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[Wario64]

If you want to accuse DICE of being sexist, you'll have to explain Mirror's Edge first.

Full disclosure before detective-GAF kicks me: I work there.

Mirror's Edge has no multiplayer

 

[Eusis]

It'll be bad publicity. Feminists will label the game as a woman killing simulator and try to get it banned in as many countries as possible.

Uhhh, probably not. I think this is most likely going to be an issue with men who don't want to be shooting women, those who are anti-feminist tend to be the ones who want to keep women out of the military or at least the frontlines.

Besides, unless it's completely random it'd be allowing women who want to play as women do so, rather than forced to be a guy. And if it IS completely random then there's someone playing as that woman rather than just being a bot to shoot.

EDIT:

Or there just isn't enough time or resources.

I know feminism is the hip thing in games right now, but i doubt everyone at dice is misogynist or whatever. Maybe they have higher priorities than this.

I'd pin it more on execs or marketing, who COULD be misogynist but could also just be thinking coldly about the numbers, and refuse to allow any sort of compromise to profitability.

Probably. "WHEN'S THE LAST TIME YOU SAW A FEMALE SOLIDER IN COD?" was most likely the subject of the email.

Maybe it's for the best. I can't imagine anyone choosing to use a female and having an easy time online, regardless of irl gender.

Yeah, from what I recall of that Texas Battlefield group they might just get harassed more than they would in other games when choosing a female character. It probably IS a far better fit for the likes of ME3 or a fighter than the realistic military shooter, based on the target audiences.

 

[Tallshortman]

Yup. Not sure if a serious question though.

They only very recently lifted the ban on female soldiers in combat in the US so the only previous instances of female's in combat were incidental (like ambushes) so it's not surprising not everyone heard the news.

 

[MulderWasTaken]

Do female soldiers fight in real life?

Not until they lifted the ban a few month ago (they couln't fight since 1994). Read all about it here. I always though they did. Here's neogaf thread.

 

[Sanjay]

Well I can see why people would think woman don't "fight" front-line action. The change was just recent.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/24/us-military-lifts-ban-women-combat
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/23/pentagon-overturn-ban-women-combat

UK
Women are banned from close-combat roles.

 

[Kusagari]

I wonder if they're more worried about everyone online being inflammatory toward anyone who picks a female.

 

[CheesecakeRecipe]

Last military shooter I played where you could make a female character was Rainbow Six Vegas. So this isn't exactly a novel concept.

Rainbow Six was pretty excellent in that as far back as the first one you could have female squadmates/leaders to play as.

1998 mad stylin on bee eff four

 

[Eusis]

Rainbow Six was pretty excellent in that as far back as the first one you could have female squadmates/leaders to play as.

1998 mad stylin on bee eff four

You also could pick male or female characters in Quake II (and download models online) and from various avatars in Quake III. But that falls under more fantasy than trying for reality.

 

[Salacious Crumb]

Do female soldiers fight in real life?

Even if they didn't BF is not a series concerned about depicting things as they are in the real world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOaGhE_sejI

 

[Arklite]

Not surprising although it's odd that they commented without actually having anything to say on the matter.

 

[SolidSnakex]

Not surprising although it's odd that they commented without actually having anything to say on the matter.

They pretty much had to comment because of that rumor that was floating around. So much of it turned out to be accurate that people just assumed that everything was, including playable female soldiers.

 

[lexi]

I like how videogames are actually more regressive than real life. There were no women in the new (albeit shitty) Aliens game despite the film franchise having the likes of Ripley and Vasquez.

 

[Eusis]

I like how videogames are actually more regressive than real life. There were no women in the Aliens game despite the film franchise having the likes of Ripley and Vasquez.

I think it's somewhat case by case, but the AAA industry is pretty fucked up for that versus even just a generation ago. If it weren't for Lara Croft's popularity they'd have probably been happy to dump her in the new Tomb Raider.

 

[Krackatoa]

"Required Investment versus Payoff" is the cold, uncaring reality of dealing with target demographics. :\

EA isn't in the business of making games. They're in the business of making money, which skews a lot of their decisions from what we would like/expect to see.

 

[TheVampire]

Don't they now have female soldies to play with in Gears Of War ?

 

[phosphor112]

Yup. Not sure if a serious question though.

What? Are you serious?

You guys make it seem like it's a universal known, when in fact, the ban in the US was lifted 2 months ago.

Not until they lifted the ban a few month ago (they couln't fight since 1994). Read all about it here. I always though they did. Here's neogaf thread.

What this guy said. In fact, it's the same link.

 

[Ingueferroque]

It's probably partially a matter of getting animations in, though it's possible the target audience would react badly to them being there at all.

With the budget they're working with? No way, this has to do with boardroom decisions.

 

[Gemüsepizza]

And even if the ban was lifted in the US, there will also be other factions in the MP mode.

 

[Eusis]

"Required Investment versus Payoff" is the cold, uncaring reality of dealing with target demographics. :\

EA isn't in the business of making games. They're in the business of making money, which skews a lot of their decisions from what we would like/expect to see.

We do seem to be reaching a point where things are going to collapse on themselves though. Sales keep going down each year, the games are prohibitively expensive to make, and I'm suspecting that outside of a few pillars the mainstream really IS getting bored with these games, at least sufficiently so to not justify pouring in the money they do. It's not as if last generation was a bastion of freedom in game development (how many non-fighter 2D games did we even see?), but it seems absurdly restrictive now.

With the budget they're working with? No way, this has to do with boardroom decisions.

It's why I fixated on that more in the rest of my posts. It's a possibility, but it doesn't seem very probable.

 

[Jburton]

Not sure I care.

Is this supposed to be a big deal or are people looking for controversy in things again?

 

[KareBear]

There were no women in the new (albeit shitty) Aliens game despite the film franchise having the likes of Ripley and Vasquez.

There was several actually.

 

[Eusis]

Not sure I care.

Is this supposed to be a big deal or are people looking for controversy in things again?

It WAS rumored in a source that was otherwise nailed it, and there is a noted aversion to female characters in games, ESPECIALLY this generation.

 

[ReturnOfTheRAT]

Are online games mature enough for it?

 

[pock3tmonster]

It surprises me that female playable characters are not standard in multi-player game modes. I don't expect every game to suddenly sport a female lead in their campaign modes, but to not even have representation in multi-player, only further enforces the stereotype of video games as a man's domain. Their answer to why they can't do it is just so dismissive.

 

[Reiko]

There was several actually.

Hell you play a woman in the arcade version!

Don't they now have female soldies to play with in Gears Of War ?

Yep. And they die in gruesome ways just like the men.

 

[Eusis]

There was several actually.

Hell you play a woman in the arcade version!

I assume it was Aliens: Colonial Marines that was being referred to here, not Alien games period. Though maybe they ARE female characters in that one? I haven't looked into it too heavily after finding out it was shit.

 

[AppleMIX]

Lame but hardly a deal breaker.

 

[Gemüsepizza]

It surprises me that female playable characters are not standard in multi-player game modes. I don't expect every game to suddenly sport a female lead in their campaign modes, but to not even have representation in multi-player, only further enforces the stereotype of video games as a man's domain. Their answer to why they can't do it is just so dismissive.

Right. They should also let us play female athlets in every sport game. Oh, there are no mixed-gender teams in sport? And there are virtually no women in special force units? Who cares, this is discrimination!!1

 

[derivative]

If they were to put women in the multiplayer, would they have slightly smaller hit boxes?

 

[_woLf]

smh EA

I know a lot of people who will be disappointed by this.

Right. They should also let us play female athlets in every sport game. Oh, there are no mixed-gender teams in sport? Or women in special force units? Who cares, this is discrimination!!1

Are you serious? Please stop talking.

 

[Kincaido]

So, no waifus? Lame.

 

[KiNeSiS]

Games are really stange about females & gore. All the wrestling games Men bleed like pigs woman never show damage. Especially odd is def jam ffny Lil Kim looks fresh as a new born after losing a match while every male character has bruising & damage. Games never have a problem displaying violence towards woman. (especially fighting games.) I do not condone violence against woman it's abhorrent.
It's just jarring. Gears,GTA, & Mortal Kombat are the only games where blood comes from a female game character.
Oddly movies never have the odd hang ups that games do. They just usually have a ton more plot holes ; )

 

[Jburton]

It WAS rumored in a source that was otherwise nailed it, and there is a noted aversion to female characters in games, ESPECIALLY this generation.

Still don't see what the ideal is?


Gaming is a mostly male past time (has been since the beginning) and games like this are mostly played by males.

So it is targeted at males.



I don't notice this lack of female characters this gen or any (never seen many in almost 30 years) and don't miss them either.


Sounds like noise making over nothing and the tail trying to wag the dog.

 

[funkystudent]

Door is open for Activision to get some really easy positive press here.


I bet BF will all of a sudden find a way to have female soldiers if COD adds it.

 

[pock3tmonster]

Right. They should also let us play female athlets in every sport game. Oh, there are no mixed-gender teams in sport? And there are virtually no women in special force units? Who cares, this is discrimination!!1

Over-reaction much? Where did I say this was discrimination? I just said their reasoning for not including female playable soldiers via multi-player was paper-thin.

 

[BobbyRobby]

i can see why they wouldn't bother. including women and risking what might be considered an offensive portrayal might not be worth the risk.

 

[squidyj]

It surprises me that female playable characters are not standard in multi-player game modes. I don't expect every game to suddenly sport a female lead in their campaign modes, but to not even have representation in multi-player, only further enforces the stereotype of video games as a man's domain. Their answer to why they can't do it is just so dismissive.

your answer to their answer is dismissive of the hard work and effort it takes to actually make a game.

buncha fuckin' backseat devs.

 

[Zaventem]

I don't really get it either.You could brush off the topic if they were never in the game in the first place but they're there.

 

[SolidSnakex]

Door is open for Activision to get some really easy positive press here.


I bet BF will all of a sudden find a way to have female soldiers if COD adds it.

They already have a playable female character in zombie mode, so it seems like an easy step for them to take.

 

[Stronty]

I imagine the decision may have something to do with recruitment, certain viewpoints or situations cant be depicted, the game could be pulled from military bases in retaliation for depicting non sanctioned scenarios. Michael Bay has a good relationship with the military, he basically films the modern version of the 80s 'Be All That You Can Be' USArmy TV ads. Soldier of Fortune had females in MP back in 2000 and SOF had the GHOUL system where bodies could to shot apart till there was nothing but parts strewn about.

 

[Gemüsepizza]

Are you serious? Please stop talking.

Please show me world class teams with men AND women who play in the same games against each other in sports like football, american football, hockey or basketball. Oh right, you can't, because there aren't any. So why don't you stop talking?

Over-reaction much? Where did I say this was discrimination? I just said their reasoning for not including female playable soldiers via multi-player was paper-thin.

But it is just not really happening in reality, so why should they implement this ingame? There are virtually no women in the most elite military units.

 

[UrbanRats]

Is it confirmation bias on my part, or is the female soldier often the sniper?

That said, i guess no one was expecting Battlefield to be on the progressive side of things, hardly a more brodude game around.

 

[Into]

From a business decision i can understand why they are not doing it, adding female soldiers wont mean anything for sales, women are not going to suddenly be super interesting in a online first person shooter

And a business decision it is, the time it takes to make new models and accustom all the gear to them is probably better spent on just making new DLC, maps, weapons etc.

 

[lexi]

Still don't see what the ideal is?


Gaming is a mostly male past time (has been since the beginning) and games like this are mostly played by males.

So it is targeted at males.



I don't notice this lack of female characters this gen or any (never seen many in almost 30 years) and don't miss them either.


Sounds like noise making over nothing and the tail trying to wag the dog.

Sounds like a self-fulfilling prophecy to me.

 

[Dice]

Guys, I AM NOT SEXIST.

 

[KiNeSiS]

Right. They should also let us play female athlets in every sport game. Oh, there are no mixed-gender teams in sport? Or virtually no women in special force units? Who cares, this is discrimination!!1

It is discrimination lucky for you EA UFC will have female athletes, Magically expect no blood effects. EA MMA had a very graphic blood splatter engine. Bloody mats blood transferring on the arms & legs of the fighter causing the damage. There is no way EA will display this in WMMA matches although I am happy they finally get major representation.

 

[CheesecakeRecipe]

Please show me teams with man AND women who play in the same games against each other in sports like football, american football, hockey or basketball. Oh right, you can't, because there aren't any. So why don't you stop talking?

It's called coed.

 

[kittens]

That's shitty. I thought BF4 was going to be a step forward in gender diversity.

 

[childplease]

I don't want females in competitive shooters unless they have the same dimensions as the male characters.

Smaller hitboxes would ruin the gameplay.

 

[Orayn]

This time around, everything from direction to actors, to how we built the engine to deliver the human experience and connection to these digital actors

Including female playable characters would ruin the highly realistic tone they've established.

There's a part where the protagonist leans out of a high speed moving vehicle and with one hand aims and fires a grenade launcher at an expensive, military grade helicopter that couldn't hit said vehicle in previous encounters. This all happens in slow motion while Bonnie Tyler's Total Eclipse of the Heart plays.

AUTHENTIC, BELIEVABLE, EMOTIONAL STORYTELLING.