In the hurry to finish my entry of just a moment ago, I forgot to add that it seems like heroine computer game figures are only just emerging and some seem to be created by male designers with great physical attributes, but little character depth and in some ways insulting to young women. Here I am somewhat handicapped in analysis with practically no experience in playing games either on-line or on computer or other player. I asked my IT department if the college had any computer or other games I could borrow to view to learn more about roles, animations used, settings and so on for this week but they did not. I have no young children, my step children are all in their 20s and 30s and my grand-children by marriage are all under 4 years of age.
This weekend I played with three visiting grandsons and we hauled wood and brush in a miniature John Deere tractor and trailor, played with Play Dough, watched "Veggie Tales: Little Jimmie and the River Rescue," and helped two of them under one year of age try to stand and to walk a bit, more of the game the "walk of life." I will be investigating games on line and have just been told about Second Life and may give that a try. More on this soon.
I will investigate girls and women in games as a check on issues of discrimination and prejudice and chauvanistic stereotyping. I don't doubt that there are a range of identities offered for girls by game designers, some controlling and some creative. Be patient with my baby-boomer re-education effort, I sincerely want to see what is out there. I will ask my niece who is a freshman at a university for some history on it, as well as blog mates.
Best to all,
John
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