@RicanV @barrybarryk I wouldn't use the term "failure", it takes far more than one pitfall to condemn a game. But I will note that it takes away from the experience. Less enjoyable is true, just not non-enjoyable.
@shingui5 You'd have to look at it from my perspective. Let's start off by saying that different people enjoy games based on different criteria. For me, it is among other reasons the joy of being immersed in a different world. Living through that brief window, the life of a fictional character in a new unexplored land. I enjoy being the character, thinking of their decisions as my own, and what my own personality would inflict upon the course of action at hand.
In contrast, little to none of that is possible when I am playing a female character. They are human, yes, but that is where the similarities end. I can never imagine myself as a female, I can't weigh their decisions, choices or personality. Heck, you can never even find two males who share the same mentality, let alone a male and a female.
@Paul9Rhymes If you ask me -and this is based off of pure conjecture- I'd say it's less feasible. A female character would probably lose a good chunk of their fan base, therefore hurting the profits. I know I for one would be less interested in playing a female assassin, I never played Aveline myself (save from that brief mission pack in AC4).
@DamnILoveGames Yes, now you mention it.. well, it does little to help the credibility of the complaint when you hear so little from the concerned party. I get men sympathizing with the opposite gender, I mean we all have mothers, sisters, and wives and whatnot, so we can care for their sake if nothing else. But still, I'd like to hear something more concrete from female gamers on the matter.
@DamnILoveGames @silvervolpe Yes I agree, I enjoyed both games immensely, but I had to enjoy different aspects of the game, as opposed to my favorite gaming aspect; immersion.
As to women not complaining much about it, you have a point there. I myself can't recall reading or hearing from a female gamer/journalist making a case against the lack of female characters. Perhaps they find it less important or perhaps they accept it as an inevitable fact of the industry (as they are outnumbered by male gamers). I can't really say either ways, but until they make a formal stance on the matter, I guess there isn't much to say.
@DamnILoveGames @shingui5 Occasionally I get to try that feeling. Personally, I don't enjoy playing female characters, it breaks the illusion entirely, and I can't relate to the character to boot.
Every now and again though, an exceptional game with a female protagonist will emerge, and I'll play it anyway. Like Mirror's Edge, or the more recent Tomb Raider, and then I get how it feels to be forced to play with the opposite gender.. not so fun. At least for me.
@ahpuck Does anyone really know how a ship flying in space looks like? I donnu myself, but what we do know is that the engine has been rebuilt to apply real physics to all ships, that take into account ship mass which is modular; changes based on different weighing ship mods, ammo, cargo, blown off ship parts, etc.
SIlverVolpe's comments