Time Fcuk

I would argue that Time Fcuk isn't super flat on the basis that a majority of the tropes on the list didn't register to me as I was playing. Instead I was focusing on what the game was trying to say through its time-travel narrative. While time-travel itself has become a trope, Time Fcuk focuses on building up the idea and trying to say something. The deeper meaning may not have been the intent, but because it registered in my head that the game was trying to say something merits a significance that transcends the super flat. One of the tropes that were in the game was Slipping Sanity, but I feel like it was used to show the conundrum of two selves confronting each other. After grasping the concept of Superflat more, I have to take back a previous statement in a blog posting: Superflat has definitely made its way into the West. When you find yourself excited for something without realizing why you're excited for it because of the marketing, that would be Superflat using ideas you're familiar with to incite a previous response.

Superflat

In most of the Japanese games that I have played there seems to be a child-like wonder and clear cut between "good" and "evil". Most characters in story heavier Japanese games seem to be relatively shallow with only one dimension of their personality to explore. If someone is motivated by revenge, all they talk about is revenge, and if someone wants to find a friend, all they talk about is finding that friend. I don't see this becoming a trend in Western cultures since it would seem like a regressive step for art.

Potter Affinity Spaces

Convergence culture serves as a tool for learning. Harry Potter is an example of creating affinity spaces, in which fans can actively engage in the fantasy worlds they read about. This engagement creates a mutual bond among the fandom that allows them to learn from and teach one another. It's far more liberating than the traditional school system. Through the challenges against Harry Potter from Warner Bros studios and Christian groups, fans of the series also learn more about the world around them.

Video Game Community

Outcries such as these have come to been expected by the internet. While this particular sect of video game culture that doesn't think before they type a post on the internet aren't helping the reputation of the medium, it isn't something that can be easily avoided. Video games as entertainment blossomed at an unfortunate time along with the internet. Because of this, the two technological activities have become synonymous in a way. Internet complaints aren't just restricted to video games, however. It doesn't take long to find mind numbing commentary on television, music, movies, or books. Hopefully the medium will progress further in the upcoming years and distance itself from the seedy recesses of the internet.

Public Opinion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwIfnS1ewgQ&feature=related

I think video games have certainly come a long way in a short period of time. Cases against video game violence are becoming less heard of, and when they do come up they are met with skepticism. When you've got PETA protesting against Mario's Tanooki suit, any side suggesting video games are inappropriate loses a lot of credibility.
The widespread acceptance of video games most likely comes from the most popular titles which are, consequently, violent in nature. Games like Halo and Call of Duty have become staples in pop culture and make video games recognizable rather than this unknown entity. The face of games isn't solely violence, though. There's no denying that the major ambassador between games and the general audience is Nintendo. The Wii is known by everyone, showing up in television shows and small talk.
Games have gone from being the black sheep of entertainment to a form of media equal to others in the common people's eyes.

Diversity in Games

Off the top of my head, I can only think of three gay video game characters. The first is the mayor's boyfriend in Grand Theft Auto IV. He is particularly flamboyant but as you complete his missions he grows loyal to Niko and rewards him with a nice new car for his troubles. Knowing GTA, this gay portrayal was most likely a satire on political figures keeping up certain appearances in the public eye. The boyfriend as a character isn't too groundbreaking, mostly an archetype to fill the quota of the usually outlandish cast.
The other two are Colonel Volgin and his boyfriend Raikov from Metal Gear Solid 3. This relationship isn't explored too fully. Its mostly the groundwork for a joke where Volgin grabs Snake's crotch if he is disguised as Raikov. It's possible that Kojima created Raikov as a response to fan's backlash of the character Raiden since they look almost identical. He takes their complaints of Raiden's effeminate nature and over plays it in the outright homosexual character of Raikov.
The inability to name a substantial gay character in games off the top of my head just tells me that homosexuality is still a taboo most developers aren't willing to address yet. They exist in other media but sometimes are portrayed far too stereotypically. Comic books in particular have fully embraced gay characters, making such events as the coming out of Green Lantern and gay marriages borderline publicity stunts. Overall this implies that the LGBT community is a portrayal to gradually integrate into mass media.

Genders in Games

I feel like the degree of gender roles vary depending on the genre. For instance, I don't play too many RPGs, but I'm well aware of such criticisms as revealing armor for female characters. I have played the God of War games, and in this heavy action series women are degraded into "health bonuses". In other series that are more driven by the story; however, I've noticed multiple female characters that stand out on their own merit. In Uncharted 2, Elena and Chloe are beautifully crafted into one of the few love triangles I've seen that works. But their characters go beyond the romance; they aren't solely defined by their relationship with the hero. Elena is a resourceful reporter that isn't afraid of dabbling into a world of thieves, and Chloe's true loyalty is always in question, perhaps even to herself. One of the Metal Gear Solid series' most iconic characters is the Boss, a tragic figure that sacrifices herself for her country and the man that she loved. This next example is different, but Amaterasu from Okami is another standup female character, one that actually stars in her own game. Being an animal may help her feminine role, because she can't be devolved into an object of sex. Her character would be changed if she were male, however. She takes on a motherly role, the sun goddess that reigns over the land of Nippon. This relationship is explored as you encounter the Celestial Brush Gods throughout the game. Their reverence for Amaterasu extends to the player and she is given a certain air of respect and grace for her nurturing nature.