Xenogears and eating disorders?

[Jojee]

I think Xenogears is setting a bad example for the more gullible kids and teenagers playing the game.

For example, look at Elly. She's eighteen years old, a grown woman. She's 5'6". And she's 101 lbs. That's around 44.something kg, kids. How is that even possible? Especially considering that she fights, she must have some muscle mass in there. I'd say that this is highly improbable, if not impossible.

My point is, what is Square trying to tell the kids, through Xenogears? That they, too, must be 5'6" and 101 lbs? The increasing amount of eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia, to name a few, are largely due to television and games and models, etc. Do you think that video gaming companies should be setting a better example by making more plausible characters, for their easily influenced audience?

Discuss.

[Raistlin]

Yeah, but Elly's hot.

[krissy]

she's not really that hot. lara croft is hotter.

[Jojee]

You guys, this is a serious topic.

[Doomgaze]

People in anime tend to be unrealistically light and tall. They're like barbie dolls.

EDIT: If you're really worried, though, just take her to Bledavik or Nortune and gorge her with food.

[Jojee]

I don't advocate barbie dolls either :-\ I think society needs to make more realistic models so that we can show kids that they are attractive even if they don't weigh 101 lbs at 5'6".

[Kawaii Ryûkishi]

There's also that whole weight system in the game; you can check your characters' weight in the nurse's room on the Yggdrasil and all. Definitely inspiring insecurities.

[nik0tine]

For example, look at Elly. She's eighteen years old, a grown woman. She's 5'6". And she's 101 lbs. That's around 44.something kg, kids. How is that even possible?

It's possible. Im at least 5'9 and weigh around 110 pounds.

[Doomgaze]

Yeah, you can give yourself quite a large Bartweiser gut

[Roogle]

Video game characters are very oddly proportioned. Final Fantasy is notorious for this, especially the earlier ones like Final Fantasy IV. Cecil weighs like 120 lbs. or something.

[Azure Chrysanthemum]

Look at Emeralda's weight. She most certainly is NOT anorexic.

Just looking at Elly though, I would probably guess her weight higher. And as far as the fighting, really the expectation is that she's just using her spells so she's not getting THAT much of a workout.

[DocFrance]

Doesn't Emerelda weigh 200+ pounds?

[Wiegrahf42]

Thats a general trend in Games and anime. Remember Kid from Chrono Cross? She was probably taller then that and weighed about 99 kilos. I looked at her in each cutscene and thought " Eat something, just looking at you makes me feel malnourished". I don't see how society finds this Hollow-eyed waif look attractive, though I don't see society's logic in many areas.

[Strawberry Gashes]

...I honestly doubt that Squaresoft was trying to tell the consumers that they should start eating tofu for the rest of their lives to reach Elly's supposed weight. xDDD

[DocFrance]

Who knew -Drive- was also a weight-loss drug?