Jimquisition: The Creepy Cull of Female Protagonists

The game industry doesn't want female characters. That is allegedly the message publishers have been sending to developers.

[smashcrashbash]

I agree.It's strange how people think that somehow it isn't creepy to think that you need to hide women because they are women in games or that it is okay for men to have a roll in the hay but as soon as women make a move they are creeped out.Like he said people are not even willing to admit the problem or add any sort of alternative or solution.

People always have the 'Shut up, it's not important' attitude even if someone comes forward with good points or points out the problem.The answer is usually 'That is how it is.So shut up' almost the same attitude that people had long ago when there were slaves or blatant racism or when women where not treated equally.I don't understand the rage, the indifference and denial involved in this topic.You don't mind a half naked guy with bulging muscles welding giant weapons grunting and sweating but being a female with thoughts and feelings is creepy and even worse you don't think them being half naked with bouncing breasts creepy.In fact Bayonetta is one of the creepiest women I have ever seen in a game.I am not sure if she was trying to be seductive or sexy but what ever it was, it didn't work.Also how is Lara acceptable by everyone as a lead role but other strong women are a problem? Isn't it the same thing?

[TruthbeTold]

lol Jim Sterling doesn't give an F what he says or how he says it does he?

But yeah, I say make the games properly, market them properly, give them a chance. Either they will stand or fall. We just don't know yet because there hasn't been a series of fair enough chances yet.

[Zha1tan]

Love the jimquisition, how is he so right?!

[Deadpool616]

The more I learn about how the game industry works, it's seems as though most of the industries issues stem from the higher up suits, rather than the developers themselves.

[WikusVanDeMerwe]

That was actually a very interesting video to watch and had a lot of good points that should questioned and brought up more.

I think game devs, every now and then, should be aloowed to take these risks and see what they can come up with and put all this fear of rejection aside otherwise we are stuck with rehashes from here to ... infinite... hehe

[SeraphimBlade]

He basically voiced my exact opinion on Bioshock Infinite's box art. (aside from the part about actually playing it. That will be fixed tomorrow!)

Yeah, I can't really think of any canonically female protagonist with a real romance in a game. At least not one that gets more physical than a quick kiss.

[InTheLab]

Wonder what would happen if a female brought up this topic? Oh...we all know what happens /oops

At least with all that's going on with this subject, he actually brings up a legitimate point (even if someone else said basically the same thing a weeks ago...).

The conversation needs to be had, and it's ok to take a critical look at the industry we love.

[crazysammy]

I understand completely why publishers are afraid of the female protagonist. Many gamers are like myself and put themselves into the game, or rather imagine they are the character. Because of this, it is very difficult to play games with a a female lead, or also an African American male lead (I am a white male)

However with that being said, a good game with amazing characters will shatter that notion, as in the last few months I have had 2 separate instances of this happening. First was Telltale games The Walking Dead. Lee was an AMAZING character, and never once did I look at him as anything but the character I wanted to be. Secondly was the new Tomb Raider. Lara's character again was great, and it didnt even concern me that she was a young woman. I enjoyed both games immensely.

My point then is that its not the consumers fault, or the developers. I think the problem is these skittish publishers not being able to know what a good game is or what a well written character is. If they did they would know that it doesnt matter if this character is Blue, Red, Black, Female, or alien, but that it will still be a great story and a great game.

[smashcrashbash]

That shouldn't matter at all.You should be concentrating on the character of the person and their experiences and not their physical appearance. You can still put yourself in the person's shoes even if they are a different race or gender.That is why people make the mistake.You are still stuck on the fact that we are separate but we are all humans.My skin has nothing to do with my experiences.Books and movies do it just fine and gender and race don't mar the feelings you have for or against the character or stop you from knowing how it feel when they experience them.Putting yourself into a character's situation should not be limited to your own gender or race.People should be more open minded by now.My pain, trails and tribulations should be understood no matter who I am.You don't have be the person's race to understand people are suffering from disease, famine and war around the world do you? So why do people think that you have to be that race or gender to get what the person in the game is going through?

[crazysammy]

That was exactly my point. When the characters are done well and the story is told on a high emotional level, then it doesn't matter. Thats whats so great about an amazing story.

It does matter when it comes to some peoples level of immersion and all I was saying is that these publishers are not taking into consideration the quality of product. They are looking at it only as color, gender, etc.

Lastly its not a moral highground thing here. You cannot tell people how they should enjoy the games they play. Some people are just like that its a fact. However what CAN be done is better storytelling, and then PROMOTING those great games so they shatter these preconceived notions.