Alex Ahad responds to the allegations of "sexism" in Skullgirls.

http://shoryuken.com/2011/12/13/skullgirls-creator-alex-ahad-responds-to-sexism-accusations/

This is a good read, especially for GB, as more than just a few commenters on the various Skullgirls features dropped the "sexist" line without having the first clue what they're talking about.

people throw the word sexist  around too much

@FancySoapsMan said:

people throw the word sexist around too much

Sexist.

@Video_Game_King said:

@FancySoapsMan said:

people throw the word sexist around too much

Sexist.

Racist

@Dany said:

@Video_Game_King said:

@FancySoapsMan said:

people throw the word sexist around too much

Sexist.

Racist

Anti-Semite.

Remember kids: Boob Bounce = Sexist.

Or not. The guy defends himself well enough, even if the Americanime meets 1920s flappers doesn't really appeal to my sensibilites.

@Video_Game_King said:

@Dany said:

@Video_Game_King said:

@FancySoapsMan said:

people throw the word sexist around too much

Sexist.

Racist

Anti-Semite.

Ageist

I always thought the exaggerated art was meant to be humorous, I don't really see why people would take it seriously and get offended by it.

@FancySoapsMan said:

people throw the word sexist around too much

Yeah lets bring back, "chauvinist" it has so much more panache!

@Dany said:

@Video_Game_King said:

@Dany said:

@Video_Game_King said:

@FancySoapsMan said:

people throw the word sexist around too much

Sexist.

Racist

Anti-Semite.

Ageist

Xenophobe.

@Video_Game_King said:

@Dany said:

@Video_Game_King said:

@Dany said:

@Video_Game_King said:

@FancySoapsMan said:

people throw the word sexist around too much

Sexist.

Racist

Anti-Semite.

Ageist

Xenophobe.

Lookist

ORIENTALISM

tbh

The artists comments were brilliant, mirrors my opinion exactly. People who think a character can't be sexy without being sexist are fucking stupid. We're talking about a hyper stylized game where the girls kick all kinds of ass, they couldn't be more empowered, confident and capable. Sexism is something that demands the opposite of those, so how people don't realize this is fucking retarded.

@ArbitraryWater said:

Remember kids: Boob Bounce = Sexist.

Or not. The guy defends himself well enough, even if the Americanime meets 1920s flappers doesn't really appeal to my sensibilites.

He also posted a huge article on the artistic influences he drew from, which are global and not worth the collective title "Americanime."

@Video_Game_King said:

@Dany said:

@Video_Game_King said:

@Dany said:

@Video_Game_King said:

@FancySoapsMan said:

people throw the word sexist around too much

Sexist.

Racist

Anti-Semite.

Ageist

Xenophobe.

Lookist

To me, sexism is the belief that a female character can't be sexy and attractive to be deep and compelling.

It's just tasteless more than anything.

I thought this game came out a while ago, still looks like a game that's going to have a few weeks of glory then die off to me.

@kingzetta said:

@Dany said:

@Video_Game_King said:

@Dany said:

@Video_Game_King said:

@Dany said:

@Video_Game_King said:

@FancySoapsMan said:

people throw the word sexist around too much

Sexist.

Racist

Anti-Semite.

Ageist

Xenophobe.

Lookist

muffin hater

muffin top.

IT annoys me when people somehow suggest that trading the "weak female needs a man to save her" sexual fantasy for the "mega powerful dominatrix" sexual stereotype is somehow better or a step up. There is nothing tobe gained from a "strong, lead female" character if she isn't in any way realistic. ITs just a DIFFERENT sexual fantasy.

Obviously this discussion should be about "What is sexism?" first, before it devolves into whether skullgirls is sexist or not. I think something is sexist when it tries to present the idea that it's depiction of females is the way that females actually ARE. I'm not sure skullgirls attempts to do that in my opinion. But it's art style is titilating and juvinile and anyone who tries to pretend it's not is just defending their porn with saying they read it for hte articles.

@Dallas_Raines said:

I always thought the exaggerated art was meant to be humorous, I don't really see why people would take it seriously and get offended by it.

Well, because, for some people, this is their life. Media influences society and society impacts individual lives. For peopel who deal with racism or sexism, this kind of thing is a big deal and not all that funny. I mean, I'm not a woman, but if I was black and someone put out an all black person fighting game and all the characters had afros or were from prison or whatever... I'd be livid. And "it's a joke" wouldn't make me feel any better. Why? Because i have to deal with that kind of crap every day. I know it's hard to undersatand when one doesn't live in that world, but it's very real to many people.

the thing about skullgirls... all of the female characters have pretty much the exact same body type, and no, a character can still be sexy without being sexist, but when you have them all basically be the same body type, and that body type is kinda creepy...

Dude brings up a good point.

This is so sexy-ist.

Alright women, you've had your hissy fit, now get back in your sandwiches and make me a kitchen.

I think the fact that everyone is ignoring the fact that the word Sexist was thrown around simply because the game has females in it. all the girls have the exact same body type, it's not as if there is one girl that looks 'sexy' and everyone else is not that and she was in every trailer or piece of footage they put out.

IT'S JUST AN ART STYLE PEOPLE

gah damn let that shit drop man, if you wanna get up in arms about something try fable or some other big budget game cause attacking an all girl game for being sexist when it really isn't is just wasting people's time, and on that note I will stop wasting both of ours...

@kingzetta said:

@Dany said:

@Video_Game_King said:

@Dany said:

@Video_Game_King said:

@Dany said:

@Video_Game_King said:

@FancySoapsMan said:

people throw the word sexist around too much

Sexist.

Racist

Anti-Semite.

Ageist

Xenophobe.

Lookist

muffin hater

muffin top.

Movies have sexy sidekick characters all the time as the love interests who have very little depth or any apparent brain at all. I don't see how something like this is any worse. Plus loads of fantasy style games pretty much advertise the game with sexy female characters (WOW). Sex sells, maybe that's sexist, maybe its not, but its done way worse in other places than here.

It's basically a fricking cartoon, it's designed to be over the top.

Besides most of the use of "Sexism" is coming from guys who pretty much like to act like they're above all this. I've shown this game to many girls I know and they've all liked it. All the fighters are just characters, it's not making any statements.

EDIT: Sexism will be dead when we allow either gender to take on whatever roles in society they choose (submissive, dominant, or otherwise) and as long as that person is genuinely happy we won't give a flying fudge.

Slight thread necro, but novriltataki (the dude behind Zangitroll), posted this rather relevant video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvlA1xjmdmE&feature=colike

So let me get this straight. Female characters, designed like the ones in Skullgirls, who are "sitting on the sidelines" clearly there to be sex objects is a sign that the developers are being 'sexists'. But, since the female characters in Skullgirls are doing more then just "sitting on the sidelines" then the developers aren't being sexist? One thing, what a character does, and not the more obvious, how a character is designed, is what separates 'sexism' from 'not sexism'? That seems like an arbitrary line to me.

Well, I don't like the art style, or the character designs. It really doesn't have anything to do with sexism. Also, this is a semi-necro bump, but I'd figured I'd throw that out there.