Character design of female soldiers in video games - Lost Planet 2 a joke?

Observe the following trailer for Capcom's upcoming HD monster hunter game with guns, Lost Planet 2.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nILqrh-F-hw

I'm talking about SOLDIERS here. These are female soldiers. We can have our scantily clad fighters in Street Fighter IV or our grotesquely busty women in Soul Calibur no problem, but a military game like Lost Planet's representation of female soldiers feels forced, tacky and unrealistic.

Even the Gears 2 trailer showed a woman with armor at least as practical and safe as those for the male soldiers.

I'm not bashing gamers' tastes in digita boobz and a$$es (that's off the material), I'm talking about the portrayal of female soldiers, not female characters in general. It's more about a question of contextual character design (safety against projectiles, artilleries, firing weapons).

Lost Planet takes place in world full of fiends and monsters that can tear you apart without proper protection. The women in Lost Planet 2 are poorly portrayed, and feel tacked-on. It would be nice to see female soldiers implemented through the game design rather than just for fanservice.

There are ways to make female characters hot and tough, even with military outfits. These are but few examples of designs that represent what a woman would wear in her respective world (all military or warfare based worlds):

Samus Aran (From the Samus Franchise):

The Boss (Metal Gear Solid 3 - Snake Eater):

Gears 3 female soldier art:

Meryl (Metal Gear Solid 4). Also of note. The female FROG units.

Female Survivalists from Dark Void:

And Another:

These are but a few examples that I could point to show that a female soldier can be properly portrayed in her environment without the need to throw away contextual realism for the simple sake of male gamer fanservice. I'll admit many male gamers will love the way Capcom portrays the female mercenaries, but I disgress that there are ways to make female soldiers simultaneously hot and sexy as well as tough and durable.

As much as i love half naked women, if these are the best Soldiers lost plant 2 has to offer, we're screwed.

Ok so, what's your problem again?

Soul Calibur series is pretty realistic, I mean every girl I meet has 10 tonne Boobies.

While I agree with you, I'm pretty sure you can customize their outfits to look like actual soldiers.

Soul Calibur series is pretty realistic, I mean every girl I meet has 10 tonne Boobies.

Megaman5364

I don't get what the point of this in videogames is. Are we supposed to fap to it? Or what?

Hi, I'm a 19 year old guy, and I game. I am the consumer Capcom is targeting for their upcoming title "Lost Planet 2".

I approve of these scantily clad female soldiers.

Sue me.

As a side note, the Lost Planet 2 breast physics are rather absurd. You'll find out what I think about Lost Planet 2 soon enough, but almost every element of its design speaks to major differences in design philosophies between the east and west. Female character design is one of those elements.

Hi, I'm a 19 year old guy, and I game. I am the consumer Capcom is targeting for their upcoming title "Lost Planet 2".

I approve of these scantily clad female soldiers.

Sue me.

treedoor

Why do you like it so much?

As a side note, the Lost Planet 2 breast physics are rather absurd. You'll find out what I think about Lost Planet 2 soon enough, but almost every element of its design speaks to major differences in design philosophies between the east and west. Female character design is one of those elements.

Kevin-V

So you mean that generally Japanese culture objectifies women more than Westen culture?

[QUOTE="treedoor"]

Hi, I'm a 19 year old guy, and I game. I am the consumer Capcom is targeting for their upcoming title "Lost Planet 2".

I approve of these scantily clad female soldiers.

Sue me.

SgtKevali

Why do you like it so much?

Why should I not like it? Just because it's "lolz pixel" doesn't make it any less a representation of a fantasy woman that any guy only wishes would cling to his arm.

Just the same as why do the main guy characters have big muscles, and the "bad-ass" archetype? Because guys want to be that.

Games are a break from reality. I know when I day dream IRL I don't day dream of myself being a fat slob with cheeto dust all over my fingers.

It's a video game, get over it. Sex sells, and it is very evident in many other games, as well as all other forms of media. And it happens to men just as much as women (and even more so arguably).

Pray tell, what would be the "ideal" equipment for traversing on a fictional alien planet infested with building-sized beasts for the fairer sex?

Now 100% more excited for Lost Planet 2.

So you mean that generally Japanese culture objectifies women more than Westen culture?

SgtKevali

Oh hardly; that's quite the leap there! I was referring only to the costume design, which is both sexy and incredibly overwrought. I am looking at the character select screen right now, and there are design elements on the default character model that have no real purpose; the look is future military fashionista--sort of like what would happen if you took a female Dynasty Warriors costume and translated it into a sci-fi military setting. It's not a look you'd expect to see in your standard sci-fi adventure. It's a simple costume observation, not a wide-ranging cultural announcement, I assure you.

I will say her unprotected legs look incredibly vulnerable. This clearly isn't a uniform designed for function!

I don't day dream of myself being a fat slob with cheeto dust all over my fingers.

treedoor

It's a video game, get over it. Sex sells, and it is very evident in many other games, as well as all other forms of media. And it happens to men just as much as women (and even more so arguably).

Pray tell, what would be the "ideal" equipment for traversing on a fictional alien planet infested with building-sized beasts for the fairer sex?

Now 100% more excited for Lost Planet 2.

Gxgear

Imagine next gen.:shock:

What? These women are perfectly dressed! The environments I see are all jungles and even underwater. You try moving through those with anything more than the bare essentials and tell me how long you survive. Capcom didn't decide to make these girls half naked they had to make them half-naked.

As a side note, the Lost Planet 2 breast physics are rather absurd. You'll find out what I think about Lost Planet 2 soon enough, but almost every element of its design speaks to major differences in design philosophies between the east and west. Female character design is one of those elements.

Kevin-V

[QUOTE="treedoor"]I don't day dream of myself being a fat slob with cheeto dust all over my fingers.

Kevin-V

Cool Ranch doritos and you got yourself a deal.

[QUOTE="treedoor"]I don't day dream of myself being a fat slob with cheeto dust all over my fingers.Kevin-V

[QUOTE="Kevin-V"][QUOTE="treedoor"]I don't day dream of myself being a fat slob with cheeto dust all over my fingers.

Cool Ranch doritos and you got yourself a deal.

LP2's female design is simply tailored toward the crowd they are targeting with the game I'd assume. What I think is hilarious is you using MGS4 as an example especially considering what the female bosses wear and the angles that they are viewed at...

I'm a guy, but I just don't get what is so appealing in "scantily clad" women in videogames. It just breaks the "immersion".

LP2's female design is simply tailored toward the crowd they are targeting with the game I'd assume. What I think is hilarious is you using MGS4 as an example especially considering what the female bosses wear and the angles that they are viewed at...

Espada12

Kojima was really pushing it with some of them. :lol:

I'm a guy, but I just don't get what is so appealing in "scantily clad" women in videogames. It just breaks the "immersion".

SgtKevali

[QUOTE="treedoor"]

[QUOTE="Kevin-V"] And here I thought I was a role model! Would it make a difference if it were Dorito dust?ArisShadows

Cool Ranch doritos and you got yourself a deal.

meh its a videogame, its like watching female wrestlers and thinking they look realistically like wrestlers- err no their underwear models.

the toughest and baddest women probly look more like Olga from the Russian shot putting team - ie 6ft tall 220lbs of muscile and could crush any guy on this forum with ease. attractive? err no.

[QUOTE="Espada12"]

LP2's female design is simply tailored toward the crowd they are targeting with the game I'd assume. What I think is hilarious is you using MGS4 as an example especially considering what the female bosses wear and the angles that they are viewed at...

SgtKevali

Kojima was really pushing it with some of them. :lol:

Yeah, it's pretty silly. I don't see a reason to take it too seriously. :P

[QUOTE="Espada12"]

LP2's female design is simply tailored toward the crowd they are targeting with the game I'd assume. What I think is hilarious is you using MGS4 as an example especially considering what the female bosses wear and the angles that they are viewed at...

SgtKevali

Kojima was really pushing it with some of them. :lol:

It seems that Kojima pushing it much more in Peace Walker, especially how the sixteen year old Paz (who is a civilian) is depicted. Already, Japanese perverts who bought the game are posting naughty videos on Youtube showing Paz wearing nothing than her underwear and what they can do to her. I find this disturbing because she is only a teenager and the fact that she was previously tortured by her captors when looking for a friend.

[QUOTE="SgtKevali"]

[QUOTE="Espada12"]

LP2's female design is simply tailored toward the crowd they are targeting with the game I'd assume. What I think is hilarious is you using MGS4 as an example especially considering what the female bosses wear and the angles that they are viewed at...

thom_maytees

Kojima was really pushing it with some of them. :lol:

It seems that Kojima pushing it much more in Peace Walker, especially how the sixteen year old Paz (who is a civilian) is depicted. Already, Japanese perverts who bought the game are posting naughty videos on Youtube showing Paz wearing nothing than her underwear and what they can do to her. I find this disturbing because she is only a teenager and the fact that she was previously tortured by her captors when looking for a friend.

[QUOTE="Gxgear"]

It's a video game, get over it. Sex sells, and it is very evident in many other games, as well as all other forms of media. And it happens to men just as much as women (and even more so arguably).

Pray tell, what would be the "ideal" equipment for traversing on a fictional alien planet infested with building-sized beasts for the fairer sex?

Now 100% more excited for Lost Planet 2.

mitu123

Imagine next gen.:shock:

[QUOTE="thom_maytees"]

[QUOTE="SgtKevali"]

Kojima was really pushing it with some of them. :lol:

II_Seraphim_II

It seems that Kojima pushing it much more in Peace Walker, especially how the sixteen year old Paz (who is a civilian) is depicted. Already, Japanese perverts who bought the game are posting naughty videos on Youtube showing Paz wearing nothing than her underwear and what they can do to her. I find this disturbing because she is only a teenager and the fact that she was previously tortured by her captors when looking for a friend.

[QUOTE="II_Seraphim_II"][QUOTE="thom_maytees"]

It seems that Kojima pushing it much more in Peace Walker, especially how the sixteen year old Paz (who is a civilian) is depicted. Already, Japanese perverts who bought the game are posting naughty videos on Youtube showing Paz wearing nothing than her underwear and what they can do to her. I find this disturbing because she is only a teenager and the fact that she was previously tortured by her captors when looking for a friend.

Zaibach

[QUOTE="Zaibach"]

[QUOTE="II_Seraphim_II"] Considering the legal of consent in Japan in 13, it probably isn't as disturbing to them. I think this is one of those times where we have cultural differences. I believe if the stuff is too risque they might change her age for the localization.Lto_thaG

I agree with the TC.

I'm actually getting a little worried about this as we barely have any new female leads this generation that isn't like this.

Sure, I like the half-naked girl now and then but only when it suites the game itself. This is one aspect of Capcom that I'm not too fond of. I have no problem with any kind of sexuality in games, especially in funny ways like Dead Rising, Disgaea or the early Leisure Suit Larry games but not in a game like Lost Planet 2.

I don't know why but I have a problem taking a story serious like Devil May Cry 4, Lost Planet or Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 were the female leads are basically there simply for us to looks at.

We have some fantastic female leads in games like Jade from Beyond Good or Evil, April from The Longest Journey, Samus Aran from Metroid, Elena from Uncharted. It's a shame they are dwarfed by the brainless bikini clad girl in every other game.

It's not good for gaming or the perception of it.

-

It might seem like I'm attacking Japan too much and praises the western design but honestly there might be something there. Name a strong, good female Japanese character this generation that wasn't shown in a overly sexy way?

I' don't remeber meryl looking like that in the final game. she look like slighty more build.