Girl at play: Ocarina of Time 3D

Hello gamers,

Last month, I finally beat The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (3DS version). This momentous occasion marked my first time ever beating a game in the Zelda series. I've played around with a few titles, but I never owned my own Nintendo console or handheld until the current generation of systems. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know I'm a little late to the party, but you can rest assured that I will never leave it. 

**Now before I discuss my reactions to the game, I'll give you forewarning that this post will contain minor spoilers. I'm pretty sure that this is fair territory since most people have played the game, but don't say I didn't warn you!**

art cred ~Coi-Zelda on deviantart

I had a major realization after beating the game that made me very happy as a member of the lady race. If you've been following this blog for awhile, you probably know that I tend to stand up for women as gamers and in games. One reason I never gravitated toward the Zelda series to begin with was due to the fact that it simply seemed like the same old damsel-in-distress narrative. While these types of stories have been around for centuries, they aren't exactly a shining example of feminist ideals and principles.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy playing male characters in video games. I personally find it to be an interesting form of escapism that I couldn't experience otherwise. However, it can get pretty old pretty quickly when you're constantly protecting or saving the helpless little girl. Ok, this might be a bit of an exaggeration, but it is a recurring theme in many popular video game franchises (Aeris in Final Fantasy VII, Ashley in Resident Evil 4, Kairi in Kingdom Hearts - just to name a few). 

Sheik Zelda cosplay | Momocon 2011

The thing is, Zelda isn't a damsel. In fact, she's kind of a badass. In Ocarina of Time, Link is tasked with saving Hyrule by Princess Zelda. While it does seem that she is shielded due to her royal upbringing, she is still able to escape during Ganondorf's overrule. Zelda is the one supplying Link with wisdom and guidance - not the other way around. Her disguise as a member of the Sheikah clan is cunning and smart. The only reason Zelda gets captured in the first place is because she lets her guard down to help Link. At the end of the game, Zelda aids Link in fleeing the castle and delivering the final blow. Frankly, Link could not have completed his journey without the princess.

Hayao Miyazaki

Nintendo definitely broke the misconceptions I had toward this game. It's just an observation, probably one that I'm looking into a little too much, but it makes me appreciate the series a whole lot more and eager to play other installments. In fact, I can't help but think about my main man Hayao Miyazaki. The creative genius behind Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, and Howl's Moving Castle is known for his incorporation of ladies taking charge and changing the world. We can save that particular discussion for another time, but my point is, it's nice to see a strong female lead every once in a while. I'm not saying that game developers or movie producers should force it, because that's how really mediocre characters are created, but it can be refreshing in a male-dominated industry. 

While I don't necessarily believe that games need to be tailored only to men or only to women, Lisa Brunette, narrative designer at Big Fish Games, put it poignantly when discussing how to make games that appeal to women in this Gamasutra article: 

"Respect them, don't pander to them, don't talk down to them, and don't give them stereotypes," she says. "Craft strong storylines with the right themes, and don't forget to evolve." 

More ramblings soon!
-The Girl Informer

Lights, camera, action!

Hi friends,

I stumbled across this fun gallery via Entertainment Weekly the other day on Twitter. EW is a big fan of numbered lists, and this time they've compiled 21 video games begging to be movies. I especially enjoy the fact that the writer included cast picks and details on possible Hollywood production.

Many of the picks are pretty obvious, such as Bioshock, Uncharted, Halo and Metal Gear Solid. I'll admit that I've considered some other ones on the list - Zelda and Grand Theft Auto, for instance - but I'm doubtful that these titles could translate to the silver screen.

I've always wondered why Hollywood hasn't touched Zelda. Honestly though, I think it would turn out really badly. Since Link doesn't have any real dialog in the series, some writer would have to come up with an entirely original script. I don't know that I can even imagine Link talking. I'd also be really nervous that Hollywood would transform Zelda into a cheesy experience as opposed to an epic one.

As far as Grand Theft Auto is concerned, I just don't buy it. EW claimed it would inspire an interesting storyline for a crime drama, but no one plays the GTA games for the plot. Hollywood could never translate GTA into a movie without losing all of the elements that make it fun (I was always a pretty big fan of running people over myself). I asked my boyfriend what he thought and what was his reply?

"I use as many cheats as possible to get the rocket launcher and blow sh*t up."

...my thoughts exactly :P

Here's the big question: which games would you choose for possible film adaptations? I had two initial ideas. First off, Chrono Trigger. If you've played the game, you know the storyline relies heavily on time travel. With a strong cast and solid director, we'd get quite the fantastical adventure.

Second, I'm a little surprised that Hollywood doesn't have a live-action Professor Layton series in the works. Sherlock Holmes has been an incredibly successful franchise (in film and on TV), and Layton could follow a similar path. It might even be a great movie for both kids and adults.

What do you think? With so many crappy adaptations, some of you may not even want to see your favorite games turned into movies, and I don't blame you. Either way, thoughts, comments and criticisms are appreciated :)

-The Girl Informer