I think that this story was an employee with an axe to grind. It is very possible, maybe even likely, that Activision used focus groups that said that the female lead didn't suit the style of game that was being presented in "Black Lotus" and asked that in that case, the character be changed to male. As much as I don't like Activision's policies and dickhead of a CEO, I don't think they're so stupid that they forget Lara Croft and many other female leads that sold millions of games. I think that they made that request for this one particular game and this employee with a grudge decided to use that to make Activision look sexist.
Rumor: Activision Doesn't Think Female Leads Can Sell Games
- Thread starter Tom Goldman
- Start date
Kollega said:
No and they are not but you specifically brought up a lack of women in reguards to only MW of which there has only been two games so far
Quite a big deal was made widely that MW 1/2 didn't have enough women in them despite the real life fact that none of the countries involved even allow women to be in those roles, a game about Navy Seals or SAS also would not have any women in the unit because the real life units are male only.
Blame the military not the game developer slavishly copying them instead of making up thier own fictional militaries.
It makes sense, at least from my point of view. If we take a game, any game, where I have to control one person that is my representation in the world, such as World of Warcraft, Saints Row 2, Grand Theft Auto 4, Guild Wars, Oblivion, or Fallout 3, and then force me to play a female, that's going to take something away from the game for me. Some immersion is lost in that I have to represent myself through a woman, and if I had to play a woman in MMOs, for instance, I don't think I'd play them, because I wouldn't be able to get behind the representation of me, and feel enthusiastic about it.
I don't know how many others feel like that, but it would matter to me. A game just has to be that much better in other aspects if I have to play as a woman, for me to enjoy it as much.
I don't know how many others feel like that, but it would matter to me. A game just has to be that much better in other aspects if I have to play as a woman, for me to enjoy it as much.
Dexter111 said:
It's a rumor because their is no proof without names we don't even know if they talking to anyone let alone talked to anyone who makes games or even work for activision in particular.
It makes even less sence when the article recognises that female characters don't prevent games from selling something that would doubley be apparent to people on the money side that even the escapist forum posters with no working knowledge of how to run a busniess can prove the idea false even without hard numbers.
A friend of a friend telling me that Elvis is still alive is a rumor
Originally released in 1996, the Tomb Raider series has racked up over 30 million unit sales, spawned two motion pictures starring Academy Award winner Angelina Jolie and introduced British archaeologist Lara Croft to popular culture.
http://www.tombraiderchronicles.com/headlines3266.html
Female leads have been in gaming since gaming went mass market with the release of the 100 million plus unit sales of the playstation.
There are women capable of passing the training for the SAS. Having women in the SAS would be far less fanciful than most of the things we are supposed to accept in near future games like Modern Warfare.jamesworkshop said:
Big boobs. they must have them. Or they are from a well established franchise. new franchises with female leads that dont have big bust lines and are "badass" don't sell well.
Good recent example Velvet Assassin and Wet. Gameplay is in no small part to blame BUT, the male audience just generally don't care. I can bet DOA: Beach Volleyball sold more than those 2 games XD
Bottom line they need MASSIVE sex appeal for them to work. (All the more reason y Tomb Raider became what it is probably in no small part because of this box art.)
Good recent example Velvet Assassin and Wet. Gameplay is in no small part to blame BUT, the male audience just generally don't care. I can bet DOA: Beach Volleyball sold more than those 2 games XD
Bottom line they need MASSIVE sex appeal for them to work. (All the more reason y Tomb Raider became what it is probably in no small part because of this box art.)
Regardless of whether or not this rumour is true, I am going to say this. I, personally, would love to see a female character have a leading role in a GTA type game. I think it would bring some really valuable variety to the many types of males that have already been used by now. Plus, I think a female perspective on the world of crime would be a very compelling experience.
That said, I think the character would have to be more "down-to-earth" than most female characters tend to be, which might be what puts developers off from using them.
That said, I think the character would have to be more "down-to-earth" than most female characters tend to be, which might be what puts developers off from using them.
Blurg.
And people wonder why so many female characters either being flagrant eyecandy or completely [a href= "http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/columns/extra-punctuation/6662-Extra-Punctuation-Wet"] unlikeable bitches[/a]. Depictions of guys aren't tremendously better.
Just once, I wish these companies had the foresight to record their conversations with Activision. Whenever someone cries foul, Activision always pulls the "plausible deniability: just look at our official MO" out of they're ass to justify they are not jerks willing to ruin games for a buck.
And people wonder why so many female characters either being flagrant eyecandy or completely [a href= "http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/columns/extra-punctuation/6662-Extra-Punctuation-Wet"] unlikeable bitches[/a]. Depictions of guys aren't tremendously better.
Just once, I wish these companies had the foresight to record their conversations with Activision. Whenever someone cries foul, Activision always pulls the "plausible deniability: just look at our official MO" out of they're ass to justify they are not jerks willing to ruin games for a buck.
Her name was Louise? That from the books or something? Anyway, anti-hero?? That's being a bit generousEruanno said:
the only heroic thing she ever did was destroying the second overmind and that was totally for her own ends...Anyway just having a female lead doesn't sell a game (unless she shows her boobs, then it might..) but having one doesn't hurt a game. Metroid is my favourite Nintendo thing by miles.
Tell by the voice actingENKC said:
she was Liara from Mass Effect.wether they are capable is irrelevant the SAS still can't legally put women on the frontline.More Fun To Compute said:
and so no game about the SAS can't realistically have female operatives
The point is that many of these games take place in the future and play fast and loose with realism. Lots of things in the games do not reflect reality. There are several major roadblocks that keep women out of these roles but this is something that is speculated about in reality and so is perfectly acceptable for use in a fictional future setting. Not to mention any roles that women had in historical conflicts that are not always represented in games.jamesworkshop said:
what part of the name "modern warfare" suggests future space combat to youMore Fun To Compute said:
Halo and Gears of War are future space shooters and yet Halo had female spartans/ODST, Anya will only be a playable character in number 3 but has always been a COG tropper in the story of Gears of war.
Even mass effect had Ashley Williams in the Systems Alliance as a gunnery chief.
Samaus Aran is a bounty hunter in metroid
Isabelle DuFontaine was a French resistance fighter featured in Call of Duty 3.
Lieutenant Tanya Pavelovna (Russian: Òàíÿ Ïàâëîâíà) was a female soldier who fought for the Russians during World War II. Tanya is only seen in the game Call of Duty: Finest Hour. She is also the only playable female character thus far in the series.
Sergeant Anna Posadskaya was a female Red Army soldier who fought in the Battle of Stalingrad during World War II, as seen in Call of Duty: Finest Hour.
Modern Warfare is a near future game. It does not cover historical events. I am not talking about space combat at all.jamesworkshop said:
I also said that you don't always get the impression that women are well enough represented not that they never have any roles.