Poll: Protagonists of a different race/gender

[joshuaayt]

I wish more folks would man up and actually write female protagonists into their games.

...That is, good female protagonists. I'll admit that there are a few, but none of them are what I'd call strong female characters, and it bothers me.

Where's my ambiguously good female smuggler? My vigilante, my legitimately heartless bounty hunter gal (Who doesn't 'warm up' to the sexy man)?

Anyway, I'd play any type of anything in any game without complaints, as long as that thing isn't machismo exuding body builder guy. Well, I'd still probably *play* it, but I'd complain.

 

[Arjen Ab]

I think orc's and other fantasy don't count in the discussion. They are so far away from what you know that it's on the other side of the uncanny valley.

As for my preffered settings. If I choose as an RPG I tend to be male not sure why just always stick with it. As for color when I´m a warrior I tend to go for a bit more color then as a mage.
My reasoning in that is that a mage is someone who was indoor all day to study and never got any sun light. The warrior was the guy outside training. Sometimes I overdo the color and play a game as a total black man since I like that skin color but not always.

The way I see females in RPG´s are more like the rogue´s and thief´s because they are more agile and I rarely play like that.

If the game chooses for me I have no problem fighting or doing stuff as either side of either coin (black-white) (male,Female) but I´m have to think hard on settings I´m not a white and a male, GTA comes to mind for black, some jRPG's for oriental but still more often then not still leaning toward white characters as for females atm all I have in mind is Lara Croft

Now a black female that is such a rare sight I have no clue where to find those in a game.


but I'm not playing as much these days anymore due to time constraints (job and school) so it could be I'm missing out a few new games.

 

[GeorgW]

I prefer a protagonist of a different gender or race than me, I'm a white male and it's getting old. I would like more games to have minorities as the protagonist.

 

[Denamic]

I do not care whatsoever.
Gender, race, whatever, as long as the protagonist is good.
In games that I get to make my own characters, I'm as likely to make a female character as I am to make a male.
And if I make a dark elf, that's not only a different skin colour, but an entirely different species.

 

[Vault101]

I dont know, it depends on the charachter, if they are an actual charachter (like john marsten from red dead) then I find them relatable enough, if youve got a silent protagonist, then gender and role play can help

I only cant relate to a charachter if they are a non-charachter (though there are exceptions) and i naturally relate to charachters that are my gender (chell from portal)

anyway think about how I feel, Im female and somtimes I do wish there were more playable female protagonists,then again its the case with movies as well I supose

 

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

I also share that same sentiment. I am aghast that Bioware is only now including the ability to play as another race in Mass Effect with the upcoming sequel.

What? In ME1 the character creator was capable of creating a character of any race. The "Default Shep" is white, granted, and the voices don't change, but the player could have any skin tone and hair style they chose. Your comment is completely invalid.

 

[Vault101]

This is a simple question really but Id like honesty here, nobody, well at least not me, will call you racist or sexist for saying its hard to relate to someone different from you. I admit I would have a slight problem, not as in rage and revolt but just being slightly put off by playing a non-white male protagonist. Maybe its because I'm so used to them being white males that when they're not its just jarring. Not that I'd refrain from playing a game over that, it would just be weird to me.
Strangely enough I don't feel the same weirdness factor playing as a female of any race. Maybe its some subconscious prejudice of mine or just what I'm used to in games.
What about you guys?

I think there was an issue with the poll. Is it even there? if so the first option is meant to be "No, I wouldn't mind either way"

I think how much we relate to a charachter depends on (as somone said) if the focus is on the "charachter" or role playing

like johhn marsten from read dead, even though me and him are completley different (me female, him ruff tuff grizzled male) he has a story and a personality, therefore I can relate and understand him

now if read dead didnt focus on the charachter of john, instead made him silent, then I would hate that, because Im playing a blank slate that I cant relate to or care about..however keep marston silent but give me the option of playing a "Jane marston" and then thats better

 

[The_ModeRazor]

I like playing as a black person (am white) so I can play this song while strolling down the street:And I think Prototype 2's main character is... uh... African American? Or maybe Dominican? Something like that. And I'm perfectly fine with that.

 

[Vault101]

I also share that same sentiment. I am aghast that Bioware is only now including the ability to play as another race in Mass Effect with the upcoming sequel.

What? In ME1 the character creator was capable of creating a character of any race. The "Default Shep" is white, granted, and the voices don't change, but the player could have any skin tone and hair style they chose. Your comment is completely invalid.

I think he/she is refering to the option of playing as a turian/salarian/krogan...which isnt there for obvious reasons

personally I like having a talking "chrachter" as a trade off for that option

anyway in DA I played as an elf, and really enjoyed stepping into the shoes of a different type of charachter...granted the only difference was some pointy ears..but I felt a sense of how the elves struggled and the discrimination in that game...and it felt awsome to kickass as an elf that came from the slums

 

[Scarim Coral]

I don't have a problem playing a character from a different race or gender. When it come to making my own character like in some RPG I tend to make my male and asian looking but that out from preferences (so I feel like that character is me in a way).

 

[Togs]

I really have no idea- in RPG's (i.e. where character identification is at its highest) I tend to only play white males- the thought of playing a different race or gender never crosses my mind.
In other games? I dont really tend to identify with the characters I just play.

 

[Aprilgold]

...is what he means...

I'd rather hear author's explanation, thank you.

while being a guy playing a female in a game like Mass Effect for example, I couldn't stand it because it would bring something up that I wouldn't have said in general.

That's my general attitude towards ME no matter what gender Sheppard is. :|

Damnit I always do that, I always write that down instead of " What I got from it was...." DAMNIT, ok, now read it since I fixed that bloody thing.

 

[JesterRaiin]

Damnit I always do that, I always write that down instead of " What I got from it was...." DAMNIT, ok, now read it since I fixed that bloody thing.

Eeeeeeeeeeeeasy man, i understood you for first time. I just like to put a gun to sb's head and prove him wrong. ;D

 

[RemuValtrez]

Overall, I really don't care about what race/gender the protagonists in games are. If there's a choice, I generally go with a female, just because it's completely different from me (As I'm male). I generally try to immerse myself in the actual story. Race and Gender aren't all that important in the long run, unless the story makes it important.

 

[Morthello]

Well being a black male myself i have no problem playing any race or sex when it comes to the protagonist, especialy since 90% of the games ive played growing up have had a white male lead. I find it interesting to play characters that look different from myself. Having said that, ive become pretty bored and tired with the same 20-30 year old white male archetype you see all the time so when im playing a game that allows character creation i usualy steer clear from making a white male.

Ive never felt that a character had to look like me in or for me to relate to them and i actualy get more intrigued when a developer has the courage to make theyre main protag look different from the same copy and past archetype we see all the time.

 

[trollnystan]

If the choice is there, I will usually play a black female for some reason - In Oblivion I played a female Redguard; in Mass Effect my femShep was black; currently in Fallout: New Vegas my Courier is black and female. I suppose that I enjoy playing a character that looks nothing like the usual male whitebread protagonist.

Fishbelly-white female here btw.

 

[New Frontiersman]

More often than not I play a character who is the same gander and race as me, mostly because it's easier for me to see myself as them, but I have no problem playing as women, or people of other races.

I often play games as women actually, Metroid and Portal for example, but even in ones where you can choose your own gender I've occasionally picked a female protagonist.

I don't think I've ever played a game with a protagonist of another ethnicity though, save for maybe some Japanese games where the character is probably technically of Japanese descent but looks just Caucasian enough to be white in my mind. I wouldn't have a problem with it though, I think I'd actually really enjoy it, just because it's different than what I normally play.

Also when answering this question I had to wonder: does it get annoying for women, homosexuals, and minorities, who are primarily forced to play white, heterosexual, males in games to almost always be playing someone different than them? I think there really should be more variety in video game protagonist choices, or at least more of an ability to change their race and gender, so that way games could appeal to a wider audience.

 

[aegix drakan_v1legacy]

for me, it varies.

If the protagonist has an actual personality and stuff, then I have zero issue playing as a female, or other race character (or a giant slab of hulking meat or a robot, etc). They are the hero, and I am merely guiding them. This is their story, not mine.

On the other hand...If the character is supposed to be a representation/avatar of myself (see: Pokemon, any elder scrolls game, etc), and they aren't my sex/etc then I don't really feel like I'm able to get fully immersed into the world. There's a kind of disconnect that happens, since I'm supposed to "be" that character, and they are nothing like me...

So yeah, that's my take.