There's been a lot of talk about the new PSN game Fat Princess that had been announced at this year's E3. Check out these sites to read all about it:
Feministe - Well, that was bound to happen
Feminist Gamers - Fat Princess
Shakesville - I Write Letters
I especially like the alternative ideas Might Ponygirl and those in the comments have suggested to reduce the tiring stereotypes in the original game. What are your opinions?
Happy reading, and have a good weekend!
The object of the game seems tight enough. I like the concept and the teamwork and strategy that could come into play. However, why does it have to be a fat chick? This could have just as easily been done with a sumo wrestler, or even an inanimate object like a giant metal tub that you fill with water. And even with that, there could be water balloons, guns, rain-making devices, etc...plenty of ways to get the water there. And the other team could work to poke holes in the tub, use super-heated tools to evaporate your water, summon giant monsters to drink it all...something.
ReplyDeleteBut a fat princess? Do we have to reward binge eating, really?
Yeah, I love how everyone's all up in arms about it, yet if it were a game called Fat Prince, no one would say a word. Where are these whiners whenever fat male characters are portrayed as slow, gluttonous, clumsy village idiots?
ReplyDeleteI actually can't wait for it. I'd buy a PS3 just to play it. I believe the funniest part of this whole business is that it seems that none of these people who react before they think bothered to read any of Sony's press releases in regards to Fat Princess. The one that I read immediately after E3 referred to her as your "beloved" princess. That's right, despite her recently acquired flab, the goal of the game is to put forth the extra effort to save her. Offense would be necessary if the knights stormed the castle and said "Oh, screw it, she's fat now", and then the credits rolled. This, however, is not the case.
As for this "Shakesville Feminist", she's just another misogynist in sheep's clothing. She alludes that the Fat Princess is worthless, helpless, and hated. The game has said no such thing. Even the few seconds of the game that we've been privileged to see show this Princess walking on her own two feet despite her recent massive weight gain. We've also been shown a kindly warrior saying to the princess, "Is your weight too great to endure on your own? Here, let me carry you, for no burden is larger than my love for you dear Princess. Let not your heart be the heaviest part about you." Perhaps the feminist is channeling her own personal image issues into the game. Perhaps she feels helpless and unable to change herself. Perhaps she objectifies herself by implanting hateful imagery into a silly game that was never intended to offend. She just likes to find things to get angry about. According to her, Kung Fu Panda is exploitative and discriminative toward fat people. She's the typical overly politically-correct, I'm-the-only-enlightened-one bottle of WHINE. All she does is insist that she's right, offer no counterargument, spew her trademark words and phrases like a mantra, and attempt to look sarcastic and witty while failing miserably.
These women should be happy that the princess is still wanted even though she's obese. It's not like you go on a big quest to save her, only find out she's gotten fat, then throw her a slab of meat and run away. The fact that they see a fat girl in a game and get offended is more offensive than having a fat girl in a game.
Yeah, that's my biggest problem with feminist issues: males are often completely ignored. I'm glad the princess is liked by all. This is good news. Actually, this game could prove to be good for feminists if what you say turns out to be the case.
ReplyDeleteelfreakincid, while I appreciate your opinions on the game, I ask that you focus your comments on the game itself and not on insulting the blogger.
ReplyDeleteAs for the princess, I think we should be shooting for a little more than just being glad people still want to save her at all despite her weight gain. The issue with the game is that the princess falls into the tired stereotype of the damsel in distress who must be saved--yes, she's able to walk, but she's not actively saving herself.
dest makor, I like your suggestions. Although it would still leave the princess in a position to be saved, I like the suggestions on Mighty Ponygirl's post wherein you arm the princess instead of fattening her up. Imagine the princess stabbing away at her abductors with a fork at first, but then finding a bazooka for her later. Done in a cute, cartoony way, I think the game could still be adorable without falling into any stereotypes about fat people.