When you play
video games and
have the option of
playing a male or
female character,
which one do you
habitually choose?
A lot of video games these days give you a fair amount of choice when it comes to who you spend your 40-100 hours playing with. Many of them–such as Mass Effect 3, Dragon Age, Dark Souls and Skyrim (to just name a bunch I’ve actually played)–actually allow you to decide whether or not you’re going to play with a male or female character and I always find it fascinating to learn which of the two gamers are more likely to choose.
It’s would seem to be a matter of identification more than anything else, but I suspect there are other options at play. In a recent episode of the popular video game podcast, The Indoor Kids, Emily V. Gordon, Kumail Nanjiani and Devin Faraci all admitted to choosing the male version of the Shepard character for Mass Effect 3–even though they had heard that the female version was performed better by voice talent Jennifer Hale–for no other reason than because he was the one on the cover of the game.
I must admit, I don’t get this, since I picked the female Shepard without even thinking about it and do so every time a game gives me such a choice. I personally find these narratives more exciting and empowering with a female character at the lead and–I’m not gonna lie–I’d rather stare at the woman in the picture above for 40 hours than her muscle boy meathead equivalent.
What’s your preference? Do you prefer to play as your own gender? Do you mix it up? Or are you like me and always go for the reversal?
IRL I am male (though my online pseudonym doesn’t really imply either way), but in most games where I have a choice, I use a female avatar, mostly for the same reasons Mr. Mott expressed. I am not a mountain of meat, like many male video game leads, (I’m talking to you, bethseda’s advertisment Dragonborn), so when I play as a woman built like a cat, instead of a man built like a buick, I am more excited. plus it’s sexy. Really sexy. When the avatar is too poorly rendered or the game is first person, I’ll still pick the… Read more »
It partially has to do with weapons class, but I typically play as female. Seeing as I was addicted to Diablo 1 & 2 for about a decade (abandoned when Blizzard gave us an FU in place of 3), this meant looking at a scantily clad Victoria’s Secret model. However, it isn’t much better even when the woman is fully clothed. Look at the character in the picture of this article. Why are there separate pockets for her breasts? The under-armor needs to be soft and malleable, and the outer armor still needs to accommodate the full circumference of a… Read more »
I’ve been playing a heck of a lot of Borderlands and Borderlands 2, lately, and the available female class for both games (the Siren) is the best suited to my style–lots of offensive power stacked in different ways, quick movement and options to act as a healer and controller. My sister, on the other hand, played as the Berserker and Gunzerker, using them as stereotypical tanks to soak up damage for our party. In one Mass Effect playthrough I went with a female Adept, since once again the option to use biotics to ravage my enemies without much gun play… Read more »
about 50/50 really, in SWTOR i have an even mix even one of each in the same class, and the story is different for each so it’s more fun. i tend to PLAY my female characters more, because they are smaller and i do PVP so it’s a better view if i have to be in a tight space. (damn camera zoom)
Anarchy Online: Male
World of Warcraft: Male
Guild Wars: Female
Lord of the Rings Online: Male
Age of Conan: Female
The Secret World: Female
Eve: Female
Oblivion: Female
Dragon Age: Female
Skyrim: Female
Mass Effect: Female
Diablo III: Female
Saints Row: The Third: Female
Sims: Female
Generally I play as male in all cases there is a choice. I like to identify with the character, so in the case of Mass Effect is the Male protagonist, not the female.
I generally play the lady characters because usually, there are more options for hair and clothing. I realize that’s very effeminate of me. Technically, I’m also objectifying the female characters – just not sexually. I have played male characters in many video games when I find them to be absolutely stunning, as I, too, enjoy a pretty face.
Typically as a gamer I like to choose whatever matches my actual gender first because I like to match things up to what I would do personally if I was in that situation. When I do this I actually make the character look like me. In additional playthroughs, especially in Skyrim, I will choose an alternate gender.
It’s really depends on models and animations–I’m thinking MMOs in particular. A lot of the time, the female characters give me the look I want because their bodies aren’t as boxy-looking. Other times, the armor looks weird and dinky on a female, so I go male. Still others, the male model will shoot a bow sideways or the female will have weird-looking flailing on spellcast, and so I go with the one that doesn’t look dumb (or does, depending on what I’m going for). Now that I’m thinking about it, I generally gravitate towards the female models, but there was… Read more »
I Am A Sucker For A Strong Female. In Both My Marriage And In My Videogames, There Is Something About A Woman Breaking Out Of Gender Roles And Taking Charge, Being Assertive And Believing In Herself. Even When Playing My Rpg Games, I Will Pick A Female Role. I Think Die Of It May Be With Whom I Identify The Most. It’s An Interesting Thing To Look into.
I was with you until the end, when you said: “I’d rather stare at the woman in the picture above for 40 hours than her muscle boy meathead equivalent.” I’d encourage you to consider if you can truly find a female lead more empowering or interesting if you’re simultaneously objectifying the female lead. You had an interesting question and discussion, but then watered it down into “hey c’mon I’m a dude I’d rather stare at chicks than other dudes!” I’m especially off-put by that comment since you state that you “always go for the reversal”, IE playing as a female… Read more »
I reject the notion that having an aesthetic preference is automatically objectification. I encourage you to consider that I CAN truly find a female lead more empowering and interesting, while simultaneously finding her more attractive and appealing. One does not negate the other–both go hand in hand.
Appreciate the response, Allan. I didn’t mean to be accusatory if it came off that way, hence the ‘encourage you to consider’ statement. I’ve no doubt that it’s possible for it to be both. But I do think it’s a fine line, and through my own experiences as both a gamer and a person who is attracted to women, I’ve contemplated this matter of how aesthetic preferences can translate into objectification. I’m reminded of political races when people would comment on female candidates with a passing “plus she’s nice to look at!” as if one’s appearance has anything to do… Read more »
I think what we do to other people in our own minds while we privately play video games, read books, view porn should not be subjected to the same standards we are to use in public in society. It would be crazy for me, right before viewing porn, to make sure that each and every video viewed met all current feminist-zeitgeist standards. Also, objectifying people is subjective. My definition is not the same as yours. And as long as I’m not hurting another person, who cares what I do in my thoughts? They’re my thoughts. This is liberalism gone too… Read more »
“I think what we do to other people in our own minds while we privately play video games, read books, view porn should not be subjected to the same standards we are to use in public in society.”
I want to marry your comment.
My comment is flattered.
Interesting. I had exactly the opposite reaction to the sentence you found objectionable. The concept that he’d prefer to look at the reverse-angle of a woman than a that of a man for 40-hours of gaming-time is far less odd to me than the concept that the exact same story is “more empowering” if the lead is a woman. Why do you find visual attraction to digital women an objectionable concept? First, it is impossible to “objectify” an object. It isn’t an actual woman … its a computer game. Second, a straight man ought to be visually attracted to visually… Read more »
It may not be inherently more empowering, but I’ve found that the basic image of a smaller figure pounding the crap out of enormous behemoths to be infinitely more satisfying than when there is no noticeable size difference. This is precisely why I much preferred the Catwoman mission in Arkham City and would LOVE to have been able to play as Batgirl or Batwoman. And in the case of a game like MASS EFFECT 3, the different voice performer goes a long way towards creating a different character even if they are ultimately engaging in the same dialogue and missions.
I nearly always play as a female character. It’s not about empowering or better narratives… I just find the blocky muscle head characters boring. Lithe athletic female characters are more interesting to me. Also better range of clothing choices, when I was playing Oblivion, I would change my tough northerner clothes depending on the situation she was in. Even a game like Animal Crossing, I would prefer female avatar because they have a better aesthetic (and it’s more fun making a whole outfit from a dress than just a top for male avatars) This topic comes up quite regularly in… Read more »