In defence of Duke Nukem

[ARWINGCOMMANDER 3987]

Starting with Duke Nukem 3D in 1996 a lot of people have been calling Duke Nukem a misogynist playboy. Why? Because there are moments in Duke Nukem 3D that allow the PLAYER to kill the female characters Duke's supposed to be saving from alien invaders.

Yes, the PLAYER shoots defenseless strippers and girls used to birth aliens. That makes Duke misogynist. Makes PERFECT sense! *rolling eyes*

For goodness sakes, Duke's nothing more than a video game character. It's not Duke shooting up bound and gagged women, it's the jackass player who uses Duke to shoot them. It's the same situation with every playable main character in every video game.

Duke is purely just a jab at 80s action heroes like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. The players' choices aren't the same as the character's.

[Nope.]

And?

Mphf... while I know that you're not a bad person, I noticed that, most of the times, you totally miss the point.

We already know that. I don't think anyone ever "attacked" the Duke here.

Almost everyone loves Duke Nukem, but not everyone loves Duke Nukem Forever, and it's perfectly understandable. DNF is a "meh" game, especially after 12 years of development.

Also, the 2001 trailer showed a DNF that was even better than what the gamers actually got this year.

WARNING: THE CONTENTS OF THIS VIDEO COULD BE DISTURBING/GROSS/WHATEVER FOR SOMEONE.

[ARWINGCOMMANDER 3987]

This isn't about me, it's about Duke. I didn't say anybody on SF-O was attacking Duke, this is about people in general who think he's misogynist. He's not. He's just a trigger happy hedonist.

[Nope.]

This isn't about me, it's about Duke. I didn't say anybody on SF-O was attacking Duke, this is about people in general who think he's misogynist. He's not. He's just a trigger happy hedonist.

Oh. I thought you were talking about something that happened here. My bad ( lol, funny, I'm the one here that missed the point here then... it must be the high temperature, no other explanation of why I messed up so much these days... >.> ).

Quoting Allan G. Johnson ( lol wikipedia ):

"Misogyny is manifested in many different ways, from jokes to pornography to violence to the self-contempt women may be taught to feel for their own bodies."

I'm no expert, so I'm not sure about that, but if this guy is correct, even making a joke could be considered misogyny.

[ARWINGCOMMANDER 3987]

Well let me ask them this then: If Duke really was misogynist, why is he still irresistible to women everywhere? Why does he sleep with so many women? If he didn't like women why would he act out on his appetite for women?

[kkstarfox]

Well let me ask them this then: If Duke really was misogynist, why is he still irresistible to women everywhere? Why does he sleep with so many women? If he didn't like women why would he act out on his appetite for women?

You ever see the show Two and a Half Men? Charlie Sheen plays the classic misogynist. And he gets a lot of women. Its not always that they hate women but fear them. By sleeping with all these women he somehow justifies or conquers his fears. IN that sense Duke Nukem is not a misogynist but a womanizer.

[Vy'drach]

Remember that the females in Duke Nukem 3D that were taken prisoner wanted to die, only the N64 remake that toned down some of the stuff in the game made it possible to save them, and also turned Steroids into "Vitamin X" and made the porno shop into gunstore (which oddly enough still have the viewing booths in the back). The N64 version did have a lot more easter eggs though.

[ARWINGCOMMANDER 3987]

Remember that the females in Duke Nukem 3D that were taken prisoner wanted to die, only the N64 remake that toned down some of the stuff in the game made it possible to save them, and also turned Steroids into "Vitamin X" and made the porno shop into gunstore (which oddly enough still have the viewing booths in the back). The N64 version did have a lot more easter eggs though.

There's no such thing as "wanting to die". It's a form of mental illness induced by trauma or medical problems, but in Duke Nukem 3D's case it was trauma.

[kkstarfox]

The Pod girls, as they were called in Duke Nukem 3D and DN Forever were inject with alien egg spores. That measn they had alien spores inside their belly. They were either going to die violently by explosion, giving birth to alien scum, or duke nukem could choose to put them out of their misery. So yeah wanting death may be an illness, but i think they were justified in that aspect.

[ARWINGCOMMANDER 3987]

The Pod girls, as they were called in Duke Nukem 3D and DN Forever were inject with alien egg spores. That measn they had alien spores inside their belly. They were either going to die violently by explosion, giving birth to alien scum, or duke nukem could choose to put them out of their misery. So yeah wanting death may be an illness, but i think they were justified in that aspect.

Really they wished that the whole thing could have been avoided. But you're right, they were screwed either way.

Duke: Those alien bastards will pay for what happened to our babes.

[Redeemer]

There's no such thing as "wanting to die". It's a form of mental illness induced by trauma or medical problems

Wait, what?

[Xortberg]

There's no such thing as "wanting to die". It's a form of mental illness induced by trauma or medical problems, but in Duke Nukem 3D's case it was trauma.

Bullshit.

want:

–verb (used with object)

1.

to feel a need or a desire for; wish for: to want one's dinner; always wanting something new.

So feeling a need or desire to die is impossible? Yeah, I find that highly unlikely. Maybe you should think your points through a little bit before you post.

As for Duke's alleged misogyny, first I must ask where is your proof of these claims? Not saying no one calls him that, because it's a pretty fair assessment to make of the character IMO, but you just said something and didn't provide any examples or proof whatsoever. I'm not going to argue for or against, since I feel this whole topic is pointless and the only reason I posted was your bullshit claim that I quoted, but it does irk me that you didn't provide any examples.

[Vy'drach]

Duke actually doesn't strike me as a misogynist, as to me he feels women are the worthwhile aspects of humanity (and himself), and the women he kills say, "Kill me..." and I'm sure I've heard him say, "Damn it!" upon having to kill them.

There's no such thing as "wanting to die". It's a form of mental illness induced by trauma or medical problems, but in Duke Nukem 3D's case it was trauma.

That's a rather contradictory statement, as if there is no such thing, then there's nothing to be caused by trauma or medical problems.

There are plenty of times where someone will want to die, such as terminally ill patients. The women in Duke Nukem were essentially raped by ugly ass aliens, and are going to die a horrific, unavoidable death because of it, and birth new aliens as a result. I can't imagine someone wanting that to happen, with the exception of some strange cult zealot. Most people would want a faster, much more painless death, at the hands of another human, especially if that prevented the birth of new aliens.

[Drasiana]

The reason people consider the series to be misogynist is because of its portrayal of women as either sexual objects or cannon fodder. Its over-the-top, parodical nature doesn't make it much of an issue to me but it's not too far off to say that it's a popular gender role for the genre; something that IS rather grating.

Also, don't feel the need to "defend" Duke. His feeling aren't hurt over this.

[Guest Mr. Nintendo]

Also, don't feel the need to "defend" Duke. His feeling aren't hurt over this.

Because if I recall correctly... he's got "Ballz of Steel.", yes?

[Vulvokunvrii]

So? So what if he shoot defensless people? HES A FUCKING VIDEO GAME CHARACTER!!! PURE FICTION!!! If hes getting flak for that, then they might as well sue or shoot flak at ALL the Call of Duties, Prototype, Fallout 3 and New Vegas, hell ANY War or viiolent game of this age. Hell, even me for making a picture of the Hecu Marines Lynching Gordan Freeamn and the youtube video i made for my Language arts class (if you want to see it let em know). Its just fictional fantasy, scifi stuff. Look at AVP3, if you are an alien, you actually literally can anally rape a

Colonial Marine npc or player, if you are a predator, you can rip people's headsoff and get some spurting blood. Its just pure unadulterated violence. Violence and destruction exisits and will exsisit as long as time exisits. THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT. what is this world coming to? seriously.

[Deploy]

ALL the Call of Duties

Yeah. Why didn't Modern Warfare 2 get flack for making you kill inoccent people in that airport level if they would critisize this game for that?

[Vulvokunvrii]

Yeah. Why didn't Modern Warfare 2 get flack for making you kill inoccent people in that airport level if they would critisize this game for that?

OR the stuff in Black ops. You make a guy swallow glass for Pete's sake! Or in COD 4, you witness and hear Good 'ol Captain Price beat hte tar out of Al-Asad, and then shoot him. Or in Modern Warfare 2, you get Burned alive by Shephard's PMC of Shadow Company, or as Soup you and price sneak up on the mercs at Hotel Bravo and slit their throats/strangle them and you see the guy looking at you and then his eyes go limp. the list is endless. If you want to throw flak at Nukem, you will have to try ALOT harder video game critics. ALOT HARDER.

[Drasiana]

They aren't criticizing the violence in general (well, some might be), they're criticizing the gender roles in the game.

[Vulvokunvrii]

They aren't criticizing the violence in general (well, some might be), they're criticizing the gender roles in the game.

AAAAND? What do they propse to do? This is waht i say to think when i hear the game being criticised for that: To bad, so dad and,

If they had a problem with that, they should have tackled that BEFORE the game came out.

[Xortberg]

Reynard, you're getting entirely too upset about this whole deal. Your arguments are consisting basically of you shouting that you're right and the other side needs to shut the fuck up. Remember, this is the Counter Point. Please either stop posting ragerants, or put some thought into your posts from here on out.

Also, using videos and image macros in the 'Point is generally frowned upon.

Your whole argument, to be quite honest, seems to be something akin to a fan of the series getting pissed because someone didn't like it - also known as being butthurt. I mean, let's look at what little substance your post had:

AAAAND? What do they propse to do? This is waht i say to think when i hear the game being criticised for that: To bad, so dad and, shut the fuck up.

Yeah, so you're basically saying that people who think Duke is a misogynist aren't allowed to state their opinions. Hey, aren't you also that big, pro American guy? The one whose argument shouldn't attempt to flout the First Amendment? Just saying.

Now, as to this:

If they had a problem with that, they should have tackled that BEFORE the game came out.

How can the people criticizing a game do something before said game comes out? It's not like they're on the dev team or anything, so their power is entirely limited. That said, I'm still waiting for AC to post examples of people complaining about this sort of thing in Duke Nukem, because his opening post is entirely devoid of any evidence whatsoever.

[Vulvokunvrii]

Well, done Journalists and all those people get a sneak peek to the games before their release? If not, they should try it. Poepl should analyse the games before they come out. But, its just game, people who like that kind of stuff buy it. And yes, the First Amendment shoudn't be trifled with, but still, some just complain that it sbad for our youth and stuff like that. They will eventually be exposed to it somewhere in their lives, or be exposed to something just like it (unless they are sheltered). I mean, they (both sides, those who dont oppose the game's ethics and those who do oppose it) shhould sit down toghtether and discuss it a little better. coem up with a compromise and such. because the it goes into controversy and all that stuff. But nothing is perfect right?

[Xortberg]

Thanks for taking my advice and chilling out

Well, done Journalists and all those people get a sneak peek to the games before their release? If not, they should try it. Poepl should analyse the games before they come out.

Yes, they do get sneak peeks. The ones who like it usually aren't the ones later saying "MISOGYNY! DEVIIIIIL!" That's the people who didn't like it to begin with, and are doing all they realistically can to oppose what they disagree with.

But, its just game, people who like that kind of stuff buy it.

Yes. And people who dislike that kind of stuff will not buy it/speak out against it.

And yes, the First Amendment shoudn't be trifled with, but still, some just complain that it sbad for our youth and stuff like that. They will eventually be exposed to it somewhere in their lives, or be exposed to something just like it (unless they are sheltered).

I'm not going to turn this into a debate over games and youth, but keep in mind that at younger ages kids are far more impressionable. A 10 year old kid playing Duke Nukem is far more likely to let the game influence his views on women than a 20 year old. It's not a matter of if they're exposed to things, but when.

[ARWINGCOMMANDER 3987]

Can all of you just shut it? You're filling this thread with more drama than what we hear on the news.

I was trying to "defend" Duke Nukem because he was such a popular character back in the day, and the franchise needs help after Duke Nukem Forever.

want:

–verb (used with object)

1.

to feel a need or a desire for; wish for: to want one's dinner; always wanting something new.

So feeling a need or desire to die is impossible? Yeah, I find that highly unlikely. Maybe you should think your points through a little bit before you post.

What you say here makes it sound like your advocating for suicide. Have you any idea how much crap has happened in real life because of that? We're not even sure if there's an afterlife, and you'd encourage something like letting people jump to their deaths? Wanting something is nothing compared to needing something.

Nobody NEEDS to die, it just happens anyway because we get too old or sick.

[Vulvokunvrii]

Well, we cant always regulate what everyone is being exposed to, that would go against our ethics as a "Free" country and people. Which is, admittedly on eof our problems. We look to please, but we dont know who the right people to restrain and leave alone are. We cant wathc one side, but not the other its like trying to do the splits: You can get one leg down, but not the other without painful reprecussions. But *shrugs* waht can you do? People who are against stuff like that or jus love to disagree with whatever they want won't be sated (i think i spelled that word correctly), until whatever they hate is put down, and never spoke of again. Those are people know as "hard-asses" or something. But who can really speak out against the human mind without breaking a few eggs? Its just really hard to remain secure and have EVERYONe happy. Its just not completly possible as of yet.