Crowd has been lambasted for its supposed objectification of women; these same people completely ignore the exact same treatment of women, and cry "Sexism!" when it's obviously not.

[KShinigami]

Your assuming a lot of things like how 'many' women would like kratos. But the things you pointed out like bald heads being attractive is completely subjective (and somewhat untrue).

Some things in your post just don't make sense like, what do you mean that every man including straight ones are turned on by the same things?

Also what you mean the exact same treatment of women?

[Hicken]

"Your assuming a lot of things like how 'many' women would like kratos."

The very same way that people assume things of the females in Kamitani's art.

"But the things you pointed out like bald heads being attractive is completely subjective (and somewhat untrue)."

See above.

"Some things in your post just don't make sense like, what do you mean that every man including straight ones are turned on by the same things?"

I said NOT ALL. In fact, let me quote the comment you apparently didn't actually read: "Which is no different than the fact that NOT ALL MEN- even straight ones- are turned on by the same things."

"Also what you mean the exact same treatment of women?"

This one was a typo. I'd argue that "men" should have been the understood word intended, but.. well, I'll leave it at that.

[KShinigami]

So your saying perceiving kamitani's 'art' as sexualised is a unfair assumption?

All I'm saying is I don't support that kind of appeal and if its done in the same way with male characters- well that's not right either (which its quite clearly not in the same extent at least). It ruins the the beauty of the game for me. If people want some eye candy there's plenty of other places for that

[Hicken]

"So your saying perceiving kamitani's 'art' as sexualised is a unfair assumption?"

I'm saying reading anything into it more than it just being his art style is doing too much.

"All I'm saying is I don't support that kind of appeal and if its done in the same way with male characters- well that's not right either (which its quite clearly not in the same extent at least)."

It's not done to appeal to anybody. Sure, there may be those that find the style attractive, but that's not why it's done. Oh, and by the way, the males are DEFINITELY done to the same extent.

"It ruins the the beauty of the game for me."

Which is perfectly fine. You're entitled to have your likes and dislikes, just like everybody else.

"If people want some eye candy there's plenty of other places for that"

And who are you to say that? Why do you get to determine what can and can't have eye candy? More importantly, why are you the one deciding that it IS eye candy, and not simply a result of Kamitani's overstylized art design? It's an exaggerated style for an over-the-top game: the characters are over sexualized, but not in a way that's designed to be sexually appealing.

I don't think people understand that distinction.

And why is it it's now such a big deal, when his art has displayed such character designs for years? The whole thing reeks of a fabricated issue, not a genuine problem. That everybody complaining downplays that the men are subject to the exact same artistic treatment, it SCREAMS that they're looking to make something out of nothing.

[sdozzo]

There is no equality in the world. Women will be upset and we have to understand that. Just like how sexual harassment will never be called against a woman.

[ado908]

Lol I'm sorry but the wife in this article sounds like she is completely one sided. She sounds like she is a bit jealous that her husband is playing as a female character with big breasts as you can clearly see she asks "then playfully asked me if I thought the character was attractive" of course her husband had to say no, if he had said yes she would have gotten pissed clearly. But when she saw that male characters in the game had huge muscles, she was relieved? I love how she sounds happy when she talks about men with huge muscles but when the husband wants to play as the female characters she makes it sound like she is a bit aggravated. "sigh" Lol people these games are mean't to be played out of enjoyment not something to stare at.

[PrimeGrime]

@ado908 - I kind of agree with you. I found the article a little annoying from the Wife's side. The entire thing seemed more like why is my husband playing as some naked chick.. Versus anything to do with the actual game itself. Asking if he found her attractive was completely unnecessary and proves that is exactly why she even bothered.

It is a video game, there have been far worse games and far worse things shown in them also. It is just absurd. It kind of annoys me how people act about the human body also. So its sexual just because she is nude?

No it is sexual because you are viewing it that way.

I can look at the naked body and literally not think of anything sexual. That is the problem with all this controversy. It is just retarded.

Last time I checked we are born naked and we all were naked at one time. I bet people then would think of us now as such disgusting idiots.

When you see your child running around naked, the first thought that comes to your mind is sex? I mean what the fuck. People are the problem, it isn't women showing off their bodies or any of that. It is how people view it and how they perceive and choose to react to it.

For instance many women choose to dress that way simply because they know they get attention from people who can't simply control themselves. So what difference does it make, if people didn't view nudity that way or just skimpy outfits the same. No one would care.

When you think about it clothes are the problem in a sense. Because of clothes, the naked body is something people just don't see often. They don't know how to deal with it or just live with it like any other normal day but no, you are naked.. OMG so gross, OMG she is so hot, OMG look at his thingy..

I can't stand humanity, I really hate being a human. I would literally rather be anything else in this world than a human being. We have this awesome gift of intelligence that surpasses anything in our existence yet we are still so fucking stupid about everything.

[ado908]

Yes! Yes! this is exactly what I needed from someone. And I completely agree with you but you know what's the worst part of it all? The fact that our world is turning people into such a slut fest, teens and young adults easily giving their bodies away for some fun and yet when people see skimpy outfits in a video game its unsanitary and wrong? Like what the hell? My best friend is dating this girl and this girl confessed to him that she had sex with over 25 different guys. Some in parties and some out of fun but this same girl yelled and shouted at my best friend for playing this exact same game, calling him perverted for playing the game and playing as the sorceress. I'm just surprised he hasn't dumped her yet.

[savaroth]

Great another heartwarming story about sexualization in videogames.

As if women are saints. Next time the subject comes up tell them to go watch twilight. It's not like they are going to tell us they watch it for the great storyline.
I'm sure the naked torso's have nothing to do with its popularity.
Not that there is anything wrong with that. It is healthy human behaviour. So stop complaining about a bit of nudity in video games.

[fsfsxii]

People loosing their shit over tits. Where is the world going to??
Geez, there are women with busty tits, are we gonna censor them too?

[izumo_lee]

Why is it when the Japanese depict women in voluptuous form it is being ridiculed but when in the West not much of a deal is made. In fact it is celebrated.

For example when Jessica Rabbit was introduced to the world in 1988 she has been voted as one of the sexiess animated characters of all time. Her design is not much different from the Sorceress. Look at pictures of Jessica Rabbit & compare them to those of the Sorceress.

As for the Amazon's design it is depicted in the same way that female bodybuilders are looked at. Although there are some issues with female bodybuilding it still exists & is a big event for those involved.

I find it so funny that here in the west we have made a big deal over this but i guarantee that over in Japan this is a non issue. In the west we tend to over exaggerate things cause we are much more sensitive to these things. Yes there are some out there that will find the art in Dragon's Crown disturbing but like everything out there if you don't like it don't play it. And if the art is preventing you from enjoying the game than you will be missing out on what is a great overall experience.