Comments on: “Pretty Pretty Princess”

By: Sealink

Sealink — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 01:30:37 +0000

Firstly, who is the very PERFECT Link cosplay on that article? He’s very…good.

Secondly, I wouldn’t necessarily call Link effeminate; his mode of dress is at first glance kind of ‘fae’, but on rethinking it, it becomes clear that tights and a tunic might simply be a freer-moving solution whilst saving the kingdom. (Although Ocarina!Link would like to point out that without support, you have to continually readjust things.)

He also deals with traditionally male images and roles, such as the sword, masculine in its shape and violent purpose, or (in his latest incarnation,) the beast, that part of human nature which can only be fully acknowledged in the twilight. As far as never ‘getting the girl’, might I remind you of a certain someone named Galahad, whose quest for the Holy Grail mirrors Link’s perpetual pursuit of those sacred triangles?

By: Adam

Adam — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 12:32:50 +0000

I remember in the mid-80s I had assumed Link was Zelda. It wasn’t until that awkward side-scrolling sequel that I learned his name was Link. (I was about three when the Legend of Zelda first came out.)

And why not? Now that I think on it, this might be the first example of me being comfortable with effeminate men. In high school, I was a dead-ringer for young link, since I had a baby face and I’ve used his haircut since the 80s (when he had that annoying poof of hair combed to the right? Yeah I copied that too.) and I had the young Link’s baby face. Still do, at the age of 23 but I won’t turn this into a rant.

Link’s a pretty boy. No doubts from me. And in fact, he’s one of the only “Princes” to Zelda’s Princess that isn’t a truly masculine and chivalric armored figure. Sure, he’s a hero, but he’s no Lancelot.

One of my best friends in college was a cross-dresser. TESC is a very liberal college, so he wasn’t shunned as much as he might have been elsewhere, but the important part is, it wasn’t the most relative thing about him. He was kind, approachable and had a great sense of humor.

What’s wrong with a boy in a tunic and tights? Historically nothing, and currently? Nothing. Bring em on, I don’t want a cookie-cutter broody anti-hero all the time.

By: narF

narF — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 05:29:53 +0000

Miyamoto imself did said ::

“But I didn’t really overturn anything. To me, "overturning" would mean coming out with something like: "Actually, Link was a woman all along!" -Miyamoto”

Comes from those “Iwata Ask” interviews on wii.nintendo.com

If Miyamoto says Link is a boy, that’s enough for me.

By: Bonnie

Bonnie — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 16:34:11 +0000

I know Link, I know who he is, and I couldn't change his name at all.
For me at least, that’s definitely part of the problem. He’s Link, you know? I just makes everything feel that much more wrong ;).

By: Kyle

Kyle — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 13:07:53 +0000

I just have to comment on this. My moms name is also Bonnie and when I used to play previous zelda games with her she always put her name as Bonnie. It always bothered me but for some reason it never really bothered my mom. Maybe I’ll ask her sometime.

By: Mischa

Mischa — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 06:46:44 +0000

(What the crap?? It deleted like half my post… Curse you internets!! Here’s the other half [or 2/3, I’m no good at math])

Anyways, I find it interesting the different responses you get when you role play as a female online, versus role playing as a male. My ex-girlfriend used to run an online RPG and had some “secret characters” that she would play around with. Everyone had a hard time respecting the female admin’s authority, but whenever (s)he would say something, they’d all fall in line. They were also mostly teen-pre teen in age, so I’m sure that had something to do with it.

Sociology rocks.

By: Mischa

Mischa — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 06:42:15 +0000

I think… I think I love you.

In other words, awesome post.

By: Comtar

Comtar — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 05:46:07 +0000

Just about naming characters, I have an easy time renaming characters I don’t “know”. Like the first time I played FF7, I wasn’t someone who read up on everything. I didn’t know these people. But like if FF7 were remade or had a real RPG sequel, I wouldn’t rename them cause I know who they are.

I know Link, I know who he is, and I couldn’t change his name at all.

I’m keeping it brief, but I hope you know what I mean by this.

By: Dana

Dana — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 00:56:03 +0000

Heh, I enjoyed the article. I can relate, having put my own name in the place of Link’s. But in my case, I am a male, with a name typically considered female, giving another male my “female” name. But it doesn’t really make me uncomfortable. I enjoy seeing an avatar of myself going around doing heroic deeds, and no one bats an eye at the name Dana. We’re I so fortunate in real life to have never been given grief over my “female” name.

By: MDÂ²

MDÂ² — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 23:28:23 +0000

Thanks, Chris!

Seconded. Couldn’t find the article earlier.

There was a nice similar piece in an old issue of The Escapist, with a girl gamer and Dragon Quest 1, the way it was addresed only at boys…

Never had a problem with names myself, my game avatar’s always been named Emeraude (or Saphir when space was laking), whatever the sex, but toying around with names just to spoil/transform the experience isn’t new (wasn’t it in Fallout 2 the game wouldn’t allow you to name your character “fuck” ?), the best exemples I’ve seen being may be some dadaist Mother 2 inputs.

Ultimately, I’d love to have some more significant data on the avatar/player symbiosis. That’s the lacking your column reminds me most of .