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

[Plasticaprinae]

Cats are useful because they hunt vermin and can fit into small places where dogs cannot.

http://www.almosthomerescue.org/about_dach/history.htm

Dachunds. Bred specifically to hunt badgers in their burrows.

To my knowledge, the last cat bred specifically for a purpose was the Sphynx cat, for the purpose of being hairless.

Beyond that, dogs and humans have evolved together:

http://www.nature.com/ncomms/journal/v4/n5/full/ncomms2814.html

I've not been able to find any peer-reviewed article detailing the influence of cats on the evolution of humans.

So, yeah, dogs are far more important in human history than cats.

Im not saying they weren't. Dogs are amazing creatures and I love them. And although they have a much wider use than cats, they cant do everything. And personally, I dislike owning animals that were bred to look a certain way due to the health issues it causes them. I rather own a mutt because I wont be using them for anything special like herding.

Also, cats are very effective hunters, to the point where people actively have to control cat population (or make their cat wear a stupid-looking, but effective, kitty-tunic ) in order to help endangered species and the bird populations. http://www.stichtingdierenrecht.nl/fileadmin/documenten/overige_documenten/Catbib.pdf

And to be honest, Most pet-animals nowadays in western culture are luxury and only have one use; companionship. We use them socially, so we won't be lonely. Even if its just a pretty betta fish.

Though Im a sap and I enjoy most animals.

 

[Fractral]

Don't forget about that adorable white ball of awesomeness

Spoiler

<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.

Koromaru-Chan! The only character in persona 3 to get less development is the MC, but he's still the cutest.
From another MegaTen game we got this cute thing:

Spoiler

But I honestly can't think of another game with a cat as a major character. Shame really, because I love cats, and apart from the green eyes my cat looks quite like goto. She can't talk though, sadly.

 

[Ragsnstitches]

Why?

In a designer sense, Dogs are easier to integrate into action games, since certain breeds of dogs are bred for some form of violent activity (protection/hunting) and most dogs are capable of being vicious, especially if their litter/pack/master is threatened.

Domestic cats, not so much.

Lions/Tigers could be used similarly but, akin to Wolves, there isn't much of a relationship between people and the wild relatives of our domesticated pets.

But it's likely due to dogs having more favourable traits for heroic stories.

 

[BytByte]

Who's to say the ruined lampshade is not part of his master plan?

My cat can stalk a bird in the yard for an hour, moving, inching, ever closer every second. He cripples mice and then just leaves them on the porch for murder at a later date. All the dogs I've met just hump my leg and dribble their food on the floor. It's quite a different experience.

I guess the real reason for over-representation is that dogs can be big and tough without being exotic. But I'd rather fight 5 large dogs than 1 tiger, as evidenced in Farcry 3 where dogs come in packs, but tigers are all alone.

Or in Hotline Miami where the dogs were total chumps through all the levels, but the 2 panthers at the end were probably the hardest part in the game the first time fighting them.

I feel you've never actually owned a dog and never seen a mini-Siberian husky. Just too adorable and not made of mush. Dogs are probably in more games because they are easier to train and they don't have perceived superiority complexes which makes them more likable.

 

[Ratties]

I have had pet rats for 15 years now. Never anything good for rats in videogames. I mean you might stumble on something every once in awhile, rarely. Know it's the year 2013, people have access to a device that can answer all their questions about domesticated ratties. I swear people are morons and think all rats are the same. Know that's why when ever somebody calls them vermin, I always ask them this question. "I wonder what makes you so much better." "Know you are consuming resources and and just looking for any chance to mate." "I doubt you are going to do anything with your life that is going to matter." "Know you are doing the exact same thing, you sleep, you shit and piss, you eat food, you go down to your boring job."

 

[Generic4me]

People love dogs, and they can kinda make sense in combat roles.

And fuck me if I ever see the day I get killed by a military attack cat in a videogame.

 

[Guitarmasterx7]

I have had pet rats for 15 years now. Never anything good for rats in videogames. I mean you might stumble on something every once in awhile, rarely. Know it's the year 2013, people have access to a device that can answer all their questions about domesticated ratties. I swear people are morons and think all rats are the same. Know that's why when ever somebody calls them vermin, I always ask them this question. "I wonder what makes you so much better." "Know you are consuming resources and and just looking for any chance to mate." "I doubt you are going to do anything with your life that is going to matter." "Know you are doing the exact same thing, you sleep, you shit and piss, you eat food, you go down to your boring job."

Absolutely. Unfortunately as I learned when applying for a patent, the use of human sized rat traps is illegal. I don't really have any line of defense for a fully grown human being chewing through my wall and getting into my stale frosted flakes and that frightens me to no end.

Cats, as cute as they are, are used mostly for decoration.

Domesticated cats have also been useful throughout human history. Why do you think they were domesticated in the first place? Rodent and pest control. Back before mouse traps and sticky paper, everybody used cats to keep the mouse population in check.

Uh... not that you're wrong but mousing generally isn't the objective in games. Dogs are big enough to pose a threat to humans which is why they're more common as a companion/enemy. Not that you couldn't put a really big cat in a game, but anything that deviates from realism like that is bound to be portrayed less than what's more familiar.

 

[bluepotatosack]

for some reason this topic reminded me of a game where you played a member of a wolf pack but i have absolutely no idea where that thought came from or even if it was a real game...

i should probably get some sleep...

That was totally a game! Called... wait for it... Wolf!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf_(video_game)

 

[Gergar12_v1legacy]

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.

Even Mira? Anyway dogs are loved because they are mans best friend, and sometimes only friend. Cats....try tigers, and lions. Back then they were the only thing that humans don't eat(ok they were used as food, but soon prove more than that) or were attacked by.