Schooled 'em!

I get the magazine “Games for Windows” (until recently known as “Computer Gaming World”).

In the last issue, the editor wrote a column about New Year’s Resolutions for gaming companies in 2008. One resolution was to design game boxes that “won’t make people think I’m a pervert or moron if they see me with it.” Seeing a computer game box with big-breasted female character gracing the cover is not uncommon.

As it happened, earlier in that issue, they had a story with the headline “MoneyShot”. It was a story about the intersection of gambling and gaming, and how there are now some games that you can play and risk real money on your results. However, the article was printed SIDEWAYS, so that you had to turn the magazine vertically to read it, Playboy centerfold-style. Not only that, but there was a big picture of a nearly-naked female covering both pages.

I don’t particularly care one way or another about the issue of sexual objectification in games, but the hypocrisy was just too ripe. I wrote a letter to the editor calling them out on it.

I just got my most recent issue, and my letter was printed!

“In Greenspeak (GFW #14, pg. 96) Jeff writes: Design a game box that won’t make people think I’m a pervert or moron if they see me with it.” This is the same issue that has me turning the magazine sideways, centerfold-style, to read a story called ‘Money Shot’ (pg. 20), featuring a nearly-naked CG character. Try doing that in a public airport terminal and see what kind of looks you get.”

(I didn’t really read the magazine in an airport this time around, but I have before. I thought it painted a good picture).

They printed the letter with the heading “Touche”.

I’m pretty sure that means I schooled ‘em.