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Sony was nervous about Horizon's female protagonist, did lots of focus testing
- Thread starter Nirolak
- Start date
Souldestroyer Reborn
Banned
I don't see what the big deal is.
As a guy, If given the choice in a game, 95% of the time I make a female character >.>
As a guy, If given the choice in a game, 95% of the time I make a female character >.>
Corpsepyre
Banned
I don't blame them, honestly. Female protagonists are a risk, whether they're games or movies. Things are slightly better now as people are becoming more open minded to the idea of having a female protagonist, but this would have been QUITE a gamble back in the day. I like the character. She seems different than many other female characters, and I also like that she doesn't exactly look like a model, and is a bit chubby too.
TheSlySoul
Member
I think they made a good move.
I liked the idea of Brave before Disney decided to make it more kid-friendly.
I liked the idea of Brave before Disney decided to make it more kid-friendly.
Freedom = $1.05
Banned
Awesome!! Yeah, i figured that the next game would be a PS4 game given that they've relegated the vita to japanese imports and indie games these days but i was growing concerned with not hearing a word about GR2 so far this e3. I wonder if they'll do a Tearaway Unfolded type of port for GR1 to the PS4 to get people into the series.
Aces&Eights
Member
I thought the main character was awesome. Loved the look of her and she seemed pretty badass. Who the hell would not buy a game just because the protagonist is a female? This world is a sad place.
Dammit, I was trying to quote some and bam! Gone.
Acquiescence
Member
I don't understand why he was nervous. Because she was female or because she's rather unglamourous looking for a female character? I assume he didn't have any qualms giving the greenlight for both Gravity Rush and its sequel, so it's probably the latter.
No. So why would he greenlight stuff like Beyond Two Souls?
Yoshida was worried for marketing purposes.
Female protag in an open world RPG full of ribo dino's likely sounded a bit risky on paper.
I agree with thread too, she's very attractive in a natural looking way.
PhantomFear
Member
I really like the protagonist. She seems like just a normal person in a super amazingly awesome post-historic world with robo-dinos. Not an over the top character, just a regular woman that people can relate to.
They did have her talking to herself just a little too much during the demo. Hope that gets scaled backed before the final release. But it was cool how she gave hints about where the weak spots on the dino were. It makes you pay attention to the dialogue rather than just going in guns (arrows?) blazing.
They did have her talking to herself just a little too much during the demo. Hope that gets scaled backed before the final release. But it was cool how she gave hints about where the weak spots on the dino were. It makes you pay attention to the dialogue rather than just going in guns (arrows?) blazing.
jackissocool
Member
As far as I know, Sony has published a single game with a black lead: Starhawk. They've actually done ok with female leads, relatively speaking. I think the industry has made big strides lately with gender but has made almost no progress with race.
GR1 could just be a straight port with improved resolution, lighting, etc. No need for an Unfolded style overhaul where half the content is brand new.
IncandescentPrecept
Banned
So, they forgot that games like Tomb Raider, Final Fantasy and Mirror's Edge exist? The reality is that, if a game is good, people will buy it. Not sure where the notion that the gender of a character affects sales.
Plus, as we've seen this E3, leading female characters isn't going to be a rarity anymore.
Plus, as we've seen this E3, leading female characters isn't going to be a rarity anymore.
TimorousPanda
Member
There are a lot of games that I don't care for, but I don't know if I've ever hated one so much that I hoped that an announced sequel was cancelled.
Edit: On topic, loved what I saw of Horizon.
Sun Bather
Member
I am not prepared to answer that question fully, but I can not deny that the bulge of his pants may or may not have had something to do with my purchase.
Nightengale
Member
People internally were nervous, so it probably infected him.
GravityMan
Member
It's sad (but understandable from a business standpoint, considering the shitty mindset of some people such as the dude in this thread that was banned) that Sony and other companies are still nervous about this stuff.
Glad that Horizon got a very positive reception.
Glad that Horizon got a very positive reception.
The most important thing is that a character is well written and, preferably, likable. Looks/appearance are important, but secondary, especially when clothing can be customised.
When i found out Horizon is an RPG i was somewhat surprised (disappointed?) that we aren't allowed to make a custom character, or able to choose between a man and a woman, but those freedoms wouldn't improve a poorly written protagonist.
When i found out Horizon is an RPG i was somewhat surprised (disappointed?) that we aren't allowed to make a custom character, or able to choose between a man and a woman, but those freedoms wouldn't improve a poorly written protagonist.
Newtype-001
Member
Not a good post.
Whatever'sComfortable
Banned
Question.
Why is it okay to say she's attractive, but saying she's ugly is bannable?
Both are pure judgement calls based on appearance and that is part of the 'problem' with female protagonists. Is this not a little bit of double standards?
She's a very cool character, I think the dialog could be better though. It was a little bit too "I'm going to spell everything out for you".
Why is it okay to say she's attractive, but saying she's ugly is bannable?
Both are pure judgement calls based on appearance and that is part of the 'problem' with female protagonists. Is this not a little bit of double standards?
She's a very cool character, I think the dialog could be better though. It was a little bit too "I'm going to spell everything out for you".
AyaisMUsikWhore
Member
Sad that they had to do this sort of testing because well, this market hadn't been so kind to women leads, but I'm so happy in the end... She is a reality. This is easily my game of the show and I can't wait for it.
Funny that they stress so much about it and then that's not really a thing anyone's talking about when the game is shown. Because why should they react? Until he says this and then people talk, obviously. But it's shown time and time again that the so called commercial worries related to female characters is mainly a product of the SYSTEM and the culture it has created, not the people interested in playing games.
Spring-Loaded
Member
Is it okay to link to this guy's post?
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?p=168536683#post168536683
I agree! She has a realistic design that isn't 'pandering' to a certain audience. She kinda looks like (a much stronger) version of me lol. I'm really excited to play this game (for a host of other reasons too).
Sun Bather
Member
Did you ever see that focus testing report of psychonauts, from MS?
http://www.polygon.com/2015/5/21/8637961/psychonauts-tim-schafer-marketing
It's a big budget AAA title. I'll forgive them that they wanted to make sure the thing actually sales, and leave the social engineering to smaller studios who can afford to take those kinds of risk.
These people respond to the market, let's not push our failings on to them.
No. He's supposed to make money.
Hendrick's
If only my penis was as big as my GamerScore!
This strikes me as a cultural thing.
Fine Ham Abounds
Member
Focus tested or not, I personally feel they did a real good job with the character design. She's immediately recognizable in a sea of other characters without looking overdesigned or labored over.
wild wild rice
Member
I think Alloy will fit in nicely with Samus, Ellie and Chell as the GFLOATs.
Yes, but the culture that is the problem seems to be the European and American marketing departments.
Gravity Rush with a Japanese focus doesn't have any story like that.
Thing is, when a game with a male protagonist performs poorly does the notion EVER come up that it might be due to the gender or character design of the male character...? I think gaming companies need to forge ahead, forget focus testing and go with their gut. Focus testing will only lead to every game featuring broadly the same kind of character which is pretty much what we've got now. (There's more female characters now but they're ALL pretty, same for male ones).
Someone like Brienne from Game of Thrones is a character people love, if she had been focus tested she would be buxom, shorter and have long hair, and people probably wouldn't give a fuck for her as much.. someone needs to be bold in games and give us an actual ordinary person, a "freak" and if the character and game are well made people will love them.
Maybe you shouldn't comment on things you don't know about then because it wasn't a flop
If you want to discuss it in the context of why people might view female protagonists as risky, sure.
There's this guy too: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=168609574&postcount=307
Pie and Beans
Look for me on the local news, I'll be the guy arrested for trying to burn down a Nintendo exec's house.
Plinko
Wildcard berths that can't beat teams without a winning record should have homefield advantage
The other thing that is refreshing is that focus testing was in favor of this type of female character. Hopefully this brings about a paradigm shift in the industry.
Also, Ken Levine actually went to frathouses to do focus testing? :lol
Also, Ken Levine actually went to frathouses to do focus testing? :lol
Zekra Dezivad
Member
This is a big budget new IP, I know that sales expectations are really high.
But I'm glad that they went with their original vision, the protagonist feels great and very unique.
And no, she isn't ugly at all, she's beautiful,
I hope it won't bomb hard.
But I'm glad that they went with their original vision, the protagonist feels great and very unique.
And no, she isn't ugly at all, she's beautiful,
I hope it won't bomb hard.
Ninja Theory wasn't too happy with the sales, which was apparently why they went multiplatfor for their next game.
IncandescentPrecept
Banned
Wouldn't saying she's beautiful be sexist?
John Bender
Banned
Focus groups really seem to like dreadlocks for some reason.
Dread locks are cool
Did you see the jax MKX concept art
I really like the character design. But then again I never cared who to play as. It's just a game to me, nothing more.
A little too much voice acting though, and she never actually seems to open her mouth during it. I don't like that kind of stuff, but it's all little stuff.
I hope they nail the gameplay and story though. Those are far more important to me than any character I'd ever play as.
A little too much voice acting though, and she never actually seems to open her mouth during it. I don't like that kind of stuff, but it's all little stuff.
I hope they nail the gameplay and story though. Those are far more important to me than any character I'd ever play as.
PhantomFear
Member
Yeah, it almost seems like GG had to fight the Sony execs pretty hard on this one. That strikes me as strange because Sony seems to allow their studios to take risks (if this could even be considered a risk).
But I guess the suits at the top were nervous about their next big exclusive not appealing to male gamers? A female lead is such an odd reason to dislike a game, but this thread proves there are people that take issue with it. Oh well, it's their loss.
Why wouldn't it be? It's a valid view to have (though hate is a strong word that I think gets tossed around too much). I would say a great number of people (I'd even wager majority) try to play - when they can - as close to who they are as possible.