Current Events > Kotaku SHOOTS HARD on Lost Ark's female character designs

(+) Yeah! (+)

wait, who the hell cares about this? theres gender locked classes? so what?

It's a korean MMO that's been out for like 3-4 years now, and the aesthetics don't seem any different than any other korean MMO I've seen. It's fine if you don't like it, but if we're being honest I seriously doubt a korean dev making a game for a korean audience gives a single fuck about what any of us in the west think.

After reading the article it's actually a pretty luke warm take. All the author wants is for there to be more clothing options (skimpy and non-skimpy) and he doesn't have a problem with people who like the skimpy armor, but would appreciate the option for those who would rather have more traditional armor. He then acknowledges the cultural differences between South Korea and the west, and also wishes there weren't gender locked classes (a very common complaint btw)

I know this is CE, but this is seriously not an article worth getting outraged about.

I haven't played Lost Ark yet but I have read the article and it's honestly pretty reasonable. The author is particularly asking just for more options instead of the female characters being forced to wear heels, exaggerated female animations, or the gender locked classes (this is probably the main thing I find very stupid about this game, very archaic and limiting from a gameplay perspective). With that said, yeah the headline for the article does sound very cringey though, but I guess that's what you gotta do to get clicks.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/0/5/9/AAMY_UAAC7g7.jpg This headline sounds more like the typical Kotaku take.

Collat posted...

Well that does actually sound kinda shit at least. Especially for the classes.

Not clicking on the article though.

I didnt even realize that

I hate when classes are lcoked to specific anything because that's less control of your CUSTOM character

bnui_ransder posted...

I didnt even realize that

I hate when classes are lcoked to specific anything because that's less control of your CUSTOM character

Yeah it's a pretty annoying trend in a lot of eastern MMOs. My guess is that it's more economical to create a gender locked class and the subsequent animations and premium outfits.

Lol this just seems petty.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/1/1/3/AAACPvAAC7hx.png

Imagine being so afraid of the response you have to anonymously drop an insult in a guide feedback note.

wait why are we crying about asmongold here?

CyricZ posted...

Lol this just seems petty.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/1/1/3/AAACPvAAC7hx.png

Imagine being so afraid of the response you have to anonymously drop an insult in a guide feedback note.

Yeah what the hell? Don't take the debate outside this topic.

I thought this was about Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Probably would have been more relevant.

Tbh I'm not interested in these games in general but I find the look of these Korean MMO games to look so incredibly generic anyway. Do they even really have much of an identity of their own? They remind me of those games on smartphone stores.

There's something about these games that just don't do anything for me. Like they're generic looking, are functional and are hugely successful due to their low barrier of entry.

Punished_Blinx posted...

Tbh I'm not interested in these games in general but I find the look of these Korean MMO games to look so incredibly generic anyway. Do they even really have much of an identity of their own? They remind me of those games on smartphone stores.

There's something about these games that just don't do anything for me. Like they're generic looking, are functional and are hugely successful due to their low barrier of entry.

in terms of an identity, not really. but i dont think theres any other MMO in the style of diablo so its unique in that sense

Kloe_Rinz posted...

in terms of an identity, not really. but i dont think theres any other MMO in the style of diablo so its unique in that sense

Yeah that's what I mean really. They take from something that's popular. Sometimes it's a genre and sometimes it's a style. Then they design a free version of it with heavy monetization. Then they make billions lol

Can't argue that it works but I just don't feel anything towards these games.

"It's just pixels lmao what's the big deal?"
"can't believe people are actually upset at this"
Just a few of the "retorts" when people are annoyed by censorship, it goes both ways.

Sounds and looks like a shit RPG to me, but I can see how it appeals to certain Gamers

Gobstoppers12 posted...

I've played games with a strong variety of women over the years, courtesy of being on an RP server while playing WoW, and lemme tell you... there's no one-size-fits-all take. You can't just say "women don't like being fanservice," because actually a very large number of the ones I knew would seek out the most revealing, most skimpy clothes they could find to use for their transmog. They loved dressing sexy and drawing attention.

It's an issue with more than one side, shockingly enough.

And the only side that ever gets heard is make women as sexy as possible. Men get big badass armor, while women get to run around naked.

SpiritSephiroth posted...

Of course there are women who like their characters dressed up. There are also women who like their characters sexy and half naked. Your comment seems to be grouping them in only the former so you're literally doing the same thing.

"They don't like being fanserviced". Nope not true. So many girls have the fantasy of looking good and portray that on their character, just like guys. Your girlfriend isn't the same as all other girls. They aren't a hivemind if you can believe that.

Lastly, look at the differences between FF14 and Lost Ark. FF14 is a Japanese game and focuses more on "cute/kawaii" and chibi characters. These are things girls absolutely adore in Japan and yearn for.

Korea is more based on "sexy, long legged" beauties. Look at their kpop stars. These look almost exactly like the female characters in Lost Ark and probably a lot of Korean girls admire that too.

For you to say women don't like that kind of fanservice is plain wrong.

You have no idea what you're talking about. Women constantly complain constantly speak up and always get told to sit down and stfu. It's kinda funny you claim I'm making broad judgements but, you go ahead and just shut me down by doing the same thing. The gaming industry is hostile towards women by design and gamers continue to treat it as though it should remain that way. Be it making women weak fan service characters or allowing sexual harassment to keep on. Anytime they speak up they get told "But not all women" and told to shut up.

Montano posted...

And the only side that ever gets heard is make women as sexy as possible. Men get big badass armor, while women get to run around naked.

You have no idea what you're talking about. Women constantly complain constantly speak up and always get told to sit down and stfu. It's kinda funny you claim I'm making broad judgements but, you go ahead and just shut me down by doing the same thing. The gaming industry is hostile towards women by design and gamers continue to treat it as though it should remain that way. Be it making women weak fan service characters or allowing sexual harassment to keep on. Anytime they speak up they get told "But not all women" and told to shut up.

Would you argue that there should be zero fanservice in any game? If not, is there acceptable fan service?

That's pathetic.

CyricZ posted...

Imagine being so afraid of the response you have to anonymously drop an insult in a guide feedback note.

Yeah, that's a dumb move, tbh.

Korean MMOs don't respect women.

Wow k darkfire. That was... offensive on quite a few levels.

I mean there are some underpinnings throughout the topic of some of folks here "saying but not saying" things. Implications. Ambiguities. Allusions.

But you sir, have the audacity to say that women don't matter. I applaud the rocks, if nothing else.

And I do this pro bono, and consider it my genuine privilege.

Ok...that is not what I meant and you know it.

Im gonna have to! Get this game

No you definitely said quite a few things from the heart and I believe you meant every word of them.

You have very much given us your opinion and belief on women.

Both the real women you don't interact with and the virtual women you make demands of.

Aww man I was just about to make fun of that "They gave Aloy a beard" post.

lmao that darkfire post

have you ever talked to an asian woman in your life that you haven't immediately creeped out

And that's why I consider this a privilege.

There are days where you never know what little pieces of their inner selves people will reveal on these boards. Sometimes it just takes some gentle prodding.

That's what I love about this crazy place.

Collat posted...

Yeah. I never see straight couples in video games.

Uhh...me neither?
Wtf kind of games are you playing where relationships are involved in any way besides maybe dating sims. Video games are usually about killing shit in the face

Giblet_Enjoyer posted...

Uhh...me neither?
Wtf kind of games are you playing where relationships are involved in any way besides maybe dating sims. Video games are usually about killing shit in the face

There are a lot of games where straight people are implied to have had relationships. It's infuriating how they shove this agenda down our throats in so many games. Keep politics out of entertainment. I play games to escape real life, not be reminded that men and women have sex with each other.

In fact, we should probably have zero sex appeal in video games AND stop designing human characters. Sex and humanity are shit we have to deal with every day in the real world.

Lost Ark is great

Giblet_Enjoyer posted...

Uhh...me neither?
Wtf kind of games are you playing where relationships are involved in any way besides maybe dating sims. Video games are usually about killing shit in the face

Uhh most games with any sort of story?

Like Sam Fisher has a daughter. So obviously he's straight. It's not a major part of Splinter Cell but it's there.

Most games I can think of are like this. Kratos in God of War is straight. Nathan Drake is straight. Marcus Fenix is straight. Etc.

Gears of War and God of War are very much about killing things and sexuality is still a known factor.

hockeybub89 posted...

There are a lot of games where straight people are implied to have had relationships. It's infuriating how they shove this agenda down our throats in so many games. Keep politics out of entertainment. I play games to escape real life, not be reminded that men and women have sex with each other.

Heterosexuality is apolitical

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/4/7/9/AATuvmAAC7nf.png

Dayum

kotaku still exists?

Yeah that's bad, the characters look like they were designed and animated by someone who has never seen a real woman.

Giblet_Enjoyer posted...

Heterosexuality is apolitical

I can't tell if you're intentionally being a caricature or not. Gay people are political but straight people aren't? Sounds incredibly homophobic.

Also, any time a character has an opposite sex attraction or relationship in a game, that's an example of their "straightness coming up". You seem fine with that though for some reason.

Korean mmo, if you care, you've already lost

HairyQueen posted...

Gay people are political but straight people aren't?

Only in media

Giblet_Enjoyer posted...

Only in media

Only if you're fragile/sheltered enough to think "gay people exist" is a political statement and not an objective reality.

Giblet_Enjoyer posted...

Uhh...me neither?
Wtf kind of games are you playing where relationships are involved in any way besides maybe dating sims. Video games are usually about killing shit in the face

Do you actually play any mmos?

HairyQueen posted...

Only if you're fragile/sheltered enough to think "gay people exist" is a political statement and not an objective reality.

Media (especially video games) doesn't exist to reflect reality

Giblet_Enjoyer posted...

Heterosexuality is apolitical

Because you have been programed to think so with the media shoving it in your face...

Giblet_Enjoyer posted...

Media (especially video games) doesn't exist to reflect reality

So why are gay people being a thing in games an issue?

Punished_Blinx posted...

So why are gay people being a thing in games an issue?

What? Gays exist in reality.

Giblet_Enjoyer posted...

What? Gays exist in reality.

What political statement do you think is being made if a video game has a gay character?

HairyQueen posted...

What political statement do you think is being made if a video game has a gay character?

Preferably none (see my earlier example from God Hand of the "golden gay")

Giblet_Enjoyer posted...

Preferably none (see my earlier example from God Hand of the "golden gay")

You said that gay characters existing in video games is political. So what political message is being made simply by including a gay character in a video game?

HairyQueen posted...

You said that gay characters existing in video games is political. So what political message is being made simply by including a gay character in a video game?

No I didn't
The God Hand way is ok