What is Video Games News?

Whenever an article about women in games is published somewhere like Kotaku, there are familiar cries that “this is not games news.” The writer of an article on the Duke Nukem release, “No Girls Allowed: Keep Out!”  is criticized over and over in the comments for not talking about the game, but talking about the stuff around the game, which is not part of the game itself.  They argue that the primary audience for video games are men, so it is natural that there would be a lack of women in the industry as well as events and games targeted specifically at men. In a hilarious role reversal, commenters in this article, “Nerds and Male Privilege,”  attack the author because he wrote as if the audience of Kotaku was homogenously male. You shouldn’t argue the gaming community is sexist, the commenters wail, because we aren’t all men. But games should be made for men, because the community is all men. Indeed.

Now, I know you should never go down the rabbit hole of looking at comments, but the ones that are upvoted and responded to the most are at least a sensor for what the readers find interesting, even if it is in an inflammatory way. Of course they often don’t make sense and you will constantly find people trolling. But, they do a good job of putting into print many ideas and perspectives that are hard to pinpoint when you’re within a community. IE. Most people would not say to my face, I hope, that it’s fine to objectify women in games because it’s just a celebration of the female body (an argument that gets made constantly online). But women who are gamers will see the arguments, and experience them constantly, should they choose to be a part of the game news community.

It is easy to recognize some headlines as in the purvey of video game news proper: “Microsoft Snags Gears of War,” “Sony’s Profits are Expected to Improve With the Launch of PS4,” “Man Dashes Into Burning Home to Rescue… An Xbox.” These are about profits, human-interest stories, and forecasts about the industry to come. We who study women and games, on the other hand, are constantly told that women in games topics belong on specialty blogs, not in mainstream news. With that in mind, I’d like to examine a few of the more popular stories on Kotaku recently, in the comment sections of which have no questioning of how the fuck this is games news.

Story # 1: “The “World’s First” Thigh-High Sock Store Opening in Tokyo.”

I really just don’t even know what to say about this. What is more disturbing is that the commenters are talking about the substance of the article, not how this could end up on the front page of a gaming website. Now I know, Kotaku isn’t exactly the most sensitive when it comes to cultural issues. But still. This blows my mind. The commenters argue about the sustainability of a sock-only store, make fun of thigh-high socks in general, and argue how a niche store like that would only exist in Japan. But not a single one seems disturbed that this is gaming news. Portrayal of women in games? We don’t have room for you! A sock store? We will put you on the front page.

Story #2: “Ice Cream Can Get Bizarre in Japan”

Admittedly, this is not as offensive as the previous story. But thinking that snake flavored ice cream stories can get such love from the gaming community, yet we still have to fight to have an article posted about women and games, and that it’s hotly contested when it finally happens, is crazy.

Story #3 (and my favorite): “A Japanese Bra that Only Opens If She’s ‘In Love”

🙁  I just… The comments range from talking about the falsity of love to whether this is a bra or really a revisioning of a chastity belt. But one thing is for sure: This is important game news.

Let’s see your favorite gaming “news” NYMG community! 5 pts to whoever has the best one!