Recently, a guy wrote to PTOM editors stating that even though “female characters in games…are nothing more than laughable parodies of the female body,” male gamers must also put up with unrealistic depictions of male characters with their buff muscles and towering stature. “Don’t forget that it’s a two way street,” the writer reminded.
I was blown away: as a female gamer who complain endlessly about how women characters are designed, I rarely think about how guy gamers feel in general. So, I dug around the internet and came across this article (via Kotaku). The more I read, the more I realize that even though guy gamers have it tough, female gamers have it worse. Not only are certain female characters offensive, they are also sexist and out of touch. The worse offender, in my opinion, is Korean artist Hyung-Tae Kim
Notice the body of this video game character. If you should aspire to become as muscular, buff, and lean like him, it is entirely possible! Just cut down on your calories, stop drinking soda, follow Hugh Jackman’s diet, and in general, exercise your ass off (by that I mean at least an hour of intense cardio plus god-knows-how-many hours of weight lifting until the pain from your achy muscles resembles the pain of childbirth in the words of Hugh "Wolverine" Jackman!). I guarantee that not only will you extend your lifespan, you will also have a body to die for - unless your genes and the universe are against you.
On a positive spin, maybe looking at all these buff, hot bodies is a wake up call for all of us gamers...especially if you are as allergic to exercise as I am. We should all aspire to become lean mean machines like our favourite game characters. It is time we start visiting the gym more often and embark on a new 2009 mid-year resolution. Soon, all of us will have the enviable figure of the above elvish warrior..well, maybe not the ginormous arms or block-like feet, but at the very least the tiny, tiny waist.
[image via XXSuNsHiNexX]
