Dead Island Riptide Controversy

[ThatNickGuy]

http://www.gamespot.com/features/de...pslot;DeadIslandRiptide;DeadIslandRiptideAndT

While Deep Silver very quickly made a public apology, it was like trying to put out a fire with a squirt bottle. If you hadn't heard, they were releasing a special promotion included with pre-orders. And this was it:

Honestly, I'm glad they apologized so quick. There's already been so much controversy with over-violence, sexism, and misogyny in video games lately that for this to come out is not just bad in taste, but horrible timing.

But honestly, what bothers me most isn't just the above very wrong image (seriously, who would honestly buy that, let alone display it?), but the comments on Gamespot. I shouldn't be surprised because, you know, Gamespot, but still.

 

[drifter]

There's been a discussion about this in the video games miscellany thread.

 

[ThatNickGuy]

Has there? Oops, sorry.

 

[Calleja]

I never see those catch-all threads either, I'm with you ThatNickGuy, FIGHT GENERIC THREADS WITH HUNDREDS OF PAGES!

 

[bhamv3]

Originally I thought this thing might be problematic if it's out in the open, sitting on store shelves, ready to scare the crap out of little kids and give old ladies heart attacks. But then I realized it's a preorder bonus, so it's probably only available to people who want it.

I don't want one personally, and I have a hard time imagining enough people wanting one for this to be a worthwhile marketing strategy. So on the whole, the devs probably got hit with way more negative hype than positive.

But then again, people are talking about it, so free publicity, right?

 

[Calleja]

So, let me get this straight... mangled, bloodied corpses: OK.

Cleavage and boobage: OUTRAGE!!!

Yeah?

 

[bhamv3]

Well, maybe it's worth considering why they didn't use a male torso, or a female torso that's wearing more clothes. They probably wanted to go for the boobage.

 

[phil]

So, let me get this straight... mangled, bloodied corpses: OK.

Cleavage and boobage: OUTRAGE!!!

Yeah?

No.

It's that women can't be associated with video games unless they're half naked. What does the statue actually add, other than tits? It could have been anything more in line with the game like a zombie head, or a bloody weapon or anything but they went with this. It's cheap and not only plays to the idea that women are walking tits but also that gamers are all a bunch of sad neck beards who only care about said tits.

Personally I'm happy to see that there's more movement away from these stereotypes and more demand for interesting and strong representations of women in media.

 

[Calleja]

Yeah, ok, I can see that, but it's still pretty weird that if it were a mangled gender-irrelevant head with like brains poking out, then it'd be fine. Cause that's normal and .. y'know, decorative.

 

[bhamv3]

Yeah, ok, I can see that, but it's still pretty weird that if it were a mangled gender-irrelevant head with like brains poking out, then it'd be fine. Cause that's normal and .. y'know, decorative.

Well, I still wouldn't want one.

I would find it hard to condemn a plastic dismembered torso though, when I willingly pay money to see dismembered torsos in games and movies.

 

[phil]

Yeah, ok, I can see that, but it's still pretty weird that if it were a mangled gender-irrelevant head with like brains poking out, then it'd be fine. Cause that's normal and .. y'know, decorative.

Sure, sure. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't want a dude's torso or genderless head or anything in my room. And really I think that's part of the problem is that they assumed someone like you or me would. I mean it's got blood, it's got tits, what more is there? Never mind story, character development, social commentary or anything else that makes nerds love games. Trust me, I've seen like 2 seasons of the big bang theory.

Obligatory fuck that show comment.

 

[figmentPez]

Honestly, I'm glad they apologized so quick. There's already been so much controversy with over-violence, sexism, and misogyny in video games lately that for this to come out is not just bad in taste, but horrible timing.

"I'm sorry you're butthurt" is not an apology. Their statement was so vague that they could have easily been apologizing for not making that figurine available worldwide as they could have been apologizing for sexualizing violence against women.

Yeah, ok, I can see that, but it's still pretty weird that if it were a mangled gender-irrelevant head with like brains poking out, then it'd be fine. Cause that's normal and .. y'know, decorative.

The issue here isn't that it's gory, it's that it's gory combined with tits. It's questionable enough when many female video game characters exist for nothing other than fanservice, but when it's taken to this level... it's a set of boobs with no head, no identity besides being the victim of violence. If this were a male body with it's ass or genitals being shown off in the same fashion, center-stage and nearly untouched by the gore surrounding it, there'd still be an issue, but to a lesser magnitude since violence against men as a part of their sexual identity isn't as prevalent a problem in our society.

 

[ThatNickGuy]

The irony of it is there was a male counterpart that was only the pelvic area wearing a Chippindale's banana hammock and a protruding outline, there'd be a huge homophobic outcry.

 

[CynicismKills]

Personally, I think Deep Silver's laughing all the way to the bank. This thing's gotten them so much press about their new game it's not even funny.

 

[Gilgamesh]

Personally, I think Deep Silver's laughing all the way to the bank. This thing's gotten them so much press about their new game it's not even funny.

They're pretty good about that.

 

[Calleja]

The issue here isn't that it's gory, it's that it's gory combined with tits.

This is EXACTLY what I'm commenting about. WHY is gore ok but tits not, y'know?

 

[figmentPez]

This is EXACTLY what I'm commenting about. WHY is gore ok but tits not, y'know?

Well, in this case, it's the combination that's the problem, not either individually. There are lots of fan-servicey statuettes of video game and comic book heroines in bikinis and, while I wouldn't put them on my shelf, I don't see reason to decry them either. There are also gory statues, which I don't want on my shelf either, and a debate could be had about the impact of glamorizing violence, but that's not my concern with the "Zombie Bait" statuette. Did you even read the rest of my post?

 

[Calleja]

Well, in this case, it's the combination that's the problem, not either individually. There are lots of fan-servicey statuettes of video game and comic book heroines in bikinis and, while I wouldn't put them on my shelf, I don't see reason to decry them either. There are also gory statues, which I don't want on my shelf either, and a debate could be had about the impact of glamorizing violence, but that's not my concern with the "Zombie Bait" statuette. Did you even read the rest of my post?

...did.. did you read mine? That's what I'm talking about only, the sort of double-standard fucked-upness of society being ok with brains and gore being decorative.

 

[figmentPez]

...did.. did you read mine? That's what I'm talking about only, the sort of double-standard fucked-upness of society being ok with brains and gore being decorative.

What double standard? A bikini clad DOA character is generally just as acceptable a shelf decoration as Sub-Zero holding up the head and spine of Scorpion. You'll actually find a lot more cheesecake statuettes in stock at most places than you'll find any with gore.

Now if you want to talk about it being an unacceptable standard to be fine with gore at all, that's another discussion, but there isn't a "double-standard" because wearing a bikini is far less of an issue than being gory in US society.

 

[Calleja]

Now if you want to talk about it being an unacceptable standard to be fine with gore at all, that's another discussion

No dude that's... that's THIS discussion, at least the point I was trying to make... obviously very badly. Never mind, I've lost interest anyway, that was an old post.

 

[Ravenpoe]

No dude that's... that's THIS discussion, at least the point I was trying to make... obviously very badly. Never mind, I've lost interest anyway, that was an old post.

Have you ever heard the joke "What's a perfect woman? One without a head!"

Did you think it was offensive?

Well neither did the dead island guys. That's why.