Ok let’s get this rolling, you all know that I know there are a lot of beautiful women that play games and can roll the boys over while filing their nails at the same time.  We all know that many girls like to maintain their feminism while playing, and you can now at least hear the giggling in the halls of a tournament circuit the same as you can the guys screaming at each other.  Girl gaming has made a big giant step forward in the last few years as we have seen the integration of the sexes more and more in every aspect of gaming.  The Frag Dolls are going to the World Series of Video Games, and we’ll be competing in the Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter tournament right alongside the guys.  No “girls against girls” stuff here!

I have been a big promoter of the World Series of Video Games as I am one happy camper there is now a Pro-Circuit for the consoles mixed in with the “elite” PC kids, and one that is playing MULTIPLE MAJOR TITLES YAY!!! Seriously, I’m so happy I can almost give up my DS for a week- almost. But then I find buried in the news articles on the WSVG site some “festivals’.  “Cool”, I think, “ They are giving us gamers something FUN to do during the down time, hip hip hurray- Then the words “Beauty Contest” jump screaming into my face:

“A further festive experience will be Saturday’s beauty pageant, with contestants competing for the title of Miss World Series of Video Games.  The contest includes cash prizes and an all expense trip to the championship event (November 2006) where they will compete with the winners of the regional events to be crowned.  In addition, the winner will be featured in a new video game.” -the World Series of Video Games

$%##@!#! Is all I have to say, what the heck is this crap?  How is a Miss WSVG being crowned based on a beauty contest and has nothing to do with gaming? WOW guys, you let me down on this one severely, and I know I am not going to be the only female gamer to think this.  In fact, I suspect I represent the majority on this one.  I was bitching with my sister about what the hell this was, and asked her to send an email to the guys since we know them from before and they are great guys (I really do know they are great guys, just don’t understand why they think this is ok except for the fact that they are guys!) Anyway their response was a nicely written correction that it has nothing to do with female gamers and is simply a model hunt and they would never run contests that show female gamers in any other light then professional.

Now I believe them when they say that, but point of fact is this contest has the title of a PROFESSIONAL GAMING CIRCUIT attached to it, and they don’t think that associates it with female gaming? Not to mention all the other “festival” activities are gaming related except a contest for the hottest chick?  AT LEAST GIVE ME A MR. WORLD SERIES OF GAMING, guys! Then at least it’s equal.  Not to mention the last of my rant would say this: if it is true that this has nothing to do with girl gamers then that means that you are marketing to regular women to come do this- which means you would rather give the title of Miss WSVG to a girl that is not even a gamer?  Why not reevaluatethis contest and do something that would make this event more positive like have a real contest for girl gamers based on all things: a complete package that includes gaming skill and knowledge. Please don’t do something like this that is based on looks and tied to a video game PROFESSIONAL tournament.

Anyway that ends my rant. Games Media, I love you guys and love everything else your doing and thank you for it, but I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t say something to my communities about something I find offensive. I’m calling for a boycott of this event for PMS and Frag Doll communities; hope you’re with me ladies. Let’s make sure to show we DON’T support contests that are based on looks but appear to be based on gaming, but the World Series of Video Games is doing fantastic stuff and we want to support them.

If you’re going to the event, make sure you register for the ClancyCon section of the BYOC.  It’s the same as the rest of BYOC except you get FREE STUFF!  Who wouldn’t want that?  Ubisoft giving away free copies of Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter for PC, and free t-shirts designed by Penny Arcade.  That’s how you know they love us gamers.