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It is easy to see this by simply looking at websites such as, , and which celebrates being different in an otherwise homogeneous society.
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Instead the average gamer comes in all different shapes, sizes, colors, and sexual orientation. He writes, “That suggests video game developers could have overlooked a hugely underserved group of customers, especially if they wrongly assume that the average video gamer remains a white male” (Hsu 1).Īs the popularity of video games grow, the average gamer is no longer your stereotypical heterosexual white male. Hsu goes on to blame the lack of diverse avatars to video game manufacturers and developers.
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He states, “Female and Latino gamers in particular would have a hard time finding their virtual counterparts despite each representing major players of video games” (Hsu 1). As the title suggests, Jason Hsu’s blog found on Live Science entitled, “Video Games Lack Female and Minority Characters (2009),” Hsu questions why there is a lack of minority and female avatars in mainstream video games. Thus, it was not a surprise that the avatars featured in these video games reflected these males in their actions, looks, and style. Disillusioned by reality, they were consumed in a fantasy world that became their truth. They were the nerds, the geeks, and the outcasts. These gamers could be found at every corner of the world, every walk of life.
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Video games used to predominately be played by heterosexual white males in an effort to find comfort, to escape reality, and be a part of a world where they are celebrated. By conducting this survey, Rockwood unveiled the overwhelming number of gay gamers that otherwise would have been unnoticed. Being an invisible minority, you are often times forgotten your views, ideals, and concerns are not perceived as legitimate, and are therefore not taken seriously. This survey is an attempt to quantify the existence of an invisible minority” (Sliwinki 1). He insisted that, “Yeah it sounds ridiculous, but that’s where you have to start on something like this. The first of its kind, Rockwood hoped to prove that gay gamers did exist. In a 2006 survey conducted by the University of Illinois, Jason Rockwood wanted to explore the social and behavioral demographics of GLBT video game players (Sliwinski 1). But why can’t it be the other way around? Female superheroes rescuing their Prince Charming? Male heroes rescuing and falling in love with other men? Isn’t it safe to assume that various gay gamers could relate to a love between two women or two men? Despite the amount of gay gamers, they are grossly unrepresented in the gaming world. If the gamer completes the adventure, Mario and Princess Peach will live happily ever after. One only has to look so far as Super Mario Brothers, in which the protagonist Mario vies for the safety and love of Princess Peach. These male avatars are not afraid to use violence, weapons, and curses to win over their true love, which usually ends in the gamer beating the video game. There are, however, an abundant amount of tough, courageous male avatars who celebrate heterosexuality in the form of saving damsels in distress. If a homosexual male avatar is present in a video game, he is usually portrayed as flamboyant, feminine, and unable to fend for himself. Due to the lack of homosexual characters in mainstream video games, there are very few positive references to homosexuality.