Don't let the librarian glasses fool ya, this isn't another Sarah Palin post. This here's about Sega's new action game Bayonetta and the debate that's picking up in the games press about whether the game is sexist in it's portrayal of the female form.

The first round of reviews- by mostly male video game critics- shuttled back and forth between praise for the game's controls and general design insanity and hand-wringing over the cartoonish sexuality of the main character. Bayonetta herself- a gun toting witch who fights "Angels" using medieval torture devices on occasion- makes a Barbie doll look like a realistic depiction of a woman's body and then adds about ten layers of camp. (Japanese game creator Hideki Kamiya has never been known for or restraint see: Devil May Cry.) That hand-wringing leaves the impression that male video game reviewers don't want to be caught with... actually, let's not use that metaphor.Let's just say the trend seems to be that guy game reviewers don't want to be seen as being too enthusiastic about Bayonetta for the WRONG REASONS.

A NEW CHALLENGER ENTERS THE FRAY. (After the jump.)

That would be Leigh Alexander, news director of game industry go-to news site Gamasutra, and arguably the highest profile woman in games journalism. Ms. Alexander jumped into the mix with an editorial for the resurgent GamePro magazine:

Bayonetta takes the video game sexy woman stereotype from object to subject, and it's tremendously empowering. The title character uses the mantle of her sexuality as a power source. Between Bayonetta and her equally fierce rival, Jeane, it's a women's world -- the boys just play in it. The Umbra Witches aren't to be messed with. With this unique theme, the game itself is an artistic representation of the concept that female sexuality is its own kind of weapon. This stylized love letter to femininity is signed and sealed with all of the game's tiny details, from the kiss-shaped aiming targets to the subtle grace of Bayonetta's butterfly-shaped shadow.

But no would-be controversy would be worth its weight in pixels without a little counter-point action. Stepping up to bat is former 1UP staffer and frequent gaming blog contributor Tiffany Chow:

I think it's still important to consider that this is still a game made by men, from the male perspective, for the male perspective, which is why so many of the cinematics seem awfully, well, porny. The fact that the gameplay and characterization of Bayonetta is such a spectacle in this way leaves it hard for me to interpret her as someone to cheer on as she crushes monsters' necks clamped between her thighs.

Responding to a DIFFERENT objection to her GamePro piece, Ms. Alexander tackles her status as "female gamer":

I know a lot of people hate my writing because I am often defending sexuality; I am accused of pandering to my male readership. Maybe I am. We've all gotta work, right? But I still maintain I don't especially care about gender issues more than any other facet of media criticism. These are simply the articles of mine that get the most traction; this is the use others most commonly have for me. It's not my natural instinct.

Now we'd be remiss for not pointing out the irony that Ms. Alexander's personal blog is titled "Sexy Videogameland"... but the discussion itself
- and the way it is being conducted- is proof that the culture around video games has really come of age. Not like that. HENTAI! In the sense that rational adults are debating the role of sexuality in media without devolving into frothing moralistic stances.

Then again, cable news hasn't caught wind of this yet. Give it time.

(Shout out to N'Gai Croal for linking to Tiffany Chow's piece.)