I mirror this.
I was going to bring up how absurd it is how some folks think adding a character generator to a game is a solution for including diversity in the spectrum of games, but that's outside this thread.
Do you actually care what race/sex a main character is?
- Thread starter King of Custard
- Start date
I mirror this.
I was going to bring up how absurd it is how some folks think adding a character generator to a game is a solution for including diversity in the spectrum of games, but that's outside this thread.
NotTheGuyYouKill
Member
No.
It's not the only thing I care about, but a game that doesn't feature a standard angry white guy protagonist is more likely to capture my attention because 1.) that alone makes it stand out by virtue of doing something different, 2.) it suggests that the developers aren't using focus group thinking and making only "safe" decisions from a design and marketing standpoint.
So yeah, the identity of the protagonist doesn't singularly determine my overall opinion on a game, but it does help pique my interest.
So yeah, the identity of the protagonist doesn't singularly determine my overall opinion on a game, but it does help pique my interest.
OldAsUrSock
Banned
No, and journalists need to stop pushing race/sex since most people really don't care what they play as long as the game is fun.
jacob armitage
Banned
Not at all, even in games where I can make a character I tend to change up race and sex to keep things different.
No.
But if given the choice I will generally skew to playing as a female character. Because that is my preference.
I also don't believe that simply gender swapping a character suddenly makes a game more inclusive or serves the overarching plot of said game (That GTA5 controversy nonsense was embarrassing).
You make a good game, I'll play it. Period. But if you want to try and make a name for yourself through making interesting, meaningful characters of various races, sexes and genders, you better do it well.
I mean, the target market is 12-30 year old males.
I'd like expanded diversity so we can make the target market not just that.
At my age I don't think too much about the lead characters but I hate how people choose to respond to requests for more representation.
When I was younger I cared about gender up until Chun Li turned out to be easy to use.
While this wasn't asked I would care about sexual orientation if I'm playing as a specific character and I have to play their storyline to advance. If there isn't much of story with a romance in the plot I wouldn't care.
When I was younger I cared about gender up until Chun Li turned out to be easy to use.
While this wasn't asked I would care about sexual orientation if I'm playing as a specific character and I have to play their storyline to advance. If there isn't much of story with a romance in the plot I wouldn't care.
SniperHunter
Banned
no
No.
As a West-European male, I don't find myself 'disconnected' when playing with a person of another race. Playing as a girl doesn't happen that often and if it does, I really don't care.
I mean, I can play TWD Season 2 and feel connected to Clementine who is a lot younger, smaller, of a different gender and of an other race.
Plus I don't care about sex/race, if the character is well written then I'm always OK.
As a West-European male, I don't find myself 'disconnected' when playing with a person of another race. Playing as a girl doesn't happen that often and if it does, I really don't care.
I mean, I can play TWD Season 2 and feel connected to Clementine who is a lot younger, smaller, of a different gender and of an other race.
Plus I don't care about sex/race, if the character is well written then I'm always OK.
This.
Trigonometrize.
Member
I'll play as any race/sex and value diversity (and would never force it either), but I can ONLY play as human characters. Sorry, can rarely connect with tree-man elf lord.
TheBootyBandit
Member
Not at all.
Hahahaha, wow. Categorically incorrect.
Not really, but Link is MALE! hahaha.
And in some games is justified by the script, like South Park The Stick of Truth.
I don't really care, but I hate when the media and people try to force variety of genres when the game itself and the story/argument are for a male/female main character... (Imagine the new Tomb Raider with a men...)
And in some games is justified by the script, like South Park The Stick of Truth.
I don't really care, but I hate when the media and people try to force variety of genres when the game itself and the story/argument are for a male/female main character... (Imagine the new Tomb Raider with a men...)
Hamburgler
Banned
As long as the choice is organic and not forced to meet some kind of gender/race quota or appease some vocal internet community I don't care about the race or gender of a character.
I care about having well constructed characters that fit the narrative and/or setting.
I care about having well constructed characters that fit the narrative and/or setting.
ThatRandomCliff
Member
I don't at all.
TheGraykid
Member
I didn't care until I realised that playing white males my entire life has conditioned me in a certain way. I mean when writing fiction my protagonists tended to be white males despite being a black dude. It's fucked up to realise that the idea of having heros that look like you is such a foreign one.
Pegosaurus
Banned
nope i don't care one bit
Pretty much this, for me. I like variety in stories, design, quirks and motivation -- if games stick out I'm more likely to be interested in it, but I'll play anything.
I prefer to play as characters I can identify with, and I can't really think of a time I've identified with a character who was a gender other than my own. Less of a problem with race, but I identify best with characters who I have a few things in common with.
So yes, I do care somewhat. One example of this would probably be TLOU. Joel was my favorite character in that game and my preferred protagonist, so a TLOU 2 where Ellie is the sole lead doesn't even remotely interest me.
So yes, I do care somewhat. One example of this would probably be TLOU. Joel was my favorite character in that game and my preferred protagonist, so a TLOU 2 where Ellie is the sole lead doesn't even remotely interest me.
Machinehead
Member
30-something white males bore me to death. Aside from those, I'm always interested.
Red Chocobo
Banned
I don't care in games with fixed characters.
But in games where you create your own characters, I usually create a male. Just personal preference.
But in games where you create your own characters, I usually create a male. Just personal preference.
Don't care. I also tend to pick females if the character I am playing is only human, but if it's an MMO or something where you can be something that isn't a human, like a halfling or alien or whatever, then that's the way I go. I see enough humans in every day life that I enjoy some variety in that regard. But, if I'm forced to be whatever gender/race because that is chosen ahead of time, then I don't really care. I am there to play a game and experience some story.
It's never going to get me to buy a game that I don't think looks interesting in other respects as well -- I don't think anyone would -- but with so many good games always coming out differentiating yourself from all the rest with a more unique protagonist definitely gets me to look twice.
I know that when I was talking to other women who don't always have as much time to game about Gone Home, the protagonist being female was a selling point. If you almost never see games with someone who looks anything like you, the rare occasions where you do will tend to be prioritized.
People don't tend to characterize it as oppression. More like bored and underrepresented.
I know that when I was talking to other women who don't always have as much time to game about Gone Home, the protagonist being female was a selling point. If you almost never see games with someone who looks anything like you, the rare occasions where you do will tend to be prioritized.
People don't tend to characterize it as oppression. More like bored and underrepresented.
ScepticMatt
Member
pinkurocket
Member
Not really.
I do care how interesting the character is. The whole buff white male protagonist can feel a little bit boring if he's just depicted like the whole American hero stereotype. Of which there are a lot. But really, the race/gender shouldn't matter if the character has depth. It shouldn't rely on a gender or skin colour to act/be a certain way.
I do care how interesting the character is. The whole buff white male protagonist can feel a little bit boring if he's just depicted like the whole American hero stereotype. Of which there are a lot. But really, the race/gender shouldn't matter if the character has depth. It shouldn't rely on a gender or skin colour to act/be a certain way.
stufte
Member
You cut me Machinehead. You cut me deep.
Haha dude I understand that completely.
I'm a black guy who writes fiction for fun. For the longest time I wrote only from the perspective of a white male and never thought a thing about it. Now I'm writing a story about a black woman who becomes a superhero.
Because, in a majority of the games I've played, the character isn't good, and nothing would be lost by giving me the option to change their race and/or gender a la Commander Shepard.
I care. If all else is equal and the games are on the same quality level, I'll pick the game that gives me the chance to pick my protagonist over the one that doesn't, unless the pre-set character actually has decent writing behind them (Naughty Dog games, for example).
ActuallyHulk
Banned
I only care about gameplay and depending on the genre a semi decent story by video game standards. I've never been one to self project or identify though so that may play a part.
John Harker
Definitely doesn't make things up as he goes along.
yea, I'm more attracted to diversity these days. At least it sets the potential to have a more interesting backstory and choices from the main character. In narrative-driven games, having a main character not be a shell, or not have any real sense of weight to them because they are meant to be a 'whiteboard' for the player I find more and more disengaging for me... mostly because it's just been done so many times.
I find the same with new TV shows as well.
edit:
That said, while I'm all for 'character creators' and 'gender selection' - the more the better - that's not really what I mean. Because that makes who you're playing as irrelevant, more or less. I'm primarily talking about games that are wrapped around a specific narrative, and I look forward to different perspectives on that via the main character. Generally character creators just take that factor out and again, you play as a shell. But that works for a lot of games. I just find First Light more interesting to me than Second Son, as an example.
I find the same with new TV shows as well.
edit:
That said, while I'm all for 'character creators' and 'gender selection' - the more the better - that's not really what I mean. Because that makes who you're playing as irrelevant, more or less. I'm primarily talking about games that are wrapped around a specific narrative, and I look forward to different perspectives on that via the main character. Generally character creators just take that factor out and again, you play as a shell. But that works for a lot of games. I just find First Light more interesting to me than Second Son, as an example.
……forgetit
Member
I wish there were more black main characters in games, but for the most part I don't care.
Also I'm black.
Also I'm black.
EvilKatarn
Member
Is anime a race?