Body Types in Fighting Games — a response to an article

I made the following post on Kotaku.com in response to a discussion about body types in fighting games. It all began with a feature article by Leigh Alexander concerning the apparent big deal about the size of one Soul Calibur character’s breasts and why it should and should not matter.

The article can be read here:

Body Types: Why Ivy’s Boobs Are Such a Big, Big Deal

Below is my response to the article. I only post it here because I think some where in there I make a good point. :p

I’m in the camp that video game characters are idealized, exaggerated, and excessive because they are meant to stand out in their world. Even in games (and other types of media) where the hero or heroine are supposed to be the everyday person, that person still stands out–otherwise, that person wouldn’t be the main character.

Characters in fighting games are about pinnacles; in some case, the personification of a particular martial art form. Ivy’s character is the classic “rose with thorns.” She is designed to be alluring and even appeal to the basest of instincts and then takes advantage of that lapse in their opponent’s judgment (male or female, for similar or differing reasons) to strike. Note that her weapon is also an example of deception; a sword that suddenly extends into a whip.

Ivy’s design would have the same affect with smaller breasts, but with a bunch of other female characters on the roster (including a mother), Ivy could be viewed as an example that, yes, women with large breasts are capable or more than being objects of lust and jealousy (yeah, I said it–breasts with bodies are people too).

More to come.

~Jon K Langdon

Tatsunoko vs. Capcom on Tour

I bet you guys didn’t expect such an inane follow-up to my previous post, but here it is: Tatsunoko vs. Capcom news!

Tatsunoko vs. Capcom on Tour from S-Kill’s blog

I won’t pretend to be an insider of any kind–I get my video game news through Kotaku.com. However, like many other bloggers out there, I simply present the information relevant to my own interests, and to hell with all else. :p

I won’t say that I called it, but I did. The blogs and articles I found through Kotaku.com claimed that a US release of Tatsunoko vs. Capcom was a far-shot, but in a year of far-shots proven wrong, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom will get the promotion it needs to spark an interest in getting the game out and into US gamer hands before long (maybe a short arcade stint, what few are still out there).

This might be great news for some, for others, a waste of time. Glad to be of service.

~Jon K Langdon