Kombo launched a new microsite for female gamers today, called 'For Women'. At first glance, you might think this is a real step forward for the fairer gender in the world of interactive entertainment, but then you dig deeper.
Booth babes? Really?
Kombo has contracted the relatively lovely ladies at C+2, a modeling agency that caters to gaming conventions.
Of course, how naïve would we be if we powered this new section with the existing Kombo team… which, as you guessed, are mostly all guys. As talented and intelligent as they are, we followed the rules of common sense and decided to keep male influence out of our new For Women section on Kombo. With that said, allow me to introduce you to the very talented Kombo.com 'For Women' editorial team!
A noble effort, to be sure, but was this the best way to achieve that end? I don't doubt that several of these gals could put the hurt on me in whatever games in which they specialize, but would Kombo bring in any traffic if they weren't glamour models? If their profiles are to believed, these girls actually do play video games. Lotsa video games. But editorial experience? Not so much.
The first article unabashedly takes an insider's look into the world of booth babery.
We were treated like absolute princesses and it made standing in heels for 12 hours a day totally worth it!
Cute. It's essentially a thinly veiled advertisement for C+2 modeling, gussied up as an editorial feature. Kombo gets boobies for their readers and C+2 gets exposure. Everyone wins. Upcoming features include "Distracted While Buying Bras" and "CAT FIGHT With Madden on the Fifty Yard Line". Not joking.
The new site's only been up for a few hours, and it's been met with nearly universal disdain, as it should be. C+2 'President' Yvonne has been furiously batting away naysayers with sad face emoticons and eyelash flutters. Nadia and Amber, I fully expect your thoughts in the comments. And C+2 girls, feel free to justify your existence as well.
Related Links:
Men Are From Hyrule, Women Are From Simville: If Gender Defines the Games We Play, Why Does Everyone Play By the Same Rules?
She’s a La-day, Whoa Whoa Whoa: The Top Twenty Women in Games
A Letter to the Industry: How to Destroy the Female Gender Barricade