Now, I have the outmost respect for IO Interactive, and I really am looking forward to put my hands on their latest pumped-up action-packed shooter, Kane & Lynch, but they really need to look where they’re going when we’re talking about targeting their sponsorships. As Game Girl Advance points out, it may be the male species, that predominantly throws themselves over a shooter, but this Playboy advert may scare away potential female gamers (yes, they actually do exsist), which is a great shame. It also broadens the gap between genres and gender even further.

Now, I may exaggerate, but it’s the small things that count, and while I am certainly not implying that any game developer shouldn’t sponsor companies like Playboy, I’m merely suggesting that they are on the lookout for potential disruptions in their customer base. Such things spread widely, and IOI shouldn’t end up becoming the company ‘that only makes games for 30-something white males’. We need a game developer, that dares to broaden their horizons. Not creating games only for women – but for both genders alike. It can be done even with genre movies, why not with games? Perfect examples do exist, but we need more. This can also lead to greater ideas, such as Fahrenheit / Indigo Prophecy, Space Channel Five, Shadow of the Colossus / ICO, et al.

With that being said, I’m still waiting for Kane & Lynch with great anticipation. Hey, I’m male, white and 30-something. I can’t help it.

On this day...

... in 2002: Happy dude