Poll: Why do you play as opposite gender characters?

[daemon37]

When playing a rpg, fighter, shooter, etc. why would you rather play as the opposite gender, rather than your own gender?

When I play a game I usually choose the female characters, though I am male. I've done this for as long as I can remember. For example, when Street Fighter II came out I remember instantly falling in love with Chun Li. I would play her all the time, and became quite skilled with her. More recently, I've been playing a lot of RPGs, such as Mass Effect, Oblivion and Fallout 3, and all my created characters are women. And most of them are loosely based on my wife's appearance/personality. People have sometimes asked me why I do this. Here are my answers.

1) Women are attractive: If the game is in the 3rd person that means I get to look at a woman the whole time I am playing the game (i.e. Tomb Raider).

2) It's a different experience: I already know what it's like to be a man, and most games out there only feature men as playable characters, so getting to play as a woman is a nice change of pace.

3) I don't like a lot of male characters in games: A lot of men in games are typically written a macho idiots (i.e. Marcus Fenix; Kratos; Chris Redfield). I prefer the more agile, intelligent characters, and often those are female.

The only real downside to playing the opposite gender is the romance part of some RPGs. It can get a little awkward trying to talk a man into having sex with you. Regardless of this awkwardness, my FemShep got it on with Garrus. Ohh yeah!

 

[SturmDolch]

I never do except maybe in fighting games where they're awesome, like Tali. But I hate fighting games so this happens rarely.

It's just because I like to connect with the character. It's harder when it's female, unless it's a specific story. For RPGs, I always go male.

 

[Colodomoko]

I guess to try something new.

For example in Fable 2 I replayed the game multiple times with a different gender and morality.

 

[AfroTree]

If they get better stuff~ (ala demon's souls silver bracelets) otherwise..if there are no MAJOR differences..normally female..just to see what happens..

or Male..for the same reason =3

 

[Xpwn3ntial]

Of the listed options, to try something new.

In reality, because I can.

 

[FFHAuthor]

In the spirit of Zen, when I create a character, I make one that I find enjoyable to look on.

 

[Kapol]

I don't really ever use a female character when I have a choice, mainly because I think it would make me seem like a weirdo. I'm not saying it would make me one though (though I am a weirdo).

 

[The Undoer]

Generally play through once from both perspectives. In big RPG's like DA:O it can change a lot just a few tweaks here and there.

 

[Skorpyo]

Well, in Torchlight, the female archer fit my play style the best.

Same with Diablo.

 

[mikespoff]

I'm male, but some character types just seem to "work" better as female avatars. Being male as a warrior/soldier is great, but sometimes a rogue/adept (or even mage) seems to be better suited to a smaller and more lithe body type. So it really depends on character class for me.

Dragon Age: Male warrior, male mage, female rogue
Mass Effect: Male soldier, female adept, female infiltrator
Guild Wars: 9 characters, and 3 of them are male (Warrior, Ritualist, Monk). Female ones include my Ranger, Elementalist, Mesmer, Paragon, Dervish and Assassin.

 

[mikespoff]

Oblivion I wanted to specialise in archery and stealth, so female night elf seemed a good choice.
All my playthroughs of KotOR (1 & 2) have been male, though.

 

[mikespoff]

Well, in Torchlight, the female archer fit my play style the best.

Same with Diablo.

Although, in Torchlight and Diablo you can't really choose the gender. You choose the character class, and the gender is pre-assigned.

 

[ScruffyTheJanitor]

Tbh, anyone who says it's weird to role as the opposed gender, ought to wonder why you'd spend your game-time staring at your own? I know which I'd be worrying about more. Truth is, it really doesn't matter one way or another so quite frankly, if you have an issue with it, your just being silly.

Other valid points are gameplay differs for different genders. In dialogue, sometimes gameplay and sometimes even the storyline is altered. It's worth exploring the one you can't predict so well first.

 

[Daemascus]

Its really annoying in MMOs not being able to tell if your talking to a guy or a girl. But its not too big of an issue. I personaly dont play the other sex.

 

[Xyliss]

When playing a rpg, fighter, shooter, etc. why would you rather play as the opposite gender, rather than your own gender?

When I play a game I usually choose the female characters, though I am male. I've done this for as long as I can remember. For example, when Street Fighter II came out I remember instantly falling in love with Chun Li. I would play her all the time, and became quite skilled with her. More recently, I've been playing a lot of RPGs, such as Mass Effect, Oblivion and Fallout 3, and all my created characters are women. And most of them are loosely based on my wife's appearance/personality. People have sometimes asked me why I do this. Here are my answers.

1) Women are attractive: If the game is in the 3rd person that means I get to look at a woman the whole time I am playing the game (i.e. Tomb Raider).

2) It's a different experience: I already know what it's like to be a man, and most games out there only feature men as playable characters, so getting to play as a woman is a nice change of pace.

3) I don't like a lot of male characters in games: A lot of men in games are typically written a macho idiots (i.e. Marcus Fenix; Kratos; Chris Redfield). I prefer the more agile, intelligent characters, and often those are female.

The only real downside to playing the opposite gender is the romance part of some RPGs. It can get a little awkward trying to talk a man into having sex with you. Regardless of this awkwardness, my FemShep got it on with Garrus. Ohh yeah!

You know what, I'm pretty much the same as you. I like playing as females because I don't like how men are portrayed and it's nice to play from the different perspective.

 

[KoSTHB]

the first run is normally a guy the 2nd is a chick, to get the full experience of a game u need to play it differently each time.

 

[Macgyvercas]

I play as a male in DDO mainly because I use that and pretend that i actually live in Eberron to make my life more interesting. I don't mind playing as a female, though. If I'm going to be staring at the backside of a character all day, they may as well be attractive.

 

[atalanta]

Well, in most shooters I play as a dude because I haven't got a choice about it.

In RPGs I tend to play women more -- I like badass, intelligent, competent woman characters, and they tend to be in short supply as protagonists, so I like to make up for it when I can.

That being said, I like playing men as well -- in RPGs I tend to come up with a backstory and personality traits beyond what the game gives you, and playing a man gives me even more variables to mess with.

The one RPG where I haven't bothered rolling up a male character is Mass Effect -- sorry Mark Meer, I'm sure you're a lovely person, but your voice acting makes me sad.