Ugh. Mass Effect 3 FemShep media reaction
How's this for a headline? "EA to Expose FemShep's Box in Mass Effect 3 Marketing Blitz"
...the actual content of the article is considerably less offensive than the title, but seriously... after all the effort gamers went through to get recognition for FemShep - which we finally got, and are thrilled about - this is how we're rewarded? Sniggers, "clever" headlines and pornographic references to Commander Shepard's "box"?
I've contacted the publisher of that particular headline, and gave them a little non-gamer back-story to bring them up to speed on just why that choice of words sucked so hard.
From the beginning of the trilogy, gamers could choose a male or female hero, with some slight (mainly cosmetic) differences, but Female Shepard (FemShep) was constantly ignored in any of the game's trailers, marketing material or box art.
A few weeks ago, a spokesperson from Mass Effect 3 publishers EA announced that the company would "consider" including the female version of Commander Shepard in its marketing materials, if the campaign gained enough attention online.
Needless to say, the spokesperson was swamped by messages on Facebook and Twitter, as everybody who's ever played as the female version of the hero saw their opportunity to make a difference.
Due to that level of support, EA announced that the company would release a trailer starring FemShep, and also include her on the box art for the game's Collector's Edition.
So. It's a great win for gamers - female and male alike - and to have this achievement labelled with a cheesy pornographic reference is more than a little offensive.
What's your reaction to something like this? Does it make you want to fight more for proper representation in video games - and in their marketing material - or does it make you throw up your hands (and your lunch) because it's all hopeless and we've lost before we've started?
(Cross-posted around the place, very interested in responses.)
...the actual content of the article is considerably less offensive than the title, but seriously... after all the effort gamers went through to get recognition for FemShep - which we finally got, and are thrilled about - this is how we're rewarded? Sniggers, "clever" headlines and pornographic references to Commander Shepard's "box"?
I've contacted the publisher of that particular headline, and gave them a little non-gamer back-story to bring them up to speed on just why that choice of words sucked so hard.
From the beginning of the trilogy, gamers could choose a male or female hero, with some slight (mainly cosmetic) differences, but Female Shepard (FemShep) was constantly ignored in any of the game's trailers, marketing material or box art.
A few weeks ago, a spokesperson from Mass Effect 3 publishers EA announced that the company would "consider" including the female version of Commander Shepard in its marketing materials, if the campaign gained enough attention online.
Needless to say, the spokesperson was swamped by messages on Facebook and Twitter, as everybody who's ever played as the female version of the hero saw their opportunity to make a difference.
Due to that level of support, EA announced that the company would release a trailer starring FemShep, and also include her on the box art for the game's Collector's Edition.
So. It's a great win for gamers - female and male alike - and to have this achievement labelled with a cheesy pornographic reference is more than a little offensive.
What's your reaction to something like this? Does it make you want to fight more for proper representation in video games - and in their marketing material - or does it make you throw up your hands (and your lunch) because it's all hopeless and we've lost before we've started?
(Cross-posted around the place, very interested in responses.)