Splintered
unsavory tart
Maybe I'm easily satisfied but I think Final Fantasy does a great job with their females. Then again, I've never been picky. I don't identify more with characters just because they are women or men- it really is a writing issue. Hell, I can easily like weak female characters if there's a story and the writing behind it, and I can hate strong woman if it feels too forced. The same with FF men.
Even stereotypes don't bother me, I like Barret and Sazh even if people argue they fall in some nasty tropes, they are so well written, funny, empathetic, and engaging that I think the story is so much better with them in it. Compared to someone like Jacob in Mass Effect or Rochelle in l4d2, not particularly bad characters but I feel they were easily overshadowed. Then again these stereotypes aren't exactly harming me so...
But all things considered, Yuna had just as much importance than Tidus, Ashe tons more than Vaan, and even the girly Vanille upstages Lightning in all things plot related. Besides the majority of the time the main characters aren't my favorite characters.
Although I wouldn't stop people from asking for more diversity. People want to be represented in their media for a number of reasons. And the women in gaming arguments that seem to be popping up everywhere are actually kind of frightening. More dialogue is needed, but I always try to duck my head and sneak away from them because the vitriol on both sides.
I don't know what I'm saying. I guess that Final Fantasy has always been good about their female characters, and that where Square should focus as of now is writing good protagonists.
In fact the only thing I can really think of where FF lacks is female villains. I've never found Ultimecia particularly compelling. But I don't know many people waiting for equal opportunity in the villain section. That comes with its own politics.
This may have something to do with the differences in culture. The implications of the idea of masculine women> girly women doesn't have the same impact because certain cultures value or expect femininity in women. Though I'm no expert in Japan, that was sort of the impression I was given.
Although yeah, thinking back there has never been a character where womanhood has been the backbone of their personality. But gender was never the predominant trait of any character. It's always been search for self, man versus the world, coming of age, religious issues, letting go of personal issues, recovering from loss, etc. I just find these more interesting.
I think there's nothing wrong with making a female character sexy, and some of the better characters are definitely drawn with a male perspective. I think most female gamers don't mind. I think the problem comes because there is a line between sexy and exploitative, think Final Fantasy versus, let's say, Dead or Alive- just in design alone.
Like, I never had a problem with Tifa's design, I thought it was sexy but it was never distracting, and it never took away from her character. But the boob jiggle physics in Dissidia was just plain stupid, and I know plenty of both the guys and girls on this forum that it was just trashy.
Even stereotypes don't bother me, I like Barret and Sazh even if people argue they fall in some nasty tropes, they are so well written, funny, empathetic, and engaging that I think the story is so much better with them in it. Compared to someone like Jacob in Mass Effect or Rochelle in l4d2, not particularly bad characters but I feel they were easily overshadowed. Then again these stereotypes aren't exactly harming me so...
But all things considered, Yuna had just as much importance than Tidus, Ashe tons more than Vaan, and even the girly Vanille upstages Lightning in all things plot related. Besides the majority of the time the main characters aren't my favorite characters.
Although I wouldn't stop people from asking for more diversity. People want to be represented in their media for a number of reasons. And the women in gaming arguments that seem to be popping up everywhere are actually kind of frightening. More dialogue is needed, but I always try to duck my head and sneak away from them because the vitriol on both sides.
I don't know what I'm saying. I guess that Final Fantasy has always been good about their female characters, and that where Square should focus as of now is writing good protagonists.
In fact the only thing I can really think of where FF lacks is female villains. I've never found Ultimecia particularly compelling. But I don't know many people waiting for equal opportunity in the villain section. That comes with its own politics.
I suppose it wouldn't be too bad but Final Fantasy is a game that regularly tramples over this idea. A large portion of the women ARE feminine, Serah, Yuna, Garnet, Aerith, Vanille, Rinoa are all huge plot drivers, fleshed out characters (your mileage may very), and kick ass while being feminine. Even masculine females like Lightning have rose motifs and are represented by the color pink- which is traditionally female.
This may have something to do with the differences in culture. The implications of the idea of masculine women> girly women doesn't have the same impact because certain cultures value or expect femininity in women. Though I'm no expert in Japan, that was sort of the impression I was given.
Although yeah, thinking back there has never been a character where womanhood has been the backbone of their personality. But gender was never the predominant trait of any character. It's always been search for self, man versus the world, coming of age, religious issues, letting go of personal issues, recovering from loss, etc. I just find these more interesting.
This too. I think there are just more barriers. In fact I remember a gameinformer article that talked about why it was harder to create women, from a developer perspective. I wish I could find it again.
Yeah I kind of raised an eyebrow with the whole, "Aya is sexualized and that contributes to rape culture" thing but I generally stay far, far away from these arguments in general.
I think there's nothing wrong with making a female character sexy, and some of the better characters are definitely drawn with a male perspective. I think most female gamers don't mind. I think the problem comes because there is a line between sexy and exploitative, think Final Fantasy versus, let's say, Dead or Alive- just in design alone.
Like, I never had a problem with Tifa's design, I thought it was sexy but it was never distracting, and it never took away from her character. But the boob jiggle physics in Dissidia was just plain stupid, and I know plenty of both the guys and girls on this forum that it was just trashy.
. Considering your preference for Sephiroth+Aerith, too... I'm not critisizing, it's just something I've noticed 
