Dontnod Entertainment creative director says publishers claimed female-fronted game would have little sales potential.
Remember Me developer Dontnod Entertainment has revealed that while trying to secure funding for the action game, some publishers were wary to sign on because of its female lead character named Nilin.
"We had some that said, 'Well, we don't want to publish it because that's not going to succeed. You can't have a female character in games. It has to be a male character, simple as that,'" creative director Jean-Max Morris told The Penny Arcade Report.
"We wanted to be able to tease on Nilin's private life, and that means for instance, at one point, we wanted a scene where she was kissing a guy," Morris added. "We had people tell us, 'You can't make a dude like the player kiss another dude in the game, that's going to feel awkward.'"
Morris said this kind of thinking is holding the medium back in terms of maturity.
"There's a level of immersion that you need to be at, but it's not like your sexual orientation is being questioned by playing a game," he said. "I don't know, that's extremely weird to me."
Earlier this month, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag game director Ashraf Ismail said a female Assassin's Creed protagonist "wouldn't be surprising," despite all previous core entries featuring male leads.
Before that, Epic Games art director Chris Perna said in February that female lead characters for the Gears of War series could negatively impact a game's sales potential. "If you look at what sells, it's tough to justify something like that," he said at the time.
Remember Me launches June 4 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC and is published by Capcom. For more, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.
Eddie Makuch (Mack-ooh) is a News Editor at GameSpot. He works out of the company's Boston office in Somerville, Mass., and loves extra chunky peanut butter.
1 Like In games where you can choose the sex of the character, I always go for a woman, just because women tend to get overlooked by devs who never grew out of their teenage angst.
I've yet to mould a male character in games like "TES: Oblivion", "Skyrim" or any of the "Mass Effect" games. Bar the first ME, but I always seemed to end-up with someone looking like Vladimir Putin, so I gave up and continued with a Commandresse...
Very rare that I have played a game with a female character... Lara croft guardian of light was the only one I can think of since perfect dark on n64
1 Like Who cares if the main character is a dude or a chick the only thing that matters at the end of the day is if the game mechanics work well for the plot of the game and well written scripts and believable characters.
Why don't publishers understand that nobody cares about what gender the main character is? As long as the story is written well and the main character can actually communicate well to player, then people are happy, simple as that.
@LJSEXAY That's what I immediately thought when I pulled up the article. Hell, if TR had been open world, it would've easily surpassed Far Cry 3 in every way, for me (I relate because TR was almost everything I wanted from FC3, the latter which I found to be disappointing).
1 Like i will buy any game 3dperson or rpg or any style when female character is the first protagonists...
2 Like It completely depends on the type of game. If the game is a total testosterone-fest, I feel it suits the game better to keep the protagonists male (the occasional bro-tastic game is a good thing imo). If it's an RPG that is supposed to suck you into the role, I think customizable characters are the best choice -> let the player pick the type of person they want to control through the adventure (aka Mass Effect, Fallout, Skyrim, etc). If it's a suspense, horror (Resident Evil), humorous (Borderlands) or story-driven game, the lead character's gender doesn't matter as much.
For games that focus solely on the combat and looking cool, I want to control a character that looks the toughest/coolest -> if I play Gears of War, I want to be a big, tough dude. It cheapens the testosterone-fest feeling of a good blood and guts shooter if you're running around looking and sounding like a super model. I also feel the same way when it comes to more serious, action-based games, especially ones that focus a lot on hand-to-hand combat.
In short, I could see some games selling better by having male leads. However, I don't think every game falls into this category.
2 Like "Can't have a female character"
This is the stupidest thing I have ever read. If you ask me, MORE games need female protagonists. It gets boring being a guy every other game you play after a while.
@tartarsauceman I personally can think of so many games that have female protagonists that it makes these publishers seem like they come from the 1920's or something (I am even imagining them as being in black and white color while everyone else and their surroundings are in full color!!!!). It's really sad to think that they are really this stupid!
2 Like What is this, the 50's? LOL. I've no idea what they're talkin about. I have absolutely no problem buyin a "female-fronted" game. If anything, it actually "intrigues" me a bit more.
4 Like I played FemShep in all 3 Mass Effect games, but that was mainly because imo Jennifer Hale is a much better voice actor than Mark Meer. But it really should make no difference generally - you are only controlling an avatar which can be anything you want in most RPGs - including elf, dwarf, orc etc... why not female? You do not need to undergo a physical sex change to play a female character. I think it just adds to the diversity.
2 Like honestly it hurts me that there are so many ignorant videogame consumers these days that publishers are getting away with far too much for too little. o great wise video game lord publishers please grant my wishes and step the f back.
3 Like Everyone must buy Remember ME so we can prove to them that games with female protagonist can and will sell good.
@shadow9669 the game isn't really that good, not because of the character (though to my opinion a male lead would have looked better in this type of games) but because of the way the game is made, the controls, the camera, and some plots aren't good at all.
@shadow9669 Will do! @UrbanMessiah I'm not so sure just /one/ or /two/ games will change anyone's mind. We're going to need much more.
4 Like Then why do I, a male gamer, when given a chance to create a character in a game always create a female character? I'm a straight male, I am not bothered by the thought of playing as a female. In fact I appreciate strong female leads, it's 2013, yes there are things that both sexes are different at but it's silly to assume people would be bothered by it.
Wait...So, they're saying that female game characters affect sales? Please explain your logic *cough* Tomb Raider 3.5 million dollars 2013 *cough*
I don't know if that is actually sarcasm because if it is not, someone is kind of retarded in here...
Female lead characters affect sales? Then whats up with Lara Croft and the 3.5 million dollars Tomb Raider 2013 made? Or Samus in the Metroid games? Bayonetta? I don't think lead female characters affect sales at all, as long as the game is good and appealing, then i'm all in. Also, the whole girl smooching a guy thing has no affect on me. Actually, I think that his remark was pretty stupid. It's a video game, and that shouldn't make someone question their sexuality. Besides, the roles are just switched, it makes no difference if it's a girl kissing a guy, or a guy kissing a girl, does it? Silly article. Anyways the game looks pretty good.
@Mabrry 3.5 million COPIES in the first 3 weeks. In dollars that averages out to over $250 mil.
1 Like So guys are cool with cross dressing but not possible pseudo-homosexuality. Good to know. Also nothing is unmarketable, it's just you that can't find the market...
A relatively recent study shows that 38% of gamers are female.
I'm not trying to make an argument with this, just thought it would be an interesting study for people to see while on this similar topic. This study was in 08, so I'd imagine that there might be a 4% difference now either side, but I'm no expert or anything.
1 Like I hate this whole "It's not marketable" crap, it makes no sense and certainly can only promote the growth of these subconscious prejudices (that is assuming they're subconscious)
There was a time period during the PS1 generation, though somewhat brief, before the release of FFVII that there were more action/adventure games starring a female character than male. I specifically remember such because I was getting games at that time and acknowledged it. Aliens Trilogy, Tomb Raider, and D to name a few I can recall. Even Resident Evil had one of each, and most people played Jill's story because Chris' was so much harder.
1 Like @TC_Squared Eidos also made another game with a female lead called "Urban Chaos" around the PS1 era. I remember playing and loving it when I was younger.
1 Like @kreegan64 @TC_Squared don't forget dino crisis... and Parasite Eve... and Clock tower... and ghost in the shell... and if we add pc as well: Beyond good and evil, Blood Rayne, Dreamfall, Anachronox, Mirror's edge (awesome game BTW), Oni, Perfect Dark, Still life 2, Syberia, and so on.... so many games with strong female leads... anyways...
5 Like Wait I am really confused by this. They say you can't have a female character because it won't sell.
The developer explained that the game was going to delve into her life and that would involve her kissing a guy....I'm still with it, don't have a clue why it even needs to be mentioned but I'm there.
Then some people said "You can't have a dude like the player, kissing another dude in game because that would feel awkward", quite possibly the most ludicrous and homophobic comment I've seen in an article in a long time.
All of which would be solved if they just left the fucking woman in the game!
If games with women in don't sell why did Tomb Raider reach the top of the charts? I felt closer to Lara Croft than I have ever felt to some steroid junky Gears of War character or COD thick as pig shit marine. I also felt unbelievably close to Elizabeth in Bioshock Infinite. Probably because they were realistic, not some mountain of meat that looks like it had been sculptured with a bread knife in the space of a few days. They actually looked and sounded like something that had a brain. Not to mention looked like they could actually experience emotion.
Unlike in Battlefield 3 where it is like, go to checkpoint B marine! Kill hundred of men marine! Bring down that plane marine! All the while you just do as he says over and over without a single care for anything or anyone around you. Fuck those games, it is the reason I won't be buying another first person military shooter for a VERY long time.
If you want to fuck up the games industry you are on the right track.
@Dannystaples14 A female protagonist is not an impossible sell, but it is a more difficult one. Studies have repeatedly shown that males in general are simply less interested in female protagonists in their media, from books to film and even to music. (Ever wonder why so many bands have male frontmen?)
Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of males without those hangups, and I am one of them, but alas, sexism is strongly correlated with possession of a Y chromosome, and these unnamed publishers' concerns are warranted.
@PutU2REM @Dannystaples14 Has anyone considered that this is a self-perpetuating problem? That women don't sell because we believe women don't sell, and behave a certain way because of that belief?
It's perceived that women don't sell > decision-makers won't invest in women because "they don't sell" > there are less resources to make products centered on women good > buyers learn that woman-centric products will not be as good because of lack of production value > women don't sell
That seems like the most likely interpretation of the cause and effect here to me. And any other interpretation seems a lot less charitable as well, since I can't think of another that doesn't involve all gamers somehow being misogynist.
Seems to me the solution would be "start investing in women," and women will sell. Lara Croft pretty much proves that, doesn't she?
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@IceVagabond Women purchase significantly more novels than males and MMO players are likely not representative of male gamers as a whole, so even if you have more than anecdotal evidence to back your assertions (which I doubt), your analysis is flawed.
Wanna try again? Learn civility and basic statistics first, please.
When playing games, I can only suspend my belief so far. And to be frank, female lead characters cross the line. I'm not saying this is always the case. Cooking Mama is a prime example. It showed the gaming community that female characters are possible but also that they must know their role within the game itself. Would that game have worked with a male lead character? I'm not sure. In these times, with so many people supporting men in their feminine pursuits, it might work. But only if we can be mature about these things. Long gone are the simpler times of Sonic and Mario. Gaming is now serious business and we owe it to ourselves to think about these deep philosophical issues. I know I am.
@SolidSnake35 I'm gonna have to assume trolling because that was legitimately a "get back in the kitchen" joke.
5 Like @SolidSnake35 Wait, sorry... what?! Can't tell if non-obvious troll is trolling. Cooking Mama... "know their role"... right.
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1 Like well i am really excited about this game since i first saw the trailer long time ago. and it was because of the gameplay. looks really cool. i loved both batman games. and this game kinda feels like it and lil bit of AC'ish added to the mix. im not gonna lie the fact the main character is a girl its a big plus for me cuz i love playing as a female character whenever i get the chance in games (ME, Skyrim, etc). but i would be excited even if the main character was a guy.
6 Like Remember when a game called Tomb Raider was selling like cupcakes and made it popular to have a strong female lead character in a video game?
Examples:
April Ryan (The Longest Journey)
Rynn (Drakan: Order of the Flame & Drakan: The Ancients¨' Gate)
Joanna Dark (Perfect Dark)
Cate Archer (No One Lives Forever)
Jill Valentine (Resident Evil)
Jade (Beyond Good & Evil)
.and many more...
I miss those days. The gaming industry is dead to me now.
(By the way, I'm a guy myself)
2 Like This conversation is boring me. Seriously man? Though I'm not surprised ignorant fucks exist that would say "i'm not ganna buy that game (even though it looks really fun), because the character is a chick". I Still don't think the the numbers are anywhere near large enough to hurt sales. I have at least that much faith in the gaming community.
@splinter10 I just won't buy the game if it sucks. Protagonist be damned. If it's good, I'll buy it.
1 Like oh really?
has he played World of Warcraft where many of the female players can't get anyone to believe they are really women because so many guys play girl toons that some people don't think girls play that game.
Fable the Lost Chapters had the right idea where you could marry either a woman or a man but they should have let you create a character or have a choice instead of being stuck with just the one guy at the beginning.
Diversity is the way of the world these days and those of us who like either women or men like games where you are allowed that choice
Dontnod cofounder Jean-Maxime Moris says Capcom never pressured studio to alter appearance of game's mixed-race female lead character.
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