Star Wars Force Unleashed
I remember watching the trailers not so long back, completely enthralled by the combat, darkside powers and the physics et al…but after recently reading a ‘preview’ on GameSpy, I was furious. Juno Eclipse, a romantic interest at the behest of George Lucas. Wtf. What happened to the female gamers? They got screwed is what. No choice between genders either apparently, unless they expect this Juno person to be a lesbian.
Why is it that after decades, the female gamers are still marginalised, heck that’s being very forgiving, ignored is a better choice. It’s a vicious cycle, the more you plan for/target males, the more males you will get, it’s not as if the other sex will come sprinting in magically. What do they think the female gamers want? Bloody Sims? No. They are just as attracted to the possibilities for blowing up stuff, rending it apart and gutting hapless morons who get in their way, as long as they can frackin’ well do it in a skirt (customisable of course, like kilt armour of some kind XD). And if the males are getting a love interest, there had better damn well be one for the women, how difficult is that? Wouldn’t men like to play as women? Lara Croft anyone? Just as long as lesbian action is controlled and an alternate present, what is the harm in putting that in for the females? It’s not much at all and prior examples of games catering to both are present.
One would simultaneously increase sales, try to break into a previously largely ignored market and who knows, the sky could be the limit. But until brave and innovative companies like Bioware and Obsidian are some of the only ones giving female gamers the opportunity to fantasise while kicking butt, the rest still cater to the mewling cries of adolescent males (or males trying to be adolescents, or maybe just males) and I hope they rot in that state of static along with Lucas and Jar Jar Binks. Unless Lucas gives the green light for KOTOR 3 before he dies, then can he only be exempt.
