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Firstly, try to avoid any major plot spoilers particularly new games. I've mentioned some early and/or well known things about Tomb Raider and Bioshock so if you wish to know nothing of these games, come back later.
This seems to be a fairly hot topic right now, largely prompted by the revival of Tomb Raider I found myself discussing this with friends and the gaming industry seems to be as well particularly with fuel from Bioshock Infinite's Elizabeth. There's some serious politics occurring largely between developer and publishers, specifically publishers pushed to put female characters in the shade (see: The Last of Us, Remember me and the cover of Bioshock).
Most critics blame pure sexism, that publishers and/or gamers believe women in video games should be support characters and little more then objects to look at with small uses every now and then. Questions arise though over whether or not it is because there aren't good games with female leads? Is that because they are female leads or bad games? Is it because games with female leads get less exposure or attention as they are deemed less likely to succeed? Subsequently are gamers made to believe that female leads aren't as good based on the games we've had or do they genuinely believe so for other reasons? Ultimately these are unanswerable to a large degree but I have my own questions and opinions on the matter from the gamers perspective and I'd like to hear others.
I generally would rather play as a male character over a female because I can get in that role much easier then one of a female. I love to fill in the blanks in stories and play in ways which I would believe myself to do, as a female playable character I find myself struggling to relate.
Ignoring the fact that I generally think Lara Croft is an uninteresting character from any perspective, playable or not, in the new game there's been alot of buzz over a rape scene. One of my friends would tell me at this point it makes less sense to have a male lead there so a female is the only option (which is correct) but I would argue that a rape scene is not necessary period as we've seen many a gruesome scene with a male being tortured etc. in any variety of ways which I would find just as 'wrong' but with a key difference. I can't put myself in the shoes of a woman being raped by a man as I can never for any ridiculous reason be put in that situation (though I could be raped by a man it would be different, I can't say I'd want too try either). Ironically the rape scene turns out not to be one, I believe if you fail the event Lara is just strangled to death but my point remains.
However in Bioshock Infinite Elizabeth is the main character though she is not playable and I have absolutely no problem with that. Booker (playable) is effectively a support character and I am not being the lead. Would I want to play as Elizabeth though or a female in Bookers role? No. Once again I find myself relating to both playable and non-playable characters as I can put myself in the playable characters shoes. I can relate to his perspective of himself and of Elizabeth much better then an equivalent female. The key here for me is the difference between playable and non playable genders, I do not have any problem with female characters being not only useful but infact the true lead of a game but I would still not want to play as them as I can't think as they would or do as they do in any situation.
An excellent example I picked up in the media is a publisher proclaiming to developer (I don't remember exactly which or the exact wording) that male players would find it awkward playing as a female and being intimate with a male. I wouldn't find it awkward, but I wouldn't be able to relate to my character as I don't find men attractive and would therefore not see the attractive qualities in them. Flip the situation and as a male I could see what would and wouldn't be attractive about the female even if both characters are essentially the same.
I love to lose myself in the world of a game. Even in an FPS with no real story I want to lose myself in the game as with the right formula of effects, controls etc. I will panic under fire and feel as if I'm there rather then as if I'm playing as if I'm there (Battlefield for me). In that FPS it doesn't much matter male or female from an objective standpoint as there's no story reasons one way or the other so I'd rather be like myself, male.
In a story driven game a void forms between me and character if I can't relate and I can't relate to being a woman for the rather simple and obvious reason that I am not a woman (none of you jokers out there say anything otherwise on that). I don't mind if my male playable character is not even particularly important, a female character can be the lead and I have no problem so long as I'm not expected to be them and get in their mindset.
So what does the rest of GTP think?
Do you think female characters should be support characters only?
Can you play as the opposite gender and truly immerse yourself in their story?
If not, why?
For me, it's no and no. I'm fine with female characters being in and even lead a game but I would still rather PLAY as a male as I can more easily adopt their role in the story which will unwind before me. I wish I could put myself in a woman's shoes both in real life and not though as I'd love to know what goes through their minds sometimes!
This seems to be a fairly hot topic right now, largely prompted by the revival of Tomb Raider I found myself discussing this with friends and the gaming industry seems to be as well particularly with fuel from Bioshock Infinite's Elizabeth. There's some serious politics occurring largely between developer and publishers, specifically publishers pushed to put female characters in the shade (see: The Last of Us, Remember me and the cover of Bioshock).
Most critics blame pure sexism, that publishers and/or gamers believe women in video games should be support characters and little more then objects to look at with small uses every now and then. Questions arise though over whether or not it is because there aren't good games with female leads? Is that because they are female leads or bad games? Is it because games with female leads get less exposure or attention as they are deemed less likely to succeed? Subsequently are gamers made to believe that female leads aren't as good based on the games we've had or do they genuinely believe so for other reasons? Ultimately these are unanswerable to a large degree but I have my own questions and opinions on the matter from the gamers perspective and I'd like to hear others.
I generally would rather play as a male character over a female because I can get in that role much easier then one of a female. I love to fill in the blanks in stories and play in ways which I would believe myself to do, as a female playable character I find myself struggling to relate.
Ignoring the fact that I generally think Lara Croft is an uninteresting character from any perspective, playable or not, in the new game there's been alot of buzz over a rape scene. One of my friends would tell me at this point it makes less sense to have a male lead there so a female is the only option (which is correct) but I would argue that a rape scene is not necessary period as we've seen many a gruesome scene with a male being tortured etc. in any variety of ways which I would find just as 'wrong' but with a key difference. I can't put myself in the shoes of a woman being raped by a man as I can never for any ridiculous reason be put in that situation (though I could be raped by a man it would be different, I can't say I'd want too try either). Ironically the rape scene turns out not to be one, I believe if you fail the event Lara is just strangled to death but my point remains.
However in Bioshock Infinite Elizabeth is the main character though she is not playable and I have absolutely no problem with that. Booker (playable) is effectively a support character and I am not being the lead. Would I want to play as Elizabeth though or a female in Bookers role? No. Once again I find myself relating to both playable and non-playable characters as I can put myself in the playable characters shoes. I can relate to his perspective of himself and of Elizabeth much better then an equivalent female. The key here for me is the difference between playable and non playable genders, I do not have any problem with female characters being not only useful but infact the true lead of a game but I would still not want to play as them as I can't think as they would or do as they do in any situation.
An excellent example I picked up in the media is a publisher proclaiming to developer (I don't remember exactly which or the exact wording) that male players would find it awkward playing as a female and being intimate with a male. I wouldn't find it awkward, but I wouldn't be able to relate to my character as I don't find men attractive and would therefore not see the attractive qualities in them. Flip the situation and as a male I could see what would and wouldn't be attractive about the female even if both characters are essentially the same.
I love to lose myself in the world of a game. Even in an FPS with no real story I want to lose myself in the game as with the right formula of effects, controls etc. I will panic under fire and feel as if I'm there rather then as if I'm playing as if I'm there (Battlefield for me). In that FPS it doesn't much matter male or female from an objective standpoint as there's no story reasons one way or the other so I'd rather be like myself, male.
In a story driven game a void forms between me and character if I can't relate and I can't relate to being a woman for the rather simple and obvious reason that I am not a woman (none of you jokers out there say anything otherwise on that). I don't mind if my male playable character is not even particularly important, a female character can be the lead and I have no problem so long as I'm not expected to be them and get in their mindset.
So what does the rest of GTP think?
Do you think female characters should be support characters only?
Can you play as the opposite gender and truly immerse yourself in their story?
If not, why?
For me, it's no and no. I'm fine with female characters being in and even lead a game but I would still rather PLAY as a male as I can more easily adopt their role in the story which will unwind before me. I wish I could put myself in a woman's shoes both in real life and not though as I'd love to know what goes through their minds sometimes!
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