Huge world/exploration like Skyrim
Creature interaction & behavior like Skyrim
NPC depth with world puzzles like Majora’s Mask
NPC conversational depth like Dragon Age
Romances like Dragon Age (with notable improvements!)
Music like Skyrim & Zelda
Tone/mood like Majora’s Mask 
Political depth like Skyrim
Dungeon puzzles like Zelda, but harder generally
Non-combat related activities like that Harvest Moon dungeon RPG thing
Combat like Zelda
Boss difficulty like Dark Souls 
Boss complexity/inventiveness like Warcraft raid bosses
Leveling like Skyrim

IMPORTANT: This chart is social criticism and NOT a criticism of the female characters themselves.

I’ve had this chart sitting on my computer for a few weeks, but I had forgotten about it until now.

I based it on an askbox conversation Rawles and I had here.

Because it’s a game, all of the core components of gameplay are developed to appeal to the intended audience (traditionally hetero men only, though Bioware is definitely moving in a better direction). For example, anything to do with the combat system is there to make it fun for the intended audience. So they have to sit down and ask questions like, “Okay, what combat system will they most enjoy?” And then they go and develop the combat system mostly on that principle.

It’s the same deal for the romance part of the game. A huge part of the appeal of these games is supposed to be that you get to role play a fantasy in which “you” are the big bad hero. So the creatives at Bioware have to figure out what romance options would be the most appealing to their “main” audience. And then they design the lady characters accordingly. Obviously it’s more complex than that, but that’s it in a nutshell.

So think about it: why does Bioware think these two choices (of women) are the most desirable romance options (for a presumably male Shepherd/Warden/Hawke)? What does that say about Bioware, their intended audience, and/or the broader culture? Think about it!

anangelstears:

this pretty much made my night

GPOY with the Female Hawke thing. Well, not the IGN walkthrough bit, because I haven’t used a walkthrough.

Basically my party is a badass all-girl squad… female warrior tough-as-nails bff, female Hawke the snarky archer/teleporting ninja, my loyal younger sister the mage, and the hyper-insecure (gpoy) elven mage girl with a creepy penchant for demons. I have two male companions available to me, but I haven’t needed to use them.

Initially I was freaking out with excitement, and then I was sad for the reasons you said. :( Man, I can’t even imagine playing a male Hawke… it sounds so… boring (especially a male Hawke mage).

roxanneritchi:

lettersfromtheattic:

AND THEY’RE USING FEMALE HAWKE AS THE DEFAULT

At first I was sure I was seeing things

But then they had a screencap, and it was THE TRUTH

Then I realized how desperate I was for awknowlegement of women and I got down about it again

This is my exact emotional process wrt that amazing Rule 63 JLA cosplay that’s making the rounds. Like: OH MY GOD LOOK AT ALL THE LADIES!!!!! :D!!!!! followed immediately by the horrible, crushing reminder that is the male default.

(via formerlyroxy)

Posting this one so you can see her facial tattoos better.

This is my Hawke! I am barely even into the game, but she is already SUCH A SNARKY BADASS.

(Actually, I’m most likely going to reroll as a mage for my main playthrough. But I just wanted to test out an archer first before making my final decision. And I LOVE this character concept, so I wanted to share.)

Sorry this picture isn’t like well composed or anything. I was just taking a random screenshot.

LE GASP *__*

Meet Aveline!

I am *strongly hopeful* that this one won’t get fridged like the last female warrior.

I love how Ferelden is just a tiny corner of the wider Thedas, which isn’t even the only continent out there.

Dragon Age 2 as a frame narrative, eh? I approve! =)

Also, this isn’t in the video, but they said FLEMETH is back. COLOR ME SHOCKED. ;)