Gaming and Sexism

[Kriven]

The problem with Samus as the figurehead of gender equality in gaming is that, while throughout the game she is typically a stonecold badass, by the end of it she's reduced to a pinup.

Not that I actually have any problem with that, really. But I can see where it might switch off some female players. There isn't a reward for them at the end of that journey, just for dudes (orientation not considered).

But there are a large number of powerful female characters who don't end up reduced to sex appeal. Right now I'm thinking of Midna (keeping in mind I haven't actually seen her true form in anything but fan art), who actually empowers Link and without her he wouldn't be able to get very far.

Generally I'm of the opinion that marketing towards guys isn't really a bad thing, and that there's plenty of room for developers to make games with less male-oriented sex appeal without pushing those other games off the market. We've even seen these games become successful and garner large (if somewhat cult) followings, such as with Drill Dozer and Mighty Flip Champs (another game I haven't played but which seems pretty popular). I guess Mischief Makers counts despite Marina being the target of the perverted professor on occassion?

Really, I just don't like the attitude that established characters and franchises need to change as opposed to being joined by newer franchises with less of a focus on the male demographic?

ETA: I also tend not to like strong female characters (Samus) being reduced in canon to out-of-character sex appeal, but I am fine with specific merchandise dolling them up to appeal to the male demographic. If that makes sense.