Quiet, the scantily clad sniper from the new Metal Gear Solid game caused quite a hullaballoo when she was announced. You all had tons to say about her design and we debated whether it was sexist, overly sexist, or just hot and we don’t care. Now she’s getting a figurine and I’m worried about the oncoming debates.
I don’t generally mind the sexualization of characters in games as long as it makes sense in their context. It’s already bizarre that every male warrior has enormous shoulders and chest and looks unspeakably sexy (sorry, I’m still coming down off of my Iron Bull romance in Dragon Age), so why not make the women similarly attractive? Of course, the problem comes in when a game seems to seek some form of realistic gameplay and then goes over the top in sexualizing a character. We’ve already had the debate, so I’m not going to rehash it, but there is absolutely no reason why she should be wearing that outfit in a war zone.
Anyway, she’s now becoming a figurine. Releasing in Japan at the end of April and coming to the West in June the figurine will set you back $100. Here are some pictures of what’s in the box.
I’m not overly impressed with the joint design on the figurine – particularly the shoulders. However, beyond issues regarding the actual figure design, I’m worried that this will spark renewed controversy about the depiction of women in games. While I honestly feel fine much of the time with how women are portrayed in games, it’s hard to defend the issue when examples like these are brought up. This design would be fine in some pure entertainment fluff like DOA, but for something that’s seeking to be a more serious and realistic (in some ways) game, it’s just unacceptable. Just compare it with the Snake figure, also made by Play Arts Kai.
Am I overreacting, or does it seem a bit ridiculous? Can anyone give a valid reason for this design choice other than eye candy?
Last Updated: January 6, 2015
Blood Emperor Trevor
January 6, 2015 at 13:05
Standard blow-up dolls are cheaper & more practical.
Admiral Chief
January 6, 2015 at 13:08
O_O
Hammersteyn
January 6, 2015 at 13:08
You would know?
Blood Emperor Trevor
January 6, 2015 at 13:09
I had to find out for a friend.
Reid
January 6, 2015 at 13:10
As long as you didn’t borrow one from a friend
Admiral Chief
January 6, 2015 at 13:11
Ewwwwwwww
Admiral Chief
January 6, 2015 at 13:11
Lies, where did you find a friend?
Blood Emperor Trevor
January 6, 2015 at 13:11
http://www.findafriend.com
Hammersteyn
January 6, 2015 at 13:13
Ewww they suggested a man named Colin
Blood Emperor Trevor
January 6, 2015 at 13:14
lulz – don’t break Gavin’s heart by taking his bestest friend.
Hammersteyn
January 6, 2015 at 13:15
Fine, can I have Rince? I’ll buy him a doll 😛
Blood Emperor Trevor
January 6, 2015 at 13:17
Sure you can. Just watch out for the smell.
Hammersteyn
January 6, 2015 at 13:17
O_o what smell?
Blood Emperor Trevor
January 6, 2015 at 13:18
Forget I mentioned it.
Hammersteyn
January 6, 2015 at 13:18
lol
Hammersteyn
January 6, 2015 at 13:12
Probably still to expensive for Rince…. I mean your friend.
ToshZA
January 6, 2015 at 13:16
You would know…
Brady miaau
January 6, 2015 at 13:17
for a given definition of standard, then?
Her Highness the Hipster
January 6, 2015 at 13:18
what about an un-standard one?
Blood Emperor Trevor
January 6, 2015 at 13:18
What? Like a Real Doll? Those are WAY pricier.
Quo Vadis?
January 6, 2015 at 13:33
Cant you just get him a hooker from the dock area?
Blood Emperor Trevor
January 6, 2015 at 13:35
An actual human being? Don’t be silly.
Quo Vadis?
January 6, 2015 at 13:38
That bad, huh?
RinceThis
January 6, 2015 at 13:23
OvG’s birthday soon…
Blood Emperor Trevor
January 6, 2015 at 13:25
I’ll see if I can find a giant blow-up TLOU DVD cover 😉
Hammersteyn
January 6, 2015 at 13:25
Bwahahaha
RinceThis
January 6, 2015 at 13:26
Just get him a ticker soundtrack 😉
Jaded_Reprobate
January 6, 2015 at 13:25
i’ll just leave this here……
(refresh)
Her Highness the Hipster
January 6, 2015 at 13:27
wow. please pass the brain bleach.
Quo Vadis?
January 6, 2015 at 13:28
some mental images just wont delete 🙁
Blood Emperor Trevor
January 6, 2015 at 13:29
Are the headphones included or sold separately? :/
Hammersteyn
January 6, 2015 at 13:34
http://img-9gag-ftw.9cache.com/photo/a7KbNdr_460sa_v1.gif
Blood Emperor Trevor
January 6, 2015 at 13:39
How short is Marky Mark? :/
RinceThis
January 6, 2015 at 13:42
Depends whether he is standing on all his money or not.
Spy Master Tokashi
January 6, 2015 at 13:26
especially the ones that you can buy from Gumtree. I like mine with experience …
Blood Emperor Trevor
January 6, 2015 at 13:28
Especially the gum part. Dat vacuum seal.
Mandom (Umar)
January 6, 2015 at 13:07
Still waiting to hear Kojima’s reasoning for her being dressed that way before I actually form an opinion.
Dutch Matrix
January 6, 2015 at 13:12
Maybe Kojima is a fun person who is not into all this PC bullcrap we are wading through on a day to day basis.
Sentient_Slug
January 6, 2015 at 13:11
I like the way she is dressed. if i was a girl i would dress like that all the time. And Admiral you are everywhere, heard you messages coming through on TUKS fm this morning haha!
Hammersteyn
January 6, 2015 at 13:12
It’s eye candy. But you have to take into consideration the design influenced by eastern culture. For them it’s nothing new. MGS4 had the photo shoot option and some of those poses were very suggestive.
Dutch Matrix
January 6, 2015 at 13:16
Tell y’all what: Let’s get Play Arts Kai to do a figurine of the Protagonist’s Solid Snake bulging it out in a Speedo that would make the Hoff blush.
Her Highness the Hipster
January 6, 2015 at 13:29
if they treated all the characters like that, sure! i’d be game! gotta be equal-opportunity objectification 😉
Brady miaau
January 6, 2015 at 13:35
yip. Totally. But they hardly ever do
As much as I did not like the nudity in Game Thrones Season 1, it was certainly not biased toward naked woman only, as many shows and movies previously have been
Dutch Matrix
January 6, 2015 at 13:36
Ha! But is it ojectification or appreciation?
Kyle Haward
January 6, 2015 at 13:59
I think its down to market demand and simple economics, I would assume the average Metal Gear player is a guy and those that will actually by a figurine would prefer something like that over one in full armor. Having just played through MGR, I think Kojima has a sense of humour and doesn’t give a damn about what PC is beyond exploring the ideas of right and wrong. Just my take on it, personally do not think it matters.
Brian Murphy
January 12, 2015 at 06:37
They do treat all characters like that. Every male in MG is a completely unrealistic depiction of men in the real world. You can complain about the clothing, I can complain that men are bare-chested (in many games) and chiseled Greek gods in virtually every game.
And they’d make figurines for them to, if people show Kojima it’ll be profitable.
Mandom (Umar)
January 12, 2015 at 08:17
Yup, point in case Vamp and Naked Raiden (MGS 2). MGS has never been about realistic depictions of characters. Quiet even seems to have some supernatural power too, I wouldn’t really take the sexualization too seriously when it comes to MGS
J_Joestar
January 6, 2015 at 23:43
how about a naked Raiden from MGS2?
Brady miaau
January 6, 2015 at 13:16
Arguing against something like this sometimes seems like a broken pencil….. pointless.
Thanks, Thin Blue Line
CAE9872
January 6, 2015 at 13:43
A classic series that…
Brady miaau
January 6, 2015 at 13:56
totally. awesome. completely, pity so few episodes made
RinceThis
January 6, 2015 at 13:25
Day 6 of 2015 and already the gates been opened. We will not survive the year I fear!
Hammersteyn
January 6, 2015 at 13:35
2015 the year of Anita
Brady miaau
January 6, 2015 at 13:36
only if we make it so
Hammersteyn
January 6, 2015 at 13:37
This is true.
Truth Hurts
January 6, 2015 at 13:41
http://cdn.lolzbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/sexism-only-ugly-bitches-complain-about-it.jpg
the_plot_thickens
January 6, 2015 at 13:45
…….for the plot.
Peter Knobloch
January 6, 2015 at 13:45
Firstly, I agree that she’s over-sexualised. My arguments are to answer the statement: “there is absolutely no reason why she should be wearing that outfit in a war zone”.
The comic book character Red Sonja rationalises her skimpy outfit because it’s distracting and she doesn’t need to wear armor because she’s that good. Similarly, I can see this character using her “assets” to distract someone before putting a bullet in their head.
Another scenario I can imagine is that they’re in the tropics, up high in a secluded vantage point. If you’re all alone and hot (pun? accidental at first), you’re going to wear as little as possible to keep cool.
But to bring it back to the real problem, I don’t think that it’s appropriate at all.
Her Highness the Hipster
January 6, 2015 at 13:49
Yeah, i get it for assassin women who often would use their feminine whiles as a distraction. Makes sense. Just seems weird for a sniper. Supposedly Kojima has a reason for it, but I’d still like to see more to her character than “mute hot chick in a thong who can handle a big gun” 😛
Blood Emperor Trevor
January 6, 2015 at 13:50
SPEAK FOR YOURSELF! hur hur hur!
Peter Knobloch
January 6, 2015 at 13:59
Sure, the sex sells. But I also think that as we move into a more egalitarian gaming world (thanks Anita), we’re going to see more leading female characters. And they’re going to be hot. Not because they’re sexualised, but because we want our heroes to be attractive. When we put ourselves in front of our fantasies, we want to imagine ourselves as more.
That’s why we play those games. The conqueror of countless galaxies should be good looking. I think we’re going to be flirting with crossing the line and debating whether a character is too sexy for many years to come.
It’s almost a pity that we’re debating what she’s wearing. But hopefully this might teach the gaming industry to introduce women first as a person, and then as an action figure. But from a marketing perspective, it makes sense that we can’t take the Apple approach and keep it all hidden till launch day.
Her Highness the Hipster
January 6, 2015 at 14:03
I think a good example would be Bayonetta. She wears even less than Quiet, and is even more sexualized. however, she is primarily represented as an ass-kicker. She’s choosing to be next to naked, which changes the whole dynamic.
plus, i like that she’s drawn for people who are more into rear views than boobs. 😛
Peter Knobloch
January 6, 2015 at 14:06
Don’t forget that both characters are from Japan. Their cultural views on nudity are different from The West. We’re still dealing with how someone decided to draw their bodies, the rest of the world is scratching their head and thinking “You’d think they’ve never seen a pair of tits before?”
Give it a fucken Rest
January 6, 2015 at 13:56
Keep this Femnazis bullshit out of 2015 and out of ****** games.
There’s currently 2 Italian women held hostage by ISIS over seas about to have their heads severed from their shoulders THAT’S Reality while Feminazis want to complain about ‘women’s’ rights in a ***** virtual world of a computer game.
You just lost all credability Femnazis.
RinceThis
January 6, 2015 at 14:08
Yet you are on a gaming site? Um?
Blood Emperor Trevor
January 6, 2015 at 14:11
He’s fighting the good fight against femnazis in his own way.
RinceThis
January 6, 2015 at 14:12
lol 🙂
Quo Vadis?
January 6, 2015 at 14:11
Couldn’t agree more. I have stated on NUMEROUS occasions that I would support a feminist agenda if it were the following:
1) An opportunity to have a fighting chance in a free market if no such opportunity existed;
2) Political freedom;
3) The right to equal education where it is prohibited (Somalia, Afghanistan etc.);
4) Freedom from an oppressive society where she may not dress as she pleases;
5) Freedom of movement in places where she is barred from going;
6) Freedom to raise her children as a single mother in places where law mandates a patriarch as head of minors;
7) Freedom to worship or not to worship any religious entity; and
8) Freedom to seek out medical attention from whichever medical professional she chooses, whether it be male or female.
Anything else, GO FLY A KITE, feminazis!
RinceThis
January 6, 2015 at 14:13
lol
Albertus van Rensburg
January 6, 2015 at 14:18
I like snipers… he he
Don Jeers
January 6, 2015 at 15:32
Yum!
Bob
January 6, 2015 at 20:39
Because Culture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbSL2wvlq0Q
She was designed for the Japanese market and they have completely different and more healthy views regarding displaying the human body.
miza
January 7, 2015 at 22:05
She’s got something for everyone – boobs AND the shoulders of a linebacker.