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Computer game characters - Always the other gender?

Started by HelenW, July 07, 2006, 09:03:02 PM

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0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Computer games, both on and off line have given us the opportunity to create virtual characters as extensions of ourselves.  If you playor played such games did you always choose a character whose sex/gender was opposite of yours?

Yes, Always
8 (53.3%)
No, Never
1 (6.7%)
Yes, Sometimes
4 (26.7%)
Yes, but only when I was alone
0 (0%)
I never play computer games
2 (13.3%)

Total Members Voted: 6

Voting closed: July 28, 2006, 09:03:02 PM

Sephirah

Quote from: Carolyn on July 22, 2008, 10:56:20 AM
Hey Leiandra
If you have a Xbox 360 We can play SC4 against each other (Online Play at long last) also Can't wait to see that opening movie and I agree with you about SC3's open, a perfect Fighting game opening period
my Xbox live name is Ikuro Hanogi BTW

I don't have one yet, but I am seriously thinking about getting one now that Final Fantasy XIII is being released for it. I tend to be more RPG focused, and XBox hasn't really been a great platform for the genre, at least not compared to PlayStation.

But it sounds like fun. If I do get one, I'll look you up. *hugs* :)
Natura nihil frustra facit.

"You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection." ~ Buddha.

If you're dealing with self esteem issues, maybe click here. There may be something you find useful. :)
Above all... remember: you are beautiful, you are valuable, and you have a shining spark of magnificence within you. Don't let anyone take that from you. Embrace who you are. <3
  •  

Carolyn

The 360 actally has a few great RPGs on it, Lost Odyessy (GREAT GAME I love this game more than FF7), The Last Rememnt (SqaureEnix Title for 360 only) , Unlimited Discovery, and of Course Final Fantasy XIII
so Yea great games, can't wait to see you online one day ;D
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Ciarquin

Well, I sometimes play female characters, though I definitely prefer male ones. In online games I used to play female characters more than I do now when I was younger and that always felt really weird. I preferred playing as a guy and still do, though I don't really have against playing a female char as much as I did a while ago however the way the "armour" almost always shows a ton of skin really irks me. Often when I go with female chars instead it's because the males are too buff-looking for me.
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CryoMax

In (usually) MMOs, where you're seeing the world from behind yourself, I tend to gravitate towards female (ie. opposite gender) characters, though not always.

Someone, at some point, said that the best reason so many otherwise straight guys play female characters on games like that is because, "If you're going to spend that much time looking at someone's ass, you might as well make it a good-looking ass!"

I totally understand that one.  When I used to play City of Heroes, I had a real hard time staying interested in playing "huge" male characters.  They were predominantly female (I kinda miss "Miss Takesmaid", my primary villainess).  Social interactions have never been much of my reason to play those games, oddly enough.  :)

Now, back in the day when I was on various MUSHes (like TinyMUSH), I used to revel in "playing female" and "faking people out"...  Passing for a female in even a text-based environment seemed like a big accomplishment.  :)

...Paul

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Melissa

I was playing one of my son's characters on WoW (a male) and I had forgotten how rude guys can be to each other.  One guy called me a ->-bleeped-<-, which really didn't phase me since I'm a girl anyhow.  Anyhow, I usually play female characters, but I also have no problem playing male characters because I'm pretty secure with my gender. :)
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Lukas-H

Quote from: Melissa on August 26, 2008, 10:50:57 AM
I was playing one of my son's characters on WoW (a male) and I had forgotten how rude guys can be to each other.  One guy called me a ->-bleeped-<-, which really didn't phase me since I'm a girl anyhow.  Anyhow, I usually play female characters, but I also have no problem playing male characters because I'm pretty secure with my gender. :)

A lot of younger people, especially teens, play wow, so it's no surprise that there's so much rudeness going on. It's one of the less mature gaming communities, but there's also a lot of grown-ups who play too and are a lot more respectful when talking to others.
We are human, after all. -Daft Punk, Human After All

The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all. -Mulan
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Sephirah

That's one of the reasons I'm a lot more solitary when I play games, preferring single player experiences to online games (if I played any, that is). Maybe part of it comes from the unpredictability of other human players.

Anyway, this is my Phantasy Star Universe character. :)



Natura nihil frustra facit.

"You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection." ~ Buddha.

If you're dealing with self esteem issues, maybe click here. There may be something you find useful. :)
Above all... remember: you are beautiful, you are valuable, and you have a shining spark of magnificence within you. Don't let anyone take that from you. Embrace who you are. <3
  •  

Melissa

I do play other single player games from time to time, but they are usually pretty easy to finish.  However, I like the social aspects of the online games.  I've even do voice chatting regularly (and I've been told I have a pretty voice). :)
  •  

Lukas-H

Quote from: Melissa on August 26, 2008, 06:13:07 PM
I do play other single player games from time to time, but they are usually pretty easy to finish.  However, I like the social aspects of the online games.  I've even do voice chatting regularly (and I've been told I have a pretty voice). :)

I love to play single player games, mostly things like RPGs or Espionage games like the MGS series when I want to be alone. Sure I could play alone in a social game like WoW but there's still some aspect of interacting with others, especially if you're in a guild.
We are human, after all. -Daft Punk, Human After All

The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all. -Mulan
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Kylo

I will use whatever I like the look of most. I do not "identify" with the character on screen, or anything.

If there's honestly no difference in scenario between male and female choices... and the female character appeals to me, I'll play her. If the male does, him. I mean if I'm going to spend the next 30 hours staring at someone's arse, pick the most appealing, yeah? Unless they have a horrible voice or something. I always pick the chick in Mass Effect 1 because the dude's voice is like nails on a chalkboard.
"If the freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter."
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Roll

99% of the time I chose female. If there was something male specific, I'd often do multiple playthroughs/characters for that. Dragon Age or Mass Effect for example for different romance options. (Though I've said it before, I had a male main in ME just because I love Tali and I wanted to romance her. Also said this before, my favorite thing in the world was Dragon Age, playing female and marrying Alistair just to become a queen. ;D)
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PollyQMcLovely

For offline games I always choose female characters. I love being able to make that choice. Online I always choose male because I have an unnatural fear of being called out.

Edit: I've always been annoyed when Bioware or whoever would restrict romantic options to certain genders. Why? It's a video game. Who cares? Ugh.
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Torchickens

Quote from: PollyQMcLovely on January 24, 2018, 01:51:56 PM
For offline games I always choose female characters. I love being able to make that choice. Online I always choose male because I have an unnatural fear of being called out.

Edit: I've always been annoyed when Bioware or whoever would restrict romantic options to certain genders. Why? It's a video game. Who cares? Ugh.

I choose female too, and feel because I'm trans female not begun HRT yet it helps for my transition (I think I identify with characters, and in games like Pokémon I choose to raise the Pokémon I like, not just those among the strongest).

I think that's sad too. I prefer it when games give you a greater choice for sensitive matters like this (for example I heard in Animal Crossing you can cross dress which is nice, though I don't know for sure if it's true).
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SeptagonScars

I've played computer games with character creation options since somewhere in my teens, mostly world of warcraft. I've always played both male and female characters, and my preference for which one has changed many times. There are two main components that determine why I like to play as both/either: my gender, and my sexuality. When I thought of myself as a guy, I preferred a male character to relate to how I saw my gender, but also enjoyed playing a female character cause of being bi and finding her attractive looking.

Now in detransition and thinking of myself as a woman I prefer a female character to relate to how I see my gender now. However, sometimes I still connect to thinking I'm a male character in a game. There's still a certain thrill in that for me, but I think that mostly comes from my androgyny and that I actually like being perceived as male despite being a woman. Suddenly it hits me why I've always liked playing feminine, long-haired male characters... they resonate with me on some complicated level.

And again, my sexuality influences that I still enjoy playing a male character sometimes, cause I'm still bi, and like looking at a hot male character too.

But there is another factor too, kinda. That really I think I just pick whichever character resonates with me style and body-type wise, regardless of their gender.
Mar. 2009 - came out as ftm
Nov. 2009 - changed my name to John
Mar. 2010 - diagnosed with GID
Aug. 2010 - started T, then stopped after 1 year
Aug. 2013 - started T again, kept taking it since
Mar. 2014 - top surgery
Dec. 2014 - legal gender marker changed to male
*
Jul. 2018 - came out as cis woman and began detransition
Sep. 2018 - stopped taking T and changed my name to Laura
Oct. 2018 - got new ID-card

Medical Detransition plans: breast reconstruction surgery, change legal gender back to female.
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Corax

No. I always chose the character according to the gender I actually am and always was which is MALE!
Bad enough that I had to live as something I wasn't in real life for so long, why would I do that to myself in role plays too? Wouldn't have made any sense! 
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Kylo

Quite often if there's character creation available I'll try a humorous mimic of a famous character. Or see what the ugliest character it is possible to create, then enjoy the "romance" scenes where other characters are drooling over em.

Usually it is much easier to be a terrible looking dude as the female characters seem to have makeup built in to their facial features and are generally less fugly. Like in Skyrim, for example. Good luck trying to make a handsome bit of beef in that, lol. Everyone looks like they wash with grit 'n' vinegar.
"If the freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter."
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