The problems presenting video games today (well, always, but especially noticeable today because of events like GamerGate) are prevalent in a lot of nerd culture and popular media, namely gatekeeping, misogyny, racism, and representation, all of which are interconnected. Video games and comic books have a reputation as a safe spaces for misfits and weirdos. The twiggy nerd may not be able to throw a spiral for his life, but he can sure as hell verbally kick the jock’s ass in klingon, elvish, or aurebesh. Problems develop, though, with this new standard for elitism, and just as these men were rejected from mainstream popularity, they reject those who do not fit the perception of a Nerd. We live in heterosexist white patriarchy, so of course that prescribed character is a straight white man. This is the image that sticks with advertisers and gaming companies, so they come to believe that is who they can sell games to, and so the vicious cycle continues. Games are marketed to this demographic, and the assumption is that only certain types of games will sell, typically hypersexual and violent games. You can see this as far back as 1982 with 8-bit bullshit like “Custer’s Revenge,” where you play as a naked sprite of General Custer whose goal is to rape a Native American woman, and even today (to a lesser, or at least more censored extent) with games like Grand Theft Auto (the creators originally wanted to show explicit sexual encounters, but this was censored). Another consequence of this is that it affects what characters are playable in games, and what kind of characterizations they get. As Gail Simone says about the fridge-stuffing of female characters, “If you demolish most of the characters girls like, then girls won’t read comics. That’s it!” But the data tells us that this representation of the average gamer is far from accurate! Women and people of color play games, and as the Gray piece suggests, they are done putting up with the treatment they are getting. Something that really stood out to me in that article was the particular type of the griefing that occurs with posting stories of abuse on XBox Live forums:

“Well they usually delete the forums as soon as they’re posted.

Mzmygrane: Why is that?

MissUnique: Because, and I quote, we are violating terms of service. Talking about gender and race may incite racism and sexism they claim.”

This is so gross and so typical that one would really think we would be beyond this. We can’t talk about these issues because it might invite abuse? The blame is put on the victims of sexism and racism and they are punished for trying to have a conversation about it. As long racist and sexist gamers are able to continue on without criticism, the very existence of these women is “inciting” abuse.

Personally, I don’t game much. I’ll play SSB Brawl with friends or Dragon Age when I’m with a friend who loves the series. Here was her pitch: 

If I did play, I would absolutely fear the abuse of defensive, suspicious misogynists. But I think the numbers are indicative of a promise for positive change. There is an audience waiting if you make games for them, and indie developers and crowdfunding offer a unique chance for these games to get made.