It's funny because everybody who answers "yes" just doesn't know what the word "objectification" means. First of all, Cortana [i]is[/i] an object. She is a data crystal chip designed to be slotted into terminals and John's helmet, her physical form is nothing more than an avatar - an appearance which, according to the lore, [u]she chose[/u] and can change whenever she wants. And, to reiterate from the other thread: Cortana has a more realistically 'womanly' figure in Halo 4. Making a character look attractive is in absolutely no way "objectifying" them, especially considering that Cortana's sex appeal has [i]never[/i] had any effect on the plot or is in any way a definitive aspect of her character. When you ask somebody who isn't an idiot to describe Cortana's character in 3 words, you'll hear something along the lines of: Intelligent, witty, resourceful. She guides the player through the game from place to place while her relationship with John develops. There is no point where she uses her sexuality to further the plot, or a character objectifies her based on her appearance. [quote]"I can give you over 40,000 reasons why I know that sun isn't real. I know it because the emitter’s Rayleigh effect is disproportionate to its suggested size… I know it because its stellar cycle is more symmetrical than that of an actual star… But for all that, I’ll never actually know if it looks real, if it feels real. Before this is all over, promise me you’ll figure out which one of us is the machine."[/quote] ^ This is not the trademark of a character who is in any way "objectified" (outside of the fact that she literally is an object). This single soliloquy from Shutdown's opening tells you [i]everything[/i] you need to know about her character and the emotional conflict she is experiencing by struggling with her descent into rampancy. Look at any time Cortana speaks in Halo 4, look at how she is framed - especially in the scenes where she gives soliloquies. They are shot so we her face is emphasised, the prime tool for conveying emotion. In a game whose fanbase is mostly made up of teenage/adult males, think about the message that this is providing - "look at her face, listen to her voice: this is what's important." The depth of a character, male or female, is not defined by how conservatively they’re dressed. One particular example is Samus from the Metroid series. The galaxy-hopping bounty hunter who fights space pirates, Metroids and various other alien beings is, underneath a scantily-clad blonde woman. Bare midriff, short shorts and so on. Does this demean the integrity of her development as a character, transforming her into some kind of 90s valley girl? No, she’s the same character but without the suit. [u]What a character wears, or does not wear, does not define the character...[/u]

It really didn't notice anything that I thought was over the line. Her appearance definitely didn't hurt the story in my opinion, there were way bigger issues with the game.

This was one of my few complaints about Halo 4.

I'm usually happy to call everyone sexist, but I'll have to pass on this one. Cortana isn't defined by her sexuality, and it's never been a part of who she is. I think her portrayal is a good blueprint for female characters in games.

I wasn't really worried about that when I was playing the campaign

Sex sells.