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[Rhazer Fusion]

I honestly don’t think the average gamer cares about how attractive the protagonist looks whether it’s a male or female. If that’s the case, shouldn’t Stellar Blade, DOA Venus Extreme and even something like Valkyrie Elysium decimate the sales of games like TLOU2 and Horizon since the aforementioned games have attractive female characters? My favorite example is look how many people who bought Black Myth Wukong even though the main character is a monkey. I doubt the majority of them bought that game because the protagonist was attractive.

 

[nordique]

I’m curious if you take issue with female oriented media still being dominated by female protagonists?

I don’t really care

Edit - I don’t mean to be snarky. Apologies if so

 

[CityHunter1981]

I agree. Especially if it is a very immersive single player game, I don’t get why I should play as a woman. I don’t have any secret fantasies to dress up as a woman…

 

[Pegasus Actual]

If you really think 46% of buyers of AAA games are women then I got no words for you.

I have words for them:

 

[PeteBull]

I honestly don’t think the average gamer cares about how attractive the protagonist looks whether it’s a male or female. If that’s the case, shouldn’t Stellar Blade, DOA Venus Extreme and even something like Valkyrie Elysium decimate the sales of games like TLOU2 and Horizon since the aforementioned games have attractive female characters? My favorite example is look how many people who bought Black Myth Wukong even though the main character is a monkey. I doubt the majority of them bought that game because the protagonist was attractive.

Stellar Blade(previous name Project Eve) was unknown IP from random korean studio, make protag look like abby, one of DA:V women or concord women look alike and it bombs hard.
Character design is extremly important in a game, we all know(we got official data, 71m copies) how much mario kart8 sold, now imagine u take away its roster of characters, and even keep their names same, so mario, luigi, peach etc but give them concord quality of glow up- same title, same gameplay etc, just all of the characters get "concorded"- sales potential imediately gets reduced, and not by half but by much more- how much more? Hard to say but definitely by huge margin.

 

[Lethal01]

Yes some traits are bad no matter the gender but usually Man and woman have different personalities and behaviors ... the problem is that the modern female characthers are basically created as a male one and just slapped a woman (barely) skin on it... because for a woman to be strong in their yes she has to basically be a man.

I just dont care if the woman is acting like what people say is stereotypically male, if a character is actually good to me then just swapping nothing but their genser wont make em better or worse.

An annoying girl boss character wont become good if they make a guy instead, and if the character would be fine if they were male then nothings actually wrong with her character.

 

[Ulysses 31]

I just dont care if the woman is acting like what people say is stereotypically male, if a character is actually good to me then just swapping nothing but their genser wont make em better or worse.

I'd say that still heavily depends on the setting, can you imagine Con Air with all female convicts and guards playing out the same?

 

[Lethal01]

I'd say that still heavily depends on the setting, can you imagine Con Air with all female convicts and guards playing out the same?

Never watched it, from that trailer i dont see why not so im guessing there are some very man specific plot points.

 

[xenosys]

I care more about well-written characters than their gender.

It's why Eve from Stellar Blade is one of the most shockingly poor characters in recent video game history.

 

[PeteBull]

Never watched it, from that trailer i dont see why not so im guessing there are some very man specific plot points.

For the very simple reason that most women in prison are lika a puppy vs 14yo boy when it comes to actual physical violence, for a movie like Con Air u gotta have inmates that actually pose actual danger, u want blood to freeze in ur veins when u look at them, not feel sorry or/and protective instinct that most men feel when they see most women getting hurt/ in harm, thats the reason women in the army, especially in actual combat(supporting role far from front line is different story) is terrible idea too.

 

[Halfkut]

For the very simple reason that most women in prison are lika a puppy vs 14yo boy when it comes to actual physical violence, for a movie like Con Air u gotta have inmates that actually pose actual danger, u want blood to freeze in ur veins when u look at them, not feel sorry or/and protective instinct that most men feel when they see most women getting hurt/ in harm, thats the reason women in the army, especially in actual combat(supporting role far from front line is different story) is terrible idea too.

Dude really? It’s a fuckin comedy film. None of those characters are intimidating in the slightest. Two of those supposed blood chilling criminals are Steve Buscemi and Dave Chappelle. Did you actually think it was a serious film?

 

[Tams]

For the very simple reason that most women in prison are lika a puppy vs 14yo boy when it comes to actual physical violence, for a movie like Con Air u gotta have inmates that actually pose actual danger, u want blood to freeze in ur veins when u look at them, not feel sorry or/and protective instinct that most men feel when they see most women getting hurt/ in harm, thats the reason women in the army, especially in actual combat(supporting role far from front line is different story) is terrible idea too.

Thankfully, they fail the physical fitness tests. Sadly, there are repeated attempts to lower the standards of said tests just for women.

 

[ZVWQP-9B8TM-VH9CT]

A 5’6” woman beating a 6’5” male?

Yeah I’m gonna doubt that heavily. A 5’6” male would have a difficult time beating a 6’5” male.

If a 6’5” male is getting his ass whooped by a 5’6” female, under no circumstances should he be in the military.

This is the internet sir. Press X to doubt.

 

[PeteBull]

Dude really? It’s a fuckin comedy film. None of those characters are intimidating in the slightest. Two of those supposed blood chilling criminals are Steve Buscemi and Dave Chappelle. Did you actually think it was a serious film?

We were talking about Con Air, bro, that is not comedy genre =]

 

[Lethal01]

Abby do be looking fine here.

 

[FoxMcChief]

Abby do be looking fine here.

 

[Interfectum]

The female protagonist is fine, if not great for some stories. The problem is a lot of shitty game developers are trying to fight the "male gaze" by making the female protagonists intentionally ugly. If you repulsed by how a character looks of course you aren't going to want to spend hours with them.

 

[Rhazer Fusion]

Stellar Blade(previous name Project Eve) was unknown IP from random korean studio, make protag look like abby, one of DA:V women or concord women look alike and it bombs hard.
Character design is extremly important in a game, we all know(we got official data, 71m copies) how much mario kart8 sold, now imagine u take away its roster of characters, and even keep their names same, so mario, luigi, peach etc but give them concord quality of glow up- same title, same gameplay etc, just all of the characters get "concorded"- sales potential imediately gets reduced, and not by half but by much more- how much more? Hard to say but definitely by huge margin.

Good points, but I still don’t think character designs are important for most casual gamers. There’s a reason why Western games where imo typically have safe or generic designs generally dominate the sales charts worldwide over games with much better and more interesting designs.

People will buy GTA6 because it’s GTA, not because of the cool, imaginative character designs. Tekken 8 has the best designs out of all the major fighting games imo, yet MK1 and SF6 outsold it by a fair margin. Most JRPG’s and anime fighters have much more engrossing designs than most other games, yet their sales are usually hit or miss. Black Myth Wukong was developed by to my knowledge a new, unfamiliar Chinese studio as well with comparable designs to something like Wo Long, Nioh or even Stellar Blade, yet Wukong sold beyond anyone’s expectations.

Mario Kart 8 sold well mostly because of brand recognition and familiarity with the Nintendo brand I feel. Same applies to something like Smash Bros. You are right, Concording the characters would likely resulted in way less sales, but I feel the same could apply to Mario Kart even if it had amazing character designs as well. Unfortunately, great character designs usually don’t equate to good sales.

 

[Mister Wolf]

Good points, but I still don’t think character designs are important for most casual gamers. There’s a reason why Western games where imo typically have safe or generic designs generally dominate the sales charts worldwide over games with much better and more interesting designs.

People will buy GTA6 because it’s GTA, not because of the cool, imaginative character designs. Tekken 8 has the best designs out of all the major fighting games imo, yet MK1 and SF6 outsold it by a fair margin. Most JRPG’s and anime fighters have much more engrossing designs than most other games, yet their sales are usually hit or miss. Black Myth Wukong was developed by to my knowledge a new, unfamiliar Chinese studio as well with comparable designs to something like Wo Long, Nioh or even Stellar Blade, yet Wukong sold beyond anyone’s expectations.

Mario Kart 8 sold well mostly because of brand recognition and familiarity with the Nintendo brand I feel. Same applies to something like Smash Bros. You are right, Concording the characters would likely resulted in way less sales, but I feel the same could apply to Mario Kart even if it had amazing character designs as well. Unfortunately, great character designs usually don’t equate to good sales.

I'm certain most men find the main female MC Lucia of GTA6 attractive or at worst average looking. Let her have been some fat/chubby woman or ugly like Trevor and see how men would have reacted to that trailer.

 

[JohnnyPhats]

I mean, I don’t really care. If I’m making a character, yeah it’s gonna be a guy. If I’m selecting one, depends on the game. Fighting games? Yeah, I’ll use them. If it’s a game where the only main is a woman…ie Tomb Raider, I’m playing it. Only thing that will stop me from playing a game, outside of sucking, is woke horse shit.

 

[PeteBull]

Good points, but I still don’t think character designs are important for most casual gamers. There’s a reason why Western games where imo typically have safe or generic designs generally dominate the sales charts worldwide over games with much better and more interesting designs.

People will buy GTA6 because it’s GTA, not because of the cool, imaginative character designs. Tekken 8 has the best designs out of all the major fighting games imo, yet MK1 and SF6 outsold it by a fair margin. Most JRPG’s and anime fighters have much more engrossing designs than most other games, yet their sales are usually hit or miss. Black Myth Wukong was developed by to my knowledge a new, unfamiliar Chinese studio as well with comparable designs to something like Wo Long, Nioh or even Stellar Blade, yet Wukong sold beyond anyone’s expectations.

Mario Kart 8 sold well mostly because of brand recognition and familiarity with the Nintendo brand I feel. Same applies to something like Smash Bros. You are right, Concording the characters would likely resulted in way less sales, but I feel the same could apply to Mario Kart even if it had amazing character designs as well. Unfortunately, great character designs usually don’t equate to good sales.

My point is- main character in ur game doesnt have to be super attractive, but it destroys game's sales if they are made crazy unatractive, both gta6 characters are conventionally very attractive,(not saying top of the top supermodel status, but definitely well above avg), simply rockstar devs didnt want to risk any potential sales left on the table, thats pretty logical coz even 10 or 20% lost sales in case of new mainline gta game are hundreds of milions of dolars lost at the minium.

Lets even take characters that are considered pretty ugly, like trevor from gta5, he is just ugly compared to most male game protags, but is he trully ugly in comparision to ur avg guy u see on the street everyday? Coz actor he is made after is this guy:

I dont think i need to link trully ugly disgusting male here to prove my point in comparision, but lets do it anyways:

The guy doesnt even have deformed face, has 4 limbs, just morbidly obese and overall offputing look(on top of submissive behaviour that is very offputing to women), probably a 2/10 maybe if we consider guys with chopped off limbs who got burned off faces 0/10?
That is basically equivalent to how women in current day western made games look to most men -concord, da:v or how abby looks and acts from attraction pov(aka pure disgust).
If u put in the new AAA game male protag looking similar to what i showed from that jerry springer show, most ppl will be very unwilling to play such a game even if its high gameplay quality, interesting story, next gen fidelity graphics and animations etc, both men and women will feel simply disgust towards such an ugly protagonist, even tho we can make argument that ppl looking like that exist, so gotta put it in the game for "dat representation" and "diversity".

 

[StreetsofBeige]

My point is- main character in ur game doesnt have to be super attractive, but it destroys game's sales if they are made crazy unatractive, both gta6 characters are conventionally very attractive,(not saying top of the top supermodel status, but definitely well above avg), simply rockstar devs didnt want to risk any potential sales left on the table, thats pretty logical coz even 10 or 20% lost sales in case of new mainline gta game are hundreds of milions of dolars lost at the minium.

Lets even take characters that are considered pretty ugly, like trevor from gta5, he is just ugly compared to most male game protags, but is he trully ugly in comparision to ur avg guy u see on the street everyday? Coz actor he is made after is this guy:

I dont think i need to link trully ugly disgusting male here to prove my point in comparision, but lets do it anyways:

The guy doesnt even have deformed face, has 4 limbs, just morbidly obese and overall offputing look(on top of submissive behaviour that is very offputing to women), probably a 2/10 maybe if we consider guys with chopped off limbs who got burned off faces 0/10?
That is basically equivalent to how women in current day western made games look to most men -concord, da:v or how abby looks and acts from attraction pov(aka pure disgust).
If u put in the new AAA game male protag looking similar to what i showed from that jerry springer show, most ppl will be very unwilling to play such a game even if its high gameplay quality, interesting story, next gen fidelity graphics and animations etc, both men and women will feel simply disgust towards such an ugly protagonist, even tho we can make argument that ppl looking like that exist, so gotta put it in the game for "dat representation" and "diversity".

Yup.

It's all about expectations. In games, TV, movies, certain media benefits and expects good looking people. Superheroes are usually studs or hotties, comedies and romcoms usually have good looking people, action films have the main star being a hunky guy etc... There's situations where it fits and people love it. And for games, the lead characters are best if they are good looking. They dont have to be slutty pin up models or ultra hunky guys, but at least pretty good looking so gamers arent controlling slobs. That's why people dont care if some random NPCs like shop owners or quest giver are funny looking. They arent the main cast.

But there are times people dont care about looks. When it comes to drama flicks, mafia movies, narrators, or media skewed to old people like Golden Girls or On Golden Pond, people dont expect the cast to be all supermodels or a sexy chick narrating Forensic Files. The story is more important than the cast. But for most media, the cast is often more important than the plot. And that's when good looking people or star power is more important.

If a game or movie has ugly people in it, it better have an awesome plot and acting so good that viewers can live with looking at avg joes or fuglies for 2 hours.

 

[Rhazer Fusion]

I'm certain most men find the main female MC Lucia of GTA6 attractive or at worst average looking. Let her have been some fat/chubby woman or ugly like Trevor and see how men would have reacted to that trailer.

Yes, the reaction would have been negative most likely, but I think the majority of people would put appearances aside just because it’s the next GTA. The hype and popularity of that game exceeds how the characters look imo. Trevor was considered unattractive by many and the other two characters were average looking, yet GTA5 went on to be the best selling game of all time to my knowledge.

Good looking people are aesthetically more pleasing in movies, TV shows, commercials, music, etc because they are typically more marketable, but I still think gaming is a different breed MOST of the times. Sure, it can help but I don’t think it’s a necessity to most gamers who are looking to shoot some bad guys online.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

I'm certain most men find the main female MC Lucia of GTA6 attractive or at worst average looking. Let her have been some fat/chubby woman or ugly like Trevor and see how men would have reacted to that trailer.

Looks fine to me. Her face doesn't have a pin up doll look as her eyebrows and nose seem a little hard. And she's not dolled up with caked on make up either.

But still attractive decent hair and nice bod.

 

[Mister Wolf]

Yes, the reaction would have been negative most likely, but I think the majority of people would put appearances aside just because it’s the next GTA. The hype and popularity of that game exceeds how the characters look imo. Trevor was considered unattractive by many and the other two characters were average looking, yet GTA5 went on to be the best selling game of all time to my knowledge.

Because men don't care about male characters being physically/sexually attractive. It has zero bearing on whether we will play the game or not. Not the case for female characters.

 

[PeteBull]

Looks fine to me. Her face doesn't have a pin up doll look as her eyebrows and nose seem a little hard. And she's not dolled up with caked on make up either.

But still attractive decent hair and nice bod.

Compared to current gen western devs female protags, she is drop dead gorgeus, both in body and face departament
I say solid 8/10 in both body and face, maybe 7/10 in face if some1 has vastly different type but well above avg for sure.
Just by being young and having feminine curvy figure she is well above what we usually get from western devs in recent years
Imagine rockstar was stupid enough to change her for that blasian baldie druckman introduced to us in his new ND game

 

[PeteBull]

Because men don't care about male characters being physically/sexually attractive. It has zero bearing on whether we will play the game or not. Not the case for female characters.

Nico Bellic was presentable enough, especially in a proper suit.
As long as we are somewhat presentable, men can make up for our lack of looks with all kinds of things, from money to charisma, sense of humour, status, fitness, being go-getter, provider, leadership traits, education, respect from peers, handyman skillset.
We got that short vid with 113m views, 3,6m likes and 42k comments, u can expect what reactions are there, one kind from men, other kind from women, but u dont have to be rocket scientists to guess what kinds

 

[Halfkut]

We were talking about Con Air, bro, that is not comedy genre =]

I know you were talking about con air, the movie is absolutely hilarious. Everyone is basically a gta side character written so cartoonish that no one but teenagers or my wife could take it seriously

Hey look at that! you do have something in common with a woman, I guess you can relate after all!

It’s a new years miracle!

 

[Woggleman]

Before she realized she was being kidnapped Gracie sort of had the hots for Niko so I guess he is attractive.

 

[dano1]

Nathan Drake or Lara Croft… I’m playing as Nathan Drake.

I assure you most heterosexual males would as well.

I said in Tomb Raider….
Yes I prefer Nathan Drake in Uncharted…

 

[ForAcademicPurposes]

I'd go ape shit f SEGA developed a Yakuza with a female protagonist.

 

[Lucifers Beard]

Depends on the game. I don't need games to be relatable either, they're games and if anything I want to be taken out of reality for a bit.