[Talking to Women about Videogamesis a series where Jonathan Holmes talks to different people who are women about the biggest videogame news of the week for some reason.]
Nintendo has a track record for including gender ambigious or otherwise unconventional characters in their games. From what I’ve heard, there’s been something of a culture clash over this between Nintendo of America and Nintendo of Japan. Rumor has it that part of the reason whyCaptain Rainbow,Freshly Picked Tingle Rosy Rupeeland,andMother 3were never brought to the USA was because of the gender-rebellious characters featured in both games; for fear that they would tarnish their family friendly image, and/or score a T or even an M rating.
Maybe they had nothing to worry about, asZelda: Skyward Swordfeatures at least one character who is more sexually provocative and unconventional than the entire casts ofMother 3andCaptain Rainbowcombined, and that got an E +10 rating. Do you think Nintendo is primed to suffer some backlash from that? Will Kathy Lee Gifford be upset to see herZelda-loving children getsexy-tongue tauntedby a purple skinned man wearing earrings, a skintight jumpsuit, and white eyeliner?
What are your thoughts in general about gender non-normative characters in videogames?
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