Cerise Magazine

Welcome to the Back Page! This is where we publish the odds and ends that our readers send in, from artwork and writing, to shout outs, thoughts on gaming, and whatever fun and silly things we can come up with. If you have something you want to show off to the rest of our readers, head over to our submissions page and fire off an e-mail to us!

The Womanliest Games Ever

Inspired by a recent spate of top ten games lists with categories focusing on things like manliness and boobs, members of our forums started trying to compile a “Ten Womanliest Games Ever” list (partly in earnest, and partly for laughs). We haven’t yet narrowed it down to the very top-est, but here are some good possibilities:

City of Heroes and City of Villains offer a level of character customization that can make it very appealing to a woman wanting to play a female avatar that actually resembles herself somewhat, as well as all-around fun gameplay. What makes these games particularly womanly? According to depizan, “Multiple costume slots! Costumes you design! Different hairdos! It’s a day at the mall, only with superpowers! What could be more womanly than a game in which you don’t just fight evil or conquer the world but look good doing it.”

Kyrandia II: the Hand of Fate also offers lots of costume changes! Oh, and a female protagonist.

Godless Heathen suggests that Portal should be on the list, because of its “[f]emale protagonist, feminine voiced testing center computer, cutting sense of humor, downright sadistic level designs, and friendly little companion cubes with hearts on them…And you have to watch your step because if you get too cocky the game can shoot you down, just like a woman.”

King’s Quest IV: The Perils of Rosella was released in 1988 and might very well have been the first computer adventure game with a female lead. Revena writes: “Rosella is on a quest to save her father’s life and the game gives her the same kind of agency that male characters in other games in the series have. Awesome. And the icing on the womanly cake is that the cover art for the game featured a unicorn!”

Of Animal Crossing, tekanji says: “…the entire purpose is to go around helping the animals in your town so you can accessorize your house. And, let’s be honest, there’s nothing women like to do more in life than help people and decorate.”

Other games nominated for the coveted “Ten Womanliest Games Ever” slots include The Sims, Tetris, Okami, Final Fantasy VI and The Longest Journey.

What games would you nominate?

Gaming Princesses

We offered a chance at a random-drawing prize on our forums this month for readers who sent in pictures of themselves dressed as gaming princesses. Celria and Trouble sent their photos in, and will each be receiving a prize.

Celria (front) will be receiving a “grow-your-own princess” toy!

Trouble has won herself a “grow-your-own enchanted castle”!

Prize-Draw Photo Theme for Next Month

If you want a chance to win a small prize by random drawing next month, send a photo of yourself in your favorite gaming t-shirt to revena@theirisnetwork.org by February 28th!

Awesome Wall Art!

Check out this fantastic graffiti depicting Samus Aran that editor Olivia Luna photographed with her cell phone in Managua, Nicaragua: