Girl-like characters in MMORPGs with sexy clothing – why is this a trend? Is that just disgusting?

In many Asian MMORPGs, there are races or classes that appear especially young. In the case of TERA, these are the Elin, a purely female race that has a childlike appearance – even though their story often claims they are centuries old. In Moonlight Blade, there is also the option to represent female characters as young.

Especially in Europe and America, these girl-like characters often lead to discussions. Questions and opinions such as:

• Is this even legal?
• Doesn’t this fall under pedophilic depictions?
• Anyone who plays (or develops) such things must be mentally ill!

  

But where does the term “Loli” characters actually come from? And what is behind it?

“Loli” comes from the Russian novel Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. The novel primarily deals with a pedophilic relationship between the main character and a girl he calls Lolita. The name has become a fixed term – it is found in the “Lolita complex” or in the Japanese manga and anime genre Lolicon.

“Girl-like” characters and sexualization = Lolicon

Basically, one speaks of Lolicon or simply “Loli” when female characters have particularly childlike traits and are highly sexualized. In the context of TERA, this includes particularly revealing clothing for the Elin, and the same applies to the Lyn from Blade & Soul.

The increased presence of such characters and media coverage have led to even “girl” characters that are not sexualized already being referred to as Lolicon. However, this is fundamentally incorrect. Lolicon always refers to the sexualization of girl-like characters (regardless of actual age). But when exactly does sexualization occur is not always easy to recognize, as the boundaries are fluid.

Lolicon in Anime

Large, childlike round eyes are one of the core features of anime and cannot be taken away from these series.

Anime that do not feature this representation are rare – no wonder, the appearance is popular. Even adult women in anime almost always have large eyes. On closer inspection, this results in a group of characters, where the female characters often have eyes that are three or even four times larger than those of the male characters. Yet, anime fans have become so accustomed to this, that it no longer seems unusual but rather consistent.

Similar to MMORPGs, there is often a “Loli” character in anime. This character appears especially young and has “childlike” features – such as a flat chest, a small stature. Interestingly, these features are often combined with “adult” traits – such as long-grown hair, mental maturity, or “adult” intelligence and typical, rather adult emotions (like jealousy or anger). This is already quite similar to the Elin from TERA.

The Baby Schema – An Instinct of Humans

However, another aspect must be considered with Loli characters. The fact that these characters are very popular with many people has biological-instinctive reasons.

There is the principle of the so-called “baby schema”. These are various features that make a face appear more childlike. This includes:

• especially large eyes
• a round head shape
• and the general proportions of the face.

These features lead us to perceive childlike faces as “cute” and “vulnerable”. An inbuilt mechanism of Mother Nature that ensures the offspring is protected among many living beings (not just humans).

There are various research and studies on the topic, but on average, they convey the same message: Men find women more attractive who possess some features of the baby schema. For this, pictures of women were shown to men, adjusting them to the baby schema in 10% increments (0% = “normal” adult woman, 100% = baby schema). The highest attractiveness was reached at about 30% baby schema.

That the baby schema also increases attractiveness in men (from the perspective of women) is, however, controversial. Studies on this come to different conclusions.

Features of the baby schema therefore evoke various feelings that can also be transferred to video games. We care more about “cute” characters – this makes identification with the character easier. At the same time, these features can also make characters more appealing and attractive.

Lolicon in MMORPGs – Food for Pedophiles?

A major accusation often comes from Europe. Races like the Elin exist in the game only to attract “pedophile gamers”. Sometimes the accusations even go further: such characters would even create pedophilic behavior.

From my personal conviction, I would say “No”, because in my opinion sexual orientation – with all its manifestations, whether legal, illegal, or classified as a mental disorder – is not something that can be “trained”. Who and what one finds attractive and desires is, in my opinion, inherently present in a person and largely depends on society in terms of how one is allowed and able to show and live it.

Ultimately, however, one should never forget one thing about all of this. The major MMOs with childlike “Loli” characters are primarily just that: purely virtual games where one plays a foreign role. Even though I personally do not agree with putting Elin in swimsuits and making the skirts so short that they no longer deserve their name, I can ultimately always come to terms with it: It is a game, and there are many factors that cause people to “be into” such things – and the least of that is directly a serious crime.

What is your opinion on these “Loli” races in MMORPGs? Do you like playing them? Do they disturb you massively? Or are they just indifferent to you? And: What do you think of this article?

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The first trailer for Anthem looked stunning. But perhaps a bit too good. Can this really all be true?

At E3, BioWare once again let the cat out of the bag and finally unveiled the mystery of “Project Dylan”. It is now called Anthem, set in a wild world where only the “Freelancers” leave the protection of the wall and venture into the wilderness.

However, the gameplay trailer makes me skeptical. Even though it was recorded in “real-time in-game”, I just don’t believe the trailer. No “pre-alpha footage” looks that incredibly bombastic.

Sure – the behavior of the “players” is completely scripted for the benefit of the trailer, but that is only logical and perfectly fine, so let’s set this aspect aside.

The world is too detailed. My last great “open world” experiences were with Witcher 3. Sure, that has aged as well, but when I see the detail richness of Anthem, with its dense jungle, hundreds (if not thousands) of smaller and larger creatures stomping, crawling, and roaming in herds through the world, I become skeptical.

Furthermore, there is the suggested “destructibility” of the world. One of the huge machines crashes down, taking several trees with it, which break off at different points and later actually lie in the landscape (thus also representing obstacles or providing cover) – that sounds unconvincing to me.

I consider such a technological leap unrealistic

There is a possibility that all the incidents are scripted and only part of this specific mission. Anthem is ambitious and wants to set new standards in many areas, which is generally a good attitude. But I find it completely unrealistic that the game can set the bar as high as it claims in the first trailer.

Finally, the “huge world that you can freely fly through” – sure, a cool feature that also looks bombastic with the shown material. However, reality will later be fast travel points. I can even imagine that, as in many other games, individual areas are instantiated and the “open world” isn’t as vast as it now seems. But that is just a guess.

The danger of disappointment is high after the trailer – But BioWare has a chance

I have bad memories of the first gameplay trailer for “The Division” or even “Watchdogs”. Sure, both have become good games – but comparing the first “in-game gameplay trailers” with the finished product shows that the quality and detail richness have plummeted.

Maybe Anthem is the big exception and will smash all my skepticism and concerns – but BioWare must first prove that.

I am definitely curious about what Anthem will become and convinced that I will play it – but I simply do not believe most aspects of the trailer. To me, this is too good to be true. But I am happy to give BioWare the opportunity to convince me.

But how do you see it? Do you think the finished version of Anthem will look as beautiful? Or is the trailer more smoke and mirrors than an actual product?

P.S.: Does anyone else find it strange that there is legendary loot for a mission where both players must use exactly one skill each?

Whether Anthem remains exclusive to Xbox One X, we reveal in this article.

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