Video Games (Sociological Images)

There are many different factors affecting the relations that the media has with its consumers. Although we rely on the media for important news related topics that apply to situations covering the weather as well as current vital government issues, the media contributes to a negative side of entertainment through the mass consumption of video games.



Battle Raper video game
Battle Raper is a Japanese video game. It is a 3D fighting game and the goal is to strip, grope and sometimes rape the female characters during fight scenes. The player’s “health bar” is translated by the amount of clothes the female opponent still has on her. There are also graphically enhanced takes from this video game in which female characters are crying because they are being forced to perform oral sex on the male challengers. In order to damage the health of female opponents one must have their character molest the female’s breasts and crotches. In Battle Raper 1, there is a function in which players can view rape scenes that can be accessed after the person playing wins games with each of the different characters. In Battle Raper 2, this function was removed.
Social justice and human rights are essential for the conduct and preservation of a democratic society in which equality is sought after. Women are subjected to discrimination within families, communities, and in the workplace. Although causes and consequences vary from culture to culture, such inequity is widespread. “Battle Raper” appears to be justifying, minimizing and making a joke out of a horrible crime that occurs in real life and is predominantly aimed at woman. The normalization of such sexual violence in certain countries is echoed by the frequent occurrence of pornographic implications in video games and cartoons in which the rape, stalking, and sexual molestation of woman and girls is emphasized. Due to the over-sexualized portrayal of woman in the media, concern is rising about women being depicted as nothing more than sex objects.
http://contexts.org/socimages/2008/11/15/battle-raper-video-game/

Miss Bimbo online virtual game
In this virtual fashion game players must look after their “bimbo” character as she goes through life. In order to progress in this game your characters must find a “hot” boyfriend, a cool place to live, and a good job. Characters compete with other “bimbos” to become the most popular and best dressed. This game requires players to place their character on diets, along with getting plastic surgery for your “bimbo” in order to gain popularity points.
“Become the most famous and beautiful bimbo in the world.” This quote taken directly from the website of this online virtual game represents the trend in society by stereotyping the roles woman are “expected” to represent or portray in society. In a sense this relates to the way “people make judgments and generalizations on the basis of scanty information, confusing an individual’s characteristics with typical group-member characteristics” (Parrillo). Relating to all women through this concept of “categoric knowing,” this online video game is supporting the depiction of all women by correlating them with “blonde bimbos.”
http://contexts.org/socimages/2008/12/17/miss-bimbo-vs-sexy-beach-3/
Medal of Honor
This is a series of video games that focuses on US soldiers fighting in the World War II era. The goal of this game is to complete certain objectives, such as destroying enemy positions, collecting Intel, and killing German military forces. There are twelve versions of this game currently out on the market. Depending on the version of the game, characters are required to fulfill a variety of missions in order to progress and ultimately “beat” the game. Players receive medals for their characters as they advance through certain stages.
Although it will probably come as a shock to most people, the targeting of African-Americans as consumers began way back in the 1940’s. In 1943, a “black marketing consultant” by the name of David J. Sullivan highlighted ten rules for advertising agencies titled Don’t Do This-If You Want to Sell Your Product to Negros! Sullivan focused on several situations in which Black consumers took offense to racist product brand names. In 2008, African-American buying power was approaching one trillion dollars. (http://www.targetmarketnews.com/storyid09120702.htm) So why are so many marketers ignoring the African-American segment? The images depicted on the covers in reference to the video game “Metal of Honor” appear to feature only the faces of Caucasian men. During the WWII era, African-Americans were segregated from the majority, and were not allowed to fight on the front lines. However, out of the millions of Americans that fought in this war, nearly one million represented the African-American population. (http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/a-13-2005-05-10-voa47-67929177.html) Towards the end of war, most people believed that “black soldiers” were just as equal as “white ones,” and President Truman desegregated armed forces shortly after. Do these video games covers presume only white men will relate to “Metal of Honor?” Are their actions reflecting a stereotype of whom they believe will buy their game? '


The pattern of this ethnocentric belief has left stains in all forms of the media. In this video game, the feature of only Caucasian men on the cover reflects the support of the “belief in the inherent superiority of one’s own ethnic group or culture.” (http://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/ethnocentric)

http://contexts.org/socimages/2008/12/11/medal-of-honor-the-all-white-war/

For societies in all parts of the world battling against the fight for equality, it seems impossible to create any devoid of the powerful social and culture factors of race, gender, and class. The media is constantly abusing its power to convey popular beliefs that are frequently underdeveloped and openly support the many different forms of discrimination.


Other References:
Parrillo, V. (2008). Understanding Race and Ethnic Relations (3ed). Pearsons Education, Inc.