New Years Resolution.

She's not so much mean, as just very, very, very lonely. She married a few times throughout her life but after I think... her third divorce, she stopped. And for good reason, I won't get into it but... trust me when I say all of them were extreme circumstances. So she's lived alone for... easily 10-15 years now? She works full time and doesn't even have a dog... So.. she's had plenty of time to get lonely and... extremely anal retentive..

Basically you want an empty puppet to control that can be a guy or girl.

No character development or established personality.

That's a horrible approach to anything if you want forced "gender-neutral" self insert character(unless it's an mmo/general multiplayer game).

Yeah, actually. o.o What's wrong with wanting to have a unique experience that's not already determined for you? I like RPG's and whatnot that have a story and a universe that you essentially 'draw' yourself into. How is that 'horrible'? No, seriously, how and why would it be bad that I want a character that has room for me to put myself into?

The main characters in Persona games don't talk so they're perfect for putting yourself in. I don't know why you have to play as a girl though. I'm a guy and I have no problems playing as either gender. I can understand if you can't play games because of lack of free time but your missing out on a lot of good stuff if the lack of a female lead is your only concern. You shoud try Persona 3 Portable if you have a psp. It's an excellent game and has both male and female options.

Lack of a female character isn't my only concern, but it's my main one. I'm sure I'm missing out on a 'lot of good stuff', but needing a female lead is how I get into a game. I can't connect with a male character because I don't know who I'd be as a man. I know who I am as a woman, and the decisions I'd make for the premise/plot/setting of a game as a woman, but .. yeah, not as a man.



Edit: It also communicates this weird, unsaid idea that girls can't be badass. O_o Mind you, more and more games are having female options, it's still grossly out of balance. Girls like games, damnit. If I want to play a badass CHICK, why is that weird/petty/'a stupid reason'?

Persona 3 on PSP? Tell me about it. Although it should be known that I don't have any type of console, handheld or otherwise. :] Just my laptop.

That's as idiotic as hating a story because it doesn't have a male lead/protagonist, but has a female protagonist. It's a story and how the writer interprets his or her thoughts into reality, which leads to development of characters and so on. Forcing gender neutrality in games, movies, or entertainment never ends well since you are hindering the creativity of the writer and it tends to become shitty.
Edit: It makes sense for RPGs since you are playing a character that you have created or crafted to represent you. However, the rest of the video games have their own story and uniqueness for the gamer to enjoy the writing, gameplay, and graphics.

So "girl gamers" are a unique class of gamer that can only enjoy games with female leads? Your separating yourself right there. Honestly, "there's no female lead" is a really silly reason to not play a game. Some examples of games with female characters...

In the end, everyone has their own preferences. To me, your preference seems somewhat narrow-minded but whatever works for you I guess. Does this apply to all media or only video games? Can you not watch a movie unless the MC is a girl?

I don't think girls should only play girls with female characters. I just think it's stupid that there's so much more male-only games. It's not a silly reason at all, and I'm not 'separating' myself, There should be female options because females exist. It's very simple. Females can be badass and portray those roles in games just as easily as males, so why shouldn't there be female options? I fail to see how this is silly, when it makes perfect sense. Video game companies need to expand more and accept that they're shafting half of the human populace. Girl gamers are becoming a larger part of the consumer base, it only makes sense that they include them.

This preference doesn't apply to movies because I'm not interacting with them. I'm watching a story unfold without giving any input whatsoever. It's set, and finite, and requires no outside action. If something requires me to give input, I'm going to put myself into it. As does everyone. Everyone makes their choices based on what feels right for them, their character, and the setting. Obviously some playthroughs are different than others -'this time, good character! / this time, bad character!' But the point is having the options. There's no fun in playing a game making all your choices based on what someone else wants you to do - what do you get out of it? It limits how many facets of the game you can enjoy. It's not silly or narrow-minded to want to be acknowledged in the games and by the companies you pay patronage to.

Video Games

male-only games
What exactly is a "male-only" game. Final Fantasy 13 had a girl protagonist. Does that mean it's "female-only"? I'm a guy and I still played and enjoyed every second of it.

There should be female options because females exist.
There should also be a panda option because they exist too. From now on, every game needs to have a story that works with male, female, and panda main characters. Otherwise female gamers will rage and think they're being ignored.

so why shouldn't there be female options?
Maybe, just maybe, the story of game doesn't lend itself to a female option. If your more worried about whether the protagonist has a cock or vag then that's just sad.

they're shafting half of the human populace
The only ones they're apparently shafting is you and maybe 5 other people. The last time I checked, there's plenty of girls who are okay with playing as either gender.

There's no fun in playing a game making all your choices based on what someone else wants you to do - what do you get out of it?
You get this thing called "enjoyment" or a "story". You can enjoy movies, right? Your not having any input in them but is it not still possible to just enjoy watching the story unfold? Also, get this, a lot of games do have multiple endings, dialogue decisions, free roaming, and numerous other things you can do. Your acting as if all games are incredibly linear with no options.

Okay, it's fine if you like games that have options. There's obviously a wide variety of games and everyone likes something different. I don't get why it's such a huge deal if there's not a girl option. Is it not fun to simply play a game?

fck

Don't make one, for crying out loud.

Lets see...

1. Dont make my girl cry anymore...(although it wasnt entirely my fault.)
2. Stop smoking
3. Stop Drinking
4. Eat Right
5. Get a new motorcycle


Thats it I guess...lol

I didn't saw those were horrible, or that liking it was horrible. Essentially, my first point was that it's horrible to limit yourself exclusively to games that have a "gender neutral" story or one with a choice to be a female. Limiting yourself because an almost insignificant factor(most of the times it doesn't affect the game overall), in my opinion isn't the best way to approach any entertainment media.

I think that I might have offended you, so...sorry.

I played 13. I hated it. I don't think I said anything about 'male-only' games, but games that have no option to go through the game with the perspective of a female character.



You know exactly what I mean. Our sentient race is comprised of two sexes. Anyone who identifies as or is sexually female, should have the option of enjoying video games as one. I don't care if SOME don't have one because the story lends itself to a single male protagonist, but there are some games that enough room for a female option, but don't. Like some multiplayer games. If all you're doing is shooting people, you should be able to shoot some bitches as a girl, too. If it doesn't matter anyways, why must it be limited to one sex?



I already covered that in a previous post. I'm aware some stories are specifically about one titular character, that happens to be male. It's not sad to want diversity. How is that sad? No, seriously. You're just insulting me and telling me it's sad with no real reason why. The option should be there.



This isn't about other people, this is about my personal preference. My personal preference is that video game developers have playable female characters. Chicks can be pirates, or space marines, or super soldiers, or inter-galactic space heroes, or mutants, or anything else spectacular one might dream up. There's absolutely no feasible reason that developers should continue to create games with only one playable sex when women are becoming a larger part of their consumer base. Eventually, diversity will become more and more of an issue. Just because a lot of chicks don't care [mostly because they don't exactly have a choice], doesn't mean none of them think it would be nice to have a choice in the matter.



I don't want my video games to be like a movie. I said that already. When I play a game, I want to be able to put myself into it. My preference, which I've also.. already said. A few times. No, I don't enjoy just being a passive force in a story that has no real dependence on my input, if I wanted a good story, I'd either read one or watch a movie. Also, You're*. And yeah.. I am, because that's how they feel to me. limited. stiff. There's absolutely nothing wrong with wanting a more diverse gaming experience.



I enjoy a lot of games, aside from my token favorites [all of them have female options], are games that don't have a character at all [-cough- Angry Birds...]. I like the idea of being able to partake of the grand stories and premises out there, from the perspective of a badass female. That can't be wrong or pathetic, right? Wanting to be a salty, swashbuckling pirate babe? A laser-wielding, galaxy-saving space marine lady? A filthy-tank-top-wearing, knife-toting mercenary chick?

I get that the idea of 'limiting' myself to these is the major clincher for you, but.. it's just how I enjoy a game. I can't turn the volume off, because I'd miss key context and atmosphere, but when I'm in the heat of battle [and this is usually when my inner woman-warrior comes out, amidst all the ass-kicking and cap-popping], I get completely turned off when super butch voice erupts from... me. Ladybonekiller. I am not a dude, damnit.



Firstly, don't apologize when you're not actually feeling remorseful or apologetic, I know you well enough, Cruz, to know that's not something you feel on the norm. It's also okay, you're entitled to your opinion. [size=7]That's a given, and not something I'd imagine you wouldn't already be aware of..[/h]

I can see how limiting myself seems stupid, but it's not so much a 'rule', or form of strange pointless 'activism', so much as... something that comes into play when I'm already gaming. Male voices and heterosexual-dude-sex scenes [I.e. Myself, as a dude, having sex with a female character] or other absolutely-DUDE moments... just ruin it for me. Like, so much attention is being paid to my gender as a male, that... I just can't get into it. I like playing a female, being a badass CHICK, or at least being able to have enough mystery and neutrality to pretend I am. You know?

I still disagree with you on a lot of things but I don't give enough fucks to type another wall of text. I suppose everyone is different and we all have different views and opinions. Out of curiosity though, what games do you enjoy? What are some ones you like and dislike?

It's good you don't give enough fucks, because I wouldn't have budged on my stance at all. :] I'd still, in general, like to see more female options, just to know the industry gives even the slightest fuck about their vag-owning fans, y'know?

I really like Roleplaying Games, except for the Japanese ones. I find them insufferable, too hair-flippy, squeaky-girl-quip-y, and with cinematics that make me want to tear my hair out. I really liked ME1, for some reason I got attached to the airlock mechanic. Made it feel 'reeeaallll'. I like sci-fi genres because I'm strangely obsessed with aliens and robots and intergalactic politics. For a long time I was a die-hard fantasy nerd with inclinations toward nordic mythology [I.e. Skyrim!], but I've found myself leaning slightly more towards the former. I loved Fable 2 and 3, The whole ME franchise, Dragon Age [2 was a little... ehhhh], and I could play Fallout: NV until I die.

I really prefer games with some kind of moral compass. It doesn't have to points or anything related to them, but I like to be able to tell the difference between a good or bad character/good or bad choices. I like endings or major plot events to be directly affected by my choices, dialogue options, and whatnot. Really... feel like I DID something, you know?

I...Well alright then.

I.. well, I don't see you apologize too often, seemed more like.. compulsory than anything else. I meant it, it wasn't necessary. I'm okay with your guys' opinions. o.o

They just.. usually won't make a difference in mine. -shrug-

Okay then. Our tastes in video games may differ to some extent but I do like the Mass Effect series as well. I do fear your generalizing Japanese RPGs too much though. You don't have to like them but they're not all as "squeaky-girl-quip-y" as you may think. I can see why JRPGs are not for everyone but there's definitely good ones out there.