Gamergate

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

For the record, BRTD somehow has the most profound post in this thread so far. A first?

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

*image displaying terrifying lack of knowledge about the history of marxist thought*

dear lord is that real

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

*image displaying terrifying lack of knowledge about the history of marxist thought*

dear lord is that real

I think so.

>anarcho
>capitalism

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Anyone need a refill?

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

What is this

Zoe Quinn (an independent game developer) allegedly (haven't kept up on the veracity of the claims but it doesn't really matter at this point, the battle lines were drawn months ago) slept with/paid other favors to video game reviewers in order to secure good reviews for her game, Depression Quest, causing a backlash by top figures in the "gaming community" (a cringeworthy phrase which both sides should stop using). Quinn, who considers herself a feminist, uses her status as a female game designer to promote her game (while pro-GG elements started to fund a kickstarter for women called the Fine Young Capitalists, likely in an attempt to cover for the sexists) who wish to design games, which sets off the sexist elements of said "gaming community" to begin personal gender-based attacks on her, some of which included violent threats against her. Major gaming journalists (and the mainstream media's limited coverage) have for the most part sided either with Quinn or simply against the attacks leveled against her.

This fight has quickly merged with the already-existing debate over the portrayal of women in video games for some reason, which have revolved around a video game critic named Anita Sarkeesian who has produced YouTube videos pointing out various examples of what she sees as sexist portrayals of women (primarily oversexualization), and threats have been leveled against her as well via Twitter.

IMO Zoe Quinn is somewhat of a self-promoter who has used the vile attacks against her for personal gain, and while video games should not be exempt from social criticism in any way, Anita Sarkeesian's videos don't seem to have very deep analysis and are really a lot like a TV Tropes page in execution. However, the nature of the reaction to both and the failure of any non-sexists who "support" Gamergate to combat said sexists prove that something about gaming culture needs to be discussed. Of course, it is highly unlikely that we will ever get an intelligent conversation and we are more likely to keep seeing more of what's going on now.

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Despite anything I might have said to the contrary above, it ultimately really isn't, at least not to me (though I casually follow it because it's all quite entertaining). The only video games I play on a regular basis at this point are grand strategy nation games (very Atlas, I know) and are somewhat outside this debate.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

I know next to nothing about Zoe whatshername, but Anita Sarkeesian I find her despicable, she a block of cement around the legs about any one pushing feminism in gaming.

I have literally no idea what this means.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

I know next to nothing about Zoe whatshername, but Anita Sarkeesian I find her despicable, she a block of cement around the legs about any one pushing feminism in gaming.

I have literally no idea what this means.

It means that just as you do you best to delegitimise socialism and any ideology left of the American middle, Anita Sarkeesian do the same thing for feminism, she's the Snowstalker of feminism.

How? Anita Sarkeesian's videos aren't radical at all (in fact, in some instances she seems to reinforce gender roles); she just offers a list-like surface critique of video games. At worst her videos are like a TV Tropes page. If anything, the threats against her are what's making her a more dominant figure.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

lmao

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

holy s**t i actually kind of agree with brtd

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Also it should be said the Gamergate folks are quite ridiculous, even the ones who aren't blatant misogynists are still flipping over minor trivial s[inks]. Even if the "corruption" allegations are true it's the definition of first world problems. But the idea that they represent "gamers" as opposed to "a handful of folks on Reddit and 4chan" is even more absurd.

I never understood much of this case, but from what I read: The idea that there are people who actually get upset about "integrity in video game reviews", or whatever, is far more disturbing to me than any eventual sexism. So I hope this controversy was mostly caused by the latter.

and it's not even about things like EA and activision negotiating product placement deals with arms manufacturers or the horrendously exploitative working conditions that pervade the AAA gaming industry. no, apparently, the big ethical issues^TM are all about random fringe indie devs.

In fairness, EA is rather universally hated.

As for the topic bump, Gamergate continues its pathetic descent into fringe insanity.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

There's a rather large difference between thinking that Sarkeesian isn't a particularly good or effective critic (which is a perfectly reasonable opinion) and threatening her with violence or defending said threats of violence (less so).

This Gamergate thing being dragged on by a stubborn and awful minority makes me more and more embarrassed to consider myself a gamer.