Smite Character Update: A Change in Female Representation?

Smite is a fast-paced, multiplayer online battle arena game (MOBA) like no other that combines traditional MOBA themes, objectives, and gameplay with a third person perspective twist. Smite, released in 2014, is still growing in popularity and still adding new characters to the list of gods and goddesses one can choose to play as. However, these characters, specifically the female characters, have been criticized by many for being unnecessarily sexualized. Here are just a few examples of female Smite characters with ample cleavage and strategically placed clothing.

Neith: Egyptian goddess (image source: http://smite.gamepedia.com/Neith)

Freya: Norse goddess (image source: http://smite.gamepedia.com/Freya)

Nu Wa: Chinese goddess
Nu Wa Fan Art by Sarah Doran is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at http://www.smitegame.com/gods/nu-wa/.

While the male gods of the game are more varied in terms of body type and sexualization level, there is less variety when it comes to the female characters.The large breasts and revealing (and impractical) clothing of almost all the female goddesses have people saying these characters are simply designed to pander to the game's perceived male audience. I say perceived because the gaming industry has expanded drastically. In 2015, The Entertainment Software Association reported that 44% of gamers are females. While this is a broad category including players of any type of video game, one cannot deny that more women are now part of the community.

Looking at the newest character added to Smite two weeks ago on January 14th of this year, perhaps the developers are realizing that their audience is changing. Amaterasu, a character based on the Japanese sun goddess of the same name, is a fully clothed warrior who looks no less attractive, or powerful, than any of the more sexualized goddesses.

Amaterasu: Japanese goddess (image source: http://smite.gamepedia.com/Amaterasu)

With a full armor and sword, she looks prepared for battle. Could it be that game developers are finally hearing their audience's request for better variety when it comes to female characters? We will have to wait and see, but this seems like a good step in that direction. After all, most critics of female representation in games are not looking for complete censorship. I recognize that a sexy character can be just as competent and strong as any other; I just ask for more variety so that sexuality does not become the dominant characteristic of female characters. These goddesses have lethal abilities, and it would be a shame if their bodies overshadow the creative work that went into designing thier skills and powers. But whether I'm in the mood to play as the sexy goddess Nu Wa (a personal favorite) or the tough deity Amaterasu, I will enjoy the game. I just appreciate that I am given a choice between the two.

Let's Play: Trademark Tensions

Early this month, the gaming community went wild when it was discovered that Sony Computer Entertainment of America (SCEA) filed for a trademark of the term "Let's Play." RoosterTeeth, a popular business centered on gaming and other entertainment media posted this video on the subject. 

As they mention in the video, the public does not know what SCEA would use the term for, but the trademark application referred to "electronic transmission and streaming of video games via global and local computer networks; streaming of audio, visual, and audiovisual material via global and local computer networks." In simple terms, this trademark would apply to all videos, including live feeds, of people playing video games. 

For those of us interested in the video game culture, this trademark was quite a daunting proposal. If approved, Sony would have rights to a term that has been shared and nurtured by the entire gaming community. YouTubers such as Markiplier, PewDiePie, Roosterteeth, and many others use the term in relation to their gameplay videos. If SCEA's application were approved, this would mean all of the YouTubers using "let's play" would be violating trademark and could be fined or forced to remove their videos. However, these consequences would only come about if SCEA were to file claims against the thousands of channels on Twitch and YouTube that use the term to title their videos.

Luckily, SCEA's application has been denied, but not for the reasons you would think. According to Paul Tassi from Forbes, the trademark application was denied not because of the Internet uproar it caused but because a company already trademarked the term "Let'z Play" which could cause confusion. 

However, if the preexisting trademark for "Let'z Play" did not exist, would the United States Patent and Trademark Office approve SCEA's application? This question has yet to be answered (SCEA still has time to file an appeal), but the initial application has brought up an important concern. How can we as a community protect this term? The majority of gamers it seems are perfectly content sharing the phrase. Perhaps a company could trademark "Let's Play" on behalf of the community. Perhaps that was what Sony was intending all along, to use the trademark, but not bring lawsuits against gamers who also use the term. 

This controversy brings to light the importance of slang in different communities. Terms like "top frag," "grinding," "camper, and "Let's Play" add to the rich jargon used by gamers everywhere. These phrases bring the community together and act as a sort of code, allowing us to recognize a similar passion in each other. They belong to the community because they were made popular by the community. To trademark these terms could turn culture into capitol, something that would not bode well for gamers everywhere.