Ah, feminism. An important movement to promote empowerment and equality for women. Unfortunately, it means that in almost every interview, people ask about depictions or roles of women. This did not go well for Heroes of the Storm Director, Dustin Browder.
In an interview with Rock, Paper, Shotgun, Browder seemed a bit unprepared for questions about the alternate outfits and depictions of female characters in Heroes of the Storm. In fact, some of these are my new favorite reactions:
Well, I mean, some of these characters, I would argue, are already hyper-sexualized in a sense. I mean, Kerrigan is wearing heels, right? We’re not sending a message to anybody. We’re just making characters who look cool. Our sensibilities are more comic book than anything else. That’s sort of where we’re at. But I’ll take the feedback. I think it’s very fair feedback.
And:
We’re not running for President. We’re not sending a message. No one should look to our game for that.
I really want to highlight that second one – where he says they’re not sending a message and people shouldn’t look to this game for that. Ah, if only game developers could get away with saying that they aren’t making a game about gender roles, it’s just about beating each other up and women apparently look pretty when they’re in massive shoulder pads and little else. However, of course this didn’t fly. Browder was seriously criticized for this reaction, and has since apologized on the Heroes of the Storm website:
In a recent interview with Rock, Paper, Shotgun, I responded poorly to a statement the interviewer made about over-sexualized character designs in games, and I want to apologize for that. This is a serious topic and I don’t want anyone to think that I, or anyone else at Blizzard, is insensitive about how we portray our characters.
It takes work to make compelling characters, but it’s important to take a step back to ensure that we’re not alienating our players. We have an amazing roster of heroes and we will always strive to make sure that everyone can have a hero that they identify with and feel powerful using. And at the end of the day, we all want the same thing. A great game where we can all have fun battling for glory and maybe some bragging rights.
This truly is a difficult line to walk. The reality is that female characters in most MOBA are depicted as sexualized characters in much the same way that male characters are. All champions are stereotyped to make them easy to characterize; male champions have ridiculous physiques in much the same way female ones do – just look at Tychus Findlay. I’m not saying that sexualization is good, simply that it’s what we’ve come to expect from humanoid champions in MOBA. Most people who play MOBA play little attention to if the character is male or female, they’re more interested in what kind of skills they have – are we talking about a “carry” or “support” hero?
In the end, as much as I might agree with the sentiment that Blizzard isn’t running for president, that they aren’t looking to be a part of this discourse, the reality is that they are making a game and assuming that a large population will be involved with it. As such, it will have an impact on perceptions of women. Whether they like it or not, they have to at least appear to consider these things, even while designing heroes based off of characters who already should have been considered in this way when originally created.
In all honesty, I’m tired of people asking about female characters in every interview. However, I think Joss Whedon articulates this far better than I could hope to here:
Last Updated: November 25, 2013
Admiral Chief Duke
November 25, 2013 at 09:26
Man that Joss is the Boss!
Pieter Kruger
November 25, 2013 at 09:28
It’s in the title “ACCIDENTALLY”, nothing to see here, move on!!
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 25, 2013 at 09:29
I see clouds forming in my tea cup.
RyseandRepeat
November 25, 2013 at 09:34
Wow, the world really is sensitive…
ToshZA
November 25, 2013 at 09:37
Its the excess oestrogen in the water. Men keep growing boobs, buying make up, raging over nothing, asking if their bums look big in that game, eating ice cream when they’re sad. Its a real problem.
Also, another trolololol
HvR
November 25, 2013 at 09:39
For god’s sake do not mention ice cream on this forum.
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
November 25, 2013 at 09:40
Aw crud. *runs away from screen before the inevitable occurs*
ToshZA
November 25, 2013 at 09:41
I totally missed that. I was going for the sad female steriotype. I sincerely apologise and take full responsibility for the future profanities that will be inflicted on us on this topic.
Umar Persona5_psFANBOI
November 25, 2013 at 09:42
Dammit……The I word was mentioned…..Run before he comes!…We’re doomed I tell you…DOOOOOMED!!
Her Highness the Hipster
November 25, 2013 at 09:53
Why? this?
ToshZA
November 25, 2013 at 09:56
Is it bad that you posting this makes me giggle? A lot. Its more like snickering really.
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
November 25, 2013 at 10:06
Why!!?? Why!!?? *starts crying*
RyseandRepeat
November 25, 2013 at 11:20
Thumbs down for you!
Gustav Willem Diedericks
November 25, 2013 at 19:19
This is awesome! Where can I buy some!!
Rock789
November 25, 2013 at 11:14
Perhaps they need a tissue?
RyseandRepeat
November 25, 2013 at 11:18
I’d offer but I’m all out. You see I was hoping to catch up with a friend yesterday, but the bitch made every excuse in the book to ditch my boet and I. So we cried…
Rock789
November 25, 2013 at 11:22
What a b@stard! How dare they! 😉 🙂 Next time bud… Next time. 🙂
F1 season finale was epic though.
RyseandRepeat
November 25, 2013 at 11:23
Hehe. We ended up going to Barristers Hudsons… Then watched ‘Man with the iron fists’ which rocked!
Rock789
November 25, 2013 at 11:33
Nice! Wish I coulda been there.
Hudson’s? That’s the burger joint, right? Or am I thinking of the wrong place?
RyseandRepeat
November 25, 2013 at 11:33
It is indeed. Our little waitress was there, the one who thought Gravity boring, remember? 🙂
Rock789
November 25, 2013 at 11:39
And I missed her? Damn it! 🙂
RyseandRepeat
November 25, 2013 at 11:41
She had her flirt on something huge!
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 25, 2013 at 11:35
That’s the one with RZA & a pudgy Russel Crowe right? That was a fun movie!
RyseandRepeat
November 25, 2013 at 11:35
it was! You should have come over man. Next time 😉
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 25, 2013 at 11:37
I know, as much as I enjoy braaiing, it’s not all that fun standing in front of a fire when it’s 30+ degrees :/
RyseandRepeat
November 25, 2013 at 11:38
Jason and I were in Hudsons, which has aircon, and we were still suffering. Had to drink wine/beer, HAD to!
Bernice
November 25, 2013 at 11:28
Awww poor man. Maybe make friends in real life as well. Then you won’t have to worry too much of the ones you make online. Or are you socially awkward?
Valid question of concern because I am.
RyseandRepeat
November 25, 2013 at 11:29
It is plainly obvious by your comment you are indeed.
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 25, 2013 at 11:34
To be fair, you would have cried no matter what the outcome. *run*
RyseandRepeat
November 25, 2013 at 11:35
Get back here!
ToshZA
November 25, 2013 at 09:35
Dat ass.
#trolololol
Sageville
November 25, 2013 at 09:37
I’m fully fatigued wrt over-sexualization debate.
I don’t care any more, I like to see hot wimmin heroes instead of a frumpy madams.
Frankly this debate is just low-hanging fruit for the feminists..
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
November 25, 2013 at 09:37
People should stop nitpicking game characters that aren’t real.
Let’s look at the woman in WWE. Are people enraged about how they dress and act?
How about movie characters? Or how people are depicted in books?
Or about FHM models in magazines? Why so focused on gaming when there are actual real world examples that are far more questionable?
I’m not saying it’s ok. Yes, sometimes game designers go too far. But they are trying to create memorable characters. Fake, digital characters. They stylize them. They over exaggerate them. Male and female. People are starting to take this “sexualism in games” thing too far and too seriously.
The gaming industry does no differently to any other industry and if the gaming industry is put under such criticism for it then people should start critisising every other industry for the same thing as well
SaintsRowNigri
November 25, 2013 at 09:49
But video games are for children. What impression about women does that give little Timmy if he only sees female ass crack in his games?
TiMsTeR1033
November 25, 2013 at 09:53
why is it always Timmy..
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 25, 2013 at 09:57
Because little Nicky is taken…
TiMsTeR1033
November 25, 2013 at 09:58
For now…
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
November 25, 2013 at 10:04
Little Timmy’s parents need a good hiding for allowing little timmy to play age innapropriate games
SaintsRowNigri
November 25, 2013 at 10:43
You know and I know that is not going to happen
RealityCheck
May 21, 2015 at 21:25
Then that’s the parentings fault, not the game developer. The game developers are not your parents, and are in no way responsible for what you allow your children to do.
“Wahhh women look too pretty and nice in video games :(” honestly if feminism is saying that all women are equal to men, then why do they give a shit about what video game characters look like? Feminism is literally saying all women are insecure and will complain if things aren’t perfectly matched to their crazy expectations.
That’s not empowering you, that’s making you the victim. You think all men are huge muscular dudes in real life? news flash: they aren’t. I’m skinny, and if I see a huge dude in a game I’m not gonna go “oh man i feel bad about myself 🙁 why is this game creating an unfair standard” because its a fucking game.
Feminists these days are like 12 year olds, they cry over everything if they don’t get their way, and over analyse everything until they find a “problem” with it. Should I complain that males are almost always disposable in video games? Seriously, grow up, feminism.
Admiral Chief Duke
November 25, 2013 at 09:52
How long did it take you to write this with only one hand?
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
November 25, 2013 at 10:05
Too long. One handed. Left hand
and no, all you perves. I fell down some steps so my right arm is out of commission
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
November 25, 2013 at 10:09
I’d actually like to change this too: Got my WWE goodiebag and tried to do a slam from the top ropes
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 25, 2013 at 10:11
and botched it like a WWE Diva?
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
November 25, 2013 at 10:17
Yep
geelslang
November 25, 2013 at 11:51
“fell down some steps” I have also incurred a few alcohol injuries in my lifetime
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
November 25, 2013 at 12:32
Sadly I was sober. Had I been drunk I am sure I would have been less injured as I wouldn’t have tried to stop my falling process on each step
Umar Persona5_psFANBOI
November 25, 2013 at 09:41
In all honesty, I don’t know what to say or think about this topic anymore. I look at a game such as Dragon’s Crown, sure the sorceress looks as if her breasts are gonna pop out at any minute but the men look equally outrageous…It’s character design…..Jeez…….now when are we going to see some Shemale characters…equality right?
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
November 25, 2013 at 09:43
Agreed. The way things are going all our characters will eventually have to be genderless blobs with no emotions or personalities. So that no one can be offended you see
ToshZA
November 25, 2013 at 09:45
I read somewhere (I think it was Seth Godin actually, quite the genius) that if you’re doing something important, you’re probably going to offend someone somewhere. The best thing you can do, is do it anyway.
SaintsRowNigri
November 25, 2013 at 09:53
The next character design for any video game going forward…
ToshZA
November 25, 2013 at 09:54
http://www.lolbrary.com/content/72/i-dont-always-smile-but-when-i-do-12072.jpg
RyseandRepeat
November 25, 2013 at 10:30
HAHAHAHA!
TiMsTeR1033
November 25, 2013 at 09:59
oh god spare me…
SaintsRowNigri
November 25, 2013 at 10:40
What she said?
Sageville
November 25, 2013 at 10:10
Nah dood, that’s a stereotypical Hollywood manufactured idea of what a woman (albiet emotionless) should look like.
If it were a true reflection of an average woman, then they need to add 50 pounds to most female characters.
Hammersteyn
November 25, 2013 at 10:19
I thought we were done with zombies 🙁
Skyblue
November 25, 2013 at 11:02
Transgender? Thought it was only that Bieber alien
Umar Persona5_psFANBOI
November 25, 2013 at 10:20
Indeed, I do believe that there are certain things that can go too far , but I’m a firm believer in artistic vision , and I would hate to see creativity stumped so that no one get’s offended.
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
November 25, 2013 at 10:21
Yep yep and yep.
There are limits. But in general games are far more within the limits than out.
Paul Fouche
November 25, 2013 at 09:47
lol!
Rags
November 25, 2013 at 10:05
Boo-hoo. Wish feminists will actually care about real issues.
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
November 25, 2013 at 10:12
Death Prophet looks rad. And I wouldn’t want to “sexualize” her ghosts. 😉
oVg
November 25, 2013 at 10:22
FIXED
RyseandRepeat
November 25, 2013 at 10:31
She’s eating her own people!
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
November 25, 2013 at 10:37
No but now you are insinuating that woman need to be fat not to be noticed. Can’t win dude
oVg
November 25, 2013 at 10:42
exactly.
Sageville
November 25, 2013 at 12:36
Hmmm… getting closer……
Splunken Gobblesmack
November 25, 2013 at 11:15
Um…the male characters they create have equally unattainable features for 99% of the population.
hairyknees
November 25, 2013 at 14:30
^_^
hairyknees
November 25, 2013 at 14:33
OH and lets not forget Queen of Pain 😛
Dude
November 25, 2013 at 16:00
Fixed
CodeName Tailgunner
November 25, 2013 at 16:13
Funny
hairyknees
November 25, 2013 at 14:33
OVERSEXUALISED CHARACTERS?! DON’T LIE! Okay I’m done *flies away*
Humbar
November 25, 2013 at 15:37
mmmm, just took a peak at rock paper shotgun’s website. Funny, but all their writers are male. Someone should interview them and ask why!
Ronin_84
December 15, 2013 at 18:43
Oh, fuck feminists. Gender roles are good. I don’t want to live on “Planet of the Dykes and Spineless-Pussy-Men.”
RealityCheck
May 21, 2015 at 21:30
I love how the article writer is a giant hypocrite and has a “sexy women” with her cleavage showing as her icon.
If women are equal to men, you wouldn’t care about how a video game character looks. Although according to feminism, women are insecure and always care about their bodies so the game must match their standards indefinitely.
Sorry, but that’s flat out stupid. Are all males in video games supposed to be like, white skinny nerds with glasses or something? will that make me feel empowered? No, I want games to portray exaggeration because it’s meant to be an “Escape” from reality. Not a complete reflection of it. Women who are games are the same way, they don’t complain about stupid shit like this. They want a character that looks cool with a cool personality, just like guys do.
If you think they’re insecure about it and absolutely need a video game character to represent it, then it’s YOU who has the problem. YOU are saying women aren’t strong enough to handle a female video game character who doesn’t match their every whim.
Grow up, Zoe Hawkins.