This comment from me to the makers of Duke Nukem:
Elicited this deliciously patronising and not quite sincere response from Randy Pitchford, President of GearboxSoftware.com (my use of bold in the quote below) assuring me that there is nothing objectifying or sexist about their new game:
Hi,
Thanks for the notes.
We should remember that the “news” tends to like to make things controversial.
The story has been crafted by the twisting and convolutions of a handful of internet journalists, none of which have actually seen the content for themselves. Remember that their goal is to make stories that lots of people read.
Here are some of the truths and twists these journalists are responsible for:
– It’s a multiplayer mode that is essential capture the flag. The flag has been replaced with a model of a girl. Focusing on the title of the game mode and not sufficiently sharing the context of the title as relating it to a classic game mode tips readers towards impressions that are false. In fact, in this game mode players go into the opposing team’s base to *rescue* and bring back the “flag” to their safe base.
– In the campaign game, the model that’s being used plays the role of Duke’s girlfriend. She loves Duke. They are playful together and everything that transpires between them in the game is consistent with a consenting, legal and adult relationship based on mutual gratification and mutual respect.
– Duke *never* hits the girl. He *never* slaps her face. He never treats her in any way that suggests he has malice towards her or towards women in general. Duke cares about her and while Duke may be super hedonistic, he is ultimately a good guy that is, if anything, overly chivalrous.
– There’s a situation and animation where, when he’s carrying the model over his shoulder, he gives her a little love pat on the bottom. It’s suggesting playfulness and sexiness, and not at all violence towards women.
The “journalists” who have written about it on the internet, who have not seen it themselves, have in many cases attempted to suggest that what is being depicted there is meant to portray violence towards women. That is false and journalists who would make such implications without having seen the material themselves are irresponsible.
Having said that, women’s rights is a very important and serious issue in many parts of the world and, sadly, sometimes even in more civilized cultures. I think it’s fair for you and for all of us to be very sensitive towards gender equality and we should condone attitudes of mutual and self-respect.
Ultimately, I wouldn’t let these journalists pecking for sensationalism twist your judgment. I would recommend seeing it for yourself and deciding what you think.
Thanks for the note.
Regards,
– Randy
Bascially: be cool, feminist lady. Duke and his life partner, whom he totally respects as an individual, have their safe word worked out.
blue milk 
That’s a wonderfully textbook case of Not Getting It. But I don’t expect much more from the makers of Duke Nukem Forever.
I am kind of with you there. I can only say they know their audience. If anything it is a lot less crude of a game than I expected, which I guess is damning with faint praise.
I had no idea Duke Nukem was a feminist game. I’ve learned something today. ;P
Someone in their office had to sit down and seriously craft that letter! I’m sure there were even several drafts to be sure they got the wording just right. This letter represents their best effort!
“I would recommend seeing it for yourself and deciding what you think.”
Did they send you a copy to review or are they hoping you’ll go out and buy one for yourself?
Oh…and “safe word” LMAO!
“Duke never hits the girl”.
They may have made their argument for mutual respect a little more strongly if they’d given her a name in this response rather than ‘the girl’.
(there is just so much wrong with this. Where to start.)
So women and flags…totally interchangeable.
I’ll bet Randy Pitchford (and his underlings who more than likely penned this stellar response) believe that ‘flag’, ‘women’ and ‘babes’ are homophones and that homophones are like totally interchangeable dude.
My mind is so blown I am repeating myself…
PS. The Title of this post is RAWRsome.
We really should also remember that starting advice with “We should remember…” can make you sound like a patronising douche.
I think he was jiggling blackboard chalk in his hand, walking around lecture theatre desk, at that very moment. Ugh.
I don’t know, for me the best part of the letter was this gem: “Having said that, women’s rights is a very important and serious issue in many parts of the world and, sadly, sometimes even in more civilized cultures.” (Before Randy gives you permission to be concerned about women.) What I love about it is the fabulous USian belief that women’s right are violated in “less civilized cultures”, whereas such terrible things only happen “sometimes” in the “more” civilized cultures. Let’s create a hierarchy of cultures! *Awesome*. I feel so relieved and lucky to live in a country where I can be reassured by the likes of Randy that the violation of my basic rights are only an issue sometimes! Now, in the next installment, I hope to be provided with the list of all the things Randy considers to fit the category of “important and serious” women’s rights issues. Just so I know what I can be upset about.
Yes, this, this times a million.
What everyone else has already said. Wow. Just wow.
I love it that his name’s Randy.
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