Even then there's exceptions-see Nier:Automata and the new Shantae games. Get indie games involved, and there's plenty more. If they advertise that they have a female lead though, that's always going to be awful.
Yeah, beware of any advertisement that pretty much screams "HEY, WE GOT THIS, LOOKEE!" because it'll give you just a drop of what it was you wanted, and an ocean full of bullshit otherwise. This should be called "Kangaroo Jacking".
You market your best traits, unless you're going for a very "pro-gamer" move that historically rarely works out.
Xenosaga 3 advertises "40 hours of in-game cutscenes!". Which to some isn't a selling point I'm sure, but they're marketing their best feature, a really long, in-depth story. This is a game where most of the heroes are female, including the primary MCs, most of the villains are male. But it doesn't advertise what would be an easy "woke" angle, because what it offers potential buyers is a long, detailed story.
What do you have to offer me as a consumer? "The game has a woman in it." Okay. There's lots of games with women in it. That one over there promises some weird long storyline with in-game cutscenes. What are you promising? "The game... Has a woman... In it." Yes, we get that. What else does it offer? "IT HAS A WOMAN IN IT!"
You put your best foot forward. You advertise your very best, most marketable aspect. Always assume marketing is trying to sell you on the product's most appealing, most desired, most anticipated aspects.
For fun, I looked at the taglines of five games, the ads on their own boxes, just at random (I'll give the games at the end if you want to guess):
"More new dungeons, more improved graphics, still the same great story and gameplay".
"The long-awaited sequel to one of history's greatest adventures. A multitude of playable characters and intertwining storylines. Unique design eliminates random battles and experience points."
"Epic battles, bountiful women, and a cornucopia of debauchery. Woo the ladies, choose a bride, and give birth to the next generation of heroes! Experience over 80 hours of tactical gameplay through 5 generations!" (Hey, it mentions whamen being present! ...But probably not in the way the SJWs would like.)
"Innovative battle system that combined free-roam and turn-based actions. Strategic use of light and darkness that affects players and enemies alike. Deeply moving story combined with mezmerizing music."
"Explore an incredible and unique art-deco world at the bottom of the ocean. Turn everything into a weapon: the environment, your body, fire and water, even your enemies. Biologically modify your body: send fire storming from your fingertips and unleash a swarm of killer hornets hatched from the veins in your arms!"
(Final Fantasy 2 remastered, Chrono Cross, Record of Agarest War, Eternal Sonata, Bioshock)
Not many "We have a whaman!" primary arguments. You advertise your best aspect. If their best aspect is that one gender of one character is pre-selected... That's an awful showing. Most advertise game mechanics. The "theme" of the game. A cool thing to do in the game when you buy it. Or, in FF2's case... "More! ...Without fucking up the existing stuff."
People need to know, I know this is a long wall-of-text, but they need to know that marketing WANTS their product to sell. Not only is it their job, the reason they're in marketing is to help products succeed. So they'll put their best traits forward. Watch closely, and listen, when they tell you that the best trait is merely "women exist". It means nothing of value is in the game, same as if they said "men exist" or "the game features humans."
Even then there's exceptions-see Nier:Automata and the new Shantae games. Get indie games involved, and there's plenty more. If they advertise that they have a female lead though, that's always going to be awful.
Yeah, beware of any advertisement that pretty much screams "HEY, WE GOT THIS, LOOKEE!" because it'll give you just a drop of what it was you wanted, and an ocean full of bullshit otherwise. This should be called "Kangaroo Jacking".
I understood that reference.
You market your best traits, unless you're going for a very "pro-gamer" move that historically rarely works out.
Xenosaga 3 advertises "40 hours of in-game cutscenes!". Which to some isn't a selling point I'm sure, but they're marketing their best feature, a really long, in-depth story. This is a game where most of the heroes are female, including the primary MCs, most of the villains are male. But it doesn't advertise what would be an easy "woke" angle, because what it offers potential buyers is a long, detailed story.
What do you have to offer me as a consumer? "The game has a woman in it." Okay. There's lots of games with women in it. That one over there promises some weird long storyline with in-game cutscenes. What are you promising? "The game... Has a woman... In it." Yes, we get that. What else does it offer? "IT HAS A WOMAN IN IT!"
You put your best foot forward. You advertise your very best, most marketable aspect. Always assume marketing is trying to sell you on the product's most appealing, most desired, most anticipated aspects.
For fun, I looked at the taglines of five games, the ads on their own boxes, just at random (I'll give the games at the end if you want to guess):
(Final Fantasy 2 remastered, Chrono Cross, Record of Agarest War, Eternal Sonata, Bioshock)
Not many "We have a whaman!" primary arguments. You advertise your best aspect. If their best aspect is that one gender of one character is pre-selected... That's an awful showing. Most advertise game mechanics. The "theme" of the game. A cool thing to do in the game when you buy it. Or, in FF2's case... "More! ...Without fucking up the existing stuff."
People need to know, I know this is a long wall-of-text, but they need to know that marketing WANTS their product to sell. Not only is it their job, the reason they're in marketing is to help products succeed. So they'll put their best traits forward. Watch closely, and listen, when they tell you that the best trait is merely "women exist". It means nothing of value is in the game, same as if they said "men exist" or "the game features humans."