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August 20, 2005
Topic for Discussion - How do "Guy Games" make you feel?
These are four mini-games where your goal is to act like a stereotypical guy (I would particularly draw your attention to the first one, where the goal is to ogle the breasts of the woman sitting next to you without her noticing).
On the one hand, it's so obviously degrading to women that it's not even funny.
On the other hand, it's so obviously degrading to men (by implying that we're all just that shallow) that it's absolutely hysterical.
Is this a great example of how sex can be used humorously in a game, or is it another situation where advertisers are crossing the line just to make a quick buck? Let's hear your comments!
Posted by IanSchreiber at August 20, 2005 07:21 AM | Discuss this post on our forums
Comments
i think it's way more degrading to men than to women. the way this site portrays manhood is kind of horrifying -- "you're a man, act like one" is especially ick. imagine if they reinforced stereotypes like that with any other demographic: "you're a woman, act like one" with needlepoint minigames; or "you're a mexican, act like one," with migrant farm worker minigames. you'd have to be a pretty lame and insecure adult to fall for that kind of marketing, but judging from the content, that's exactly what they think of their customers.
Posted by: mattymatt at August 20, 2005 02:24 PM
Why is there so much debate on sexual content on games? I mean its not degrading for people to like that kind of stuff. Its just how some people are. And by some people it is a lot of people. But this could mean that you are saying that these people have to all change over something that is not life or death or life changing. I could see changing it if it would make a big impact on the world, but it wont people should think more about everyone's education and everyones safety. Later
Posted by: Some person at August 21, 2005 01:37 AM
It would be less offensive had they not assumed the player to be male. As a female admirer of beautiful people I must say it *is* hard to ogle a nice looking body tactfully (though when a woman notices me staring at her I can smile and say "cute outfit!" to cover up, whereas a man probably can't get away with that, lol). It also would be a design improvement to offer the option to ogle a nice male physique (women and gay men drink beer too- the ads are "targeted" but too tightly, which is bad for marketing when you have a product that can reasonably appeal to a wider demographic). A more humorous and fun beer-themed game would be better for the company- maybe a game about using pick up lines in a bar, not to get lucky, but to get free beers of people!!
Posted by: Kelly Rued at August 22, 2005 07:23 PM