Pedophiliac Protagonist.

[TheDarkestDerp]

Sure, go for it.

Would people buy the game? Probably not. Judging by the amount of whining and outrage you're seeing here, just over the hypothesis for a completely fictional character, we can extrapolate some pretty poor sales figures.

Me, I'd be interested in your proposed game. Sure, it's a disgusting subject matter, but people are more complex than they're generally given credit for being. "Good" people do "bad" things quite often, and desire to do much "worse". The flaws of character and conventional morality are what make for intriguing and believable characters in story, especially when their nuances are ones we find uncomfortable to even think about. All this complaining and name-calling over your idea, but already I've seen so much praise for Arkham City, with characters that are serial killers, slave-traders, mass murderers, rapists, all manner of violent criminals and offenders... but apparently children is still a line in the sand? Please.

 

[Goro]

Children a line in the sand? Yes, of course they are! Children are the definition of innocent, they are to be protected and guided as best as is possible. Rock Spiders are often the victims of abuse, and they can (maybe) be counselled out of their behaviour, but many more are genetically damaged, and can not be 'saved', no matter how you try. If you think child abuse is more thing you can 'yeah whatever, why not' you need to visit some victims.
From the game perspective, how can you empathise, sympathise and want to keep alive a protagonist who's very existence is repugnant?

 

[PayneTrayne]

Can you imagine the field day that FOX News would have with that?

Video games are no longer just rape, violence, murder, suicide simulators but they NOW teach the masses how to secretly become Uncle Diddles. I'd see that being a very bad time.

Now a character that was ONLY attracted to cougars on the other hand...

 

[scorptatious]

The only way I could see this possibly working is through a plot twist. The main character would be killing powerful monsters allowing him to collect items of great power in order to achieve immortality. Only to find that at the end of the game he was actually kidnapping children and killing their parents, and everything that has happened was just a hallucination.

I also find it kind of funny how there are two users on here trying to give ideas for games and they both have white mages for avatars.

 

[AdeptaSororitas]

Please don't tell me you are one of the freaks on here that is attracted to children.

This is the problem with the topic right here, anyone or any protagonist as the OP is suggesting would be stigmatized by someone like SillyBear here without a second thought. Even if you made the character a great person, who never did anything, but is eaten away at his / her thoughts of children on the inside they'd be screamed at, hated, and the media (read: Fox News) would make a shitstorm out of it without understanding it. When society stops screaming and closing their eyes at issues and instead tries to figure out the cause and how to cure it, then we can work on these sort of issues.

So to society: Quit crying and screaming, try to find the reason behind it (the gene, mental connections, who knows what creates this, rape, and other such intense urges that consume people), and diagnose it. It's never going away until we figure out the root. Never.

And as for the thread: Will probably never happen until 20-40 years from now when society hopefully tries to cure these issues and can accept talking about taboos more openly.

Oh, save the hipster speech. You sound like you should be sitting there baked in an indie coffee shop wearing a beret.

You aren't going to change anything or enlighten anyone by making a video game with a pedophile as the lead character. I highly doubt it would be any sort of amazing piece of art that stops the nation. It would be clumsy and awkward.

And forgive me for questioning the motive of this guy. I've seen a handful of people on the escapist blatantly admit they are attracted to children.

Actually. I think a video game is EXACTLY the media needed to challenge the audience. In a book or movie you're passive, but in a video game you ARE the protagonist. It would be very effective if done in the first person. It would literally be seeing this persons world through their eyes. If done well it would be more impactful then ANY movie or book, simply because of the chosen media. Now the game couldn't be ABOUT being a pedophile, but that would be an aspect of the character you're playing, probably done as a reveal mid to late game.

Think about it, you are an interesting, probably likeable character and then BAM, it's revealed that you are a pedophile. It would color all the actions that came before and after it. And that is an experience ONLY video games can deliever.

 

[cgentero]

Games aren't like movies, you cannot make a game about a pedophile(or autistic or anything not normal like that) like you could with a movie. Movies are passive while games are active and we don't want to be that person through interactivity.

 

[Jumplion]

It could work, but only if done right in the first place.

There is no topic that games can't handle that books, TV shows, movies, music, whatever haven't already tackled. Pedophilia and the effects thereof is one of them.

Mind you, if there ever was a game with a pedophile for a protagonist, it probably wouldn't work out to begin with either due to controversy or the developer's ineptitude.

But hey, it could work, and one of these days there may be a game that tackles the subject maturely and in a sophisticated fashion.

Not for a long time, though.

 

[GenericPCUser]

I like the concept, but I don't think pedophilia is the way to go.

I think a game adaptation, or game inspired by Dexter would be better.

Also, how does one play a pedophile without allowing said player to indulge in the character's fantasies? Which would raise certain hell for games and gamers everywhere I'm sure.

 

[SillyBear]

Actually. I think a video game is EXACTLY the media needed to challenge the audience. In a book or movie you're passive, but in a video game you ARE the protagonist.

Eh, not really. Both books and film are mediums that carry far more detail within them than video games do. Gameplay gets in the way. It's just the nature of the beast. There has never and will never be a video game that is as beautifully told and fleshed out as something like Catcher in the Rye or 1984 were.

Think about it, you are an interesting, probably likeable character and then BAM, it's revealed that you are a pedophile. It would color all the actions that came before and after it. And that is an experience ONLY video games can deliever.

..

Which would completely ruin the feeling that it was "you" experiencing the video game. If I am in control of a character and am making their decisions, then all of a sudden it's revealed the character is a pedophile - I'm going to be automatically distanced from them. I can't relate to that trait at all. And protagonists need relatable traits. They can be negative traits, but they still need to be relatable and you still need to be able to invest interest into the character. A pedophile wouldn't do that. That's crossing the line.

How is seeing the world through a pedophile's eyes even intriguing or interesting anyway? What can we possibly gain from it?

 

[NickKuroshi0]

a pedophile protaganist is usually used as part of the comedy (which is actually pretty good) doing it with a serious tone will be tougher that is if they want it to be good.

 

[SnakeoilSage]

Being a pedophile isn't a "characteristic." Characteristics are personality traits, or facial features. Pedophilia is a mental sickness that isn't any more natural than a serial killer.

Take your Nomolestol and go to bed.

 

[Soviet Steve]

No-where near as bad as the protagonist in Saints Row 2, and I don't see how one could be immature about this one without it being canned, so I'd give it a shot.

 

[archdjl1693]

Wow, this is the first time I've made any account, on any website, just to reply in a forum, or thread. Soooooo...Anyone play Silent Hill 2? Main character is a MURDERER? But, the funny thing is you don't go out of your way to enact on his "secret that he hides", but its an aspect of him that is weaven into the narrative of the game. And another type of sexuailty that has given depth to a character? Kanji Tatsumi, Persona 4, look it up. I really believe this can be done, but if in the wrong hands, it veryveryveryveryvery well be doomed to fail.

 

[Harry Mason]

Maybe after we have a few more protagonists who are female, ethnic minorities, religious minorities, or even one SINGLE gay, bi, or trans protagonists, we can delve into sexual disorders as driving narrative force.

So, in two or three hundred years.

Also, what's with all the pedophile love on The Escapist? I wouldn't mention it, but I've literally seen dozens of instances of someone jumping down another person's throat for vilifying pedophiles on this site. Yes, we all understand that it's a mental disorder that is quiet debilitating and that there is a difference between a pedophile and a child molester, but when I see PAGES of unrelated threads devoted to the subject, I can't help but think there is something off. Seriously. You don't get legions of people commiserating on how Necrophiliacs always get a bad break! No one ever gives a crap about us!

 

[magnuslion]

It is an interesting concept, however I feel that it feels fairly cheap in terms of a framing device. It would more than likely be used to generate ridiculous amounts of press for the game, making the story and gameplay of less importance, which is a marketing tactic I despise.

 

[archdjl1693]

Gay, bi, or trans? OH WAIT, forgot to mention, Naoto Shirogane, ANOTHER character from Persona 4, who is a girl and wishes to become a man, the game company for this jewel encrusted gem? ATLUS, again look it up.

 

[Gorrila_thinktank]

Which would completely ruin the feeling that it was "you" experiencing the video game. If I am in control of a character and am making their decisions, then all of a sudden it's revealed the character is a pedophile - I'm going to be automatically distanced from them. I can't relate to that trait at all. And protagonists need relatable traits. They can be negative traits, but they still need to be relatable and you still need to be able to invest interest into the character. A pedophile wouldn't do that. That's crossing the line.

How is seeing the world through a pedophile's eyes even intriguing or interesting anyway? What can we possibly gain from it?

An apt question. We can all agree that Pedophilia is a negative trait and does currently survey as the be all and end all of what we define as evil. But at its heart Pedophilia, no matter how sick it might be, is still a sexual fetish. And while we may not be able to relate to this, it is likely that every person can relate to having a secret that by the reality of its very existence places great strain on its holder. This ?guilt? can be a very powerful motivator. It is as simple as having stolen something like candy to as complex as stealing food feed your family.

For example, perhaps the Pedophile has isolated himself or herself because they view themselves as a danger to others- but- is now being blackmailed into doing something against their better judgment. In essence, it?s not the pedophile itself the drives the character, but the guilt. We gain an understanding of the a character who?s very existence is a source of moral antagonism. This is highlighted because as the player we cannot get away from the characters motivation.
If we don?t see the characters motivation and narrative as a key component to the story we can always go play COD?s Zombies. This is what so many people ragged on Rage for; not actually having a reason to care for the storyline.

we are not casting the charector on thier sexualality alone, but as a part of their internal narative.

Edit: sorry SillyBear, the "an apt question" bit makes me sound like a pompus jerk. you know its a good question, thats why you asked it. Appologies, shouldnt have done that.

 

[Corporal Yakob]

Just because you can make a character with a "compelling" flaw doesn't mean you should: closet homosexual Private Investigator struggling to come to terms with his sexuality while investigating a homophobic murder case (just off the top of my head)? Yeah that could work. A kiddie fiddler protaginist? Nooooo......