The main problem with current gen gamers..

I find it astounding how thera is a lack of games featuring Non-caucasian or homosexual protagonist. Few gamers(including myself) wouldn't mind playing as an Asian homosexual(male or female). UNFORTUNATELY, a majority of gamers believean oversized, generic, roid lover(Marcus) is better than an interesting biracial male with a unique background. Seriously, why won't gamers be much more open to new things?

Because if it doesnt add anything specifically to the story or gameplay then whats the point?

Why have an amputated male-to-female transgendered character with obssesive compulsive disorder and diabetes if all you are going to do is actually play a tank to blow stuff up? The easiest thing is to make a character you can relate to or give the illusion that you are the character in the game.

if your extraordinary character's traits are relevant to the game, then hey, go for it otherwise, you'll only be doing yourself a disservice to your sales potential and to people intrested in the out of ordinary aspects of the character.

A protagonist doesn't need to be homosexual or non-caucasian to be interesting. There are many protagonists that aren't caucasian, or allow you to choose. The homosexual component wouldn't often be pertinent to the story. There are many deep, unique characters, but if your definition of unique is an multi-racial homosexual, then your choices are rather limited.

Because if it doesnt add anything specifically to the story or gameplay then whats the point?

Why have an amputated male-to-female transgendered character with obssesive compulsive disorder and diabetes if all you are going to do is actually play a tank to blow stuff up? The easiest thing is to make a character you can relate to or give the illusion that you are the character in the game.

if your extraordinary character's traits are relevant to the game, then hey, go for it otherwise, you'll only be doing yourself a disservice to your sales potential and to people intrested in the out of ordinary aspects of the character.

XaosII

I just want more variety in terms of characters.

Making games is a business. If there's a chance that a particular type of character will turn a demographic of people away from the game, they're not going to use that type of character. They'll just go with what's been proven effective.

Making games is a business. If there's a chance that a particular type of character will turn a demographic of people away from the game, they're not going to use that type of character. They'll just go with what's been proven effective.

LiquidClear

What if we only knew towards the END of the game.

I find it astounding how thera is a lack of games featuring Non-caucasian or homosexual protagonist. Few gamers(including myself) wouldn't mind playing as an Asian homosexual(male or female). UNFORTUNATELY, a majority of gamers believean oversized, generic, roid lover(Marcus) is better than an interesting biracial male with a unique background. Seriously, why won't gamers be much more open to new things?

ParonoiaAgent

That's just how it is...game developers go out into the real world and observe and target the age group they are trying to make a game for, and they probably are not going to try and make a game that would not be popular to whatever age group they are gearing towards...as for the non-caucasian, I geuss I don't know..I would'nt mind different races...but I'll be honest, when it comes to action games or shooters, or whatever, I'd rather play a tough-guy that gets all the chicks, and beats the crap outta everything it sees...and I'm sure that would be the majority of gamers...but it's also nice when games offer character creation, then you could make your homosexual asian person...(not trying to be funny)

so basically it's a popularity issue...there probably ain't a whole lot of heterosexual people that would like to see a homosexual lead character..just my thoughts...they are going to keep making games that appeal to the majority of the gaming population...same reason there are'nt a whole lot of games aimed at females..

as for why gamers won't be more open to that idea....can't speak for everyone, but I already wrote why I would'nt, but that's just me...noone will really ever know how well a game would be that way, until a developer actually goes against the 'norm' and makes a game that way, and see how well it does...

[QUOTE="LiquidClear"]

Making games is a business. If there's a chance that a particular type of character will turn a demographic of people away from the game, they're not going to use that type of character. They'll just go with what's been proven effective.

ParonoiaAgent

What if we only knew towards the END of the game.

I'm not sure that would be kept a secret, even before the games release...and if it does, I bet most everyone will know within a couple of days by going online and talkin with friends...even if the character don't indicate that he/she is gay till towards the end..people are still going to know they are playing a homosexual character

There are probably more japanese protagonists than caucasion or around the same. RPG characters often have no race, since it's a fantasy world. I can probably name a bunch of japanese protagonists without thinking, which I think I will: Kyo Kusanagi, Athena Asamiya, Iori Yagami, Ryu Hayabusa, Ayane, Kasumi, Ryu(Street fighter), Sakura, Baiken, Anji Moto, Samanosuke Akechi, Jubei Yagyu, Soki, the entire cast of Basara, etc.

Dynasty warriors featured a chinese cast. Donno if Gloria from DMC4 counts as a black protagonist, theres Barret from FF7.

as for homosexual, theres plenty of yaoi games if you are into that and probably a few yuri(wish there was more). I always though Vice, mature from KOF probably had something going. maybe Ayane, Kasumi in DOA but thats just my yuri fan side coming out. Maybe GGXX bridget counts as transexual. I-no is probably bisexual the way she flrits with everyone male and female before trying to kill them. I think the company that made tomb raider made a animeish graphic cell shaded game that featured lesbian main characters though i can't remember the name.

i'm a straight guy and identify myself better with girls. infact i almost always play as a girl when theres choices. I would agree it's hard to identify myself with homosexual males, but females are easy. If you think aobut it you can say 90% of characters are homosexual though since theres often nothing identifying their sexuality.

I think one of the issues about this is acceptance in society. Anyone who believes that all people are looked apon/treated equally in this world needs to get the crap out of their eyes. As a developer you do not want to limit your audience in some way that would make your game less profitable, as such a sterotypical charcter type is a safer bet than any charcters which has yet to gain full acceptance in the world.

People of religion tend to look apon items of sexual nature and dismiss them without a second thought simply because they are taught that it is wrong(not my belief, im non religious). If you have a character that has a "sexual orientation" that is not male female, this limits an audience when that charcter could be a sterotype and increase sales.

Japan is a great example of acceptance, games from japan tend to feature characters that are cacusain in apperance and not "asian" in apperance. This has to do partialy with the idea of having games reach a wider audience(na, europe, etc)(also has to do with dealing with pixels/resolutions, upping to 3d stuff etc, and japans acceptance of trying to be more western, and a slew of other reasons)

The other ideal here is sterotype as well. Most people can recongize a games genre by the sterotype of the charcter. Most people make uninformed decisions about games and simply buy them based on the 20 second exposure they get from them. A sterotypical charcter more quickly reflexs on the person than someone who is not sterotypical but is the same game

i'm a straight guy and identify myself better with girls. infact i almost always play as a girl when theres choices. I would agree it's hard to identify myself with homosexual males, but females are easy. If you think aobut it you can say 90% of characters are homosexual though since theres often nothing identifying their sexuality.

mibukin

Play this:

i have no interested in a homosexual main character. not to say if a game came out with a homosexual main character that i would avoid it for that reason. id give it a shot just like any other. if the story and gameplay are good than ill play it. the problem with making a homosexual main character, besides limiting your audience imediately, is how does that relate to the story in a significant enough way to justify it. you cant just plug a gay character into a shooter for no other reason than you wanted him to be gay it just wont make sense and gamers wont buy it. games are based on action. you cant have a character study as a game because their is nothing to control. basically it renders sexuality in a game as nothing more than a sideplot and people generally will ask why did he have to be gay when it added nothing to the gameplay or story it mearly created an awkward moment here or their that will imediately limit the target audience and revenue

You could be a gay character if you wanted to in Bully and Fable 2. You could be black in Rock Band, Guitar Hero, Oblivion, Fallout 3, and plenty more. There are plenty of options if you keep your eyes open.

The problem with going the route of a homosexual character is that it will put off a lot of potential customers, as well as spawn negative attention from fundamentalist groups that catch wind of it. That kind of stuff makes producers say "Nope, I'm not investing in that... it won't profit."Michael-Smith

If you want to see a unique character, you shouldn't spend all your time analyzing skin color, facial structure, body proportions, and sexual preference. Masterchief from Halo is a black Dragon-Kin lesbian for all you know, but she's still a shallow character.NBSRDan

I'm calling shenanigans on this thread!

Sex is very, very rarely in issue in video games. You say most game characters are heterosexual, but I contest that their sexuality even comes up.

For example- Gordon Freeman could be gay Soap from Call of Duty 4 could be gay Luis from Left 4 Dead could be gay Samus Aran could be a huge lesbian. Heck, even Marcus Fenix could be gay Just because a character doesn't make a point of doing a Lance Bass and having a huge, "I'm Gay poster in the game somewhere doesn't automatically make them heterosexual.

Phantom_Leo is correct.

Hana in Fear Effect is a gay Asian female.

I'll agree that it's not commonplace, but it exists.

I'm calling shenanigans on this thread!

Sex is very, very rarely in issue in video games. You say most game characters are heterosexual, but I contest that their sexuality even comes up.

For example- Gordon Freeman could be gay Soap from Call of Duty 4 could be gay Luis from Left 4 Dead could be gay Samus Aran could be a huge lesbian. Heck, even Marcus Fenix could be gay Just because a character doesn't make a point of doing a Lance Bass and having a huge, "I'm Gay poster in the game somewhere doesn't automatically make them heterosexual.

AtomicTangerine

and nearly every character can be bisexual for all we know. Why did solid snake grab a statue's penis and grab guys nuts for CQC?

Phantom_Leo is correct.

Hana in Fear Effect is a gay Asian female.

I'll agree that it's not commonplace, but it exists.

man_hammer

[QUOTE="AtomicTangerine"]

I'm calling shenanigans on this thread!

Sex is very, very rarely in issue in video games. You say most game characters are heterosexual, but I contest that their sexuality even comes up.

For example- Gordon Freeman could be gay Soap from Call of Duty 4 could be gay Luis from Left 4 Dead could be gay Samus Aran could be a huge lesbian. Heck, even Marcus Fenix could be gay Just because a character doesn't make a point of doing a Lance Bass and having a huge, "I'm Gay poster in the game somewhere doesn't automatically make them heterosexual.

mibukin

and nearly every character can be bisexual for all we know. Why did solid snake grab a statue's penis and grab guys nuts for CQC?

Probably due to his getting senile.... I guess??

You have problems with so many things that maybe you should leave gaming altogether. you have a

Problem with current gen gamers....

Problem with people loving God Of War....

Problem with Nintendo's new effort....

Problem with Naruto fans...

Problem with Michael Bay making movies...

Problem with ALL three video game console manufacturers...

You know GGD isn't your personal soapbox.

I find it astounding how thera is a lack of games featuring Non-caucasian or homosexual protagonist. Few gamers(including myself) wouldn't mind playing as an Asian homosexual(male or female). UNFORTUNATELY, a majority of gamers believean oversized, generic, roid lover(Marcus) is better than an interesting biracial male with a unique background. Seriously, why won't gamers be much more open to new things?

ParonoiaAgent

I got a question.

How the hell do you relate to a video game character?

Because if it doesnt add anything specifically to the story or gameplay then whats the point?

Why have an amputated male-to-female transgendered character with obssesive compulsive disorder and diabetes if all you are going to do is actually play a tank to blow stuff up? The easiest thing is to make a character you can relate to or give the illusion that you are the character in the game.

if your extraordinary character's traits are relevant to the game, then hey, go for it otherwise, you'll only be doing yourself a disservice to your sales potential and to people intrested in the out of ordinary aspects of the character.

I got a question.

How the hell do you relate to a video game character?

To the original poster: That's got to be about the dumbest comment I've read on the internet all year.

To the original poster: That's got to be about the dumbest comment I've read on the internet all year.

Jackc8

How so?

http://www.peachprincess.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=PP&Category_Code=BGYA

A full list of games with gay males in it, all japanese. btw did any generation of games have a lot of homosexuals in them?