Support NeoGAF

[Regiruler]

Always male

I will try other races in fantasy or sci fi games though if given the option in character creation (I liked playing Draenei in WoW).

 

[kinoki]

Make protagonists are often so lame. It's far more interesting playing a female character with gender neutral dialogue (i.e. male) just because it sounds so much more bad ass. Once we can have interesting male heroes
I'll start playing them again.

 

[blacklotus]

Man. Rogue.

Always.

 

[Finale Fireworker]

are you gay OP? just curious, because I know of 2 guys in real life who always pick female character in games and they are both gay.

I'm gay and I pick male characters almost always.

My sexuality cannot be defined by any narrow scope, and I always choose female.

It doesn't look like there's a pattern here, Mr. TheDanger.

 

[Einchy]

I always pick girls, too.

It's just all around more interesting to me being a male and I also dislike playing the big burly guy.

However, I completely avoided playing the Barb class in D3 since both the male and female characters were that burly character type.

Instead I picked the Monk since she was that small and agile character that I like playing.

 

[Myriadis]

If I have the choice between two genders, I like to play as a female. I play fairly often as a male in many games so a bit of variety is always welcome.

 

[Stilton Disco]

I just go with whichever gender feels right for that game to me. In Mass Effect, I went with Manshep, in Saints Row, Woman Boss.

Even in sequels there's no real reason beyond gut feeling that makes me choose. Like Dragon Age. Origins and 2, male both times, then went female in Inquisition.

The only real unifying consistency is that I always make them red heads, when given a choice. Otherwise, I'd say it's an equal split between the sexes, and no rhyme or reason for anything else, beyond the vibe I feel from any individual title.

 

[Busaiku]

I generally like playing as males, but I don't like bulky/hairy/old armor/clothes//builds, which is often the case in many games' character creators, so in those cases, I go female.
Like Monster Hunter. Wish the male avatars had less bulky armor. The Wroggi set is great.

 

[Hasphat'sAnts]

The Female VA in Fallout 4 is better so I picked that. Plus motherly protagonists are rare in video games so I liked that part of it.

But it is weird that she goes from housewife with a law degree to gun toting badass in 20 minutes.

 

[BLunted]

I always play male chars, unless that is not an option, such as tomb raider. It's okay though, there is nothing wrong with being a digital transvestite.

 

[Finale Fireworker]

The Female VA in Fallout 4 is better so I picked that. Plus motherly protagonists are rare in video games so I liked that part of it.

But it is weird that she goes from housewife with a law degree to gun toting badass in 20 minutes.

Moms are heroes.

 

[elelunicy]

Always male for me. I didn't buy quite a few games solely because of their female protagonists.

 

[SixMachine]

The Female VA in Fallout 4 is better so I picked that. Plus motherly protagonists are rare in video games so I liked that part of it.

But it is weird that she goes from housewife with a law degree to gun toting badass in 20 minutes.

Maybe she learned Law from the same school as Judge Dredd.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvJiYrRcfQo

 

[gwiz210]

Anytime I get a choice to play as a female, I take it. I identify as female, despite being born male. Video games are such a good outlet for that.

 

[Ceallach]

Moms are heroes.

As a mom, the story in Fallout 4 drove me fucking crazy. If I am tracking my kid down, I don't give a shit about any of the other bullshit going on in your little world. I wanted to fucking tell everyone to fuck off and

Spoiler

burn the institution to the fucking ground.

 

[Puru]

I noticed i didn't even took time to think about what gendra i'd choose in MMO anymore and instantly clicked on female.
I used to pick males for wizard or priest types or if i could pick a fabulous afro but not anymore, i guess i finally reached the final pervert form.

 

[Finale Fireworker]

As a mom, the story in Fallout 4 drove me fucking crazy. If I am tracking my kid down, I don't give a shit about any of the other bullshit going on in your little world. I wanted to fucking tell everyone to fuck off and

Spoiler

burn the institution to the fucking ground.

I rest my case!

 

[ElBoxyBrown]

My female Awoken in Destiny is a total bae.

Moms are heroes.

That's what Hope's mother said in FF13 before she fell to her death.

 

[Bankastuba]

I usually play RPGs as a male if the game allows it.
Female alts and during replays.

 

[Lunar15]

Depends on the game. I alternate every other game, for the most part.

I think the reason is that I hardly ever view a protagonist as "me", but as a character with their own story.

 

[Hasphat'sAnts]

Moms are heroes.

This probably

 

[DoubleTake]

Here's a couple of female builds ive made in Bloodborne. Bernadette Payne and Tyranny The Holy

Spoiler

Bonus points if you can guess why I named her Tyranny

If you have any experience with the Soulsborne character creator you know getting anything to look half decent takes forever. Getting those faces to look half decent was a pain. If the game gives a choice I'll make whatever I feel like. Especially if the creator allows for much freedom. Also Im a guy.

 

[Falcs]

As a man, I can't understand wanting to play as a female character. Don't get me wrong, I love a good female lead like Ellie or Lara Croft, but when it's a choice, like in an RPG, I just don't get the appeal of controlling a woman unless you just want to perve.
If you're a guy who wants to identify themselves as a woman (or transgender for example) then that's cool and I get it then.

But otherwise, to me, it's just like when I was a kid, I had no interest in playing with a barbie doll.

 

[Ceallach]

As a man, I can't understand wanting to play as a female character. Don't get me wrong, I love a good female lead like Ellie or Lara Croft, but when it's a choice, like in an RPG, I just don't get the appeal of controlling a woman unless you just want to perve.
If you're a guy who wants to identify themselves as a woman (or transgender for example) then that's cool and I get it then.

But otherwise, to me, it's just like when I was a kid, I had no interest in playing with a barbie doll.

I got my brother's hand-me-down Transformers, He-Man and shit. I loved them, doesn't mean I wanted to be a boy.

 

[Langdon Alger]

I always play as a male in first person games and as a female in third person games. The only exception being Evie in Ass Creed Syndicate. The way she walks and runs looks and feels strange.

 

[DoubleTake]

As a man, I can't understand wanting to play as a female character. Don't get me wrong, I love a good female lead like Ellie or Lara Croft, but when it's a choice, like in an RPG, I just don't get the appeal of controlling a woman unless you just want to perve.
If you're a guy who wants to identify themselves as a woman (or transgender for example) then that's cool and I get it then.

But otherwise, to me, it's just like when I was a kid, I had no interest in playing with a barbie doll.

Why does playing as a woman immediately go to being a perv or wanting to identify as a woman? Im a straight guy who spent at least an hour creating those 2 female characters. And not because im perving over well dressed Gothic women or wanting to fantasize about killing eldritch horrors while I have boobs. lol

 

[Fencedude]

But otherwise, to me, it's just like when I was a kid, I had no interest in playing with a barbie doll.

Yay for enforced gender roles!

(its funny how that one line absolutely clarifies the real issue most people with your position actually have with "playing as a girl")

 

[Falcs]

Wow, I didn't mean any offence, I'm just saying I don't get it.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with playing as a woman if you're a man. It's just not for me.

 

[Finale Fireworker]

As a man, I can't understand wanting to play as a female character. Don't get me wrong, I love a good female lead like Ellie or Lara Croft, but when it's a choice, like in an RPG, I just don't get the appeal of controlling a woman unless you just want to perve.
If you're a guy who wants to identify themselves as a woman (or transgender for example) then that's cool and I get it then.

But otherwise, to me, it's just like when I was a kid, I had no interest in playing with a barbie doll.

It sounds like you might really strongly associate characters as an extension of yourself, while others do not. I rarely, if ever, consider a game character to be "me" in any form. So my own gender plays no part in my gravitation towards a particular role.

If anything, as I've touched on, I prefer to play as women because it's a perspective other than my own. As Jerry Seinfeld once facetiously said, "I can't be with someone like me, I hate myself!"

I don't quite get the equation of playing a female character to playing with dolls, though. You lost me there. It sounds really sexist, but I don't think you meant it that way. I'll pass on it and give you the benefit of the doubt.

 

[Melchiah]

But otherwise, to me, it's just like when I was a kid, I had no interest in playing with a barbie doll.

Yeah, it's totally the same when playing Bloodborne with a female character.

 

[SixMachine]

I always play as a male in first person games and as a female in third person games. The only exception being Evie in Ass Creed Syndicate. The way she walks and runs looks and feels strange.

Yea in some games some of the female models seem "off". Some games often use the same animations for both genders, but sometimes it doesn't fit. It probably has stuff to do with the skeleton of the model and how it was rigged, since a female has a different build than a male, and they made the animation for the male model at first. Femshep had this problem where it seemed that she was trying to stretch her shoulders like a peacock, making her look off at time and sitting awkwardly in other moments.

 

[Fencedude]

I don't quite get the equation of playing a female character to playing with dolls, though. You lost me there.

It makes perfect sense in the context that the worst thing a man/boy can do is be seen doing "girly" things.

If tomorrow the proportion of male and female (non selectable/choosable) protagonists in games suddenly reversed, you would seen an enormous outcry from guys like this.

Girls are allowed to have "boy" interests (within reason) and identify with man/boy heroes, but as soon as a boy wants to play with "girl" toys, or a woman/girl is held up as a hero/role model, the screaming begins.

 

[Jintor]

yeah same

 

[Safe Bet]

I don't role-play female characters very often, but when I do...

Spoiler

I do it very, very well.

 

[SDBurton]

Always have, always will.

 

[IceBringer]

I usually switch off depending on what I feel fits the game better. Male Shepard > femshep. But female Hawke is the GOAT.

 

[User 479360]

I usually play as a male character, but sometimes change things up. It is refreshinh to play as a female protagonist, though.

 

[Anura]

If the game doesn't have an option for a female main character I usually don't play it

 

[Hideous Snake]

Well, in every MMO game I play or any game that has character creation my character is always a female. Do I lose interest cause the protagonist is a male? Of course not. Do I stop playing a great game cause the protagonist is a male. Again, of course not..

 

[Azzurri]

I only play females in MMO's

 

[Clinton514]

And I don't. I don't see any benefit from it.

 

[Kagoshima_Luke]

As a man, I can't understand wanting to play as a female character. Don't get me wrong, I love a good female lead like Ellie or Lara Croft, but when it's a choice, like in an RPG, I just don't get the appeal of controlling a woman unless you just want to perve.
If you're a guy who wants to identify themselves as a woman (or transgender for example) then that's cool and I get it then.

But otherwise, to me, it's just like when I was a kid, I had no interest in playing with a barbie doll.

What's the difference between playing as Lara Croft or a created female character? Either way, they are the heroine of your story.

I used to try to make myself in every character creater, but in the past 5 or 6 years I've started going with female characters. We have so many male protagonists, it helps balance the scale when I create a female when given the chance. There's also something incredibly badass about a woman standing toe to toe with men, being a proficient warrior, etc.

 

[friskykillface]

I play as either , doesn't matter to me much tbh

sometimes im a guy, sometimes i'm a girl in games

 

[Ryng_tolu]

I usually use male at 70 / 80 % of case, but on internet, i (almost) always use my two waifu avatar

I also always play as females.

Wanna quote my avatar too?

>

 

[Melchiah]

It makes perfect sense in the context that the worst thing a man/boy can do is be seen doing "girly" things.

If tomorrow the proportion of male and female (non selectable/choosable) protagonists in games suddenly reversed, you would seen an enormous outcry from guys like this.

Girls are allowed to have "boy" interests (within reason) and identify with man/boy heroes, but as soon as a boy wants to play with "girl" toys, or a woman/girl is held up as a hero/role model, the screaming begins.

Oddly enough it was the opposite for me in Witcher 3. The bearded character with a hipster ponytail just put me off with its seemingly calculated masculinity. I'd rather play the same game as either a female, or a male that's more androgynous. Never had the same problem with Joel in TLOU though.

 

[Morrigan Stark]

i used to exclusively play as female characters to see if they had any sexy costumes or nude modes

i do not do this anymore as it is #nofap2016 and i shall no fap for the rest of the year

Spoiler

Do people really fap to video game characters? Christ.

I'd be more open minded towards female characters if most games with the option didn't end up with your character looking like a medieval pornstar.

So much this. I want to play a badass heroine, not a fuck toy.

<3 Souls games

As a man, I can't understand wanting to play as a female character. Don't get me wrong, I love a good female lead like Ellie or Lara Croft, but when it's a choice, like in an RPG, I just don't get the appeal of controlling a woman unless you just want to perve.
If you're a guy who wants to identify themselves as a woman (or transgender for example) then that's cool and I get it then.

But otherwise, to me, it's just like when I was a kid, I had no interest in playing with a barbie doll.

That is so weird to me. I've been playing games where you control a dude for as long as I can remember and it never bothered me. I'm controlling Link or Kain or Snake, I'm not being them or whatever.

I usually make female characters in RPGs, but that's because female protagonists are fairly rare. And if I like the game enough I make a male when replaying. In the Soulsborne games my first character is always female but I always end up having about an equal number of male and female characters. I give them name and builds and gear that fit a certain theme, too. Isn't that what character creators are for?

In games with multiple protagonists I might pick the female (unless she looks like a stupid ill-fitting porn star) but I'll pick a male if I find him more appealing design-wise or gameplay-wise. In Borderlands 2 I immediately picked Zer0 because I wanted the sword-wielding ninja. Whereas in The Pre-Sequel I picked Athena because she looked cool and her shield abilities looked fun. (I replayed as Maya and Gaige eventually because they looked fun to play, not because they were girls)

 

[Falcs]

It sounds like you might really strongly associate characters as an extension of yourself, while others do not. I rarely, if ever, consider a game character to be "me" in any form. So my own gender plays no part in my gravitation towards a particular role.

Yeah this is pretty much me. Maybe that's why it doesn't appeal go me, because I want it to be as close to me as possible. I guess not everyone is like that and would rather play as a female. I guess I kind of get it then.
With the dolls thing, it's kind of the same. Growing up, I'd pick a favourite figurine of mine, who was male, and I'd pretend to be him.
I wouldn't have done this with a barbie, but I guess I also would have played with female GI-Joes if I had any too now that I think about it.

 

[datwr]

As a heterosexual male I always play a female if possible. Somehow makes the game more interesting for me, but don't have a problem playing one with a defined male lead character.
With a female I also then never do the male romance, the only exception so far being Solas in DA:I for some reason!

 

[jacob armitage]

I switch up the race and gender of who i play often. I have noticed in the last year i've gravitated more towards female characters though.

 

[Kagoshima_Luke]

I only play females in MMO's

You make off with truckloads of free gold, don't you. You sly dog.