If you’re of the opinion that [feminist] agenda doesn’t belong in games, then, I don’t know, read Gamespot.

Gaming journalist and critic Leigh Alexander, speaking at this week’s Games Now! lecture event in Helsinki, responds to Gamergate members in the audience. (The exchange starts around 58:10):

“The idea that someone can be objective when they’re talking about an emotional creative medium is fallacious, and it is a heritage of product culture, where we believe that there’s one right way to see a game, you put a number on it and you buy it, or not. And I just don’t believe in seeing games that way. There are a number of websites that do, though, so if you’re of the opinion that agenda doesn’t belong in games, then, I don’t know, read Gamespot.

…I’m not trying to change what exists. I think commercial gaming culture will always exist, I hope it does always exist and it should always exist for the people who enjoy it. We’re proposing alternatives, we are making games bigger by adding more to it, and inviting more people to it. By making it broader, by making it reach more people.

…I think we can only benefit by making games more interesting, more sophisticated, and more diverse. It’s not about pushing something artificial into a space that doesn’t want it. It’s about enriching every space with a broader variety of perspectives.”

(via dailydot)