Is Dragon Age the mens' Twilight?

[Nenad]

I had a crazy idea once, and after some time I finally got to posting it. So here goes:

I got the idea from http://theoatmeal.com/story/twilight Read it if you want extra details. In short, it argues that Bella, the main character from Twilight serves as a shell for girls to put themselves into.

So I got the idea: How is this different from Dragon Age (1)? Even more so that you can influence your character. Or maybe that's why it's not the same?

Thoughts?

EDIT: OK, should elaborate a little better.

I know RPGs since P&P are doing the same thing. This is not a quality debate, although it matters to a certain point. Point taken people.

Bella has a personality, but that ain't stopping people imagining the story of the book happening to them. Thus they are putting themselves into the character of Bella.

In Dragon Age everyone can put themselves into the character of the savior of the world and imagine the story of the game happening to them.

See the connection? That's all I'm asking. And that doesn't mean one of the two is worse for it. I just find it interesting.

 

[hazabaza1]

Basic Role-playing games were around before Dragon Age.
Plus, you make the character's personality in those games. Bella has her own personality, one of shredded wheat.

Also, some women do play Dragon Age and the such, shock horror.

 

[Nenad]

Basic Role-playing games were around before Dragon Age.
Plus, you make the character's personality in those games. Bella has her own personality, one of shredded wheat.

Well, Oatmeal argues it's pretty empty and has room for the reader.

Also, some women do play Dragon Age and the such, shock horror.

I know that -.-

 

[Hiname]

Oi, no need to degrade shredded wheat here.

 

[LordDPS]

Being sad enough to of read the books (i keep the ashes in an urn)i have to say Bella is not a shell she's a badly writen, spiteful, spoilt, manipulative, *****. Kind of like most teenage girls i guess but she does have a personality. I can't see why girls would want to relate to someone that shallow. Where as on Dragon Age you define the charecters personality yourself hence it is an RPG. As an author i apreciate that more......

 

[hazabaza1]

Basic Role-playing games were around before Dragon Age.
Plus, you make the character's personality in those games. Bella has her own personality, one of shredded wheat.

Well, Oatmeal argues it's pretty empty and has room for the reader.

And while it is empty and leaves room, it's meant to be a personality it just fails. Dragon Age, along with all the other kinds of games, gives the main character no personality because you decide it. It's as strong or as weak as you make it.

Oi, no need to degrade shredded wheat here.

Also I love you.

 

[Cowabungaa]

No, games like Dead or Alive: Extreme Volleyball are the men's version of Twilight. Why? Because Twilight is, basically, masturbation material for desperate girls, just like DoA is masturbation material for desperate guys. Men and women aren't really that different.

In short, it argues that Bella, the main character from Twilight serves as a shell for girls to put themselves into.

It's less like roleplaying games, and more like point-of-view pornography.

 

[Sam Warrior]

One point to mention here, Dragon age has a good plot and a well written story, the first one at least. Comparing it to twilight is like comparing chocolate cake to dog mess.

 

[elbowlick]

I guess it's something like that, but Dragon's Age can do the same thing for both genders. I don't know about the first one, I lost interest fairly quickly, but in the second one my friend DOESN'T SHUT THE FUCK UP about her virtual relationship with Fafnir and whoever the mage guy is. I didn't play the second one and I know who Fafnir is, that was the extent of this madness.

And that empty shell tihng is nothing new. Anime has been getting away with that crap for far too long.

 

[Something Amyss]

Basic Role-playing games were around before Dragon Age.
Plus, you make the character's personality in those games. Bella has her own personality, one of shredded wheat.

Also, some women do play Dragon Age and the such, shock horror.

The reason, so the theory goes, that she has the personality of shredded wheat is so that "you" can imprint yourself upon her.

And men read Twilight, too. That doesn't really take away from the point.

Basic RPGs have been around for years, but there is something to be said about the WRPG and the lack of character the protagonist displays.

 

[Nenad]

One point to mention here, Dragon age has a good plot and a well written story, the first one at least. Comparing it to twilight is like comparing chocolate cake to dog mess.

My point was not to degrade DA or anything I just spotted an interesting thing and wanted to see what you people think/am I right.

 

[Nenad]

The reason, so the theory goes, that she has the personality of shredded wheat is so that "you" can imprint yourself upon her.

And men read Twilight, too. That doesn't really take away from the point.

Basic RPGs have been around for years, but there is something to be said about the WRPG and the lack of character the protagonist displays.

This guy get's the topic. Listen to him. Although I wasn't aiming specifically for the WRPG.

You imprint yourself into DA as you do the same in Twilight.

 

[Zhukov]

Oi, no need to degrade shredded wheat here.

Comment of the day right there.

 

[Iron Mal]

In short, it argues that Bella, the main character from Twilight serves as a shell for girls to put themselves into.

So I got the idea: How is this different from Dragon Age (1)? Even more so that you can influence your character. Or maybe that's why it's not the same?

Thoughts?

Simple difference.

Bella is a pre-established character who someone can slip into the role of (if, God help them, they happen to see similarites between her and themselves).

In Dragon Age you are the character, no needing to slip into a shell or empathise because it is you who is leading, directing and designing the character and their personality.

One is weak writing and the other is a standard RPG create-a-character system.

 

[LordDPS]

Fuck yeah mate, if i say stuff like that i get such "classics" like Evangileon shoved down my mouth by people in leather saying "DEEEEEEEEEEEEP its so DEEEEEEP" (if i didn't know better i would of thought that maybe the Otaku were having BDSM fantasys yet again) Because a show about ADHD Children who fight in Robots has never been done before.

 

[theNothingMan]

Personally I think "Cirque du freak" has more parallel to Twilight, with more of a guy focus. Despite, being a pretty good book.