Dear Video Games,
You’re a great way to relieve stress, make friends around the world and get sucked into amazing storylines and graphics. However, you also cause us to throw away thousands of dollars. I don’t think you understand, video games, that there are so many stereotypes you promote that I could write my senior thesis all about you.
First of all, stop demoralizing female video game characters. Street Fighter Cammy doesn’t need to fight in a thong. Where’s the protection in Samus’ Zero suit, or World of Warcraft’s dark elves armour? Sexualizing a character like Bayonetta doesn’t make her any tougher. You should stop creating princess characters while you’re at it, video games.
Princess Peach has the slowest car in Mario Kart and Zelda can’t stop getting captured by Ganondorf. It’s clear that gamers clearly prefer tough girls like Ellie from The Last of Us and Fetch from Infamous Second Son: First Light.
On top of that, I shouldn’t have to be identified by my sex. Whether I am a female gamer or not shouldn’t matter, I can still shoot zombies better. My gender shouldn’t give your male players the opportunity to toss rude comments my way with online gaming and X-Box Live.
On the other side, being a male in your world isn’t so easy either. If a male character isn’t buff like Ryu from Street Fighter, then they must be the fat, goofy type like Wario. You’re clearly making it difficult for young men to choose their character, video games.
Some of your best male characters, like Link, are silent. I’m sure he has plenty to say about being told to cut the grass in some random person’s lawn, or having to deal with cucco’s again. Male gamers also carry around a harsh stereotype, playing you is what causes them to be violent. Reporters often pin the blame on you for what can cause men to turn into mass shooters. They also carry the hindrance of being told that they are anti-social for playing games.
These stereotypes, however, are put grossly out of proportion. Playing you is a way for people to connect with each other. Making those connectionscan put a real hurting on my wallet though. You’re really expensive!
With money making principle games from apps to Pokemon, some games require the purchase of other goods to play. Take Skylanders for example. A child has to beg their parents to buy more expensive characters to win your game, or take subscription fees to online accounts; that monthly fee adds up.
The same could be said about app games. Although your app games are more likely to be played by casual gamers, they also are most likely to spend the money to speed up their dragon hatching in DragonVale.
Casual gamers haven’t developed the patience like other gamers. All the more reason to get rid of your fees, video games. Sure, the initial cost of a game is all fine and well; I’m happy to pay franchises like Ubisoft for making great games. After all, one has to pay for HD television series, so why not pay for great game graphics? It’s the other fees and random expenses that don’t make sense, video games.
Oh, video games, I love you. You’re the best way to end a rough day. You’ve come a long way from your 8-bit days, but you still have much to learn.
Hugs and Kisses,
Gamers
