When will game developers realize there are female players too?

[Legion]

I'm a little skeptical of GoW's implementation of female leads, actually. It's ridiculous to see some of the stuff Marcus, Dom, Baird, and Cole do in the game. But it's certainly less ridiculous to see huge, steroid-infused men performing these brutal superhuman feats than it will be to see one of the willowy, wispy idealized female forms I've seen in the promotional material.

They aren't steroid infused though, that's just the artistic direction the developers took, at least, according to their video documentaries that is.

To be honest the only two who look large are Marcus and Cole anyway, and they are described in the book as being so, the rest are pretty normal for someone in the military:

Spoiler: Baird

In comparison to body size (most of it being armour anyway) his arms aren't exactly huge.

 

[Anah'ya]

To be honest the only two who look large are Marcus and Cole anyway, and they are described in the book as being so, the rest are pretty average:

Spoiler: Baird

In comparison to body size (most of it being armour anyway) his arms aren't exactly huge.

I like Baird.

*stares*

... *coughs*

The Video Game industry has, indeed, realized that there are female gamers out there. And there are plenty of games where a female role is feasible and also present. Since they were already mentioned by previous posters I don't see why I should bother to do that again.

I really can't see a lack of them. Even if I try really hard. Whenever I think of the games I've played that have male leads, I just can't for the life of me figure out how a female one would have fit in there without turning the whole bloody story or gameplay around. The same might not apply for the ones featuring females, but in these instances the lead with a pair of airbags was at least justified.

... I mean I can picture Beyond Good and Evil with a lad dashing about with a staff and camera. Though it wouldn't have been as good, since Jade was tailored to fit the job description.
I could, however, not picture Garrett the Masterthief being replaced by Garretta. Ugh. *shudder*

As for shooters (in particular war "simulating" one): Until those are focused on a different military culture (read: not the US) we won't be seeing a female character on the front. Come to think of it. How would tea bagging work in that scenario?

Anyway.

Whatever are these womenz doin' out saving the world? They should be in the kitchen.

 

[science girl]

I don't mind if there is a female option I'll take but I wouldn't rule out a game just because it doesn't have a gender option.

 

[veloper]

There's mega popular games like the Sims and bejeweled that target women specificly.

Since when does Bejewelled and The Sims target women specifically? Maybe the men you hang out with won't play them because they're not manly enough, but those are games that can be enjoyed by pretty much any demographic.

Some guy could enjoy playing with virtual jewels or a digital doll house, but I don't think this stuff is appealing to most guys.
So pretty much yeah, I don't think these games are manly enough.

Both games are very succesful though. Very popular with female casual gamers.

The industry isn't ignoring women. Different games are produced for different audiences.

 

[PhiMed]

I'm a little skeptical of GoW's implementation of female leads, actually. It's ridiculous to see some of the stuff Marcus, Dom, Baird, and Cole do in the game. But it's certainly less ridiculous to see huge, steroid-infused men performing these brutal superhuman feats than it will be to see one of the willowy, wispy idealized female forms I've seen in the promotional material.

They aren't steroid infused though, that's just the artistic direction the developers took, at least, according to their video documentaries that is.

To be honest the only two who look large are Marcus and Cole anyway, and they are described in the book as being so, the rest are pretty normal for someone in the military:

Spoiler: Baird

In comparison to body size (most of it being armour anyway) his arms aren't exactly huge.

They're not huge compared to the arms of the other massive meatheads in that game, but a person with arms that large in real life would definitely be considered bulky. And whether you consider him to be big or not, it's definitely easier to accept him sawing a person in half in a few seconds than it would be to see this person

http://img.listal.com/image/1253247/500full.jpg

doing the same thing. The brutal acts that occur in GoW just seem like they'd be silly being committed by a woman with a physique that would be well-suited for modelling bikinis.

A female bodybuilder? Sure. An Olympic sprinter? Maybe. This? stupid.

 

[noble cookie]

When we have to play as female characters in games, we don't complain.

Anyway, this.

You mean like Gears of War 3 where there are two female main characters?
Halo Reach which also has one?
Tomb Raider.
Metroid.
Portal.
Mass Effect.
Dragon Age.
Fallout.
Tenchu.
Borderlands.
Mirrors Edge.
Perfect Dark.
Bayonetta.

Off topic: Halo Reach FTW!!1

 

[Mucinex-D]

Yeah when will they realize all the female gamers out there want a game of their own? A cooking game perhaps with a little sewing involved. Cook that turkey faster before your husband comes home! QUICK TIME EVENT BASTING!! Uh oh you didn't make it, now you get a few good smacks for being late on dinner again.

Honestly I think if you aren't going to play a game because "you can only play a male character" you're playing games for the wrong reasons. I play games because they're fun, regardless of if I'm playing a female or male character. If I had to play a female character only? Fine with me I won't get my panties in a bunch and refuse to play it because it offends me.

 

[PhiMed]

There's mega popular games like the Sims and bejeweled that target women specificly.

Since when does Bejewelled and The Sims target women specifically? Maybe the men you hang out with won't play them because they're not manly enough, but those are games that can be enjoyed by pretty much any demographic.

Some guy could enjoy playing with virtual jewels or a digital doll house, but I don't think this stuff is appealing to most guys.
So pretty much yeah, I don't think these games are manly enough.

Both games are very succesful though. Very popular with female casual gamers.

The industry isn't ignoring women. Different games are produced for different audiences.

People who study the video game industry for a living recognize the fact that women play casual games and life simulators more than men do. Women are pretty much solely responsible for the success of the Sims. This is a well-established, statistically supported trend. Saying, "Men play those games, too," is a little like saying, "Women play ultraviolent masculine games, too." It's true, but it would pretty much render this entire thread moot.

 

[Aeshi]

Men invented games. It's all we have, the only thing in our lives that the majority of women A) don't want to be a part of and B) won't take in the divorce settlement.

This a million times

 

[Cinnamonfloss]

I really couldnt care less if I was playing a male or female or some messed up thing in between.
And im a girl.

 

[Weaver]

Maybe females don' make up a majority of players but they are out there. Every no sale of a game relects on the bottom line and I am a no sale on most current games.

Why don't they realize that most women don't want to play as male characters? I mean just switch it around, how many male players would enjoy games if most of the ones available had women as the main character?

Why is it a problem for them to develop games where gender option is allowed?

I, for one, don't purchase games that only allow a male character. I can't even role play a character like this. It's just not fun.

Usually these characters have a romantic interest. Of course the romantic interest is female.
C'mon, maybe some female players can go for this but not this player.

Maybe someone here can help me understand why gender option on MOST games, is not allowed.

I think this is all a sort of feedback loop the game industry has created. Male gamers are the majority so they make games that appeal to males. Thus drawing in more males and less females, which leads to males being the majority... etc.

The female demographic IS THERE and I wish developers would start to work with it more. We have games like Mirror's Edge, Beyond Good and Evil and of course Metroid all with excellent female leads with great characterization. These are examples of great middle ground that appeal to both genders (IMO of course). There's always going to be the "Bulletstorms" and other cliffy B. Bullet Circus games, but I'm perfectly open to female leads.

 

[veloper]

There's mega popular games like the Sims and bejeweled that target women specificly.

Since when does Bejewelled and The Sims target women specifically? Maybe the men you hang out with won't play them because they're not manly enough, but those are games that can be enjoyed by pretty much any demographic.

Some guy could enjoy playing with virtual jewels or a digital doll house, but I don't think this stuff is appealing to most guys.
So pretty much yeah, I don't think these games are manly enough.

Both games are very succesful though. Very popular with female casual gamers.

The industry isn't ignoring women. Different games are produced for different audiences.

People who study the video game industry for a living recognize the fact that women play casual games and life simulators more than men do. Women are pretty much solely responsible for the success of the Sims. This is a well-established, statistically supported trend. Saying, "Men play those games, too," is a little like saying, "Women play ultraviolent masculine games, too." It's true, but it would pretty much render this entire thread moot.

I think we're on the same page here.

 

[Vallinen]

Argh. This just pisses me off. Yet another fail feminist, who looks for male things to complain about.

 

[Arqus_Zed]

Also this early episode of ExtraCreditz (before it was called that) is kinda relevant.

Heyyyy...

That reminds me of something.
Anyone know Moviebob? You know, from this very site?