Hidden problem: So discriminatory can be trophies and successes on PS4 / PS4 & Xbox

Attention! This article deals with topics such as sexual assaults and abuse.

Achievements and trophies have changed video games. For over 15 years, they have been spurred to us, even with the longest games to the end of Dranzu to remain in order to turn the last stone or master the most difficult battles. Everything to be able to get satisfied with the highest possible gamerscore or a lush collection of platinum trophies. Anyone who likes to focus on the hunt for them, but inevitably encourages titles that bind their virtual rewards to questionable challenges.

Intersexuality is not hidden

The most recent example is Nier: Replicant, the remake of the first kingdom. Only this year it falls negatively with a success called "daredevil". For that we have to "risk ten times, head and collar to ventilate someone's secret." Specifically, the game requires to look for protagonist Kainé ten times between the legs.

Public criticism is already followed by publication. "Daredevil" is unnecessary and disrespectful. The reason: Kainé is InterSex. She has a female listed body and male genitals.

"The AchievementText draws Kainé's body as something that needs to be hidden, and negates much of its developments that make it a figure to take care of whose fate," Journalist Jade King annoys.

And it is true. The residents * inside by Kainés village, the aerie, insult them for their body, among other things as a freak, and abuse physically. Kaine therefore leaves the aerie; Mostly reverses only as reluctantly as anxious to shop for their weakening adoptive sized nut.

The resulting trauma, its processing and the self-effective self-timing dance are centrally located for Kainé's character. They also flow into one of the big questions from Nier (Replicant): Does the body decide on identity and human being? So the Achievement Players forces players to an action that is in conflict in every way with the title messages.

A problem with tradition

Even before "daredevil", an offensive achievement in the Nier series ensures negative impact lines. Nier: Automata, which appeared four years earlier, calls for success "What are you doing?" Players on, ten times under the skirt of the protagonist - this time the Androidin 2B - to look.

In contrast to replicant, the trophy does not collide with 2BS character or the motives of the action because it does not deal with gender identities. For this, she suffers from another problem that also applies to replicant.

The successes objectify Cainé and 2b. They are reduced to their bodies, as rewards wave, if they are just offensively staring enough. In addition, they convey women to be built in general, especially if they defend themselves. Because Kainé and 2b push the camera, and thus the players * inside, after every successful attempt visibly disturbed away.

To stare on breasts is rewarded

Nier: Automata and replicant are not the only games to object women via trophies. They are not the first one either. The A asura's Wrath appeared in 2012 offers the trophy "View on the valley" when we stared long enough to the breasts of one of the servants.

If we turn off the achievement, inform us about its description in the German version sober that we have to starine a staff several times. It looks different in the English version. "Give you your male instincts," it says there.

This is problematic for two reasons. Basically, it seems as the Achievement all men mistakenly referenced as a drive controlled. But more important is: The text implies, abandoned behavior is a male predisposition. This is gaining the conscious deeds of excavated men in everyday life.

What sounds disproportionately sharp criticism for a achievement is the basis for a very real problem: Rape Culture. If women do not want to objectually objectify - or abused in the worst - they are not to dress liberate, so the common argument. Preventing, that's your task. But that even non-friendly clothing does not provide protection against sexualized violence has long been occupied.

Digital voyeurism, packed as provided

In the same year Lollipop Chainsaw also reward his players for digital voyeurism. The game promises 10 gamerscore or a bronze trophy for a look at the underwear of chainsaws swinging cheerleader and heroine Juliet Starling. The name of the success: "Honest, it was a mistake!" One attempt to designate the camera pivot between Juliets legs as a slip-up.

Theoretically, the plausible is. "Only" a look is enough, he could happen accidentally. But the name works well and debt dismissive. Free according to the motto: "Do not be so, it was not that meant." And as in Nier: Automata and Replicant is the fundamental problem to reward players at all - no matter how often you have to look under a skirt.

The list of examples could be continued. God of War: Ascension had about a trophy called "Bros Before Hos". It is automatically unlocked after KRATOS survives a furene attack together with Orcos, son of Ares. The eponymous saying, according to the male friends are more important than women, refers secondary derogation as "whores" and thus operates Slutshaming. After a criticism Sony called the trophy at least in "Bros Before Foes".

Achievements and trophies should not receive a free ticket

But why do the criticism, both at God of War and on the other? Achievements and trophies are finally only rewards. They do not influence their games directly. Some are even optional and hidden, so you must be consciously searched or found by experimentation. Besides, there are only video games and no real attacks.

But that's exactly the reason. Just because they seem so unimportant, indifference is easy. Inappropriate names and descriptions are then uncommented; The corresponding actions are still considered to be amendable.

That they are only virtual, is irrelevant, because video games are not emerging in vacuo. Someone has to have the idea for a success like "daredevil" from Nier: replicant, name it, describe, program, and then absorb it. This does not accidentally happen.

So games reflect quickly real discriminatory thoughts. If Gaming should be an inclusive room for all, the criticism of such supposed little things should not be missing. Because no matter how harmless you find the successes: Discrimination is not 15 gamerscore worth.

This article is part of our hero * interior theme week , which is still running until 8 August 2021 and presented you daily exciting new articles around the topic of video game characters. All items of the hero * Indoor Theme Week can be found here in the overview.