Men who play as women in video games...

[TV Eye]

Okay, this has bugged me for quite some time. Why is it that no man can give a straight answer when asked why they play as women in video games? And I'm not talking about games like Tomb Raider where the only playable character is female or Smash Bros where female characters play differently from everyone else. I'm talking about games where you're given an option between MALE or FEMALE.

Why do a lot of men choose FEMALE?

Here are some examples: In the World of Warcraft episode of South Park, Stan, Cartman, and Kenny played as men. In Stan's case, a character that looked like his dad and in Kenny's case, a man that looked like him. But Kyle was a female...and only one joke was made about it from Cartman.

Now, that's just a comedy. No big deal. But I follow Egoraptor on Youtube and in all his videos (Mass Effect 3, Saint's Row 3, Pokemon) he ALWAYS plays as a female. He did a Game Grumps video with Jontron recently where they played Pokemon Emerald and they were BOTH disappointed when Jontron accidentally chose the dude.

Now, my friends started Skyrim and both of them are playing as females, so I asked them "why?" They answered that they'd rather look at a woman than a man when playing the game. Now, this confuses me because Skyrim is played in first person...soooo...I guess they'd rather look at a female's gloved hands? This also can't be the same answer of why any guy would play as the girl in Pokemon because it's just a sprite. Of a ten year old girl. Sooooo, yeah.

When I play video games, I create a character who looks just like me. Isn't that the point of character creation games? To put yourself into the adventure? That's what I used to think.

I did a little research and I read a couple articles written by women who are also confused by this phenomenon. This writer believes that it's because some men like to feel like they have a dominance over the woman, and if that's the case it's pretty despicable. The comments in this article say it's because they like to play games through a new perspective...which is a pretty shitty way of defending themselves because if that was the case...why be a woman? Why not a dwarf? Or an orc? Or a wizard? Or whatever is able to be chosen.

I dunno. I hope this wasn't too long. I'd like to know what kind of input you guys would like to contribute.

[Shadrio]

It always seemed to me either the second article you stated or the simple idea of "hurr durr, I got boobiez". I know I've seen that happen a lot.

I once started a pokemon game file and chose female to see if the story deviated at all, mainly because in one of those subway battles, a biker would show up and say something along the lines of taking his hand and riding off with him in a romantic way (I was the male trainer, so this struck me as strange).

Plus, really? How many people do you know that, when given the chance to make a character from scratch, they used that chance to replicate themselves into that game? I don't think I know one person who's done that in skyrim, unless... they're actually part of the Illuminati >_>'

We play video games to escape reality, much like others read books, watch movies and partake in other mediums of entertainment. Video games are special because they are interactive and there aren't any real rules in some game. So, ever wanted to be a chick but don't want to go through the permanent effects of gender changing surgery? Bam, start a new file in skyrim and choose to be a female. Now you can finally hear a woman grunt as she... does something in that game... like... dungeon exploring or I don't know.

I guess that would be my two cent on the topic. Not saying it's right, just saying that that's what I've seen.

[Shrikeswind]

I occassionally play as the girl in games where I have a choice. My reasons, and I'm not speaking for everyone, are basically that I don't care that I'm playing a chick, she looks better than the guy. This isn't some sexually driven thing, either: Sometimes, the men in video games look like the laundry hamper puked on them. The girls, on the other hand, ALWAYS have taste. And if it's bad enough (which it sometimes is,) I'm going to take taste over testes.

[8bitretroshit]

IF I'M PLAYING A MMO FOR 6 HOURS A DAY I MIGHT ASWELL LOOK AT A VIRTUAL CHICK'S HOT ASS WHILE I'M DOING IT

Anyway I personally never try to recreate myself whenever the game allows customization. I usually went with whatever my perspective of cool was and nowadays whatever really silly (stereotypical) character the options allow. Now that I think about it I always go for the male option unless I'm replaying the game, I guess in the off chance of there being minor differences when playing as a lady. Sometimes though female characters look better all around (clothing/design wise) and I guess the amount of customization is a big factor for me too. For instance with B/W2 I'll probably be going with Chun-li instead of the walking palm tree.

As for dudes always playing as girls? I dunno, I guess they like to play as the 'cute' character of the group which males usually don't really fall under. Also for MMO's there's the extra benefit of lonely nerds really thinking you're a girl and giving you free shit if you manage to fool them long enough

[Wildcat]

*raises hand* Yes, I tend to play women in RPG's. Why? Well, I explain it fairly well (I think, anyway) in this podcast I did: www.gameongirl.com/podcast-posts/2012/6/14/episode-10-role-player-jerry-identifying-with-drag.html

I can't speak for everyone, but I can speak for myself. Feel free to ask me questions after listening.

[Flint]

I really dislike the design of men in most videogames, in western games they are usually bald buff guys with whom I can hardly relate, and in east games they are mostly effeminate bisonien, so I do play with female avatars a lot (I do it in Pokemon, I did it in PSO, Now If Pokémon gave me a chance to play as a Male GROWNUP wearing a cowboy hat, I would do it, I did it in Coliseum )

It also varies from game to game, the first thing I did with the Mii maker was myself (Then I did plenty of my Chars, even the non human ones, I love the Mii maker) same with the Xbox Avatars (and in the Avatars case I find it disturbing to use I female, don´t know why) also I try to recreate my characters every time I have a character creator in my hands, and my male guys are hardly doable in most games ( fav.me/dkca9c ) Now every game that lets me make Flint, I will make him. So I say it its mostly due to character design.

Now I must ad, I don´t play First person games, and I usually create lots of characters when possible (I filled the slots I had in SCIV and SCV as well in Dragon Quest IX)

Now to give you the other side of the coin, I find quite strange that some men cant play some games just because it has a female protagonist, I had meet some of those, those who cant pick Chun Li in Street Fighter because of her gender and that refused to play Perfect Dark because it was a girl.

[nocturnal YL]

I pick both genders - usually just whatever makes sense to me. I don't really care, but I do, at times, get sick of always playing as guys. I just wanted some variety.

And, in a lot of times, I don't see the game character as the player's reflection. If it's anyone's reflection, it's the storyteller's, in first person.

[Boo Destroyer]

Jul 28, 2012 22:46:32 GMT -5 TV Eye said:

Now, my friends started Skyrim and both of them are playing as females, so I asked them "why?" They answered that they'd rather look at a woman than a man when playing the game. Now, this confuses me because Skyrim is played in first person...soooo...I guess they'd rather look at a female's gloved hands?

Jesus, they're actually that insecure about having to "look at a man when playing"? (or his hands anyway)

If the game allows for two or more files, I try such games with both genders on each file, just to see how it all works out. That's how I do it.

When I play video games, I create a character who looks just like me. Isn't that the point of character creation games? To put yourself into the adventure? That's what I used to think.

Hardly anyone does this.

[kirbychu]

Jul 28, 2012 22:46:32 GMT -5 TV Eye said:

When I play video games, I create a character who looks just like me. Isn't that the point of character creation games? To put yourself into the adventure? That's what I used to think.

I do it too. I'll usually create other characters for other playthroughs, but for my first run through I generally play as... myself.

I always use my real name in games like Pokémon, too. Because if I was a kid walking around training Pokémon, I wouldn't be calling myself by a forum handle like most people on the GTS seem to.

[TV Eye]

Jul 29, 2012 15:00:21 GMT -5 kirbychu said:

I do it too. I'll usually create other characters for other playthroughs, but for my first run through I generally play as... myself.

I'm glad to hear someone else does this. Y'know, I'm starting to believe that most gamers are just insecure about their looks. If I see a muscled guy as a playable character, I don't think he's "hideous" or whatever you other guys think. I just think "Oh, he looks pretty cool. This is someone I'd expect to see on an epic monster-slaying adventure."

But, yeah. I'm totally comfortable with how I look. Not to brag, but I'm not in the least bit unattractive. Unfortunately, my personality is shit and that's what girls are really into, but I digress. I can play as a male avatar and not be turned off by the game, but if I were to play as a female...the game would just seem off. Especially in something like Harvest Moon where you can get married. Flirting with a bunch of boys just seems childish ("Hurr hurr hurr, check it out, this guy thinks I'm hawt.").

I always use my real name in games like Pokémon, too. Because if I was a kid walking around training Pokémon, I wouldn't be calling myself by a forum handle like most people on the GTS seem to.

I'm the same way! I could never understand how someone could play an entire Pokemon game being called "xXHaMsTeRXx" or something equally as silly. And don't even get me started on the joke names ("THIS DICK found a Pokeball!")

[Wildcat]

Teev & Kirbychu - It sounds like you tend to be a "self" player. My wife is like that. You put someone who looks a lot like you into a game and then act as you normally would within that game world. I personally rarely if ever do that. I like to interject characters I've created into those worlds and play out how they would act. I find that more fascinating, personally, but that's not to say you're doing anything wrong. Out of my characters, I find the female characters I've made more interesting to develop, so I slant towards using them over the males.

[Da Robot]

With Mass Effect, I'm heard people saying they played as FemShep on the grounds that she has a better "performance" (by voice actress Jennifer Hale) than the Male Shepard.


Can't think of any games I'm played recently that allowed for gender choice.


Also to reverse things around, I wonder how many woman actually play as woman in games when they have the choice to?

[TV Eye]

Jul 29, 2012 19:36:26 GMT -5 Da Robot said:

Also to reverse things around, I wonder how many woman actually play as woman in games when they have the choice to?

Well, I've never heard of women who choose the male character. But it'd be interesting to get a girl's perspective on this.

[Koopaul]

Actually in games like Elder Scrolls Oblivion or Skyrim your gender DOES affect how characters in the game will interact with you.

I remember this one mission about a band of female thieves who would seduce men and steal everything, if you were a male they'd try to do that to you! If you were female they'd leave you alone.

Sometimes me and my friend will create many different characters of different genders and races just to see how the people of that world would treat us. It's very fun.

As for Pokemon? I sometimes alternate between male and female since it makes no difference.

[Shrikeswind]

Actually, that does happen a lot, in MMO's anyways. My understanding is that girls who play as guys in an Internet setting do it because girl avatars get a lot of attention since, you know, they're girls, and the female players don't want it. And why don't they want it? Because gamer guys can be real assholes. You've heard the phrase "TITS OR GTFO." So many girls in MMO's play as guys to avoid that shit.