Journal of Other Forum Analysis (Volume II, Issue 2)

[simiansmarts]

 
 

[cRumB]

Man Era is coping HARD over the physical game stuff.

Call me a sick fuck but I find some enjoyment watching everything burn. 

[Vertigo]

Man Era is coping HARD over the physical game stuff.

Call me a sick fuck but I find some enjoyment watching everything burn. 

What's even more funny is the usual Sony shills can't post their normal PR or they'll be ripped apart. I saw Loudninja trying to run defense   and his fellow Ponies aren't having it.

I guess we wont be getting any press releases disguised as threads from him for a while.

[simiansmarts]

https://www.resetera.com/threads/playstation-studios-ot50-every-time-the-ot-dies-it-comes-back-stronger.1508449/page-360#post-157397068 
 

Nothing a console maker has done to push me towards PC more than this Sony announcement.

If I'm going to be forced to be digital only, I might as well do it in a platform environment with some level of flexibility - and not Sony's godawful PSN trash with fixed pricing and the loss of licenses at random times.

Plus, Sony studio mamagement has been so poor that the thought of paying $70-80 for cross-gen licenses in 2028+ is not appealing. If PS6 replicates the PS5 gen, it does not sound appealing to pay $1000+ to play a game that is developed with the constraints of PS5 in mind (e.g. HFW scenario).

I just find it weird that people say this but are ok with supporting steam because many can say options matter but the vast majority are buying from steam which is a haven for fascism.

 
 

[Jansen]

https://www.resetera.com/threads/just-a-quick-reminder-its-not-your-fault-the-industry-is-shifting-like-this.1568218/

More deep thoughts

[Lonewulfeus]

Man Era is coping HARD over the physical game stuff.

Call me a sick fuck but I find some enjoyment watching everything burn. 

Hilarious that Sony is doing it first when they have a very subpar online ecosystem.  Only Nintendo is worse in that regard.  Xbox players would probably take it better if/when Microsoft follows suit because the ecosystem is much more robust, not to mention many digital purchases already work on pc so packing it up and leaving Xbox isn’t even that much of a chore.

[HaughtyFrank]

deep discussions are happening in the burka thread  
https://www.resetera.com/threads/why-women-criticise-sexualised-character-designs-ot3-make-her-look-more-corpulent-more-stuffed-where-the-eyes-cant-escape.275780/page-544#post-157394305 
 

Am I the only one who's sick of seeing the word "gooner bait"? It always just ends up feeling like justifying objectification and an end all be all to criticism.

The term on its own isn't meant to justify or absolve and has a negative connotation. It's just a plain statement about a design's purpose. If you mean in the sense that people will often use it to basically say don't bother diving into a criticism of something, I get what you mean. But I also think many of those conversations really can be fruitless to just tackle from the perspective of objectification. Partially because the most egregious stuff appeals to people who are never going to be swayed about arguments about objectification and sexism, and partially because the root of the problem is often not even the lifeless, generic, deeply sexless forms of sexualization you find in gooner bait games and material. The issue lies in the commodification of emotional attachment, it's the way these games exploit, isolate, and reinforce unhealthy and harmful behaviors and coping mechanisms, then extract a bunch enough money to trap players into sunken cost mindsets while making them believe they are in control.

Focusing on the sexualization aspect of gooner bait alone, while it is dehumanizing, especially in this immature, sexist medium, just doesn't accomplish enough and opening ourselves up to being painted to look like we are broadly scolding people for experiencing attraction is a quick way to be ignored by pretty much everyone. Attraction to depictions of sexy people is normal, but generally if a man's brain is not thoroughly cooked, 10 seconds of Nikke is going to induce distaste, discomfort, or a red flag because the stuff that really counts as gooner bait is not even classic Lara Croft or tacky street fighter swimsuit poster, it's 3 dangerous social epidemics in a trenchcoat and thong. Honestly, that's why 2B is such a good birthday stripper. She's a regular grade sexy virtual lady from a game people take seriously and find legitimate value in despite (and sometimes because of) its relationship to sexuality whose value as a guest character in these games that already have 4 OC knockoffs of her is as a trojan horse to wider audiences who think they are gross.

 
 

Just amazing how it's somehow a titty gacha game that has them freaking out again. They're just scraping the absolute bottom of the barrell

You can go on with your gaming days never having to hear or see that game but they of course have to freak out again and have to write essays about why this thing is so bad. A miracle they don't have some thread where they discuss every new porn movie release and how bad it is.

[simiansmarts]

Man Era is coping HARD over the physical game stuff.

Call me a sick fuck but I find some enjoyment watching everything burn. 

I am also deriving some joy from the outrage. RE is a gaming enthusiast forum so naturally they buy a lot of physical games and useless collector's edition trinkets to fill their shelves so their reaction to this news is going to magnitudes more deranged than the average consumer.  
  
These people have been gargling Sony's balls without hesitation since the start of the PS4 so to see them go "SONY BETRAYED US!" in a childish tantrum and threaten to quit videogames for good has been a feasts of lulz. They're addicted to making "FUCK THIS XYZ! I'M NEVER BUYING IT AGAIN!" posts to performatively protest because consumerism is their life
 

[Daffy Duck]

Of course this ADHD brain doesn’t like the game lol

[Besticus Maximus]

Its a good game with a bad story 

[Jansen]

I am a gay horny man whose been a gaymer for thirty plus years now :-) . Bara is not the majority of tastes, and this is just not sexualised in the way female models are in the game. Sure, some people will find it horny - there's something out there for everyone, and it is a very bara style body. But it's movements and poses are not sexualised in the slightest, and it's not an equivalent to what is done with the women characters in the same game.



As others have said, the Gambit skin is *much* more sexualised than this.

 

Spoiler:  (click to show)(click to hide)

Wow that is so much worse than I was thinking but I'm an equal opportunity gooner for fan service, especially for alt costumes. This is no different than female models it's just you that just don't see this level on male models so props I guess.

This is wildly different to female gooning.



Just to be clear, other than a small subset of people this is not a sexualised costume at all. This is a jokey costume. It's not deliberately sexualised, and even for people who like that bara style body this isn't how you would sexualise that.



Don't think this is the equivalent of the way women are sexualised in Rivals, or other games.

It definitely is, and the response the skin is getting in gay oriented gaming communities confirms that pretty well. I mean, there's quite a few people thirsting over it in this very thread. And it's far from the only skin in the game catering to horny gay men.

I see your point but I don't necessarily agree. Both this body type and outfit wouldn't look out of place at all in gay-focused games like Housamo or Live A Hero. What would a more earnest version of this look like to you?

I don't quite get it.



I asked if women liked it because obviously I don't speak for women and I don't presume to understand their tastes.



So when they do it for female characters, its sexualizing. When they do it for male characters, its just as a shield to justify the female ones? Didn't they make an emote for Venom where he twerks his massive glutes?



I'm just trying to get the angle here. Every time I see men being sexualized in most medias, people use the "this is just a distraction to justify the female ones/its obviously meant as a joke or a parody" and it confuses me. Are women not allowed to have goon material then, or even gay men?



Again, I'm not going to presume peoples tastes, but this is not the first time Marvel Rivals have done it for men, is it? Don't we have other characters wearing little clothing with Speedos, with very clear bulges?



I feel like "they are appealing to a specific demographic that is not straight men = its obviously a satire costume" is a bit... dismissive might not be the word for it but I can't quite find the right term.

[HaughtyFrank]

I am a gay horny man whose been a gaymer for thirty plus years now :-) . Bara is not the majority of tastes, and this is just not sexualised in the way female models are in the game. Sure, some people will find it horny - there's something out there for everyone, and it is a very bara style body. But it's movements and poses are not sexualised in the slightest, and it's not an equivalent to what is done with the women characters in the same game.



As others have said, the Gambit skin is *much* more sexualised than this.

 

Spoiler:  (click to show)(click to hide)

These cunts have spent years talking about how male characters should show dick because female characters show boobs (which is a false equivalency anyway) and now when it actually happens they claim that it's actually less sexualized than the women 

[malfoyking]

Of course this ADHD brain doesn’t like the game lol

I think it’s a great game but I don’t like it much. The game controls like shit and It’s not fun for me.

[Jansen]

https://www.resetera.com/threads/marvel-rivals-has-introduced-a-swimsuit-skin-for-captain-america.1567858/page-4#post-157410823

Happy for those who this appeals to, this is the way to do it. Equality not removal.

Should be noted that there is quite literally never been a time when there wasn't traditionally attractive women in games. What ACTUALLY happened was devs approaching the design of women in games beyond



"how attractive do I make this character to a 18-30 straight white male demographic."



 And instead asked:



"How does this character actively fit the world instead of looking out of place compared to how believable our male characters are." Which you know had the knock on effect, suddenly outfits look like outfits that the characters would actual wear, the camera framing in cutscenes changed because why treat the woman as an object and the male as a character, animations changed because why do all this exaggerated hip gyro runway shit when all the male characters otherwise have incredibly believable character animation fitting their personality, etc. etc. etc.



The issue is that people got brain broken by the sheer idea of women in games being treated like characters and not objects. Which is why pandering is still pretty bad as a concept because all it does is lead straight back to square one. The funniest part over the years was the confusion over why a character like Alistair was so popular amongst women who played games compared to like god of war 3 Kratos. Who would be used as an example of "men are sexualized too actually look how BUFF this is."



The design in the OP is an interesting case because yes attraction tends to involve more than "His cock has jiggle physics!" Actually funny that the actual animation they released for what I assume to be a victory outro or something puts little emphasis on that part.

https://x.com/marvelrivals/status/2072334422355902761?s=46



Meanwhile here's the one for Emma Stone

https://x.com/MarvelRivals/status/2067306279702266144/video/1?s=46



In the future it's highly likely that Netease will double down on this given the response. Or maybe this is them doing that already. Someone confirm.

Spoiler:  (click to show)(click to hide)

Game is neve
r beating the allegations.

[benji]

deep discussions are happening in the burka thread  
https://www.resetera.com/threads/why-women-criticise-sexualised-character-designs-ot3-make-her-look-more-corpulent-more-stuffed-where-the-eyes-cant-escape.275780/page-544#post-157394305 

it's 3 dangerous social epidemics in a trenchcoat and thong.

 

https://www.resetera.com/threads/playstation-studios-ot50-every-time-the-ot-dies-it-comes-back-stronger.1508449/page-360#post-157397068 

many can say options matter but the vast majority are buying from steam which is a haven for fascism.

 

https://www.resetera.com/threads/just-a-quick-reminder-its-not-your-fault-the-industry-is-shifting-like-this.1568218/

People started buying digital not because they wanted physical to end, it's because they had kids and didn't want them messing with it; they bought smaller houses that lacked space because real estate is a fucking scam; because some companies offered discounts and we're all fucking strapped for cash.

So yes, change your habits if you want to, criticise those who don't, you are free to do so and, yes, the impact does exist. But at the same time it's also not that simple. Every finger you point to someone else is one less finger you can point towards these companies. Nothing will change unless they are regulated till oblivion

[benji]

And oty with the common totalitarian argument as well:

All of these comments circle back on one of the biggest illusions that consumers have: the myth of "free choice". The myth of "agency". The myth that our consumer habits, or audiences at large's, are fully representative. They are not fabricated. They showcase truly "what's out there". And a myth that powerful is, naturally, that much dangerous.

You see, there has been decades of studies, reports, analysis, you name it that dispute that notion, to no avail. Edward Herman talked about it in Manufacturing Consent. Bernays was even more direct about it in Propaganda. Herbert Simon called it bounded rationality. Sustein expanded that in Nudge. All of those single out the uncomfortable truth. Desire is organized; options are framed. What you chose isn't just a product of your experiences, it's also what was made convenient for you. Or...as others put it eloquently:

We are governed, our minds are molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested…

...


Nothing will change unless they are regulated till oblivion, these practices forbidden and our rights guaranteed.

You don't actually have any choice because all variables and everyone else are not under your personal control nor are you allowed to exist from a perfectly blank slate of your choosing at all times ... and that's why we should eliminate choice completely and have everything decided by a monopoly that that will guarantee your right to obey. Embrace the total freedom of complete submission.

[Taco Bell Tower]

https://www.resetera.com/threads/just-a-quick-reminder-its-not-your-fault-the-industry-is-shifting-like-this.1568218/

More deep thoughts

Closed by B-Dumbs

Ok, this is a reaction thread.

[HardcoreRetro]

I hope it's shifting because of me and I hope it fucking dies.

[NekoFever]

Just to be clear, other than a small subset of people this is not a sexualised costume at all. This is a jokey costume.

I'm going to bet that wouldn't fly if there was a female character in a ludicrous costume.

[Jansen]

https://www.resetera.com/threads/just-a-quick-reminder-its-not-your-fault-the-industry-is-shifting-like-this.1568218/

More deep thoughts

Closed by B-Dumbs

Ok, this is a reaction thread.

Constructive 

This closed thread is valid and probably needed.

                                                                                                                                        

" Just a quick reminder, it's not your fault the industry is shifting like this. "



It gets a little into criticism too much but the over all message of "do not take all of this to heart, do not take it too seriously, do not take it personally. Do not take the blame." I believe is not only valid, it bears repeating to the point where everyone needs to make sure they have good perspective and can pull back if necessary.



 i think there is a latent psychology that affects these discussions and spurs them on, the same way people identify with things that make them happy, people have identified with gaming and the companies in the gaming industry. There is a team dynamic where their victories are our victories and celebration of good games and fun, but there is a dark side too.



Too often major systems like industry and government make huge decisions and try to push the responsibility and negative effects onto the population supporting them, we see government blaming their voters who demand freedom and security. The companies have to fire and break apart studios and removing gaming opportunities because the consumers didn't buy things and behave as expected, so the companies had to recover. But like the poster implied, beneath all of those explanations and accusations was a profit plan or a goal strategy that didn't pan out and only saw the consumer or the voter as a resource or a tool to reach success. It wasn't a partnership or a cooperative plan, no one was thinking about the welfare of the voter or the customer, only where the success of the plan would land them.



And now when things look bad, they have to explain why they are doing all of the painful restructuring, I do think it is a helpful reminder. People have been doing their jobs or not doing their jobs however it pleased them for years before we got to this space. And they bear the brunt of responsibility for misreading the market and for the actions they took. The gamers not forming up to match the formula and bringing in the profit is not the fault of the game buyer.



And if the industry shifts to recover are too negative and bring too much harm to the consumer experience I think the companies need to face the blowback from that too. You don't get to enshittify stuff to get your points back to the point where you're comfortable again and then say everything is okay like no one would notice the net negative change.

[benji]

It can't be both sexualized AND jokey, that's impossible, and that's why it's not sexualized at all and Gambit's shirtless chest is far more sexualized.

[Uncle]

https://www.resetera.com/threads/marvel-rivals-has-introduced-a-swimsuit-skin-for-captain-america.1567858/page-4#post-157410823

Should be noted that there is quite literally never been a time when there wasn't traditionally attractive women in games. 

well now I know this isn't true, thinking about tennis for two and asteroids

but it makes me wonder: what was actually the very first video game with a sexy lady in it?

[benji]

but it makes me wonder: what was actually the very first video game with a sexy lady in it?

Custer's Revenge.

[Uncle]

I would count games with sexy cover art that have unsexy pixels

[Jansen]

https://www.resetera.com/threads/polygon-8-years-later-its-time-to-admit-red-dead-redemption-2-is-a-terrible-game.1568344/

They mad af

Spoiler:  (click to show)(click to hide)

Rdr2 is a fantastic game tho

[Daffy Duck]

https://www.resetera.com/threads/just-a-quick-reminder-its-not-your-fault-the-industry-is-shifting-like-this.1568218/

More deep thoughts

Closed by B-Dumbs

Ok, this is a reaction thread.

Aren’t all of the majority of threads in the front page currently reaction threads to the news?

[Daffy Duck]

https://www.resetera.com/threads/polygon-8-years-later-its-time-to-admit-red-dead-redemption-2-is-a-terrible-game.1568344/

They mad af

Spoiler:  (click to show)(click to hide)

Rdr2 is a fantastic game tho

Reaction thread?

[Uncle]

ree action thread

[Boredfrom]

ree action thread

Your best pun. Congrats.

[HaughtyFrank]

And oty with the common totalitarian argument as well:

Nothing will change unless they are regulated till oblivion, these practices forbidden and our rights guaranteed.

You don't actually have any choice because all variables and everyone else are not under your personal control nor are you allowed to exist from a perfectly blank slate of your choosing at all times ... and that's why we should eliminate choice completely and have everything decided by a monopoly that that will guarantee your right to obey. Embrace the total freedom of complete submission.

This sounds like a man who'd demand that there'd be only one pattern of blankets and one kind of soup.

I think I'm finally grasping communism