Pedophiliac Protagonist.

[cgentero]

Games aren't like movies, you cannot make a game about a pedophile(or autistic or anything not normal like that) like you could with a movie. Movies are passive while games are active and we don't want to be that person through interactivity.

 

[Jumplion]

It could work, but only if done right in the first place.

There is no topic that games can't handle that books, TV shows, movies, music, whatever haven't already tackled. Pedophilia and the effects thereof is one of them.

Mind you, if there ever was a game with a pedophile for a protagonist, it probably wouldn't work out to begin with either due to controversy or the developer's ineptitude.

But hey, it could work, and one of these days there may be a game that tackles the subject maturely and in a sophisticated fashion.

Not for a long time, though.

 

[GenericPCUser]

I like the concept, but I don't think pedophilia is the way to go.

I think a game adaptation, or game inspired by Dexter would be better.

Also, how does one play a pedophile without allowing said player to indulge in the character's fantasies? Which would raise certain hell for games and gamers everywhere I'm sure.

 

[SillyBear]

Actually. I think a video game is EXACTLY the media needed to challenge the audience. In a book or movie you're passive, but in a video game you ARE the protagonist.

Eh, not really. Both books and film are mediums that carry far more detail within them than video games do. Gameplay gets in the way. It's just the nature of the beast. There has never and will never be a video game that is as beautifully told and fleshed out as something like Catcher in the Rye or 1984 were.

Think about it, you are an interesting, probably likeable character and then BAM, it's revealed that you are a pedophile. It would color all the actions that came before and after it. And that is an experience ONLY video games can deliever.

..

Which would completely ruin the feeling that it was "you" experiencing the video game. If I am in control of a character and am making their decisions, then all of a sudden it's revealed the character is a pedophile - I'm going to be automatically distanced from them. I can't relate to that trait at all. And protagonists need relatable traits. They can be negative traits, but they still need to be relatable and you still need to be able to invest interest into the character. A pedophile wouldn't do that. That's crossing the line.

How is seeing the world through a pedophile's eyes even intriguing or interesting anyway? What can we possibly gain from it?

 

[NickKuroshi0]

a pedophile protaganist is usually used as part of the comedy (which is actually pretty good) doing it with a serious tone will be tougher that is if they want it to be good.

 

[SnakeoilSage]

Being a pedophile isn't a "characteristic." Characteristics are personality traits, or facial features. Pedophilia is a mental sickness that isn't any more natural than a serial killer.

Take your Nomolestol and go to bed.

 

[Soviet Steve]

No-where near as bad as the protagonist in Saints Row 2, and I don't see how one could be immature about this one without it being canned, so I'd give it a shot.

 

[archdjl1693]

Wow, this is the first time I've made any account, on any website, just to reply in a forum, or thread. Soooooo...Anyone play Silent Hill 2? Main character is a MURDERER? But, the funny thing is you don't go out of your way to enact on his "secret that he hides", but its an aspect of him that is weaven into the narrative of the game. And another type of sexuailty that has given depth to a character? Kanji Tatsumi, Persona 4, look it up. I really believe this can be done, but if in the wrong hands, it veryveryveryveryvery well be doomed to fail.

 

[Harry Mason]

Maybe after we have a few more protagonists who are female, ethnic minorities, religious minorities, or even one SINGLE gay, bi, or trans protagonists, we can delve into sexual disorders as driving narrative force.

So, in two or three hundred years.

Also, what's with all the pedophile love on The Escapist? I wouldn't mention it, but I've literally seen dozens of instances of someone jumping down another person's throat for vilifying pedophiles on this site. Yes, we all understand that it's a mental disorder that is quiet debilitating and that there is a difference between a pedophile and a child molester, but when I see PAGES of unrelated threads devoted to the subject, I can't help but think there is something off. Seriously. You don't get legions of people commiserating on how Necrophiliacs always get a bad break! No one ever gives a crap about us!

 

[magnuslion]

It is an interesting concept, however I feel that it feels fairly cheap in terms of a framing device. It would more than likely be used to generate ridiculous amounts of press for the game, making the story and gameplay of less importance, which is a marketing tactic I despise.

 

[archdjl1693]

Gay, bi, or trans? OH WAIT, forgot to mention, Naoto Shirogane, ANOTHER character from Persona 4, who is a girl and wishes to become a man, the game company for this jewel encrusted gem? ATLUS, again look it up.

 

[Gorrila_thinktank]

Which would completely ruin the feeling that it was "you" experiencing the video game. If I am in control of a character and am making their decisions, then all of a sudden it's revealed the character is a pedophile - I'm going to be automatically distanced from them. I can't relate to that trait at all. And protagonists need relatable traits. They can be negative traits, but they still need to be relatable and you still need to be able to invest interest into the character. A pedophile wouldn't do that. That's crossing the line.

How is seeing the world through a pedophile's eyes even intriguing or interesting anyway? What can we possibly gain from it?

An apt question. We can all agree that Pedophilia is a negative trait and does currently survey as the be all and end all of what we define as evil. But at its heart Pedophilia, no matter how sick it might be, is still a sexual fetish. And while we may not be able to relate to this, it is likely that every person can relate to having a secret that by the reality of its very existence places great strain on its holder. This ?guilt? can be a very powerful motivator. It is as simple as having stolen something like candy to as complex as stealing food feed your family.

For example, perhaps the Pedophile has isolated himself or herself because they view themselves as a danger to others- but- is now being blackmailed into doing something against their better judgment. In essence, it?s not the pedophile itself the drives the character, but the guilt. We gain an understanding of the a character who?s very existence is a source of moral antagonism. This is highlighted because as the player we cannot get away from the characters motivation.
If we don?t see the characters motivation and narrative as a key component to the story we can always go play COD?s Zombies. This is what so many people ragged on Rage for; not actually having a reason to care for the storyline.

we are not casting the charector on thier sexualality alone, but as a part of their internal narative.

Edit: sorry SillyBear, the "an apt question" bit makes me sound like a pompus jerk. you know its a good question, thats why you asked it. Appologies, shouldnt have done that.

 

[Corporal Yakob]

Just because you can make a character with a "compelling" flaw doesn't mean you should: closet homosexual Private Investigator struggling to come to terms with his sexuality while investigating a homophobic murder case (just off the top of my head)? Yeah that could work. A kiddie fiddler protaginist? Nooooo......

 

[Nackl of Gilmed]

Pretentiousness

It's working for him, guy. We're only adding to the views.

Anyway, I wanted to add that a character focused around their sexuality is sad. And saying something like "Oh he's a pedophile SUCH DEPTH." What depth? It's different, yes. But there are so many other ways to add depth. That's just "depth" for the sake of "depth," which in and of itself is shallow.

I'm wasting my time on this thread.

Anywho! Yeah, OP with the surprisingly fitting username, nice try, fella.

I think this guy's got it. It would just be gratuitous.

 

[Zakarath]

yeah, I can think of absolutely no reason I would ever want to play or work on that game. I've often walked away from games simply because the main character is a bit of an asshole without being horribly fucked up. I truly enjoy games where the character's emotions and actions are in line with my own desires.

Not to mention that it would be pretty much Fox News's wet dream for someone to try and make a game like that. The media backlash would be a nightmare, and you'd be creating the controversy for no compelling reason, unlike, say, Six Days in Fallujah.

 

[Dfskelleton]

An interesting concept indeed, but 3 things:
#1: I would never play it.
#2: The game would probably sell about 70 copies worldwide.
#3: Fox News would have a field day with it.

I like different characters, and I'm a little tired of the rugged vengeance seeking handsome male stereotype as well, but a character who is a pedophille wasn't exactly what I was thinking.
I was thinking more along the lines of protagonists like Caleb or Francis York Morgan. Caleb is very clearly insane, and while he's also driven by the revenge motive, the twist is that there is no day to save. Everyone Caleb cares about is dead, including himself, and rather than grumbling and being heroic, he laughs maniacally while he murders everything in his path, completely indifferent to whether his victims are gun toting cultist psychopaths to innocent bystanders.
Francis York Morgan, on the other hand, is a different type of hero. Mainly, he talks to his imaginary friend, he reads the future in his coffee, he interprets his dreams as facts, he likes to talk (usually to himself) about 80's horror movies and punk rock, and he has the social skills of a penguin.
And yet, both of these characters are loveable, simply because of how different they are. Caleb's insanity or York's... peculiarity seem a lot more believeable and interesting than a handsome space marine heroically saving earth from generic alien species #456.

 

[GrizzlerBorno]

Up until paragraph 3, I thought you were being clever in a satirical way.

... then I was like "wait....you're serious?"

 

[EmperorSubcutaneous]

Methinks thine doth protest too much

It's "Methinks thou doest protest too much".
Why can't anyone get the second person singular conjugation right?
I don't mean to be rude. This just catches my attention in a bad way just like hearing a knife scratching porcelain or a child cry.

Except it's "dost," not "doest," so.

As for the OP...

Well, that's about enough time spent on the internet, time to go sit in the corner and shake my head sadly for a few hours.

 

[ImperialSunlight]

Being a pedophile isn't a "characteristic." Characteristics are personality traits, or facial features. Pedophilia is a mental sickness that isn't any more natural than a serial killer.

Take your Nomolestol and go to bed.

How does one define "natural"? Do Pedophiles and serial killers not naturally exist in our world, however immoral? Just because something is immoral doesn't mean a game shouldn't explore it. MANY games use violence in a way that does not necessarily endorse violence. In the same way, a game about a pedophile could deal with the subject manner in a mature way that does not endorse its practice.

 

[Elf Defiler Korgan]

And now for something completely different.

Yeah I think it is a good idea. Less of the child sex, more playing up the conflict, his reactions to others, strong use of internet memes and hidden pedo-bear.