GAMBIT Game Lab created a prototype of a video game called, A Closed World. The game was created in response to the lack of LGBTQ related material in the video game world.

In this game, the player is in control of a character who explores a forest that is known to have demons lurking in it. In order to overcome the difficulties of having a “prohibited relationship,” your character must battle the demons. The demons attack by forcing their beliefs on you, and you fight back by defying their views on love and the “ideal” relationship. Your only weapons are logic, passion, ethics and remaining calm. By using these weapons, you will be able to defeat the demons and rewrite the definition of a “normal relationship.”

After I read about this game, I was amazed I never thought that a video game would be created with an LGBTQ related theme. The video games that I grew up around always had characters with heterosexual relationships. I mean the closest I’ve ever gotten to seeing an LGBTQ theme in a video game was when I made my two female Sims characters get married. I never thought that someone would create an LGBTQ-friendly video game, but now something new is emerging.

I believe that A Closed World is going to be a trendsetter in the gaming community, and it is a significant step in making the very close-minded world we live in more open.

—Mereia Alston-Torres, 16, Staff Writer

The gender roles in the Mario Bros. video game franchise have always been pretty traditional. On one hand, you have the bumbling heroes, and on the other the seemingly competent princesses who always get themselves into trouble and then rely on the men to rescue them.

Not anymore. Canadian art student Beth Turnsek of Rolling Rabbit Productions accepted the challenge of swapping the genders of all the Mario Bros. characters and did the job admirably.

Turnsek has turned Princess Peach into Prince Peach, who appears to be someone straight out of a Disney movie, while Lady Mario—a female version of Mario—looks like a tough-as-nails mother, one who can save the world, then turn around to scold you, because if she’s told you once, she’s told you a million times to tuck in your shirt. And shy, socially awkward Lady Luigi is absolutely adorable.

What I would like to see, having now seen the design concept for the characters, is a full-fledged story (if not an entire video game) featuring these characters. Would Prince Peach need to rescue Lady Mario from the menacing Lady Wario? Or would the charming Prince Peach be the one kidnapped? Now that would be interesting.

And whether the world gets a whole new spin on Super Mario Bros. (Super Mario Sisters?) from these characters or not, at least I have a sweet Halloween costume this year.

—Taylor McCabe, 19, Contributor

Cleavage-busting corset? Check. Skimpy bottoms? Check.

When most people think of battle gear, they think of sturdy breastplates and heavy chainmail that cover the body from head to toe for extra protection. What they do not think of are the cleavage-busting corsets, skin-tight armor and skimpy bottoms that make up the outfits of most female video game fighting characters.

Nowadays, it seems as if the only requirement for video game heroines is an impossibly voluptuous figure, complete with a tiny waist, mile-long legs and watermelon breasts larger than the woman’s head. In fact, most of the female characters in popular series, such as Dead or Alive, Soul Calibur and Grand Theft Auto, “don’t amount to much more than a pair of breasts with some hair on top,” writes 1up.com blogger Scott Sharkey.

Video game creators promote this sexualized ideal of women through revealing costumes, which end up doing more to hinder than help female characters in battle. Check out this video of real women fighting—or at least trying to fight—while wearing outfits inspired by popular games. The results are rather revealing, to say the least.

Unlike female characters, male characters are usually covered with heavy metal armor showing very little skin, which makes sense, since they are engaging in life-or-death combat. What doesn’t make sense is the double standard that exists in costumes designed for men and women. The skimpy female outfits only perpetuate the idea that women should be seen as bouncing sex objects—and nothing more. Wouldn’t it be great to see strong female heroines wearing real protective armor without having to be sexy vixens—as if that’s what makes them “real” women?

—Cynthia Lam, 17, Staff Writer

via Sociological Images

Did you know that each year 1 in 4 teens reports verbal, physical, emotional or sexual abuse from a dating partner? Sadly, many teens mistake dating violence for behavior they think is normal in a relationship. But there’s nothing normal about abuse.

JenniferAnn.org has launched the 2009 Life. Love. Game Design Challenge to raise awareness about teen dating violence. Are you an an aspiring game designer? Then use your skills to enter the contest. Check out last year’s grand-prize winner, and see if you can beat the game!

Barack Obama said a few times during his campaign that we need to “put the video games away.” But what if playing a video game could actually improve education and prevent the spread of AIDS?

There’s a new multi-player PC game being launched in Kenya called Pamoja Mtaani, which means “together in the hood” in Swahili. Players follow the stories of five main characters. And through puzzles, missions and mini-games, they learn about behaviors that reduce the risk of getting HIV, like proper condom use and getting tested. The game creators even included local hip-hop music, celebrities and fashion to make the experience feel authentic to Kenyan teens. Click the image below to check out video trailers that introduce the game’s characters.

The idea of playing a video game to learn about HIV/AIDS sounds pretty cool. Do you think your sex ed classes would be more fun if you could learn about topics like pregnancy and STDs by playing video games?