Presumably E3 is over by now, and if not, I'm going to pretend it is anyway. Either way, I'm doing my usual browser-based round-up of all the news that matters to me (i.e. MMO News), and I can't move for pictures of half-naked out-of-work actresses in all sorts of variations of the Chainmail Bikini ensemble. I wouldn't mind so much if I was actively surfing for porn, but as an 'at work', alt-tab background task, it's a bit on the embarrassing side - another of those "My hobby? Uhh...Fishing! Yes, that's it! Fish...ohhhhhh yes, know all sorts of stuff about fishing, me" moments.
*click* "Ah...more news on Vanguard..."
*click* "Hmm...Guild Wars doing well still..."
*click* "WOAH! ...backbackback! Alt-tab! Awoogah! Awoogah! NOT safe for work! Uh...Hi Boss! This isn't what you think!"
I would describe myself as something of a Guardian-reading Liberal in most ways, or for our transatlantic cousins, a bit of a Democrat (I guess?), but when it comes to gaming, I find myself getting more and more prudish and conservative every time I see another set of Ann Summers hand-to-hand combat lingerie. It's not that I don't like boobies (what's not to like?), it's just that there's a time and a place for everything, and I'm trying to play a computer game here! I am quite capable of surfing for porn later.
My sense of propriety not withstanding, it's not that I'm shocked, it's just that it's daft! Maybe sensible clothing interferes somewhat with the Arcane Energies of Magic, but there's really no excuse for a woman going out to fight a ravening monster with just a pair of saucpan lids and a chicken-wire thong for protection. Hell, even daring 'off-the-shoulder' platemail is probably a bad idea, exposing at least three of the five main arteries, which, if severed, can cause death in minutes. The usual accompanying 'full-metal stockings and suspenders' leg protection completes this five. As Warrioring goes, that has to be a Bad Thing, surely? The mind boggles
Clearly 'Sex Sells', but I really do wonder. The average hardcore MMO gamer is probably far too immersed in numbers and stats to pay more than passing notice to the hot wood-elf babe standing near the bank and spamming '/flirt'. Are we really such an unsophistocated demographic that we take the message 'Buy this game and she'll sleep with you!' seriously? And they wonder why there's not enough women in gaming. Maybe it's these damned 'Casual Gamers' we keep hearing about...
Maybe I'm just getting old...
Anyway, most of the links to the left have a lot of E3 Boobies for your viewing pleasure just now, but the particular jubblies that got me ranting this time can be found here:
SOE: The Quest For Antonia (NSFW, or at least pretty embarrasing 'FW')
Go crazy, if that's your 'thing'. Personally, I hope one of the Really Plain Entrants who Actually Plays EQ2 gets it, but I'm such an idealist sometimes.
"Madam, please put your norks away; I'm trying to concentrate on the interplanetary commodities market!"