It’s a phrase used lightly and rarely: girl gamers. Some believe them to be extinct, dead long ago. Some believe them to be alive and kicking, though believe that seeing one is as unlikely as seeing a Yeti. But when you DO spot one, they’re wearing some Japanese crap (read: Manga) and aren’t exactly what you wanted. But, hey, some people are out to prove that there are girl gamers that have everything the guys want.
And here, my good listeners/readers, is where the Miss Video Game Awards come in. Here is the MVG’s Mission Statement:
“To assist in the proliferation of females in gaming genres of all types and to help raise awareness of the female gaming audience among game publishers and advertisers. To make the gaming industry take women gamers seriously and to treat them with respect as equals.
Goals
- To showcase female gaming talent and the amazing variety among female gamers.
- To create a positive role model for young girls who enjoy playing video games.
- To break the stereotype that gaming is a male dominated industry.
- To have a good time in a fair and friendly environment.
Miss Video Game was created in order to showcase female gaming talent and marketable female gamers to gaming publishers and industry decision-makers as well as the gaming community as a whole. We’re here to put female gamers on the map and to get them taken seriously.“
A noble idea, for sure. There ARE girl gamers out there who are not only smokin’, but also smokin’ you in Gears of War. So, maybe the MVG’s are a win for everyone; it allows girl gamers to speak up while also allowing men to wish these girls were their neighbors. But as we’ve found out, the MVG’s might not be what they seem. For example, here is the first paragraph from the official Contest Details (which took me a while to find, by the way):
“The ‘Miss Video Game Contest’ is meant to showcase female gamers and to spread gaming among women worldwide. As such, we are accepting entries from any woman over the age of 16 who has ever played an electronic game. We want all gamers because gaming is about more than just hard-core fanatics; it’s about creating an environment where anything is possible and newcomers are welcome.“
This means that if you’re a girl, and you’ve had experience with your little cousin’s Tiger Handheld Yahtzee, you can enter! Let’s take a look at a few more rules:
“Contestants may not post any photos containing nudity or crude sexual suggestiveness on the www.missvideogame.com website. Contestants are reminded that this contest is meant to appeal to a large age range and that they should conduct themselves as positive role models to younger gamers. Miss Video Game Incorporated, its staff, partners, affiliates assume no responsibility for any offensive material, coarse language, pictures containing nudity or crude sexual suggestiveness posted by any contestant on the www.missvideogame.com website. Miss Video Game Incorporated, its staff, affiliates, representatives, and partners maintain the right to remove any material posted by a contestant that is deemed offensive for any reason.”
WHAT!?!?!? Are you suggesting that people like smut? That people like naked co-ed MORE than fully-clothed co-ed? Shame on you! Well, it’s not like they’re enforcing the rule. One contestant just used her breasts as a tantalizing profile pic.
And what do the actual girl gamers think? Well, just ask Faith Naked, the girl gamer who sparked all this when she previously supported it! Here are some excerpts from her blog:
“Getting into the legal issues of Miss Video Game, you find that no one was required to sign any agreements with the company when they entered. Normally when you enter a contest with any company that will possibly end with the contestant either winning a vacation or having their image used for their product or service, the company makes you look over a set of rules and legalities, and then has you sign or check the little box saying you understand all the above stipulations mentioned, and agree to them. MVG had nothing like that before we entered the contest and even the contest rules weren’t posted until maybe a month afterwards. When the contest first started, there was a note posted above the application page that stated all entries had to be 18 years and older, but profiles for girls younger than 18 were popping up on the site and not being removed. MVG decided to change their rules and allow for younger entries as long as they had their guardians approval for flying to Montreal with them at their own expense. It’s doubtful any of the people were made aware of this, because there were no contest rules available to see until December 5th, which even the site announces in their press section. Again, some clear and definitive rules or stipulations would have made it possible to understand. When the contest first began a judge application box on the Web site was originally used for anyone to apply to judge the final contest in Montreal, but now MVG claims they are bringing industry people on board to judge instead, and the applicant box was jettisoned mid-pageant.”
“MVG Inc. owner Mark Donovan claims he created MVG to give back to the gaming community, since he has long enjoyed gaming himself. That’s a nice gesture, but Mark refuses to let people know how he can afford to put on this pageant. He claims that MVG is backed by a privately owned company that wishes to remain anonymous. He has also claimed that the pageant is so well funded that they don’t even need to actively pursue sponsors to hold the event, yet they still have a spot on the official Web site for sponsors to sign up. Of course, if there are any sponsors at this point, I don’t know, because only one sponsor appeared briefly on the site, and was then removed. Why any company would want to sponsor an event that won’t even post them on their site for advertising purposes is beyond me. Every event like this must have some sort of profit motive; the ending goal is to make money off it through sales, advertising, or exposure. Even when a company holds a charity event, they are still advertising their own company and the sponsors involved in it.”
So why am I still talking about an old subject? Well, aside from listener requests, it’s because I just didn’t think this topic should blow away in the wind. It’s sickening how a good idea was ruined by corporations who are just greedy and don’t care about anyone but themselves. These guys are scammers and they’re not even mentioning who’s funding this event or the prizes. What this contest is, is a shame on all gamers in general.
The contest states that it’s trying to “end the stereotypes,” when really, all it’s doing is adding more to the ever-growing list.
Ok, guys i think this is bull, ive been lanning/gameing since 2003 and playing games since i dunno i was about 4 my dad was into computers and i had a pc since i was little, ive always been building pc’s and playing games, and lol i work as a games advisor at jb fair enough when i go to a lan there arnt to many chicks, and in the beginning when i started lanning i was the only girl there but god, this bloody feminist push is crap, fair enough i do get the occasionall sexist comment at a lan but usually its from freinds, and genrally because they know i can beat the at CS i wish personally this feminist push would end. I mean really if other chicks want to play they will go to lans, and if they feel intimidated give shit back to the guys, lol i am probably the most vocally abusive at a lan (i dont like loseing!)though unforchantly now you just get a lot of trophy girls who just want attention fun fun, ah well at least i can still win a comp or two! :D
to put it frankly the girls have always been there or at least i seem to know them all, its just they dont get out to lans. And this is not the right way to try and promote it
Not that I’m totally impressed, but this is more than I expected when I stumpled upon a link on Digg telling that the info here is awesome. Thanks.