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[Breakage]

I'm not sure what you're trying to argue, or why anyone would want to limit the choices of other players.

A great many people enjoy immersing themselves in their single player games, and allowing the character to reflect the player is an easy way to help do this. Ergo, saying it is "pointless" is wrong. It may be pointless to you, but I suspect it's because you've enjoyed a lifetime of games whose player characters resemble your gender and race.

As a non-white male, I've never personally felt the need for a character to resemble me in a single player game. I don't play games with the requirement the protag has to reflect me, I play the games I play because I enjoy the experience.

It's funny how you think immersion can be satisfied by simply allowing players to create themselves. If the game environment doesn't recognise a created character then the option to create a character in single player games may as well not exist.

 

[Japanmanx3]

Pretty much original characters for everything except mmo's....

 

[Aiustis]

There's a 95% chance I'm not going to try a game if I can't create my own character.

 

[Terareflection]

I'm down with either so long as it isn't a silent protagonist. That's an immersion killer right there.

Yep, this. I have a hard time taking Persona 3/4 seriously because of this. Even though those have somewhat original characters.

 

[Philippo]

Original.

The Witcher 3 reminded me once again how an original character makes me a million times more interested in him than olayer created ones like Skyrim or Fallout (writing quality aside)

 

[Nose Master]

Original character for life. Player Created always end up being not much more than silent RPG protagonists. It's just lazy writing, I think. A lot of aspects of the story can be really awkward, and justified, because "oh the main character is just a conduit for the player!"

 

[Steel]

I always prefer character creation. I like to be able to create multiple characters for multiple playthroughs and have a narrative and personality in my head for each one. This matters more for me in some genres than others, though it's actually the main reason I've never really had any interest in The Witcher series.

 

[hobblygobbly]

I think you can have original creators that are "unique" to each player.

Geralt is a good example from The Witcher, particularly in the third game. Everyone knows Geralt's base story, but the game has a lot of choices you can make, and the consequences of those choices aren't obvious but you will notice it later. It shapes the world, other characters but Geralt as well. There are a lot of them, some are subtle too.

Geralt himself is a very introverted character as a "base", his few words, straight to the point, grunts and hmphs, etc show it very well but you can shape him as a player. You can respond in more blunt fashion by being to the point or being more submissive, more authoritarian, this can all change for your Geralt as you play him because I can guarantee you that you won't always play him the same way with all interactions.

There will be times when you feel more kind and play Geralt as that, but maybe a few quests/story point later you are one blunt ass motherfucker that isn't fucking around due to how a consequence or characters may have treated you or an event, whatever.

I think creating an original character that allows the player to create their own personal story of a personal story of a character already is a really good approach.

Another good example was Shepherd from Mass Effect but I think Geralt for RPGs is the best example of what I mean now due to execution, Shepherd the second. Everyone had their own unique story of an already personal/crafted original character's story.

 

[Nimby]

Original character all day. The world envisioned by the developer is the world I want to play in.

 

[Renae]

Original characters because created ones are generally quiet.

 

[Spyware]

I don't see why a character creator has to mean that the caracter is blank and boring (aka "lost my memory"-type of character). They can create a character backstory, a personality, voice and so on but still let me choose the hair style and length of the nose. I personally like to tinker in the character creators, but I prefer my character to have a story and a lot of games are using one or the other. I want both!

Yes this exactly. Why do people think a player created look means the character must have no background or personality?
If they don't want me to create a little teenage girl because the game should be about a grizzled older person, just make the CC a bit more restrictive! Tell me what I am making! "Make your commander! Here's the background you will have." Of course the game should also have a good pre-made look for people who do not like CCs. But more options is never a bad thing. I rarely feel attached to developer made characters and adore the ones I make. Even as "little" as Witcher 3 is fine. Let me dress and style my guy or lady and I'm generally okay with it.

 

[Dice//]

Created non-silent is my favourite -- but I'm not 'put off' a game if it doesn't have it; naturally a created character has a lot more potential for narrative.

As a girl, it's definitely one of the easier ways to get a lead role slot, so that helps. But also, I do think it helps immersion when I get to control a sort-of 'fantasy version' of myself (or basically just create someone I think looks cool).

EDIT: Spyware, your avatar is awesome.

 

[UrbanRats]

Given the stories that 90% of videogames have? Character creation all the way.

 

[ThatStupidLion]

original character with ability to tweak with cosmetics...maybe a few hairstyles, outfits, etc.

MMOs should have custom player characters.

 

[NoKisum]

Depends on the type of story being told. If it has a story heavy reliant on its characters like GTA V, then I'm fine with an original character. If the style and personality of the main character doesn't matter as much, then I prefer a player created one.

 

[Ladekabel]

Customizable original character. Give me a pre-made face but let me change clothes!

 

[Gbraga]

EDIT: I should add though, since the discussion is taking this path, that I personally don't give a crap about self inserting or whatever, I don't make characters that resemble me, on the contrary, I make characters that I think look cool (or just ridiculously goofy if it's my 30th playthrough of Dark Souls, either speedrunning or doing a challenge run, and I'm sure I'll delete that character as soon as I'm done), that's all.

I still didn't see a good defender for Sunset Overdrive character creation. The game didn't benefit much from the creation. Also on the other hand, It will be tough for Insomniac to do a sequel without a known character.

I wouldn't have any interest in Sunset Overdrive if I couldn't create and customize my character. Like, at all.

Sure, the game looks fun as hell, but the customization is what sold me the game.

I'll always prefer creating my own character. Often times it's the only way I get to play as a black guy, instead of another Nathan Drake retread

This is very true. It's definitely not just a coincidence that I tend to make black characters when given the chance to create them. Mostly women.

 

[Nemmy]

It really depends.

I like to create my own character in games where their identity doesn't matter, but I'm supposed to form some attachment to my avatar - Souls, Dragon's Dogma, Monster Hunter. Though it's nice if the character creator is actually any good - I spent an hour in Dragon's Dogma creator on each of my characters and pawns, and loved it but in Bethesda-made Fallout games I wished for a good looking preset, as the creator is awful and no matter what I do, I end up playing as a humanoid potato.

Overall I much prefer original characters though. Blank slates are good for some games, but they just don't have the style of well-designed original characters. It's funny how a lot of games with character creators actually uses a particular type of character for all advertising to build recognizability despite them being a blank slate, like Mass Effect with default Shepard and Skyrim with a particular looking Dovakhiin, to fill that void.

 

[Breakage]

Original character for life. Player Created always end up being not much more than silent RPG protagonists. It's just lazy writing, I think. A lot of aspects of the story can be really awkward, and justified, because "oh the main character is just a conduit for the player!"

This is exactly why I dislike character creation in single player modes.