Usually, I try to keep the feminist rants to Mondays because not everyone wants to read that stuff, and hey, I'm good with that. There's more to think about in the world than the concept of feminine = person. I don't even want to think about that all the time, every day. However, yesterday I read the article on Kotaku about the Tomb Raider reboot and then some responses to it. And then I read the responses to those responses... and well, I had to say something. I'll start with the Kotaku article.

"You'll want to protect the new, less curvy Lara Croft." Holy Mother of God. Crystal Dynamics, what the fucking hell are you thinking? Smaller boobs = less powerful? Wow. Rapey backstory? Oh, dear God. Please. Let me draw your attention to this nugget of wisdom: "Strong female" does not instantly mean a rapey past. You know, there is more than one way to become strong. Let's be creative. Okay? Because, honey, that little "literary" trope has so much mileage on it that the P.O.S. needs to be towed to the junkyard and sold for scrap. I understand a positive, supportive childhood makes for a dull story. I also understand characters need roughing up. (If anyone gets this, it's me.) I do. HOWEVER, while I understand that games are legitimately a form of storytelling with every bit as much serious artistic potential as film, literature, and graphic novels, game writers must admit the fact that games are a distinctly different art form with unique functions, potential and problems. Remember that buzzword everyone was throwing around not so long ago? I think it was... oh, yes, interactive? Yeah. That. This means that games have a psychological element that books, film, and comic storytelling formats do not. It's a very powerful element too. We agree on that much, don't we? So, do me a favor, and think long and hard about what the hell that means. Lazy storytelling has more potential for a powerful negative emotional impact even a negative psychological response from the player. Does this mean that I feel that violent films and games create violent people? No. It creates desensitized people. Yes. Studies have shown those affects are temporary, but only if the subject is removed from violent media for a short period of time.* It's something to think about. Game writers and creators, if you really do want to be taken seriously as storytellers, then perhaps you ought to do quite a bit more thinking about what you're writing. That's part of the gig. If you don't, and you'd rather be lazy, then fine. Don't think. Don't change. But understand you forfeit the right to sling around the "L" word. Most of all, for fuck's sake don't whip out with some lazy ass sexist shit and then pretend it's all about being literary. Oh. Don't think this crap is sexist? Let's road test that theory, shall we? Let's switch out the sex of the character. Change young Miss Lara Croft into young Mr. Larry Croft and have him face the potential of being gang raped by the bad guys unless the player acts fast.** Do you see a problem now?

Anyway, other people have been more eloquent on the subject. Here's Chuck Wendig on The Victimization of Lara Croft. And then Kat Howard added yet another perspective on the subject with When You Don't Get to Hit the Replay Button. Both articles are great on their own. However, reading the comments presents a whole other layer of perspective. Chunk Wendig's blog has actual discussion. Kat is almost instantly barraged with threats, rage-tastic sexism, mockery, and my favorite "Women should stop demanding special treatment on the internet. The internet is a tough place. Deal." All of which amounts to, "How Dare You Say Anything! Shut the Hell Up!" That just makes me want to punch a male gamer in the face,*** particularly since Kat is a friend. 
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*I've experienced this myself when my ex-boyfriend stole my television and I was left with no TV for a year. Everyone should try that at least once in their lives. It's a life-changer.
**Better yet. If you've read my books, think back to how hard it was to read the beginning of the first one. Now, put that into a game setting. Are you squirming yet?
***I'm married to a male gamer, btw. This is not a good feeling. I seriously love geek males. They're generally smarter than your average bear. So, please pull your heads out of your collective asses. Soon. This shit is getting old. Please stop proving to the world that geek males really are a walking, talking, breathing Peter Pan complex on too much caffeine. Accept that women have a right to an opinion without being bullied. You know, just like you do.