I'm really getting into the Catherine playthrough. It's one of those "Hey, a new episode. I better watch it right now!" Mostly it's interesting to see the Friends' reactions to the plot and conversations. I get the irritation that Woolie thinks this story is set in Japan, but "America as seen from Japan's perspective" is an easy thing to miss. And as much as I appreciate the game, I don't think they put enough work into getting America, culturally. This especially comes up with a major plot point later.
Spoiler: seriously a major plot point! Don't click if the Let's Play is your first experience with the game!
When it's revealed that the curse is to some degree based on stopping the dropping birth rate, which isn't really a problem in America the way it is in Japan.
It's funny that they bring up a comparison to Deadly Premonition in this episode, since that feels like a much better attempt to capture American life.
You know what? Nanowrimo's cancelled on account of the world is stupid.
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masterofmetroidHave you ever looked at a worldand seen it as a kind of challenge?Registered Userregular
I don't know why people keep saying the "It's not set in Japan" thing
I mean it's not impossible for there to be a delicious looking conveyor belt sushi restaurant in America, but i haven't seen one yet!
If that's actually a plot point it's not an obvious one
"Oh wow Erica sure is cool, I'm going to read up on her"
...
I, uh
Hrm
This game doesn't seem to treat her being trans very god damn kindly
In what way? I don't feel fully informed, from what I read in the wiki entry.
Enlong on
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AbsalonLands of Always WinterRegistered Userregular
Re: Master Raven: Woolie can now play Laura, Ibuki, Taki, Wesley Snipes and Woolietta in Tekken 7, all at the same time. Can't wait to hear his comments in the podcast.
"Oh wow Erica sure is cool, I'm going to read up on her"
...
I, uh
Hrm
This game doesn't seem to treat her being trans very god damn kindly
Huh?
Well, the game doesn't treat anyone well.
Though I thought it was a interesting story beat for a post-op transwoman to suffer the nightmares. It shows that they're only concerned with biological sex, not gender.
Re: SF5. I know the Story Mode directly sets up Third Strike, but there's still way too many leftover plot threads. They could totally do a 2nd story mode sequel/expansion.
"Oh wow Erica sure is cool, I'm going to read up on her"
...
I, uh
Hrm
This game doesn't seem to treat her being trans very god damn kindly
In what way? I don't feel fully informed, from what I read in the wiki entry.
I mean this is only from me eyeballing the wiki, so I don't have a really wide perspective here, but
When she starts sleeping with Toby she starts suffering the nightmares that only come to men who are being sexually dishonest
And the fact that she's trans and sleeping with someone who's inexperienced is used as a setup, with the particulars of their respective genitals being the punchline
And there's at least one ending where the credits list her under her dead name?
I dunno. A lot of this, combined with how Vincent's crew relates to her in general, seems to hint that the game treats her assigned gender as being more essential to her identity than how she actually identifies. And that's fucked up something fierce!
Wyborn on
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masterofmetroidHave you ever looked at a worldand seen it as a kind of challenge?Registered Userregular
"Oh wow Erica sure is cool, I'm going to read up on her"
...
I, uh
Hrm
This game doesn't seem to treat her being trans very god damn kindly
In what way? I don't feel fully informed, from what I read in the wiki entry.
I mean this is only from me eyeballing the wiki, so I don't have a really wide perspective here, but
When she starts sleeping with Toby she starts suffering the nightmares that only come to men who are being sexually dishonest
And the fact that she's trans and sleeping with someone who's inexperienced is used as a setup, with the particulars of their respective genitals being the punchline
And there's at least one ending where the credits list her under her dead name?
I dunno. A lot of this, combined with how Vincent's crew relates to her in general, seems to hint that the game treats her assigned gender as being more essential to her identity than how she actually identifies. And that's fucked up something fierce!
Oh, hm.
Again, I'm not fully familiar with all the particulars of the story, but I'd come under the impression that the nightmares have a super-weird "morality" more focused on increasing the birth rate than cheating in particular. After all, Vincent begins getting the nightmares the day before he meets Catherine, which means the trigger was more likely his lack of decision with regards to moving forward with Katherine. But that she gets them at all, and not Toby, isn't a good sign for the writers.
I can't comment on the second bit. I'd need to see the scene in the game, though that doesn't sound good at all.
According to the wiki, it was the manual's credits that did that. Seems like the in-game credits refer to her as "Erica Anderson (Eric)", so that bit, at least, seems to prioritize the identity she identifies as, with her old identity as a side-note. Still, the manual should've had more editing.
All that said, I wouldn't be at all surprised if it turns out to be exactly as bad as it seems from our wiki trawls. Very few are the games that take any effort to portray that tastefully.
"Oh wow Erica sure is cool, I'm going to read up on her"
...
I, uh
Hrm
This game doesn't seem to treat her being trans very god damn kindly
In what way? I don't feel fully informed, from what I read in the wiki entry.
I mean this is only from me eyeballing the wiki, so I don't have a really wide perspective here, but
When she starts sleeping with Toby she starts suffering the nightmares that only come to men who are being sexually dishonest
And the fact that she's trans and sleeping with someone who's inexperienced is used as a setup, with the particulars of their respective genitals being the punchline
And there's at least one ending where the credits list her under her dead name?
I dunno. A lot of this, combined with how Vincent's crew relates to her in general, seems to hint that the game treats her assigned gender as being more essential to her identity than how she actually identifies. And that's fucked up something fierce!
Not to mention
the ending where Toby talks about how he regrets sleeping with her after finding out she's trans.
It's a bit more complicated than that. She gets the nightmares because she's unable to get pregnant, but is in a relationship with a male who would otherwise be making babies. That's also the reason Toby doesn't get the nightmares; because he's no aware that Erica was trans at the time. Now, keep in mind this is the morality of the BAD GUYS justifying this, not to mention that the whole birth rate thing is a very Japan-centric problem that doesn't work well in the supposed American setting. On the other hand, this gives Erica the chance to factor heavily into the end of the game plotlines, more so than any of Vincent's other friends.
As for the thing about Toby regretting sleeping with her, the scene is a bit friendlier than people here might be imagining. He says he wants his "V-Card" back, but Erica is basically laughing it off, and there are implications that they're still together. Not GREAT, but a long ways away from, say, Ace Ventura.
I also have to give the game a little leeway given that it came out before transgender rights has the awareness it has now. I mean, Neil Gaiman is often hailed for his support of LGBT rights, but his most famous transgender character, Wanda, would probably have people up in arms if it came out today.
Back when I played the game the first time, I actually thought Erica's portrayal was mostly positive. Her long-term friends clearly have no problems with her, and she's better known for her playful personality and being the moral center of her friends than anything else. At the very least, I couldn't think of a better portrayal of a transgender character in video games at the time.
You know what? Nanowrimo's cancelled on account of the world is stupid.
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No, dammit, it's a King Kong homage!
Spoiler: seriously a major plot point! Don't click if the Let's Play is your first experience with the game!
It's funny that they bring up a comparison to Deadly Premonition in this episode, since that feels like a much better attempt to capture American life.
I mean it's not impossible for there to be a delicious looking conveyor belt sushi restaurant in America, but i haven't seen one yet!
If that's actually a plot point it's not an obvious one
...
I, uh
Hrm
In what way? I don't feel fully informed, from what I read in the wiki entry.
The bigger news is it seems like he's already off to the WWE! He had some sort of tryout a while back, so it must have gone pretty well.
Huh?
Though I thought it was a interesting story beat for a post-op transwoman to suffer the nightmares. It shows that they're only concerned with biological sex, not gender.
// Switch: SW-5306-0651-6424 //
But man, Liam O'Brien has the perfect Gill voice.
// Switch: SW-5306-0651-6424 //
I mean this is only from me eyeballing the wiki, so I don't have a really wide perspective here, but
And the fact that she's trans and sleeping with someone who's inexperienced is used as a setup, with the particulars of their respective genitals being the punchline
And there's at least one ending where the credits list her under her dead name?
I dunno. A lot of this, combined with how Vincent's crew relates to her in general, seems to hint that the game treats her assigned gender as being more essential to her identity than how she actually identifies. And that's fucked up something fierce!
Hard pass for me, but thumbs up on doing something nobody else is gonna do
Oh, hm.
I can't comment on the second bit. I'd need to see the scene in the game, though that doesn't sound good at all.
According to the wiki, it was the manual's credits that did that. Seems like the in-game credits refer to her as "Erica Anderson (Eric)", so that bit, at least, seems to prioritize the identity she identifies as, with her old identity as a side-note. Still, the manual should've had more editing.
All that said, I wouldn't be at all surprised if it turns out to be exactly as bad as it seems from our wiki trawls. Very few are the games that take any effort to portray that tastefully.
Not to mention
Come on, Atlus, I know you can do... slightly better than that.
Issues of gender seem to be a sticking point, over and over
Edit: I will concede that Atlus hasn't been the best with gay or trans people lately. They were better back in the P2 days even.
// Switch: SW-5306-0651-6424 //
I have 0 nostalgia for that type of game, but thought that it looked really fun. I hope there's a demo sometime
Want to play co-op games? Feel free to hit me up!
sheep blood runs hot
As for the thing about Toby regretting sleeping with her, the scene is a bit friendlier than people here might be imagining. He says he wants his "V-Card" back, but Erica is basically laughing it off, and there are implications that they're still together. Not GREAT, but a long ways away from, say, Ace Ventura.
I also have to give the game a little leeway given that it came out before transgender rights has the awareness it has now. I mean, Neil Gaiman is often hailed for his support of LGBT rights, but his most famous transgender character, Wanda, would probably have people up in arms if it came out today.
Back when I played the game the first time, I actually thought Erica's portrayal was mostly positive. Her long-term friends clearly have no problems with her, and she's better known for her playful personality and being the moral center of her friends than anything else. At the very least, I couldn't think of a better portrayal of a transgender character in video games at the time.
He's dangerously approaching Ward Rackley judging by the latest preview vid.
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Hardly the first time. Let's not forget the football incident!
"Now, R1 is gonna--" *BANG!*
Switch - SW-7373-3669-3011
Fuck Joe Manchin
!!
I thought it was a bloodline technique
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1OLcAGbXhWIVcl5IziVpG0eKFJS3xi_Sac9kYMkRFvD8/edit?usp=sharing
The two don't need to be mutually exclusive. Are you telling me you've never experienced a Gentle Fist?
Kind of afraid to watch this.
Since it's a crossover game there's probably going to be lots of spoilers for parts that haven't been adapted yet.
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there are a ton
Not that i would know anything about that
You're next line is going to be...