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[Column] The Secret World: Mankini-gate and More
SBFord
Former Associate EditorMember LegendaryPosts: 33,129
When I was considering the various topics I could cover for this week’s The Secret World column I was faced with so many options I really didn’t know where to start. First Joel announces new content, then there was Mankini-gate, and finally there has been ARG activity. How could I pick just one? I couldn’t. So we’re breaking it down into four parts.
Read more of Shannon Doyle's The Secret World: Mankini-gate and More.
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Comments
I never cared for outfits like that mankini pictured in games. I get that they're fun, but people don't know when a joke goes from funny, to boring, to outdated, to dead horse, to "just stop it already" (which I know for some people is the point . . . to aggravate others).
That being said there's a way to engage the idea of skimpy non-effective armor in a much more awesome manner. Concept artist who did Sai Sahan in ESO said that she created his armor set as a response to the usual skimpy female armor and I have to say, he looks badass:
http://artintheart.tumblr.com/post/81697896914/so-this-dude-is-sai-sahan-go-find-him-in-the-eso
That is kind crappy what about people who bought the in game currency to buy the mankini do they get a $ refund?
Yes it was a probably a stupid idea to put it in the game, but once you have its time to let everyone get it our there system until nobody wears it any more.
BTW next year Tribal tattoo and c*ck sheaths?
The mankini incident is classic Funcom. Don't think for a second that they're unaware that lots of people may have bought currency for the sole purpose of getting the mankini.
Wouldn't surprise me to find out that AOL is running their billing/marketing departments.
Hey everybody we are going to try and make non gender biased clothing!
Just kidding! We are still a bunch of hyper masculine homophobes =D
April fools!
Funcom are having a laugh at their customers' expense (quite literally) - I don't think this joke was intended for 'wise players' because it took too much time and effort for wise players to appreciate it (when the money could have been used for better things).
The best response to something like this is to cancel your account, not pay the company any more money, and don't write any comments on forums or complain.
Walk away and let Funcom wither.
Here is a link to the Official post on the Secret World message board. It turns out that it was not a legal matter but direct sexism on the part of FunCom management and not the games Devs:
http://forums.thesecretworld.com/showthread.php?t=78597&page=32
Post #319 is the game director relaying what the management said.
This is an important issue and though the 'mankini' is trivial blatant sexism by a major game company is not. Take the time to read the thread and give your opinion.
I second this. I also want to start a vote to have Mors.Magne's name honorarily etched into the Funcom tombstone- slain by this man's wisdom. These are some wise words, indeed...
Loves: SMITE, WildStar, Project Zomboid, PSO2, DCUO,
Worst Online Communities: WoW/WoD(the OG MMO Trolls), DayZ/WarZ, SMITE/LoL/DOTA, EVE Online, APB
"Im ready for
All the comparisons
I think its dumb and its embarrassing
Im switching off
No longer listening
Ive had enough of persecution and conditioning
Maybe its instinct- Were only animal" - Lily Allen, Sheezus
Let's be real here folks - pulling an item that people paid for is dumb, Pulling only the Mankini and not the wetsuit was dumb, yes everything about this episode was dumb. HOWEVER.....the combat gear bought with the tokens from the Flappy fight are identical for both male and Female toons. The latest outfits introduced to the shop are identical for male and female toons - Psyco Unbound, Dapper Buzz, Plague Doctor, tuxedo suits and more. TSW has a dev team and Game Director who will battle management for what's right. The reason Mankini-gate is an issue is because it seems like a step back and was poorly handled.
The simple fact is that Funcom and TSW are now much better in this regard that the vast majority of the industry. If Funcom gets driven out of business over this the lesson gaming corporations will get is it's best to stick to the chain mail bikinis on 36GGGGG chested stripper models so the sexism and bias is so blatant that no one seems to notice.
So, Shannon, and MJ Guthrie and all the others writing on this - how about skipping the rabid hyperbole and present more objectivity.