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        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="+3" color="#0022A8"> 
          Is Duke Nukem Sexist?</font></p>
        <p align="right"> 
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          <font color="#804000"><b><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">By 
          Stephanie &quot;<a target="" href="mailto:bobbi@loonygames.com">Bobbi</a>&quot; 
          Bergman</font></b></font></p>
        <p align="RIGHT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br>
          </font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>PMS-Jack:</b> 
          I think it's way cool, and funny. I think it is sexist, but I like that 
          it doesn't try and hide. I don't think it would have sold without the 
          chicks.</font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><font size="-1"><sup>*</sup></font>Polish: 
          </b>It is. I think because of the chicks. They're cute though. I think 
          that if you like the game because of the chicks that's pretty pathetic 
          of you, but it adds a lot to the game.</font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><font size="-1"><sup>*</sup></font>Paul 
          Steed:</b> Yeah. But, I think it's sexist in an attempt to be humorous, 
          as opposed to being malicious. I'm probably the wrong person to ask 
          about that, given the Crackwhore, but I think it's meant to be humorous 
          to guys, I don't think they necessarily care if women think it's humorous. 

          But they are including a woman character in <b>DNF</b>, so maybe they 
          are trying to address that. George Broussard though,really doesn't care, 
          if they're going to do it, they're just going to do it. If it's viewed 
          as being sexist, than it's viewed as being sexist, it's not going to 
          effect their design. </font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Squall:</b> 
          You know, a lot of us don't care how many vectors our plugin models 
          have...we don't even check under the hood to see what game engine a 
          game is using. (I know, "Blasphemy, blasphemy!") And sometimes it's 
          pretty neat to have all those "gimmicks" in a game. Personally, I almost 
          lost it when I took <b>Duke</b> into the movie theater and was able 
          to make curtain moves, hop behind the counter, crawl through the air 
          ducts...</font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I said once 
          before that I didn't like having to "have a pair" to play a deathmatch 
          game. In that regard, <b>Quake 2 </b>(and even <b>Quake 1</b>) has <b>Duke 
          </b>beat all to heck and back. Of course. But you know what? <b>Duke 
          </b>has its merits. I like secrets in a game. <b>Duke</b> has 'em. I 
          like lots of action...<b>Duke</b> has that, too. And as far as it being 
          sexist? Well, what do you expect from a game that's billed with a man 
          as the main character? You wouldn't buy <b>Leisure Suit Larry </b>and 
          expect a kinder, gentler, game of bridge now would you?</font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">And since when 
          are folks worried about being politically correct in a game where you're 
          blowing people up? Bits flying everywhere, blood and gore on the walls, 
          and it matters whether or not he's a jerk?</font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hmm.</font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Seems to me 
          that <b>Duke</b> isn't any worse than, say, the <i>Lethal Weapon</i> 
          movies, just about any Stallone flick... pick a male action movie actor. 
          Matter of fact, that's sort of what it was like walking into <b>Duke's 
          3D</b> world for the first time.</font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Sorry...</font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I LOVE my games...and 
          I'm a <b>Quake</b> devotee...but I can't take it as seriously as some, 
          not to the exclusion of all other games. But then, I bought my last 
          car because it was a pretty color. Vroom vroom.</font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Mark "Bastard" 
          Surfas:</b> The reality is that games are an entertainment product and 
          that sex sells products. As a somewhat immature male I found the strippers 
          in <b>Duke3D</b> to be "fun" and "cool". Keep in mind that as a somewhat 
          immature male I find real strippers to be "fun" and "cool". Even more 
          shockingly, I'm looking forward to the strippers that George promises 
          will be in <b>Duke4</b>.</font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I think the 
          inclusion of the "chicks" added to the environment given the style of 
          game. The build engine doesn't really allow me to suspend my disbelief 
          so I can't say that I found the message in <b>Duke3D</b> to be anything 
          other than somewhat cartoonish.</font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Darren "Dakota" 
          Tabor:</b> I believe that <b>Duke Nukem 3D</b> still retains its title 
          as the most sexist game in the first-person shooter genre, even after 
          the passage of several years since the initial release. Other games 
          may contain certain sexist elements, but none are as pervasive as in 
          <b>Duke Nukem 3D</b>.</font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">It is virtually 
          impossible to argue that <b>Duke Nukem 3D</b> is anything but sexist. 
          The only women represented in the game are stripers, porn stars, and 
          prostitutes. The only real interaction between the character and the 
          women in the game occurs when they expose themselves for money. Otherwise, 
          they just stand in place and dance, at least until they are killed by 
          accident or design. This presents an extremely warped view of women 
          and evidences some profound issues in personalities of it developers 
          and/or its target audience.</font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">These elements 
          of the game, at least the most profoundly sexist elements, can be easily 
          blocked out by the parental lock. The game still has some adult themes 
          even with the parental lock engaged, but this does give parents a level 
          of control over the game. It is my understanding that this feature was 
          pioneered by <a href="http://www.apogee1.com">Apogee</a>. I am sure 
          that many parents who pay attention to the games their children play 
          appreciate the lock. </font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Despite the 
          many concerns that people may have regarding the objectifying of women 
          in video games, I doubt that anything will alter the development of 
          <b>Duke Nukem Forever</b>. Most game designers have recognized that 
          women are a growing segment of the target audience and have included 
          a few "token females" in their games. It is hard to imagine that 3D 
          Realms would follow this trend, at least for the <b>Duke Nukem </b> 
          series. Love him or hate him, <b>Duke Nukem </b>is one of the most recognizable 
          personalities in the world of gaming. The world that we inhabit when 
          we play the game is <b>Duke's</b> world, and it is a world where women 
          are objects. This is not a very enlightened view, but it does appeal 
          to the tastes of a large segment of the target audience. I expect that 
          setting <b>DNF</b> in Las Vegas will not lead to <b>Duke</b> showing 
          deference and respect to female legislators or kindergarten teachers. 
          Sex sells everything from toothpaste to fast food, and I am sure that 
          it will help sell <b>DNF</b>. </font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">As sexist as 
          <b>Duke Nukem 3D</b> was, there are still plenty of other titles that 
          present an equally distorted look at women. Is <b>Lara Croft </b>a better 
          role model than Janet Reno? Would anyone want to see Janet Reno in a 
          bikini? Of course, the buxom star of <b>Tomb Raider</b> is designed 
          to appeal to adolescent boys, and men who still think like adolescents. 
          But what about the latest craze to dress <b>Barbie</b> on your PC? I 
          can't imagine that this trend is any more helpful towards promoting 
          proper self image in young girls than a dozen levels of <b>Space Bunnies 
          Must Die</b>. At least <b>Lara Croft </b>is a strong female character. 
          Strong in a gun-slinging, non-speaking, bikini-wearing, sort of way.</font></p>
        <p align="LEFT">&nbsp;</p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><i><b><font size="-1"><sup>*</sup></font></b> 
          signifies the response was given in person. </i></font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> </font></p>
        <p>&nbsp;</p>
        <p align="RIGHT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="+1">(<a href="index5.php" target="">continued 
          on next page</a>)</font></p>
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    <td><i><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-2"><b>Credits:</b> 
      Illustration &copy; 1998 Mike Sanzone. This article is &copy; 1998 Stephanie 
      Bergman. All other content is &copy; 1998 <a target="_self" href="http://www.loonyboi.com">loonyboi 
      productions</a>. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited...you 
      sexist pig.</font></i></td>
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