True Female Characters

In this 7-minute video, The Escapist discusses female characters in video games and how game developers could incorporate women as complex characters rather than stereotypes. It points out that the video somewhat conflates sex with gender in the discussion of biological vs. social behaviors, but it highlights the outcomes of making video games through a gendered lens (sorry about the 30-second intro ad):

[via]

Update: It seems that the original link to this video has been taken down. This is a shame because this was a really interesting article. I will try and find a copy and post it soon.

Updated update: I have found some links from other sites of the video - here they are:

Via Penny Arcade

Updated updated update:

The video appears to be back on YouTube for the moment...

Here's what they put up there.

Whether protagonists, villains, or sidekicks, female characters in games tend to be defined by just a few cultural stereotypes rather than the breadth and depth of their own human experiences.

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(Original air date: March 9, 2011)

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