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The Border House is a blog for gamers. It's a blog for those who are feminist, queer, disabled, people of color, transgender, poor, gay, lesbian, and others who belong to marginalized groups, as well as allies. Our goal is to bring thoughtful analysis to gaming with a feminist viewpoint and up-to-date news on games, virtual worlds, and social media.Discussion Policy
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Category Archives: Console Games
Dragon’s Crown — Basically ‘Boobs & Butts: The Game’
Sometimes, you see an artistic interpretation of anatomy that just defies all expectations. One that makes you wish that everyone else on the internet could experience it along with you. Today that title is Dragon’s Crown, an upcoming 2D “multiplayer … Continue reading
Posted in Console Games, Handheld Games
Tagged atlus, boobs, character design, dragons crown, escher girls, sexism
5 Comments
In Medias Res
[Author's note: This is a follow-up to my first post on The Border House. There are many ways to transition and not all of them involve hormones. While I want to share my journey, I don't want my transition to be … Continue reading
All Skulls On: Teaching Intersectionality through Halo
“Let me just close the door so the other instructors don’t find out I’m letting you play Halo,” I joked to my Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies 100 class. I knew I was taking a risk on this teaching activity. I was … Continue reading
Posted in Console Games, General Gaming
Tagged class, disability, gender identity, halo, halo:reach, intersectionality, male privilege, privilege, race, sexual orientation, teaching, women's studies
51 Comments
First Impressions: Transistor and Remember Me
Last month, I had the chance to check out a few upcoming games at PAX East. Since the lines for everything were quite long, I prioritized two that featured playable female characters: Supergiant Games’ recently announced Transistor, and Dontnod’s Remember … Continue reading
Posted in Console Games, General Gaming
Tagged capcom, dontnod entertainment, female protagonists, remember me, supergiant games, transistor
16 Comments
Privacy and the PS4
Christina González is a TAB bicultural Latina. Growing up as a poor gamer with a disabled mother, she naturally gravitates toward social justice and culture topics, as well as community-related issues. She may be found over at christinagonzalez.net or join … Continue reading
What I Saw at PAX East 2013: Female Protagonists!
At PAX East 2012, the only game I played with a female character was Borderlands 2. I did play a couple of games with a first-person POV with no emphasis on gender, but I encountered a serious lack of female … Continue reading
Posted in Console Games, General Gaming, Indie Games, Mobile Games, PC Games
Tagged capcom, Charlie Murder, Compulsion Games, Contrast, Divekick, dontnod entertainment, female protagonists, Giant Spacekat, Iron Galaxy Studios, Journal, Lords of New York, Lunchtime Studios, Melissa Royall, PAX East 2013, remember me, Revolution 60, richard perrin, Ska Studios, Spooky Squid Games, supergiant games, They Bleed Pixels, transistor
12 Comments
Bioshock Infinite: Open Thread
Bioshock Infinite released this week, and I know I’m not the only one playing this game. I actually went in just about completely blind aside from watching a couple of trailers — so I was completely shocked and blown away … Continue reading
“That girl is kicking our asses!”: Tomb Raider’s (Lack of) Gendered Power Plays
The firefights in Tomb Raider are intense and brutal. There are many scenes where Lara is pinned down behind a splintered barrel or crate, shooting and ducking and shooting again at upwards of ten armed enemies, half of whom are … Continue reading
Posted in Console Games, Virtual Worlds
Tagged characters, female characters, feminism, lara croft, sexism, tomb raider, women
7 Comments
No Excuses: It’s Time for More Female Protagonists
If the game design of 2009′s Velvet Assassin were half as interesting as its history, I might be able to bring myself to play beyond the first mission. Velvet Assassin is loosely based on the story of Violette Szabo, a … Continue reading
Posted in Console Games, General Gaming, PC Games
Tagged assassin's creed, character design, characters, diversity, game industry, gears of war, gender, grand theft auto, Velvet Assassin, women
67 Comments
Sexism and Power Dynamics in Breath of Fire 4
Recently, I’ve started replaying Breath of Fire 4, a game I remember affectionately. Like many, my video game diet growing up was rich in JRPGs and, while the genre tends to offer little more than empty carbs anymore, it’s fun … Continue reading
Posted in Console Games
Tagged breath of fire, breath of fire 4, capcom, rape culture, sexism
9 Comments