# 'Fat Princess' game offends women gamers
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-princess-game-offends-women-gamers/458082
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [July 29, 2008, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-princess-game-offends-women-gamers/458082 "2008-07-29T14:21:04Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2008, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-princess-game-offends-women-gamers/458082/1 "2008-07-29T14:21:04Z")
Well, some of them. Not this woman gamer, at any rate.
This made me mad and then made me laugh:
[Feminists cry foul over Fat Princess](http://videogames.yahoo.com/feature/feminists-cry-foul-over-fat-princess/1232315)
So…all women are getting equal pay now, eh? And feminist gaming groups must have all of the respect they need, actually too much, since they’re willing to lose it over this?
DON’T MESS WITH MY FUN! Go elsewhere!
Here’s another link with a picture: [Fat Princess](http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/22/so-it-begins-feminist-gamers-decry-sonys-fat-princess/). It actually looks kind of cute.
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### Author:  [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2008, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-princess-game-offends-women-gamers/458082/2 "2008-07-29T15:32:21Z")
I read an article about banned 3 letter combinations on license plates. One state bans MOO because in another state a fat lady sued the state and won, when her regular license plate had it on it by chance. the list is so long it really makes personal plates almost a mute point. I would like to see MOO on more license plates. Promote dairy you know.
How many of these women a fat princesses? If their not they should mind there own problems that directly concern themselves.
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### Author:  [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2008, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-princess-game-offends-women-gamers/458082/3 "2008-07-29T15:44:15Z")
> [@The Yahoo article](#):
>
> you can thwart capture attempts by locking the once-thin princess in a dungeon and stuffing her full of cake, thereby increasing her girth and making her harder for your enemies to haul back to home base.
So this is a complete non-issue, because everyone knows the cake is a lie.
> [@ibid](#):
>
> Feminist Gamer’s “Mighty Ponygirl” rings in diplomatically, suggesting a new way to play the game altogether.
I bet she’s just chomping at the bit to offer her ideas. Do we want to gambol on her plans?
> [@Mighty Ponygirl](#):
>
> Oh, but that’s not as “cute” as cake and fat chicks. Right.
Something spurred that neighgative remark.
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### Author:  [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2008, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-princess-game-offends-women-gamers/458082/4 "2008-07-29T15:52:28Z")
Read the article, saw the pictures.
Some days, it just ain’t worth chewing through the straps. _sigh_ ☹
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### Author:  [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2008, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-princess-game-offends-women-gamers/458082/5 "2008-07-29T16:11:01Z")
Some people think it’s not ok to make fun of fat women. I happen to agree, and usually the Dope agrees too. What is the difference here?
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2008, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-princess-game-offends-women-gamers/458082/6 "2008-07-29T16:16:43Z")
I was going to answer you, but my point is not anything to do with the game. My point is - the “feminists” need to pick their freakin’ battles. Like I said, equality in pay hasn’t been reached, and we’re worried about this shit?
I don’t have a problem with a game making fun of a fat woman that is not real, by the way.
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### Author:  [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2008, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-princess-game-offends-women-gamers/458082/7 "2008-07-29T16:17:50Z")
Sounds like if you want to win the game you need to choose the cake option in the ‘cake or death’ offer. Or maybe it’s ‘cake or capture’ in this case.
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### Author:  [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2008, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-princess-game-offends-women-gamers/458082/8 "2008-07-29T16:21:26Z")
I would have thought feminists would be thrilled about the first game evar in which every female character _wasn’t_ either stick-thin and wllowy _a la_ Square Enix games or 40-22-38 like in everyone else’s games…
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### Author:  [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2008, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-princess-game-offends-women-gamers/458082/9 "2008-07-29T16:34:35Z")
Yeah, while I don’t care for the game concept, I don’t think it’s an issue that is as important as the hoopla would indicate. It does make for good copy, though, which is precisely why it’s in the news. Too bad, because it makes it look like women in general are crying wolf about real and more important problems, when it’s actually a comparatively small number of very strident offenderati stirring the pot here.
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### Author:  [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2008, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-princess-game-offends-women-gamers/458082/10 "2008-07-29T16:39:12Z")
I don’t really give a shit about the game, which looks more like a throwaway Flash creation than an actual next-generation console game–but I did learn two things from the article:
[ul]
[li]There is such a thing as a “feminist gaming site” (two, even!), and[/li][li]The word “heternormative,” which I’ve never heard before, but whose application to this videogame I’m at a loss to understand (they’re pissed because the Fat Princess, in addition to being obese, isn’t a lesbian/transsexual?)[/li][/ul]
I’m guessing the word “heteronormative” is an oft-used hammer in Ms. McEwan’s toolbox, and not especially discerning when it comes to suitable nails.
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### Author:  [@RichS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RichS)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2008, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-princess-game-offends-women-gamers/458082/11 "2008-07-29T16:40:24Z")
The whole thing becomes 10x more hilarious when you Google “Melissa McEwan” and one of the first results is a picture that looks just like the Fat Princess character.
How can I take your cause seriously when you whine about such trivial things? Besides, most of the people playing this game are probably morbidly obese themselves.
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### Author:  [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2008, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-princess-game-offends-women-gamers/458082/12 "2008-07-29T16:50:29Z")
[QUOTE=Harmonious Discord]
I read an article about banned 3 letter combinations on license plates. One state bans MOO because in another state a fat lady sued the state and won, when her regular license plate had it on it by chance. the list is so long it really makes personal plates almost a **mute** point. I would like to see MOO on more license plates. Promote dairy you know.
[/QUOTE]
(bolding mine)
I don’t normally nitpick stuff like this, but in light of the content of your post, I cannot resist:
The word you are looking for there is “moot.” 😃
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### Author:  [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2008, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-princess-game-offends-women-gamers/458082/13 "2008-07-29T16:54:38Z")
[QUOTE=ShadowFacts]
(bolding mine)
I don’t normally nitpick stuff like this, but in light of the content of your post, I cannot resist:
The word you are looking for there is “moot.” 😃
[/QUOTE]
Along with the other half dozen grammatical errors…
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### Author:  [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2008, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-princess-game-offends-women-gamers/458082/14 "2008-07-29T16:56:03Z")
I don’t know, there is something kinda hot about feeding cake to a princess.
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### Author:  [@CaerieD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaerieD)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2008, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-princess-game-offends-women-gamers/458082/15 "2008-07-29T17:03:26Z")
I thought it was a **moo** point?
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### Author:  [@Mahna\_Mahna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahna_Mahna)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2008, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-princess-game-offends-women-gamers/458082/16 "2008-07-29T17:05:58Z")
[standard feminist response]
THAT’S NOT FUNNY!!!
[/sfr]
:rolleyes:
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### Author:  [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2008, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-princess-game-offends-women-gamers/458082/17 "2008-07-29T17:15:11Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika]
I was going to answer you, but my point is not anything to do with the game. My point is - the “feminists” need to pick their freakin’ battles. Like I said, equality in pay hasn’t been reached, and we’re worried about this shit?
[/QUOTE]
They’re not exactly Everyfeminists (as if they exist), they run gaming sites for women. This _is_ their battleground. And honestly, whatever inequality someone complains about can be dismissed by highlighting a more pressing or dire situation.
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### Author:  [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2008, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-princess-game-offends-women-gamers/458082/18 "2008-07-29T17:19:10Z")
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright]
I would have thought feminists would be thrilled about the first game evar in which every female character _wasn’t_ either stick-thin and wllowy _a la_ Square Enix games or 40-22-38 like in everyone else’s games…
[/QUOTE]
Yeah, as a self-described fat feminist, that was my reaction. Damn, I wish I could win every game by eating cake!
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### Author:  [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2008, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-princess-game-offends-women-gamers/458082/19 "2008-07-29T17:24:13Z")
It’s a bit annoying how articles like this try to make it seem like every feminist is crying out against this–or even gives a shit. I certainly don’t. I have other stuff to worry about–like, for example, how every time a woman dares complain about something, she’s considered hysterical, overreacting, or overly emotional.
Has anyone brought up the feeder angle yet? I would think that would be something people would mention. And since the concept artist is female, as the articles say, what about her views?
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2008, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-princess-game-offends-women-gamers/458082/20 "2008-07-29T17:26:03Z")
[QUOTE=Cat Fight]
They’re not exactly Everyfeminists (as if they exist), they run gaming sites for women. This _is_ their battleground. And honestly, whatever inequality someone complains about can be dismissed by highlighting a more pressing or dire situation.
[/QUOTE]
Oh, I know. 🙂 Partly the writer is to blame, too. But I can’t really fault him…it is such a silly thing to be upset about. For years women games have been mad because as RNATB says, the women have all been models of inhuman perfection, now it’s because they’re fat?
**Turnip** : There are also _female_ gamer sites out there. I have looked at a few of them, but honestly, I never saw much difference between them and the other game sites.
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