IGN = ****wits. Absolute ****ing ****wits...

[fsavoie]

Here a quote from an article on IGN that tells what we don't want to see in videogames. The part of the female character really stunted me and I really don't think I agree with them.

Ok Lara Croft can be class a a cliché, but Faith from Mirror's edge, Elika from prince of persia? I really like those characters and I think they bring great "color" to the game. What do you think?

Take Mirror's Edge's lead character, Faith; Asian to appeal to the Asian markets, female to soften up the lads and potentially sell to a female audience too. How about Elika from Prince of Persia? That's not clever design - that's clever marketing. There's a big difference. The Final Fantasy series has had its share of strong female characters, like Yuna in X-2 and now XIII. Again, it's a deliberate move (particularly X-2, which aimed at a female market with fashion-based equipment and magic-slotting).

Lara Croft still kicks around, as does Samus. But alongside those two comes Alyx Vance (Half-Life 2), Joanna Dark (Perfect Dark), Rayne (BloodRayne), The Boss (MGS), Zoe and April (Dreamfall: The Longest Journey), Jill, Claire and Aida (Resident Evil series), Elika (Prince of Persia) and the list goes on. It's not clever anymore; it's not special. It's become a bad clich? that is as predictable as it is ultimately degrading. Let's stop pretending that's it's still a unique feature.

Mod: Link removed, they don't deserve the hits.

[Cyorg]

Female characters are just fine, but putting a female character in a game just to have one is stupid.

[groovyone]

Heavenly Sword wouldn't have been as good if Nariko was male.

[fsavoie]

Originally Posted by groovyone

Heavenly Sword wouldn't have been as good if Nariko was male.

True!

[Marine Mike]

Any game, movie, or television show should be based on the director's intent, not being politically correct.

[fsavoie]

Originally Posted by Cyorg

Female characters are just fine, but putting a female character in a game just to have one is stupid.

I agree, but how is making game with only guys is better? How is The Boss (MGS), Clair, Ada and Jill (RE) are cliché? more than altair (assassins creed), hale (Resistance)?

[Hedchekr]

Males in videogames are just as cliche as females. Always macho, tuff, a little cocky, etc.. And if your using cliche as to express it already been done, then that describes 90% of games as a whole. Stories are written around a male or female lead always, there is nothing cliche about it.

[Ferris]

Originally Posted by Cyorg

Female characters are just fine, but putting a female character in a game just to have one is stupid.

I agree, but that can go with anything.

but putting a male character in a game just to have one is stupid
but putting a female character in a game just to have one is stupid
but putting an animal character in a game just to have one is stupid

Unfortunately, this happens in a lot of mediums, not just video games. I've read books where some characters are absoutely unnecessary. Same with TV shows, movies, etc....

[Stephie_is_a_dork]

Yes, putting a female (or male or animal) character in a video game is like sooo last gen! The next hot video game will feature rocks and houseplants as the 2 lead characters. Take THAT status quo!

[jkwest]

Originally Posted by Stephie_is_a_dork

Yes, putting a female (or male or animal) character in a video game is like sooo last gen! The next hot video game will feature rocks and houseplants as the 2 lead characters. Take THAT status quo!

yup...sounds like you are talking about The Wii 2009 lineup...but, you forgot a blob in there...

[Septimus Prime]

So no one remembers Elena from Uncharted, huh?

[caliminius]

Originally Posted by fsavoie

Here a quote from an article on IGN that tells what we don't want to see in videogames. The part of the female character really stunted me and I really don't think I agree with them.

Ok Lara Croft can be class a a cliché, but Faith from Mirror's edge, Elika from prince of persia? I really like those characters and I think they bring great "color" to the game. What do you think?

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/944/944830p3.html

So, what are they suggesting? That all game lead characters should be male? Or if they make too many games with black, male characters, will they ***** about trying to attract black gamers? Or Hispanic leads?

If you're going to make a game with a female lead, isn't she going to have to strong in at least some ways? Do you really want a weak lead character?

There really aren't that many games with female main characters so I really don't see the problem.

[nycomet]

Wii should come out with a Star Trek Seven of Nine "Thigh Master" work out game called "Resistence is Futile."

[Blu Jacket]

Originally Posted by Cyorg

Female characters are just fine, but putting a female character in a game just to have one is stupid.

Any more stupid than making the character male just because?

[Cyorg]

Originally Posted by Blu Jacket

Any more stupid than making the character male just because?

No, but what I meant was that female characters don't seem as developed as their male counterparts. Characters like Elena in Uncharted are great, because they fit it well, have great dialog with the other characters, and she was a central part of the story... But in other games you get female characters that were only put in there to wear a bikini, so young males will buy the game... Or you might get the "feminine touch" character, she's meaningless, but they put her there to appeal to young female gamers.

I don't like it when they use females in games as marketing tools... Make them a useful part of the story, or leave them out.

It would be the same for any character. Pointless male characters are just as annoying, but it seems to happen more with female characters.

[Mxr5150]

Does anyone else feel as gamers, little bit insulted when too many female characters are there for nothing else but sex appeal? I am by no means a feminist, so don't get me me wrong. It just bothers me, and I feel like some game developers treat gamers like they're all males that only stop playing games to go 'beat it(and I don't mean a game)'. I would like to think that we are all above that, speaking to the males of course.

[Marquoz]

Originally Posted by Mxr5150

Does anyone else feel as gamers, little bit insulted when too many female characters are there for nothing else but sex appeal? I am by no means a feminist, so don't get me me wrong. It just bothers me, and I feel like some game developers treat gamers like they're all males that only stop playing games to go 'beat it(and I don't mean a game)'. I would like to think that we are all above that, speaking to the males of course.

How many movies have you watched because they have a hot actress in it? Or just for the eye candy? They are just following the same logic as that. I understand what you are saying, and I avoid those games myself because they have no redeeming value other then the over sexualized characters. If I was looking for something like that, I could download free manga.

[Mxr5150]

Originally Posted by Marquoz

How many movies have you watched because they have a hot actress in it? Or just for the eye candy? They are just following the same logic as that. I understand what you are saying, and I avoid those games myself because they have no redeeming value other then the over sexualized characters. If I was looking for something like that, I could download free manga.

You're right, and for that same reason, I wish they wouldn't do it so much. I find it insulting, I know I shouldn't take it personally but I do. I guess what I am trying to say is that I wish the industry didn't feel like it had to (if it does).

Edit: I have to say, believe it or not, I don't watch movies with hot actresses in them for 'Eye candy.'

[hardcore_canadian]

What about Dante? I'd Climb all over that in a second... Can they really say that they don't make these effeminate guys to appeal to women?

Seriously, all over him in Seconds.

[Marquoz]

Originally Posted by Mxr5150

You're right, and for that same reason, I wish they wouldn't do it so much. I find it insulting, I know I shouldn't take it personally but I do. I guess what I am trying to say is that I wish the industry didn't feel like it had to (if it does).

Edit: I have to say, believe it or not, I don't watch movies with hot actresses in them for 'Eye candy.'

Unfortunately gamers have been classified as teenagers that can't get any. It's along the lines of why leisure suit larry was released. Computer people are nerds that can't get any. It's what popular media says so it has to be true. It's because when somebody says they play WoW, the first thing that comes to mind is an overweight guy wearing glasses and vulcan ears. These have gotten so ingrained in peoples minds that higher ups think they have to pander to them to get business.