Diversty in GTA

[Dr. Dice Lord]

Again look up female criminals like Griselda Blanco.There are plenty of women in the criminal world who engage in violent acts, so the whole "women can't be violent criminals" argument does'nt hold water,

I never said "women can't be violent criminals." I know it happens every day, I in no way claim otherwise. However, I do hold that there's more incidence of such violent, antisocial, and destructive actions in males than females. That's a fact of life, for better or worse. I'm not saying I'm against a female lead in a GTA game, I just don't think it would have meshed well in the story GTAV wanted to tell. I think Rockstar had a vision, and they followed it closely. I support them in that, and I don't think the lack of a female lead was an intentional jab at females.

 

[Kingjackl]

I don't really fall on either side of the whole female protagonist thing. On the one hand, saying that the three guys had to be male because that would sell better or because that's more 'realistic' for a crime game is rubbish. It's GTA, they can do with it what they like and I seriously don't think adding a woman would affect the games gigantic sales. Plus, we can always use more strong female protagonists now that Samus has been 'Other M'd', FemShep and the Female Boss' series are over and Jade, Faith and Alyx Vance are still on the horizon.

On the other hand, this is the story the writers wanted to tell and the characters they wanted to tell it with. I would prefer a (relatively) undiverse character set that's written well and written with integrity over something the writers felt obligated to throw in. I like Michael, Franklin & Trevor (though I wish Mike would get over himself once in a while), and am happy enough with them as protagonists that I don't think they needed a fourth member, however diverse he or she may be.

 

[Sampler]

I always see the same response on these threads - there's no female playable character therefore the game's sexist.

That isn't necessarily true, but to be put another way is there a single female depiction in the game that isn't sexist? Not one of the peripheral characters are reflected in a good light and mostly boiled down to sexist stereotypes.

So, if we're going to blame the game for being sexist, why don't we aim those cross-hairs where they're completely legitimate, not in a vague area that could be argued out.

In saying that, are men any better depicted in the game - and not just the three playable characters who, given the roles they have to play for the story line are necessary shysters, is it right to rip on a game for having poor depictions of women if they have equally poor depictions of men? A black mirror of society.

 

[Specter Von Baren]

The most psychotic character in all of the GTA series is a woman. Catalina. Would making someone like her the protagonist really change anything?

Dragon's Crown says hi. Vanillaware had had characters in their series with exaggerated proportions throughout their games but people only raised a fuss over it when one of those characters with exaggerated proportions became one of the playable characters, thus putting them more in the public eye.

 

[scorn the biomage]

That is all I get from the forums as of late. I agree completely with you, but many seem so insistent that a game has to have a playable ugly gay female character they are sexist. I really do hate this trend and hope it dies off quickly

To be fair, if they can't even include one female playable character out of their three protagonists, in a long series of games(at least since the series went 3D) with only male playable characters, then this "trend" just might have a point.

No, they don't. If you truly want to play a female, then you can! It is called the Online Mode which seems to have its own set of missions. The story was planned with Male Characters in mind. It was the story they wanted to portray. It isn't as simple as gender-swapping them at all (don't even try to persuade otherwise because you would be proven wrong).

I think the online protagonist is going to more like Claude a blank slate with no real personality

 

[Easton Dark]

The most psychotic character in all of the GTA series is a woman. Catalina. Would making someone like her the protagonist really change anything?

Dragon's Crown says hi. Vanillaware had had characters in their series with exaggerated proportions throughout their games but people only raised a fuss over it when one of those characters with exaggerated proportions became one of the playable characters, thus putting them more in the public eye.

Two responses:

1. The timing of Dragon's Crown in the feminism debate cycle, something this industry hasn't had previously, I would assume it'd be talked about more than previous games because of it.

2. Those are physical exaggerations. This'd be all in the character's head. No one but Tito seems to mind playing as Trevor the psycho in GTA5, would making it a woman doing the maiming and senseless murder really upset people? You can already be a woman in multiplayer if you so choose, so I dunno man.

 

[Tayh]

They wanted to make this game, this way, and they did. Also, good job responding in a dismissive, disrespectful, angry manner and resorting to foul-language to try and get your point across.

If I come across angry, then it's because I'm perplexed by the almost hostile defensiveness of GTA-players against the idea of female player characters.

 

[LightningFast]

Trevor is bisexual too, although I think he's a bit stereotypical in that regard, being a maniac willing to stick it in anything.

Well, he is Canadian. We're generally okay with that sort of thing.

I think Jim put it best. Rockstar is allowed to tell the story they want to tell, but are not exempt from criticism due to their lack of a female protagonist. I suppose I'm of the opinion that while not necessary, being progressive is generally a good thing. Hell, in this situation, if we really want to bludgeon people over the head with the female protagonist aspect, we could make it about a young, ruthless businesswoman type from a long line of gang leaders going up against her younger brother (who inherited the family fortune and turf), determined to prove herself seriously in the male-dominated world of gang violence... which, in turn, would pretty much be an allegory for the game itself.

 

[Gergar12_v1legacy]

Why do people even care. It's rockstar's story, I am just surprised by this outrage over one part of the game. There are games with female leads. Also it is rockstar's story, and a female character is their choice. You don't see me complaining this or this game does not have male characters. Are we going to be happy until there is a female character in every game? Also allot of people have pointed out that having a female character be tough will evoke criticism, and GTA is a tough world, but if one finger is lay on said female character the same critics will complain it inspires violence against women. I don't see a female character being done in a way that would evoke more criticism from the same "progressive" crowd.

 

[Rebel_Raven]

I know i'd settle for a side story DLC with a female protagonist.

GTAO is supposed to have a light story mode and gender select. It's something. :/
We'll see how good that something is, though.

P.S. I think we need an Oni 2 in a GTA styled game.

 

[kilenem]

...Where the hell do I get these analogies?[/quote]It's funny how you think playing as a female ruins immersion but playing as a 30 something white male does not.And before anyone says a female protoganist would be out of place in a GTA game because women aren't criminals I'd suggest looking a list of the worst female criminals in US history.[/quote]

Someone I knew as a kid did a drive by on a guy while he walking his kid. Granted this guy jumped are took her weed she was dealing

 

[Gergar12_v1legacy]

Why do people even care.

Because people care about games...?

There are games with female leads.

There isn't

Also it is rockstar's story, and a female character is their choice.

That doesn't save them from critique

You don't see me complaining this or this game does not have male characters.

That would be a dumb thing to complain about considering how most games have a male lead.

Are we going to be happy until there is a female character in every game?

No one is asking for that, just that it's not so unbalanced.

Also allot of people have pointed out that having a female character be tough will evoke criticism, and GTA is a tough world, but if one finger is lay on said female character the same critics will complain it inspires violence against women. I don't see a female character being done in a way that would evoke more criticism from the same "progressive" crowd.

Where are you getting this from?

No games with female leads? What planet are you from? you then say most games have male leads... Contradicting your previous statement. How is it unbalance? I see games with female characters that you can play all around me. Every fallout, 2 out of 3 mass effects, tomb raider, saints row 2-4. Both left for deads. I got that last info from the front page which you obviously didn't read while you were rushing to write me a reply.

 

[mokes310]

Franklin is the best original black character.

Bro, did you even CJ from San Andreas?

More to the point: GTA games are all about stereotypes. They are the prime example of satirical stereotyping. That's the point.

 

[kilenem]

I think the discussion is leaving the original topic of Diversity. I wanted to focus on diversity in video games rather should I protagonist be female. I'm glad someone brought up the Walking Dead I kind of forgot about that game. Some one also brought up how Latino charters and Asians are under represented in games.