Metroid Prime 2: Echoes - Representation
Our second videogames CSP is Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (2004).
Representation
Read this BBC3 feature on Samus Aran and answer the questions below:
1) What was notable about the original Metroid game in 1986?
At first players were led to believe that the hero was a man as the game’s accompanying booklet referred to Samus as a “he”. But those who completed the game fast enough saw that at the end Samus revealed herself to be a woman.
2) What were the inspirations behind the gameplay and construction of Metroid?
There inspirations came from games like Mario and Zelda, as well as the film Alien. They further developed the weapon and armour upgrade system used in Zelda.
3) Why are the endings to the original Metroid considered controversial?
It’s because Nintendo offered 5 possible endings, determined by how fast you could finish the game. Slower players would see Samus in full body armour but if it was completed in 3-5hours she would take her helmet off and reveal she was a girl. There had also never been a a mainstream female champion.
4) What reaction do you think the reveal of Samus Aran in a bikini would have got when the game was first released in 1986? Have attitudes towards women changed?
The approach would be very different as women's roles were completely different then and they were objectified more than they are now. The attitudes have changed as women now are a lot more independent and have better roles than before.
5) How have later versions of the Metroid franchise sexualised the character of Samus Aran?
The character wore heels in a Super Smash Bros game, which would realistically be very impractical during a fight.
6) How can we apply Liesbet van Zoonen’s work to Samus Aran and Metroid?
The character is socially constructed and these reflect cultural and historical contexts and objectification of the female body.
7) What did Brianna Wu suggest regarding the character of Samus Aran?
She suggests that the character is transgender like herself.
8) Do you see Samus Aran as a feminist icon or simply another exploited female character?
Her character was one of the first to be a mainstream female champion but was overly sexualised in the beginning. Currently she is no longer an exploited female character.
ExtensionRead this Houston Press feature on Samus Aran and entitled male gamers. Answer the following questions:
1) What does Anita Sarkeesian suggest regarding Samus Aran?
The faster you beat the game the more naked Samus will appear in the ending, with usually the best ending involving a two-piece bathing suit. Sarkeesian points out that the female reveal sort of pales as Samus’s increasingly naked body is used as a reward for male skill.
2) Why does Brianna Wu (and others) suggest Samus Aran may be transgender?
Samus was originally portrayed to be 6’3” and more muscled in her appearance, she was also reffered to as ‘he’ previously.
3) Why is Samus Aran useful for male gamers trying to argue videogames are not sexist?
Her character is always used as an example for an argument. If you question the number of female protagonists, you’ll get a list that will virtually always start with Samus as a counter-argument.
4) Why are Lara Croft, Zelda and Peach not ideal examples to argue for female equality in videogames?
Lara Croft is very cartoonish and has a sexual appearance in early games.Zelda and Peach are made out to be a damsels in distress in most games, who need men to save her.
5) What does the ‘SJW’ in ‘SJW-gender politics’ refer to?
Social justice warrior (SJW) is a pejorative term for an individual who promotes socially progressive views, including feminism, civil rights, and multiculturalism, as well as identity politics.
6) How can we apply Gerbner’s Cultivation theory to representations of women in videogames as discussed in the article? How might this lead to ‘entitled male gamers’?
7) Does the videogame industry have a problem with gender? Provide evidence for your argument.I think there has always been a problem with gender and I don't think that there will ever be a point where gender won't be an issue as there are always problems occurring with gender whether it be that women are sexualised too much etc.
Samus was originally portrayed to be 6’3” and more muscled in her appearance, she was also reffered to as ‘he’ previously.
3) Why is Samus Aran useful for male gamers trying to argue videogames are not sexist?
Her character is always used as an example for an argument. If you question the number of female protagonists, you’ll get a list that will virtually always start with Samus as a counter-argument.
4) Why are Lara Croft, Zelda and Peach not ideal examples to argue for female equality in videogames?
Lara Croft is very cartoonish and has a sexual appearance in early games.Zelda and Peach are made out to be a damsels in distress in most games, who need men to save her.
5) What does the ‘SJW’ in ‘SJW-gender politics’ refer to?
Social justice warrior (SJW) is a pejorative term for an individual who promotes socially progressive views, including feminism, civil rights, and multiculturalism, as well as identity politics.
6) How can we apply Gerbner’s Cultivation theory to representations of women in videogames as discussed in the article? How might this lead to ‘entitled male gamers’?
7) Does the videogame industry have a problem with gender? Provide evidence for your argument.I think there has always been a problem with gender and I don't think that there will ever be a point where gender won't be an issue as there are always problems occurring with gender whether it be that women are sexualised too much etc.
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