Guys That Play Girls In Games. Why?

[Spark Ignition]

but for the record I sometimes play a female character in games such as Fallout 3 to actually boost immersion. When playing a guy the temptation is too great to make ME, and behave as I would (or at least as the flawless hero I would like to be!)
In a morally ambiguous game like Fallout 3 I found it helpful to make a character I could distance myself from, and thus make decisions I wouldn't be comfortable with while roleplaying myself, such as murdering NPCs, blowing up Megaton etc.

This is exactly the kind of answer I was looking for, thank you. I often do make a character completely different to myself, but don't you sometimes want to play a game to pretend you are this flawless hero and escape from real life?

Yup, and that game is called 'Mass Effect'. Joke. Seriously, I like my RPGs and I'll probably play through any given RP game a few times as a mix of different characters in order to experience as much of the game as possible. The first time I played through Fallout I was exactly that surrogate-me, and the game got boring fairly quickly because I miss missing out on a lot of interesting options because of it. The Baldur's Gate series, on the other hand, I always play as heroic-me because I have such an emotional attachment to the games that any change in the story would seriously irk me. Like rewatching Firefly and realising that this time Mal Reynolds is played by Xena.
Still haven't got round to playing a fem-shep yet, but I hear good things about the voice-acting. And I hope to god her smile looks less creepy... All in all I'm proud of my male Shepard though. He's a badass... who cares!

 

[rockyoumonkeys]

If there's a choice, I always play as a woman.

First of all, I'm not into the whole "immersion" thing. I'm not one of those people who has to pretend I'M the hero of the game. And frankly, that idea makes no sense to me.

Second of all, most male characters in games are mind-numbingly boring. To look at, to listen to, etc. And I've found that a female lead just makes the story more interesting, since it seems like most stories involve a male hero.

And as others have already said, if you're going to be staring at this character for a number of hours, particularly their ass, I'd rather it be a female.

 

[Zantos]

I always alternate between girl and guy when i replay games (along with changing class and specialisations and stuff). It just (occasionally) makes it that little bit different from the first time through.

 

[Togs]

I once read a study about how the largest number of males who play females in games tend to be in the 12-15 age range.
The paper went on to speculate how this might be indicative of the stage of sexual development at which such people are at- sexual awareness is developing but vestiges of the mid pubescent perspective of the opposite sex being almost alien to them remain- in short they play female characters for base titiliation by being able to enjoy and dominate a female form without having to emotionally connect to the form in question.
But Im doubting that most people on this forum are in that age range, and whilst im gonna get flamed for this whenever I read other guys explanations as to why they play girls the explanations always sound like thinly veiled excuses with an extra helping of the indignation raised when you question something about someone which they have not thought about or have thought about and dislike the answer.
In short I am personally of the opinion that IT IS to do with titiliation and little else, no matter how you try and dress it up.

 

[bam13302]

to have something to look at, especially if playing from 3ed person perspective

 

[True Nero]

I was just trying to think of a reason why guys so often seem to play women in video games.

TLDR: Why do men play as women?

Why don't they? There's the PvP argument:

There's the fact that certain characters just suit women better. (I've never seen a Bowman that wasn't fashioned around Robin Hood, but there's a lot of differing Bow-Women)

And often it's a challenge to portray someone apart from yourself - that's the point of RP, in a nut-shell.

Very rarely see women play as men when they have the choice though...

this was my friends exact argument about Aion. he might as well enjoy what he's looking at.

 

[CrystalShadow]

I wasn't saying you can't, I was just saying that it ruins the immersion for me because I'm not a girl. I can't understand why you would play in a way that makes the game less fun. Maybe that's just me.

Isn't the whole point of games to be and do things you can't do in real life?

Anyway, there is no single reason, because not everyone looks at the world the same way.

You seem to think it hurts immersion for your avatar to be too different to you.

But really, I don't see why... You undoubtedly have more in common with the average girl, than say, a hedgehog... XD

But in the end, it all depends on circumstance.
Talking of immersion, when was the last time you saw yourself from behind? 3rd person perspectives are pretty strange...

Anyway, I won't comment on it personally, because my circumstances are way outside the realms of the typical for a discussion like this.

But perhaps I will note that I personally like to be able to see things from the perspective of others...

Games don't often manage that very well, but I don't necessarily want to be myself in a game, because that's not all that interesting.
Either give me situations I wouldn't deal with, or a perspective I'm unlikely to see for myself in reality...

 

[Misho-]

I was just trying to think of a reason why guys so often seem to play women in video games.
My brother plays almost exclusively female characters, and I know he isn't alone. I honestly can't think of single good reason to, for me, all it would do is spoil the immersion as I'm NOT a girl. So, anyone who does play as a woman in games, why? Feel free to speculate even if you don't play a woman, but please try not to just descend into "COz ThEy ARe PerVS LoL!".

TLDR: Why do men play as women?

I got that practice from Dungeons and Dragons a long time ago, since I like to Role-play even if I'm not a girl. If I am in an MMORPG like WoW I like to tell them I am a guy so they (the pervs playing guy characters) don't get any funny ideas. Also Gender in games is just another option to the color palette. Is just an option, not like you have to buy tampons and have periods (not being an ass, just saying that there isn't any difference. It's only Aesthetic).

In single player games (3rd person view) I like to see a nice ass 2 but that's just me.

 

[SuperSamio64]

in most of the games I play, the protagonist is male, so I guess I'm just used to it, and when it's a game where you create your own character, I tend to create one based on me, so they're usually a guy as well.

 

[C117]

In my case, it is because I think potential girl-girl romances are a lot more erotic than potential guy-guy romances. Call me a homophobic.

 

[newguy77]

I'm going to go with the Dr. House theory. If you're going to stare at someone's back for 15+ hours, it might as well be a female's.

Dr. House reference from him telling some med students about how he lost his leg.

 

[theevilsanta]

well this topics been here before.

but for the record I sometimes play a female character in games such as Fallout 3 to actually boost immersion. When playing a guy the temptation is too great to make ME, and behave as I would (or at least as the flawless hero I would like to be!)
In a morally ambiguous game like Fallout 3 I found it helpful to make a character I could distance myself from, and thus make decisions I wouldn't be comfortable with while roleplaying myself, such as murdering NPCs, blowing up Megaton etc.

This is a good answer, and describes my thoughts pretty well. It does frighten me that whenever I play a female I'm usually as "evil" as I can be. Am I an unwitting sexist?

Also, as many have said, I'm me all day every day. Video games give me a chance to be someone other than me. Do I want to be an idealized version? Meh. I'm pretty happy with who I am now. ... But what would it be like to be Kratos? Now that's interesting.

 

[Spark Ignition]

I once read a study about how the largest number of males who play females in games tend to be in the 12-15 age range.
The paper went on to speculate how this might be indicative of the stage of sexual development at which such people are at- sexual awareness is developing but vestiges of the mid pubescent perspective of the opposite sex being almost alien to them remain- in short they play female characters for base titiliation by being able to enjoy and dominate a female form without having to emotionally connect to the form in question.
But Im doubting that most people on this forum are in that age range, and whilst im gonna get flamed for this whenever I read other guys explanations as to why they play girls the explanations always sound like thinly veiled excuses with an extra helping of the indignation raised when you question something about someone which they have not thought about or have thought about and dislike the answer.
In short I am personally of the opinion that IT IS to do with titiliation and little else, no matter how you try and dress it up.

Really? You are entitled to your opinion and there's no question that excuse exists for some people. But to be honest saying that you see NO OTHER REASON aside from tittilation makes you sound.... well kind of an ass. Do you feel guilt watching films with female protagonists? Is a book written from the perspective of a girl basically soft-core pornography to you? I don't mean to flame but...
really?

 

[Chairman Miaow]

I wasn't saying you can't, I was just saying that it ruins the immersion for me because I'm not a girl. I can't understand why you would play in a way that makes the game less fun. Maybe that's just me.

Isn't the whole point of games to be and do things you can't do in real life?

Anyway, there is no single reason, because not everyone looks at the world the same way.

You seem to think it hurts immersion for your avatar to be too different to you.

But really, I don't see why... You undoubtedly have more in common with the average girl, than say, a hedgehog... XD

But in the end, it all depends on circumstance.
Talking of immersion, when was the last time you saw yourself from behind? 3rd person perspectives are pretty strange...

Anyway, I won't comment on it personally, because my circumstances are way outside the realms of the typical for a discussion like this.

But perhaps I will note that I personally like to be able to see things from the perspective of others...

Games don't often manage that very well, but I don't necessarily want to be myself in a game, because that's not all that interesting.
Either give me situations I wouldn't deal with, or a perspective I'm unlikely to see for myself in reality...

As I have already said in this thread, it's not a matter of playing myself, it's a matter of being able to relate to the character, it's a matter of catharsis. I'm not saying I CAN'T relate to women, I'm just saying I find it easier to relate to the male characters.

 

[RatRace123]

Why not, I can be an overweight plumber, a blue hedgehog and a pink ball that sucks things up, why can't I be a woman?

When I do play as a chick it's mostly in RPGs and it's mostly to experience things in a new perspective, plus some games (Like Dragon Age) actually flow better as a female character, IMO.

 

[Ralen-Sharr]

The first game I decided to play a female character was KOTOR. I thought I was trying to keep Carth from having a mental breakdown at the beginning. (was going for light playthrough) Turns out I was wrong. Then he started acting all lovey dovey and I was horrified. I hated Carth after that. I also grew to hate any character that shared his VO.

 

[JenXXXJen]

And some women play guys in video games. So what? Trust me, gender isn't such a big fucking deal, and if people stopped thinking of it as such, the world would be a much better place.

 

[Spark Ignition]

well this topics been here before.

but for the record I sometimes play a female character in games such as Fallout 3 to actually boost immersion. When playing a guy the temptation is too great to make ME, and behave as I would (or at least as the flawless hero I would like to be!)
In a morally ambiguous game like Fallout 3 I found it helpful to make a character I could distance myself from, and thus make decisions I wouldn't be comfortable with while roleplaying myself, such as murdering NPCs, blowing up Megaton etc.

This is a good answer, and describes my thoughts pretty well. It does frighten me that whenever I play a female I'm usually as "evil" as I can be. Am I an unwitting sexist?

well if so, I am too! I think it's because the closer my character is to me, the more likely I am to feel guilt for their actions. Maybe I'm an unwitting sexist for feeling so distanced from a female character

 

[Chairman Miaow]

Why not, I can be an overweight plumber, a blue hedgehog and a pink ball that sucks things up, why can't I be a woman?

When I do play as a chick it's mostly in RPGs and it's mostly to experience things in a new perspective, plus some games (Like Dragon Age) actually flow better as a female character, IMO.

None of those games are about story or immersion though....

 

[Lucane]

Very rarely see women play as men when they have the choice though...

Maybe it's do to the fact so many games force you to be a guy (less often a lady) so they've had plenty of chances to play as men already while an offer to appear more like themselves or at least of the same gender leads them to pick as such.