Swedish officials look to add "sexism" ratings on new game releases

[Justin Kahn]

There has been a fair amount of controversy surrounding the treatment of women in games over the past number of years. While at times it feels like things are taking one step forward in the right direction, the industry tends to take two steps back just as quick. It looks as though Swedish officials have had enough and are considering a change in the way games are rated based on sexist content.

Sweden’s gaming industry trade group, known as Dataspelsbranchen, is looking to get to the bottom of the issue, both in terms of ratings on future titles and the way women are treated in the industry. According to reports, the group has received a government grant to begin initial testing on the idea.

It sounds as though the group will conduct Bechdel-like tests to first determine the degree in which women are being treated unfairly within the Swedish gaming industry (where there is only a 16% female workforce), before rating changes are introduced. 

The proposed changes would see some kind of sexist rating alongside age and content listings, but it is somewhat unclear as to whether or not these changes will only apply to titles developed in Sweden or not. Either way, from Battlefield to Hotline Miami and Minecraft, Swedish developers are certainly represented on a global scale with major releases.

How this may effect sexism in the industry as a whole is hard to say, but it appears Swedish officials believe additional warning for parents and gamers could help to push things in the right direction.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/58857-sweden-sexism-ratings-video-games.html

 

[davislane1]

Is it any wonder "Feminist" was at the top of the Time list?

It's bad enough the tech industry cannot separate itself from politics and simply focus on technology. As soon as the AAA gaming industry becomes subject to the Thought Police, a whole lot of devs are going to be looking for jobs.

 

[yRaz]

Is it any wonder "Feminist" was at the top of the Time list?

It's bad enough the tech industry cannot separate itself from politics and simply focus on technology. As soon as the AAA gaming industry becomes subject to the Thought Police, a whole lot of devs are going to be looking for jobs.

The feminists have officially run out of things to feel oppressed about.

 

[Panoz S]

Most games display men as murderous barbarians, brainless oafs or sporting unattainable physiques with 24 inch biceps. Seems like most games will have to be branded sexist I guess.

 

[davislane1]

The feminists have officially run out of things to feel oppressed about.

They'll never run out of things to feel oppressed about. I used to think they were a joke. Recent years have demonstrated that to be a very naive position.

 

[Railman]

Is this the same Sweden that was famed for Porn Movies?

 

[psycros]

Most games display men as murderous barbarians, brainless oafs or sporting unattainable physiques with 24 inch biceps. Seems like most games will have to be branded sexist I guess.

This comment is pure win.

 

[psycros]

Most games display men as murderous barbarians, brainless oafs or sporting unattainable physiques with 24 inch biceps. Seems like most games will have to be branded sexist I guess.

This comment is pure win.

 

[dividebyzero]

Sexist content rating. I can see it now....."Critics choice, I give it 5 boobs!"...probably end up closer to

Can we also have a game rating for pre-launch day QA ?

Maybe a rating system for trolling the customer base?

 

[captaincranky]

So how would this work? A "one boob rating", would be the least sexist, and a "5 boob rating", would be the most sexist?

I sense that the WLF may be "behind" this, in likely sending the most masculine of their ranks out to fart in every he-man camper's sleeping bag...

 

[dividebyzero]

So how would this work? A "one boob rating", would be the least sexist, and a "5 boob rating", would be the most sexist?

That's my thinking. Might have to fine tune it for decimals (nip slip? side-boob?) given a nerdist culture besotted with arbitrary precision in review scoring.

I sense that the WLF may be "behind" this, in likely sending the most masculine of their ranks out to fart in every he-man camper's sleeping bag...

With the WLF, I've always suspected as much

 

[Sniped_Ash]

Realtalk: they should go all in and note whether or not a game has racial and/or homophobic slurs as well as sexism/gendered insults. I say this as a white male who's played games for 25 years and has no intent of ever stopping.

 

[cliffordcooley]

I don't understand why anyone would have a problem with the inclusion of more rating on games. It is not as if they are asking for the games to be changed, just clearly marked with more detail as to the type of content. It makes for better judgement on purchasing, when specific details mean yes or no on buying. If the ratings in question mean nothing to you, move on to a topic that does. I can only imaging you guys are commenting because you feel threatened by possible loss. What is there to loose? I highly doubt the developer will change their game, because of rating they may or may not have to add to the box. Is there anything at all you buy without regard to what you are buying? Do you not care what you are buying for your kids to pacify their time? Or do you only care what it is you buy to pacify your time?

 

[Axiarus]

I don't understand why anyone would have a problem with the inclusion of more rating on games. It is not as if they are asking for the games to be changed, just clearly marked with more detail as to the type of content. It makes for better judgement on purchasing, when specific details mean yes or no on buying. If the ratings in question mean nothing to you, move on to a topic that does. I can only imaging you guys are commenting because you feel threatened by possible loss. What is there to loose? I highly doubt the developer will change their game, because of rating they may or may not have to add to the box. Is there anything at all you buy without regard to what you are buying? Do you not care what you are buying for your kids to pacify their time? Or do you only care what it is you buy to pacify your time?

Because sexism, as a rating? Really now? How touchy-feely are we going to get?

 

[Railman]

I don't understand why anyone would have a problem with the inclusion of more rating on games. It is not as if they are asking for the games to be changed, just clearly marked with more detail as to the type of content. It makes for better judgement on purchasing, when specific details mean yes or no on buying. If the ratings in question mean nothing to you, move on to a topic that does. I can only imaging you guys are commenting because you feel threatened by possible loss. What is there to loose? I highly doubt the developer will change their game, because of rating they may or may not have to add to the box. Is there anything at all you buy without regard to what you are buying? Do you not care what you are buying for your kids to pacify their time? Or do you only care what it is you buy to pacify your time?

If you are like me I am getting really pissed off when they announce that a TV program contain scenes that some people may find offensive and I get to end of the program and wonder what the fuss was all about. For example they mention there are sex scenes at the start of the program but they show a scene that a maiden aunt would not find offensive!

I often wonder if they could be done under the Trades Description Act?

 

[cliffordcooley]

It's only an issue because many people don't have the same morals as others. There are even cultural differences that would deem this a necessary rating.

 

[davislane1]

It's only an issue because many people don't have the same morals as others. There are even cultural differences that would deem this a necessary rating.

It is an issue because "sexism" is not an objective measure.

Blood and gore is indisputably part of a game, or it isn't.
Violence is indisputably part of a game, or it isn't.
Fantasy violence is indisputably part of a game, or it isn't.
Nudity is indisputably part of a game, or it isn't.
Sexual themes are indisputably part of a game, or they aren't.
Alcohol use is indisputably part of a game, or it isn't.
Drug use is indisputably part of a game, or it isn't.
Explicit language is indisputably part of a game or, it isn't.

By contrast, the presence of sexism, racism, homo"phobia" and the like, are all subjective. One person sees it, another doesn't.

Including subjective, politically volatile qualities in content ratings puts developers in a position of having to make a choice between the creation of their vision and political compliance. It is a transparent ploy by activists to manipulate the market such that things they don't like aren't produced. Not what the market doesn't want, or the developers don't want to create, but things they don't want other people consuming.

What is wrong with including sexism in game ratings, you ask? The very notion implies that people are so helplessly fragile as to need a warning that female characters in a game might be designed in a sexually appealing manner and that they are so unintelligent as to find fault with this.

 

[Guest]

Where are the female transformers? or the trangender call of duty specail ops

 

[cliffordcooley]

sexually appealing manner

That is your opinion of which I know many people object!

and that they are so unintelligent as to find fault with this.

I'm going to pretend you didn't just classify someone as unintelligent, over what could be considered a lifestyle.

 

[davislane1]

That is your opinion of which I know many people object!

That isn't my opinion, that's a fact. Developers don't go out of their way to use unattractive meshes in games. It is no accident that Lara Croft, Princess Zelda, Samus Aran, and every female in Far Cry 4 sports an hour-glass figure and proportionate bosom. Unattractive female avatars improve video games about as much as feckless, balding male protagonists with self-defeating attitudes and daddy issues. Games are designed with this in mind – which is why feminists want to put an end to it.

I'm going to pretend you didn't just classify someone as unintelligent, over what could be considered a lifestyle.

You're pretending that I didn't do something that I didn't do? That seems a bit more trouble than is necessary. You might try reading my post again.

 

[cliffordcooley]

That isn't my opinion, that's a fact.

Sexually appealing is not a fact, it is and will always be a personal opinion.

You're pretending that I didn't do something that I didn't do?

I'm glad you agree with me.

 

[captaincranky]

What is wrong with including sexism in game ratings, you ask? The very notion implies that people are so helplessly fragile as to need a warning that female characters in a game might be designed in a sexually appealing manner and that they are so unintelligent as to find fault with this.

You know, that rack of Lara's will be down around her waist by the time she's in her 50's.

Did you ever wonder what's under all that Lycra? I'm betting orthopedic Spanks and a whalebone corset...

 

[captaincranky]

Homo nonsense...that would be branch of hominidae commonly known as "Bible Belt Conservative"?

Right you are. And after they're done straightening out our public schools by reintroducing "Creationism", instead of that profane, heathen sponsored, atheist approved, "Theory of Evolution", we're going to send a few boatloads down your way, with the hope of bringing Jesus to the wallabies.

 

[Guest]

Not only does it make women look like precious little children who need to be protected at all times, it also makes me want to buy the ones with the higher ratings. Just like movie ratings.

Please feminism, just stop!

 

[Guest]

I don't understand why anyone would have a problem with the inclusion of more rating on games. It is not as if they are asking for the games to be changed, just clearly marked with more detail as to the type of content. It makes for better judgement on purchasing, when specific details mean yes or no on buying. If the ratings in question mean nothing to you, move on to a topic that does. I can only imaging you guys are commenting because you feel threatened by possible loss. What is there to loose? I highly doubt the developer will change their game, because of rating they may or may not have to add to the box. Is there anything at all you buy without regard to what you are buying? Do you not care what you are buying for your kids to pacify their time? Or do you only care what it is you buy to pacify your time?

It only makes for better judgement on purchasing if people care all that much about these issues prior to purchasing in the first place. My guess is that most gamers won't.

 

[davislane1]

Sexually appealing is not a fact, it is and will always be a personal opinion.

You're conflating sex appeal with personal preference. For instance, Eva Green is undeniably attractive, as most men find her so. I happen to think she has a big forehead. Even so, my opinion does not trump the demonstrable reality. Or would you comically dispute that Catherine Zeta Jones, Nicole Kidman, and Monica Bellucci weren't three of the most sexually appealing women of the 90s? Or perhaps you would have us believe that fashion and swimsuit mags have merely been consistently lucky in guessing what types of women men and women find attractive, for the past 70 years?

You may want to believe sexual attraction is a crapshoot, but there's a reason Dragon Age: Inquisition does't have any fat elves or weak-jawed dwarves.

I don't see this discussion progressing much further, so I'll close with an eye exam and let the people decide:

One, or two?