Is it just me of do Dogs get a very good representation in games.

[Ronald Nand]

I was just watching the latest video in Two Best Friends Play Deadly Premonition, and there was a scene where two characters were praising the dog in the game and dogs in general.

That got me thinking dogs get a very good representation in games, while cats hardly get good representation if any at all.

In addition to DP, you got Dogmeat from Fallout 3, the cyborg dog in New Vegas, being able to pat dogs in AC3 while not being able to pet cats, the dog from RE4, and I'm sure there plenty of other examples I can't think of.

 

[IllumInaTIma]

Don't forget about that adorable white ball of awesomeness
<img src=http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20121205014535/megamitensei/images/8/83/Koromaru_render.png>

Other than that, you'd have to try very hard to show a dog, a creature of pure love and loyalty, in a bad light. The only game I can remember where dogs were actually assholes is Call of Duty 4.

But your observation of misrepresentation of cats in games is actually quite curious... The only game with cats (other than obvious Sims: Pets or Kinectimals) I remember is Postal 2. And now I wish I didn't remember that.

 

[The Madman]

That's because Dogs are amazing loyal companions and friends, the most staunch of allies and trusted allies. Cats however merely tolerate your presence at best, awaiting the day they can rule and no longer have need of these disgusting humans.

 

[Bellvedere]

The only thing that I can think of where you can interact with cats outside some sort of simulation game or where all the characters are anthropomorphic animals is in Torchlight 2.

I guess the reason is because in reality dogs serve plenty of purposes where they interact with people in a non-pet capacity. Stuff like sniffer dogs, guard dogs, tracking dogs, herding dogs, etc. Even in a companion sense, it's more common to go walking with your dog than with your cat and in a combat scenario (big) dogs are going be lethal unlike cats.

For the same reasons you often end up killing more dogs than cats too

In terms of animals appearing in games though, surely horses would more prominent than dogs? Maybe not always treated as affectionately though...

 

[Erttheking]

Three posts and no one ever mentioned this good boy?

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/ghostdog.jpg

Escapist, I am disappoint.

 

[tilmoph]

Makes sense; police forces use dogs and sometimes pigs to sniff for bombs, dogs to track prison escapees, dogs to subdue resisting suspects, many military forces, from the Romans to the Soviets to...well, damn near everybody has used dogs in some capacity. Dogs are simply very useful to humans, which makes sense; they've been evolving with us for millennia, and came to our side originally because of similar hunting tactics and social dynamics.

Cats are nice pets, certainly, and can mess up local ecosystems by just killing things for fun, whilst hiding behind humans when things get too dangerous, but they aren't really good for much besides companionship and sometimes killing small pests (if they feel like murder that day). Not much point to putting them in a game.

 

[skywolfblue]

Because dogs are loyal and cats are evil! Ta-da!

Though there are a few evil dogs:

Spoiler: like Resident Evil's zombie-hell dogs

Spoiler: Or the various incarnations of Cerberus (well, this example has only two heads but you get the idea):

 

[Abomination]

One of the few things that can make any grown man tear up is a dog sacrificing itself to save its master's life.

They are humanity's most loyal companion, no other creature comes close to the kinship we have forms with canines... apart from, I guess, horses - but not every man can own a horse.

There's an emotional bond that game developers would have to be foolish to not recognize in their games, that's why dogs are included so well.

How has nobody mentioned "Dog" from Dragon Age: Origins? Even Sten likes Dog and Sten doesn't like anybody.

 

[Evonisia]

Spoiler: Or the various incarnations of Cerberus (well, this example has only two heads but you get the idea):

How dare you, clearly you've never saw the puppy versions of them!

Anyway, serious, on-topic stuff:

Dogs are Man's Best Friend aren't they, whilst Cats are more independent, and SOD that, either lick your master's hand or piss off!

 

[PatrickXD]

How about Kat and her cat in Gravity Rush? That's a good representation, that cat is awesome!
Saying that, I totally agree that dogs get a disproportionate amount of love. I'm sure you could spin this into a sexism light. Anyone pointed this out to Anita Sarkeesian yet?

 

[Drummodino]

Dogs get more love because they're better clearly

Kidding aside dogs are just more applicable to a video game setting. Dusty from Gravity Rush is a good example of a cat in video games though.

 

[Thanatos5150]

Humans and dogs evolved alongside each other as hunting partners, so, psychologically, dogs are almost human to us, and almost always trigger "good friend" reactions.

I may or may not be making some or all of this up, but it sounds pseudo-intellectual.

 

[Easton Dark]

There are no dog equivalents of Felicia though

It's probably because dogs are retarded and attack anything they don't like, which fits well in games with violence, while cats are calculating and careful. There's plenty of games with dog enemies too though.

 

[AidoZonkey]

Its amazing how many time I find my self saying 'meh' when a character dies. Few human characters have ever left a impression on me, however when ever I see a dog die in a game or is threatened in a game I cant bare it. I think its because I do love dogs and cats but I just cant bare to see one get hurt in a game

 

[Sack of Cheese]

They say "Dogs look up to you while cats look down on you."
Dogs are human's eternally best friends, or best pets, because you don't really treat your friends the way you do to dogs, hopefully.

In any case, I don't mind! They're cute! I love dogs!

 

[The_Echo]

Other than that, you'd have to try very hard to show a dog, a creature of pure love and loyalty, in a bad light. The only game I can remember where dogs were actually assholes is Call of Duty 4.

What about... the dogs in every Silent Hill [http://silenthill.wikia.com/wiki/Dogs]? And very many other horror games, for that matter.

The dog enemies in EarthBound also come to mind. Dogs are very common enemies; perhaps more commonly than they are allies.

 

[Megacherv]

That's because cats are evil horrible creatures, and dogs are cute and loveable and happy and fluffy and etc.

 

[chadachada123]

I suppose it's because cats kinda suck in basically every respect, while medium-and-larger dogs not only serve many uses but are also fiercely loyal; something that cats wouldn't even dream of (being loyal to someone else, that is).

The only thing worse than a cat is a small dog.