In writing a preview for the upcoming Need for Speed: ProStreet, EA sent me some background information about the title. Some of it was to do with the car customisation and racing modes, but most of it was to do with presence of Aussie export Krystal Forscutt, whom reality TV fans will recognise from series whatever of Big Brother. It didn't just mention that she somehow — and for the love of god, I can't imagine how — managed to land the gig, but it went into no end of ego-stroking detail about her involvement. She flew all the way to Vancouver. She'll appear in "sexy flag girl outfits." She has a "wonderful nature." She's the first Australian non-sports person to feature in such a role. She went through a seventeen-step process of being rendered into the game. I'm not sure who wrote it, someone at EA or someone who has pictures of her all over their MySpace page.

Over the last few years the Need for Speed series has gotten into a habit of recruiting a token hottie. Brooke Burke, Josie Maran and Emmanuelle Vaugier have all featured, and they've always served as a light 'n' fluffy addition against the high-octane racing action. Their presence was promoted, sure, but it never dominated. It never stood out. Heck, as awesome as those ladies are, they never even got on the game's box — that space was always reserved for the blingiest set of wheels available.

That approach seems set to take a detour with ProStreet. From the information I've been provided with, I foresee a game that will feature Miss Forscutt at every available opportunity. She'll overtake the game's cars as the main selling point, and we'll be expected to like it.

Look at the promo image that's included here. Look how it's composed. Forscutt stands assertively, hands on hips, staring down the camera in a confident front-on stance, while Japanese model Sayoko Ohashi couldn't look more submissive if she were being beaten with a rake. Look at her passive body language, her downcast gaze. It's as though she's admitting defeat to Forscutt's imposing star power rather than bestowing lashings of sarcasm upon it. "Forget the other girl," the image seems to be saying. "Look at Krystal!"

Tall poppy syndrome? Nothing of the sort. I just don't like to see game developers emphasising the wrong things. Going back to EA's fact sheet we find a lingering and enthusiastic focus on Forscutt, as if she's the one thing — the only thing — that's worth paying attention to, and the thing that we should be backing for success. "It's likely that around 40 million people around the globe will play NFS ProStreet and see Krystal in the game. Then if we add people walking in and out of rooms but not playing the games, then even more people are likely to view the rendered digital Krystal in game! Krystal will go global!"

I don't care. Why should I? It's not as if the game's success hinges on her presence, nor is it about being un-Australian towards local celebrities. It's about not giving two figs to someone who, quite frankly, isn't that important. She's some chick that people watching a reality television show found looks good in a bikini. This, for some reason, is why we should wish her global success. And this is what we're being told to concentrate on in ProStreet?

I've got an idea. It's a radical one, so bear with me. How about, instead of focusing on the eye candy, we look at the game underneath? How about we get something more than a list of seen-them-before bullet points and get some kind of idea as to why this game will be worth our time? On our forums there's a topic where the original poster feels drowned by all the latest titles, and while many of the responses sympathise with him, some suggest that he limit himself to only playing the "good" ones. How is one to find them? Certainly not by being told "hey, there's a really attractive girl in this game!" The same can be said for Developer X that pushes the same tired aspects as though they're the first ones to do it (a press release for some obscure Russian FPS touted aspects such as 3D graphics and realistic lighting). On the flip side, not every game has to be bound to a "Must Innovate Or Else" contract, as a worthy title can be made by adapting the conventions of yesterday to the audience of today — Geometry Wars is an excellent example of this. Ultimately though, if there's nothing about your game worthy of promotion apart from the things that every other game has, then something's very wrong.

No other game has a digital version of Forscutt, yet I'm still wracking my brain trying to understand why it's of such importance. Perhaps it's an approach tailored to us Down Underinans, cashing in on her Big Brother presence and men's mag photoshoots while they're still fresh. Perhaps she really is the next big thing, and EA's leading the charge in fostering the success of this new talent. Perhaps it's just because she looks pretty. I'm not sure, but whatever the reason, it's not that important. The game's about cars, so why not focus on that? Why not focus on the new features that have been implemented, and promoting the reasons that will make this game a blast to play? The hottie, she should be a bonus. Forgive me if I'm not there on the sidelines cheering on this little Aussie battler.

Sticklers will be quick to point out the irony of this blog post, in that dedicating an entry to this girl is just giving her more attention. Yeah, but I can't discuss that which irks me without mentioning the thing doing the irking, can I? But don't worry, because — to paraphrase US game attorney Tom Buscaglia and his dealings with an irate Miami lawyer — after writing this, I'll probably go back to thinking of her the way I have in the past... not at all.