Random Insanity Alliance Forum, Mark V
Cactuar Zone => Random lnsanity => Topic started by: Kenneth Kenstar on February 20, 2012, 05:12:18 pm
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As video games go Hollywood, with ever more complex storylines and production values, there’s a growing debate over what matters more: the game play or the story.
At ground zero of that long-raging debate this week: Jennifer Brandes Hepler, who works for video-game maker BioWare.
Hepler became the target of mass Internet ire after quotes from a 2006 interview Hepler gave resurfaced on Reddit. In the interview, she admitted she doesn’t like playing video games, but enjoys writing the storylines for them.
While that admission itself was cause enough for sensitive, self-involved gamers to pick up arms, Hepler went on to suggest that there should be a button that allows one to skip or automate combat. (Many games let you skip dialogue and other storytelling elements—the kind Hepler and her colleagues create. The strategy video-game series Total War allows you to automate and skip combat, but this option is rare in most video games.)
Hepler theorized that this skipping option would get women more involved in video games, as it saves time and removes the violence women tend to have issues with, she said.
The video-game community on the Internet didn’t read her comments in a positive light, and proceeded to take her words out of context and mock her.
Redditors, for example, created mean-spirited images that labeled Hepler as the “cancer” that was killing BioWare, before a moderator on Reddit stepped in and deleted the threads, writing “[Reddit] is not the place to make some random person's life fucking miserable.”
It seemed the controversy had died down a little, until Hepler joined Twitter over the weekend, and was quickly attacked by angry gamers who had only read her words out of context.
Hepler tweeted over the weekend, "I just figure they're jealous that I get to have both a vagina AND a games industry job, and they can't get either."
She was alluding to the well-documented sexism found both in the video-game industry and its products—and engaging in a little trash talk, which is part of the established culture of competitive gaming.
Twitter and 4chan’s /b/ image board went nuts with her statement. The controversy spilled over onto Tumblr. The “cancer” taunt spread far and wide, as did an obscene image purportedly of Hepler.
Others took to calling Hepler and burritos her hateful voicemail messages.
Some Internet users were quick to call the video game community’s reaction to Hepler misogynist. One response was an image comparing two women in the video game industry which contrasted Hepler’s words with quotes from game designer Ree Soesbee—the central argument of the comparison being that Soesbee said she enjoyed playing video games, and thus made for a better representative of women in video games.
Some Twitter users defended Hepler and expressed shock at the vitriolic nature of the disagreement she faced. Many even apologized to her for the masses.
BioWare studio general manager Aaryn Flynn didn’t improve the level of discourse when he began cursing at Hepler’s critics and calling them “promelons” and “promelons.” Perhaps Flynn, like Hepler, thought responding to gamers’ aggressive language with similar language was a good tactic, but the hate only generated more hate.
No one is calling for Flynn to apologize, at least not en masse, so maybe such language really is par for the course in the gaming world.
The debate Hepler stirred merely by appearing on Twitter shows no signs of going away. Folks are continuing to tweet about Hepler at a rapid clip every minute.
“So much hate for @BrandesHepler. I think it's a bit over the top, but I don't know why you'd be in the industry and not enjoy games,” tweeted archenosaur today.
Lost in all the cursing and misogyny, however, was Hepler’s original point: If you stick to one traditional definition of games, are you excluding potential audiences that could expand the video-gaming universe?
Hollywood is savvy about making movies that appeal to different demographics, and no one expects movie studios to only produce horror flicks or romantic comedies. Why can’t the video-game industry do the same without meeting angry resistance?
None of the noise, hate, and cursing that’s ensued helps advance the discussion. And the video-game industry can’t move forward if people shout down voices like Hepler.
Sadly, they may not hear much more from her. Her most recent tweet was directed at Twitter support: "How do I delete my account?"
http://www.dailydot.com/entertainment/jennifer-brandes-hepler-bioware-video-games/ (http://www.dailydot.com/entertainment/jennifer-brandes-hepler-bioware-video-games/)
Time to drop some truth bombs
This girl is a tard. She dropped the sexist card extremely fast and Biodrone Damage Control is backing the sentiment.
Please.
Gamers look at this girl not because she is a woman, but because she is one of the cancers of the gaming industry. She just so happened to be an easy target as well.
Let's compare a woman who isn't cancer to a woman who is cancer.
(http://kennythefox.com/shitontor/writers.jpg)
And yeah, the girl on the left is fucking hot.
Not the point though.
Focus on the fact that she lives, breathes, and enjoys nerdy fucking shit.
You see, she has an obvious passion for her job in contrast to the girl on the right who is openly unimpressed and uninspired by games that nerdy assholes care about.
I've run out of words
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This quote deserves it's own post
"I just figure they're jealous that I get to have both a vagina AND a games industry job, and they can't get either."
I feel sorry for her a little bit, but she keeps putting her fucking hand in the fence and acting like the dog isn't going to bite her.
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(http://kennythefox.com/shitontor/what.png)
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I haven't seen the Reddit posts for myself, so I have no idea if the Internet is actually pissed because she is a woman
Because, given her responses already, it seems pretty clear she is dumb and the whole woman thing is just very bad damage control for her awful everything
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5th post already
But if anyone actually reads the shit I type when it comes to media in general
you'll know I make a point about have disgust for producers of media trying to make something that EVERYONE wants to watch or play.
"The kind of stories that bridges all demographics in their appeal."
^
This is what is wrong with everything period. Because instead of doing something that will appeal to the fans of Mass Effect, we have to do something to appeal to EVERYONE including people who probably won't buy Mass Effect - but we still want that moolah, so continue aiming our shitty game towards people who don't fucking want it.
They do this with movies, TV shows, whatever
It sucks.
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I'm posting to omuch
Anyway
Maybe the problem isn't her in particular. While you can hold her personally responsible for some really shitty plots
But, why in the fucking world is Bioware hiring someone with such an abject disregard for their product who sees them as a needless interruption between all the gay interspecies sex?
I am absolutely convinced this company hates video games.
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What the hell happened to Bioware after they made Balder's Gate?
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Bioware got sold to EA and then stripped clean. I don't know how Hepler got the job of writing for them. it is true that yes she is a talentless writer who has been shoehorning gay relationships and canned trope characters into bioware games for quit a while now. She only has an english major, and the only book she tried to publish--the literal only one--failed so bad and was rated one of the worst books of that year.
It was rated because of the cardboard cutout characters, needless romantics (straight and non straight), constant avoidance of conflict and combat (sound familiar yet?) and for deconstructing really thin, tropey characters. Bingo, exactly what she's doing to Bioware failed in her book beforehand and she got a job.
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THIS THREAD
WHY I HATE BIOWARE
MASS EFFECT IS CALL OF DUTY IN SPACE
WHAT THE SHIT
HOLY FUCK
Also, in response to that last quote in the picture, about Stephanie Meyer and Rowling, people enjoy reading them yes but I think a better selling game would be styled after say... Glen Cook (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_Cook).
It just... no we don't need another harry potter shit, we don't need a game about morals and oh someone might be gay but we're adults oh you'll have more fun playing a gay sheppHOLYFUCKIDONTCARE
edit again: oh fuck i totally forgot what books meyer worked on, really Helper, really? what the shit is wrong with you.
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BioWare studio general manager Aaryn Flynn didn’t improve the level of discourse when he began cursing at Hepler’s critics and calling them “promelons” and “promelons.”
omglol
this is the first I've heard of this. that pushing homosexuality into ME3 is intensely political and preachy. idk if i'm homophobic or not, but I don't force gay people to look at pussies or straight sex, why should it be pushed on me. I haven't played much mass effect but I don't recall any sexuality being unavoidably forced or pushed. I don't want to see guy on guy, idgaf what anyone thinks about it.
that said, the idea of making games that are completely story focused and the gameplay is more optional, not a bad idea. but if you want no gameplay at all, just read a fucking book, what's the point of making it a game.... they probably have something like this already in japan, with loads of sex in it.
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Vnovels are awesome llama :D
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“[Reddit] is not the place to make some random person's life fucking miserable.”
He's clearly been misinformed of the purpose of the internet.
I don't really see what the big deal is. So she wants optional content. Big deal. Sports games allow you to simulate the game. Have done so for many years. You can play as a player, coach or owner. Just depends on how you want to go about it. If nothing else, it could add to the replay value. But if you just want to play the game, then play the game and shut the fuck up. No one is forcing you to skip the action. If they are just adding something which enhances someone else's game play experience, and does not change yours in any way, why do you care?
I have been playing LA Noire lately. If you fuck up an action scene enough times, it gives you the option to skip it. Of course for me the action scenes are what make those types of games fun, but if you are more into the interrogation side of it, why not be able to skip it?
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Sounds like a movie if you skip the gameplay. But yea, some people took her way too seriously.
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So she doesn't like video games yet wants to write for them? It is kinda hard to write a good story line for video games if you don't enjoy them or have a good understanding of your intended audience. >_>
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Stick the pork bitch with a rusty poker and grill her in the fires of eternal internet damnation!
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So she doesn't like video games yet wants to write for them? It is kinda hard to write a good story line for video games if you don't enjoy them or have a good understanding of your intended audience. >_>
llama'd cause, fuck yeah.
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check it out, more hot internet women who love games and are smart. I think these guys are trying to capitalize on the controversy re: women's opinions of games, assuming the thing with hepler was before this article went up.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/feb/12/lucy-prebble-computer-games-playwright (http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/feb/12/lucy-prebble-computer-games-playwright)
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It's making me pretty upset that Bioware Damage Control is "their argument is sexist"
Reminder: When asked about how to get more women to play their games, she spoke for women and implied women don't enjoy the same games men do because they are unable to play them.
People are afraid her opinions will be taken seriously.
Knowing game companies, not only would they actually add the fast forward button (which isn't a bad idea in itself for the casual gamer), but they will make the actual gameplay a paid for DLC bonus.
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This quote deserves it's own post
"I just figure they're jealous that I get to have both a vagina AND a games industry job, and they can't get either."
I feel sorry for her a little bit, but she keeps putting her fucking hand in the fence and acting like the dog isn't going to bite her.
This in particular is what made it hard for me to feel sorry for her.
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My best friend's favorite game is halo, and she has a vagina.
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This quote deserves it's own post
"I just figure they're jealous that I get to have both a vagina AND a games industry job, and they can't get either."
I feel sorry for her a little bit, but she keeps putting her fucking hand in the fence and acting like the dog isn't going to bite her.
This in particular is what made it hard for me to feel sorry for her.
I think it's pretty funny actually.
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I was so fucking happy when I learned she wasn't a writer for Mass Effect 3. Still pissed that half of the characters look like they could be on Jersey Shore though.
Anyway, the internet hate for here isn't really justified. Or at least that's what I was arguing until she opened her fucking mouth again and said that stuff about her vagina or something.
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I was so fucking happy when I learned she wasn't a writer for Mass Effect 3. Still pissed that half of the characters look like they could be on Jersey Shore though.
Anyway, the internet hate for here isn't really justified. Or at least that's what I was arguing until she opened her fucking mouth again and said that stuff about her vagina or something.
jealous much?
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Or at least that's what I was arguing until she opened her fucking mouth again and said that stuff about her vagina or something.
It's the best thing she's ever written though.
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Or at least that's what I was arguing until she opened her fucking mouth again and said that stuff about her vagina or something.
It's the best thing she's ever written though.
If a childish remark like that is better than anything she's done with the dragon age games I sure am glad I haven't played them.
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I actually liked DA:O and DA2 :(
stop teh haet D:
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Had to post of the day this again, post of all time