Rumor: Activision Doesn't Think Female Leads Can Sell Games
- Thread starter Tom Goldman
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Keep in mind they aren't saying female CHARACTERS don't sell games, they are saying that female LEADS don't sell games. Most of the characters you mentioned are not the lead, they are a supporting female cast member.The_root_of_all_evil said:
But, even so...
Are people really trying to argue that because Metroid and Tomb Raider were marginally successful that the male-dominated gaming world accepts female leads?
Here is what Samus Aran has become:
And are we really arguing that Lara Croft is a respectable female lead? Or that there's been a good Tomb Raider game since the late 90s?
Lightning is barely even a character. For most of the game she seems more like a silent protagonist, a side-character in her own game. Most of the dialog and screen time is taken up by her male costars.
Games with actual female leads that have characterization instead of raw sex appeal do not generally sell very well (see Beyond Good and Evil).
Sorry guys but Activision (if this is true) is just responding to an industry trend that we, the consumer, have created. We make the market, and if the market is unfriendly to female leads its our own damn fault. Don't damn Activision for responding to market trends that we control.
Don't get me wrong, I agree with you for the most part, but to be fair it can be argued that a considerable portion of the Tomb Raider fame had more to do with the ladies strapped to Lara rather than Lara herself, and I'm not talking about pistols. (As [user]AcacianLeaves[/user] so vividly demonstrates above me)coldalarm said:
OT: If you want to argue sexism that's one thing. The belief of some is that most gamers are male and so identify more readily with a male protagonist. The main issue here imo is that Activision (if the dubious nature of the article is to be overlooked) is under the false impression that image has anything to do with selling games. Yes you can sell games with pretty box art. Yes you can sell games with trailers filled with pyrotechnics and machismo. But once people start playing it and see there's nothing more substantial to the title, sales dwindle away.
However, if there's a well crafted environment, solid controls, intriguing gameplay mechanics and well developed characters and story (if those things are suitable to the game) then you will see strong sales. If you have a strong and well developed cast, there really isn't a boundary as to which gender can play in it. With few exceptions, the character's sex is never focused on, and only at times referenced as it pertains to the events around them. Okay, so you can't have a male playing the part of the "concerned mother who awaits their child's return from the war", but unless it's actual maternal instinct that you are focusing on, there's no problem with "concerned father who awaits their child's return from the war."
Mass Effect 1 and 2 proved that a strong story and well written character sells games, and that the character's gender has no limiting effect on any of those attributes.
*Although as a personal aside, I found the female version of CMDR Shepard to be much more enjoyable, mainly due to the voice actress' excellent delivery of her lines)
And just to be a little shit
Probably has to do with the title of the thread.Dexter111 said:
Rumor: Activision Doesn't Think Female Leads Can Sell Games
I for one, enjoy games with strong female protagonists and central characters. There's something about watching them grow, develop and rise up to challanges that are normally only faced by their male counterparts that I really enjoy.
On the other hand, maybe their statement (if true) isn't that far off the mark. I mean I know I tend to pass off games that have overly-sexualized and scantily clad women all over it as nothing but fan service to not be worth my time. That's one of the main reasons I don't want to play Bayonetta. I take the game less seriously when I'm given the impression that all the female character is going to do is jiggle and look pretty. Maybe it's only me, but I highly doubt it. I mean if you were given a choice of a game with no substance and girls in bikinis all over it (I'm looking at you Dead or Alive), or a game that offers a good challenge, a good story and a male lead character, which are you going to pick?
On the other hand, maybe their statement (if true) isn't that far off the mark. I mean I know I tend to pass off games that have overly-sexualized and scantily clad women all over it as nothing but fan service to not be worth my time. That's one of the main reasons I don't want to play Bayonetta. I take the game less seriously when I'm given the impression that all the female character is going to do is jiggle and look pretty. Maybe it's only me, but I highly doubt it. I mean if you were given a choice of a game with no substance and girls in bikinis all over it (I'm looking at you Dead or Alive), or a game that offers a good challenge, a good story and a male lead character, which are you going to pick?
Maybe Activision should start asking the people that buy their games what they want. Just a quick tip.
If this is true, then its probably because of the demographic that Activision is aiming for, prepubescent boys are probably more interested in playing as overly muscular military types than a female.
Im not saying that what they are doing is right, just that from a sales perspective it does make sense
Im not saying that what they are doing is right, just that from a sales perspective it does make sense
Where do we begin, aside from Lightning...
Terra (Final Fantasy VI)
Lara Croft (Tomb Raider)
Samus Aran (Metroid)
GLaDOS (Portal)
Raiden (Metal Gear Solid 2)
Chun Li (Street Fighter)
Claire Redfield (Resident Evil 2)
Jill Valentine (Resident Evil Nemesis)
Yuna (Final Fantasy X, X-2)
Rikku (Final Fantasy X-2)
Alyx Vance (Half Life 2)
Princess Peach (Super Mario Bros. 2) - Come on, who didn't pick her to skip World 4-3?
Sonya Blade (Mortal Kombat)
Amy Rose (Sonic Heroes)
Terra (Final Fantasy VI)
Lara Croft (Tomb Raider)
Samus Aran (Metroid)
GLaDOS (Portal)
Raiden (Metal Gear Solid 2)
Chun Li (Street Fighter)
Claire Redfield (Resident Evil 2)
Jill Valentine (Resident Evil Nemesis)
Yuna (Final Fantasy X, X-2)
Rikku (Final Fantasy X-2)
Alyx Vance (Half Life 2)
Princess Peach (Super Mario Bros. 2) - Come on, who didn't pick her to skip World 4-3?
Sonya Blade (Mortal Kombat)
Amy Rose (Sonic Heroes)
Considering we pretty much learned Kotick's attitude on women in this [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/102536-Activision-CEO-Bobby-Kotick-Loses-Lengthy-Legal-Battle] little article, are we to be surprised?
Let the other publishers feel free to fill the hole that Activision is stupid enough to leave empty.
I look forward to more games with female leads. I know one that is coming out...
Let the other publishers feel free to fill the hole that Activision is stupid enough to leave empty.
I look forward to more games with female leads. I know one that is coming out...
Yes i did but that doesn't suddenly make her the main character. If you've played the game you should know what i mean,Mr. Gency said:
They get split up a lot for a lot of the game and even then she isn't focused upon more than others when they're all back together again. She isn't special.
Hurray Forums said:
AcacianLeaves said:
Cheers for being grammar nazis, but if you'll notice what I said was that those characters COULD be LEADS very easily. Which is why I didn't include Samus Aran.poiumty said:
Oh Activision. You done shoved your foot in your mouth again. There have been plenty of female leads in hit games. I don;t even feel the need to list them because it's so glaringly obvious. I think it's time they use new people for there focus groups cause it sounds like they just used Good ol' boys gamers.
Sorry about the double post folks.Kinichie said:
I don't know about the others but some of them aren't main characters. Glados is an antagonist not the main character. Alyx Vance is an ally, not lead character, same goes for Terra and Yuna (Apart from her X-2 appearance). Are we talking about main characters or the character who you control and who is the most focused upon and is the lead? I'm getting myself confused.
Actually, you didn't say that.The_root_of_all_evil said:
You used sarcasm to imply that those characters were actually in games that sold quite well. You also mentioned Lara Croft, Jill Valentine, and Chell - who are all leads. You never mentioned that you felt they could potentially be billable lead characters. I hope you understand our confusion.The_root_of_all_evil said:
Whether or not female supporting characters could potentially sell games if they were the lead is really a matter of opinion - and most of the characters you listed have never been in a lead role.
I'm sure Activision acknowledge that there has been a few female leads but the truth is overall there hasn't been that many.
If a large amount of gamers have some seriously idiotic opinions on "Playing as a girl" then it's good business not to alienate them.
Pointing to many examples of female protagonists how exactly is Laura Croft a good example of a female protagonist when her head is smaller than her Tits?
If a large amount of gamers have some seriously idiotic opinions on "Playing as a girl" then it's good business not to alienate them.
Pointing to many examples of female protagonists how exactly is Laura Croft a good example of a female protagonist when her head is smaller than her Tits?
couldn't "be the lead in" games?AcacianLeaves said:
Honestly I can't see the confusion, and providing definitions of what is a lead irked me somewhat.
