Male vs Female Game Protagonists

> Games like Bioshock Infinite I really don't mind the character being male

>

That's just sexist.

Sorry I'm a bit confused now, I'm sexist because I said I don't mind the character in a game being male?

No, it's sexist because it implies that you mind characters being male in other games.

Ah yeah I can see how it can be read that way.

Male characters don't bother me at all, sorry what I was trying to say was that in open world style games the option to create a female character is an important feature to have as I like to make myself in the game; but for story based games like Bioshock the lack of ability to choose the gender of the character doesn't really matter.

That's not to say that I mind male characters in open-world games, I have male Skyrim and Fallout characters too, I just think that the option to choose female for those sorts of games is as important as being able to choose the skin colour.

Personally, my favorite characters in gaming are: Mega Man, Samus Aran, and the Cole Train. Don't really know why, they're just awesome characters. One day I plan to make a game based on a woman much like Riza Hawkeye(FullMetal Alchemist) or Matoko Kusanagi(Ghost In The Shell), which are frankly two very bad ass women that would make a game BAD ASS.

So, a female is just as good a character as a male, and same goes for people of different races. What they do, are capable of, etc. is up to the developer. Don't limit yourself to the idea that men are stronger, or white people make more money or some dumb crap, because all of it is just misconception. Base those things purely off your own personal interests as a developer, nothing more.

If I have the choice I'll pick the female character more often than not. If the character has it's own story or what not, then either is fine. But it should believable. When much muscle work is required, a thin, sexy woman in the role might come off as fake/fictional, etc..

—

This is very true.

Mario/Maria the plumber

Mario/Maria the plumber

More like Gabbie the plumber:

http://www.mfgg.net/index.php?act=resdb&param=02&c=2&id=21493

I'm disappointed that more games don't include queer/nonbinary protagonists. There's progression in certain digital mediums (e.g. the shows Justified and Transparent) but not in others.

That being said, I don't have much of a preference. For me, I'm not all that interested in relating to or identifying with characters, and am much more interested in following a character's story and walking around in their shoes for a while. As a cisgender male, I'm somewhat more interested in character stories that are distinct from my own, so I suppose female game protagonists.

As a gamer I have been avoiding female protagonists for a while due to how the female body was portrayed and used as a main selling point in most video games, especially in RPGs. Just look at the advertisement banners for some shady browser-based MMOs around the internet. Instant facepalm!

I changed my mind after playing such games as Mirror's Edge and the latest installment of Tomb Raider. These games feature realistic looking, intelligent females. But most importantly, the main focus of these games is to give you a lot of fun as a player.

The problem is not that female or male protagonists are too "sexy". This almost doesn't matter. What matters, however, is that the player sees them as human beings, through their story, struggle, vulnerability, moments of strength, fears, emotions, ... etc.

When a game relies solely on the physique of its protagonist without giving him/her a human background, that's when things fall apart. Players perceive the protagonist as an empty shell and lose any emotional link to him/her, and by extension, to the game itself.

Hmm interesting discussion.

On the one hand, I do agree that it shouldn't really matter whether the protagonist is male or female, black, white or purple-with-yellow-polkadots, as long as the story is good and the protagonist fits in it (both with regards to background story and abilities).

On the other hand, when the progtagonist is human (in appearance), I think there are some biological expectations that should be taken into consideration. I don't mean that we should only have stereotypical people (please no), but I instinctively feel that a female characters abilities would focus more around intelligence or agility and less around strength, whereas a male character perhaps could be physically stronger. This should, however, not stop anyone from making a body-builder-type female protagonist, if that is, what the story demands

I personally prefer female protagonists. I honestly feel like there aren't enough female characters in games that aren't designed to be "men with boobs" but instead are actual women whose strength comes from powers and abilities as well as feminine qualities. I don't think there's anything wrong with a sexy female lead character. The female form is beautiful and appealing and there's nothing wrong with emphasizing that. Hence why Bayonetta is one of my favorites and why I design my characters the way I do (which I hope to be sharing in due course).

Having a playable female lead (or being able to create one) is a major selling point for me.

I'm always far more invested when playing a 'non-typical' character. The whole idea that white male is the default human is ridiculous.

I don't mind who a character is. I've enjoyed both. Some of my favorite games had female characters. Resident Evil, Parasite Eve, Silent Hill. They were some of the best in the world. I also love major male heroes too, Cloud, from Final Fantasy 7. I wouldn't play a game that had a "homo sexual" or "Transgender" hero. I think a lot of straight men will feel that way, and likely the industry knows it. I still think, at large, the straight world is set against homosexuality with acceptance of it. Likely major studios know this, and wouldn't want to hurt their profits. Some might dabble in it, but others, that are straight, might not, no more than any other straight guy. The world still has a stigma that gay is not cool, or something bad. People say "this is gay, that's gay, don't be gay!" I don't think people need to talk like that, but I don't personally hate that view point. I'm pretty well against homosexuality, but accept it. I wouldn't tell a gay person unless they asked, and they would still be my friend. I don't go hang out with them, but I know plenty. Met a few awesome people that are gay, but if they asked, I would tell them, lol. They'd have to accept me and my views as I would have to accept them for their ways..