Let's talk about sex

[machomuu]

Do you tend to have a preference for whether you choose a male or female character in a game?

Assuming that game has equal options for both sexes, of course. Though, actually, if you want to get into a form vs. function debate in regards to sex-locked character options, I'm all for it. After all, it's not uncommon to have various things locked behind your choice.

For instance, even disregarding the hooplah behind it, I was quite miffed that I had to pick a guy to go for any of the romance choices I wanted in Fire Emblem Fates (or Persona 3 Portable, for that matter). And I didn't, because I had a specific vision for the character I wanted in mind and I planned to achieve it, so I made her and pretty much left any shipping to headcanon, which I suppose sounds a bit strange, but so does the decision to change headpats into implied sexual relations or what have you.

Thoughts? Preferences?

 

[pkmin3033]

The problem with most video games these days is that the two sexes are not created equal. Stats-wise, perhaps - although maybe you'll get a couple of points difference here and there just as little bonuses. Maybe the romance options (if some are available) are split evenly too, in which case I will go with whichever looks more appealing; I went with a male avatar in Fates recently specifically so I could romance Cornelia li Britannia--sorry, I mean, Camilla.

But aesthetically speaking women ALWAYS have more options. Always.

So if there are no differences between the two other than aesthetics, I almost-always go for a female avatar, because females by and large get a wider range of clothing and appearance options, meaning I get a more customisable avatar I can be happy with. This in no way surprises me, as it reflects societal norms and values...guys don't typically wear dresses out and about, after all, and a lot of previously masculine clothing is now gender neutral, so girls have more choices by virtue of that. But what DOES bother me is when they get more options for hair, though. Why are games so averse to giving proper long hair options these days for male customisable avatars?

It's a small thing, but it's a fairly bothersome one, as whilst female avatars seem to have thrown gender roles to the wind in a lot of games, male avatars are still locked into the "short-to-medium-hair, buff and armoured" stereotype we've had since before video games existed.

So, broadly speaking, unless there is a specific female character I want to romance, I go female. The issue of sexuality in video games is not something I want to go into (in this thread, anyway) as it's a not-wholly-relevant tangent and I could type PAGES about that.

 

[JJ Styles]

You know this thread could have been easily called a different title but w/e. I'm pretty sure the kids at this point know what we are tryong to convey here D:

I've said it before and I will say it again. I am a 12.0 on the 10 point scale of man-and-a-half but i find myself picking the female avatar in most games that I won't take as seriously as i would, but still play in a modicum of degree and commitment (private servers in RO for example. Aesthetics are king). Then there are times that I like picking the female avatar for aesthetic purposes. We've played a whole lot of games with the manly protagonist, might as well have fun with a womanly avatar for a change : D.

However, if there is an MMO or any massive multiplayer outlet that i feel like i want to take seriously to the point of being identifiable in said game, I would pick my own sex, a male, so that I have a character that I can proudly play as, and people would know that its me Mario. In my olden days during the Philippine RO Scene, i played as a male character so that my friends, male and female, could easily identify that it was me. And yes, I wasn't immune to the idea of the whole virtual waifu x husbando thing since I did have a friend (actual female) who played a female character (She was my priest/healer, i was her frontline bruiser/knight), we reached to the point of RO's Marriage system but of course virtual Marriage != real commitment.

Then there are simply some female characters in multiplayer games that are downright powerful or at least I find enjoyable to play as, like Seraph as my special ops in BLOPS3.

Regarding league of legends, its funny that many of the best ADCs/Marksmen are actually female champions (Caitlyn, Ashe, Sivir), Lucian's been nerfed so he's no longer the best. And since i suck so bad as ADC, i play support if I'm not jungling, and the support role has its fair share of male and female characters. Taric being my personal favorite support to use.

I don't have a definite answer on which sex i prefer to play as. Half of the time, i just go with whatever i feel like doing. Am i a boy or a girl in a video game? In a multiplayer based game of diverse characters and genders, I play for the purpose, whether it be guys, gals, those of questionable orientation, or whatnot. : D

 

[ZetaZaku]

I never self-insert when I create characters, so I always pick what's the most appealing. In Japanese games I usually pick a female character because in those the dudes are already quite feminine, so might just go all the way. In western games it's usually a coin flip, although every time I make a male character I always make him look ridiculous, a joke character. Or in case of Fallout 4, I accidentally made him look like Big Boss.

It's true that female characters have much more options. One of the main reasons why I played XY with a female character. It was so fun changing the look every week, while the guys were really stuck with the most bland clothes and haircuts.

 

[Dusk]

When it comes to games where gender is just aesthetic like Pokemon and Animal Crossing, I'll pick girl. In games where you can customize the player character, girls are always given more options. Or uh... better-looking ones, at least? Actually about Animal Crossing... in New Leaf, one cool thing was that your character could wear any clothing, accessory, and hairstyle regardless of gender.
However, when it comes to games where romance is a mechanic (and locked into romancing characters the opposite sex of the player character), I'll probably start off playing as a guy.

 

[Midi]

It depends on the game. If it's something like Destiny or something with a dark plot, I'd usually go with a female avatar, purely on the concept that I love a badass girl that can put up as much of a fight as the guys. So much so that I write a bit of backstories for my characters. For something more carefree and relaxed, like Pokemon or Animal Crossing, I'd go with the male avatar.

 

[Karous]

It depends. If the female characters are wearing chainmail bikinis and outfits you'd see in cheap porn, then I'll definitely roll a male character. Otherwise, I usually make a female character.

 

[Satoshi Ookami]

Much click-bait title, very clever.

Depends on the game.
In character creations I usually go for self-inserts and create a male character.

If there are default characters, I take female character if she's moe enough.

 

[Cersei Lannister]

I just go with whatever, sometimes I just choose randomly. On FE: Fates birthright my avatar is male, but on Conquest it's female >.> woohoo I like playing both!

 

[pkmin3033]

Here's a semi-relevant, interesting question to build on discussion - what are your thoughts regarding gender-neutral protagonists, or male-to-female/female-to-male protagonists? Would you be interested in playing as such a character, or playing a game in which a character like this had a prominent role?

I only ask this because Undertale's protagonist (and to a lesser extent, the White Mage/White Wizard from Final Fantasy) is entirely gender neutral, and as we are slowly attempting to become more open and accepting of gender differences and sexual orientation, would not having gender neutral protagonists - or even the ability to change your character's gender in the game, or having it changed as part of a sidequest - be a part of that?

Is this something you think should be included in basic character customisation - the option for gender neutral characters, or the ability to change your gender in the game? Granted, you CAN create gender-neutral characters through customisation, but you still have to pick male or female as an option, and a lot of games don't provide much in the way of customisation.

 

[Pebbles]

i always pick a girl
because i am a girl and they are much better than boys{:3}^_^​

 

[Dracowyn]

I used to pick a male character all the time, but nowadays I usually pick the girl. They have more hair/clothing options that guys and theirs are usually less generic. Also in RPG's, I don't want to stare at some guy's butt for the entire game.

 

[Firebolt]

Let's talk about you and me

I usually pick a male avatar in most of the games I play. In games like Pokemon and Fire Emblem, they're just a lot easier to relate to. Not to mention in online games, picking a female usually means you get hit on (handy if you want boys to help you out in game though). The only game that I can think of where I pick a female avatar is Monster Hunter. I tried to play with a male hunter, I really tried. But I just love the female armour designs soooooo much more. Remember how I said I like to relate to the character I'm picking? Well I find it really hard to relate to a big burly dude who's face (you spent so agonizingly long customizing) is hidden by most armour available to male hunters. Besides, my sisters usually tease me that I hit/act like a girl anyway...

In games with predetermined characters, I usually just pick the most likable characters and focus on them. I liked Agn?s's character development in Bravely Default, so I found myself using her as the default character most of the game. In League of Legends, the majority of champions I play are female, although that may be because I'm a support main and most supports are female anyway (typical). I like to keep open minded though about characters and not judge them based on their gender, but some games for some reason still think the world can only be run by men (still mad Hinoka/Camilla/Azura don't get their own sacred weapons to use).

 

[PeePi Coming S.]

I pretty much just pick the male character in whatever game since i'm not that comfortable playing a female avatar in your online games.

I mean people have their tastes and preferences. I just happen to stick to mines.

 

[Satoshi Ookami]

They have more hair/clothing options that guys

Shouldn't less clothing be more desirable on female avatars?

 

[Captain Fabio]

I will always go for male. The reason? Simply I like to pretend, like most, that they are the character. So, while I don't have lady parts, it makes sense to choose the male in the game.
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[Early]

I haven't yet played any games where your gender has an effect on the story/your character's stats, so in my case, I just go with whichever one has the better aesthetics. Up until New Leaf, I always started out playing as a boy in Animal Crossing because they had better default haircut options, had less slightly silly-looking hats in the GCN game, and I just have a preference for wearing shorts over dresses/skirts. When New Leaf finally allowed female player characters to wear shorts and pants, though, I made my first character a girl right off the bat. I've played as both sexes pretty evenly in every Pokemon game so far, though typically start off playing as the female first (with the only exceptions being HG/SS, B2W2, and most likely Sun/Moon when they come out).

 

[Kameken]

Usually I start out with a male character, and when I replay the game go with a female.

 

[Reunilu]

I almost always go for the self-insert, so I always pick the girl unless it's for a joke. Last time I played as a male character, it was oh... three years ago when FE Awakening came out in the US? Again, as a joke. I don't really find male characters very attractive anyways.

I really should commit myself to using male characters one day, though. I've found that I don't really care about aesthetic options (and by extention, how revealing something is).

 

[Hermione Granger]

I play as the female characters if there is a choice in any game because of how they look.