2013-03-11, 03:38 AM
If a damsell is all the character is then I agree this view might be relevant, but as you say yourself, there is more often than not more to her than that, which in turn takes some of the thunder away from the issue. It is not simply to be dissmissed as part of other litterary devices by default, it is way too simple and conveinient do to that.
I can honestly say that I have played as many games where a male character gets turned useless and in need of aid as I have where a female is, so I do not really see the problem. Even if the concept is overused, it doubt that it fosters generations of people that sees women as useless damsells, because we also understand that it is situational and could very well happen to males too. And if the stereotype is toothless, well then what the heck is the fuzz about? All it is then is an invitation to game producers to see that we would like to see more female heroes, a trend that has been going for a decade already.
I can honestly say that I have played as many games where a male character gets turned useless and in need of aid as I have where a female is, so I do not really see the problem. Even if the concept is overused, it doubt that it fosters generations of people that sees women as useless damsells, because we also understand that it is situational and could very well happen to males too. And if the stereotype is toothless, well then what the heck is the fuzz about? All it is then is an invitation to game producers to see that we would like to see more female heroes, a trend that has been going for a decade already.