Sexy character designs done right

[SUPA FRANKY]

You know...what is wrong about sexy characters? Must every one dress practical and conservative in an otherwise, impractical and impossible world?

Nothing, when it's done right. Since the entire point of this thread is to point out times when it's done right, I don't see the point of your comment other than mindless, ignorant whining about a topic you didn't even bother to understand.

But who are you to say whether someones art is wrong or not? If the inhabitants in the world wear strictly beachwear, regardless of how cold it is, why is that somehow wrong?

 

[[REDACTED]]

You know...what is wrong about sexy characters? Must every one dress practical and conservative in an otherwise, impractical and impossible world?

Nothing, when it's done right. Since the entire point of this thread is to point out times when it's done right, I don't see the point of your comment other than mindless, ignorant whining about a topic you didn't even bother to understand.

But who are you to say whether someones art is wrong or not? If the inhabitants in the world wear strictly beachwear, regardless of how cold it is, why is that somehow wrong?

Because frostbite?

Sexy is awesome. But when sexiness is done in a way that breaks one's suspension of disbelief with a sickening crack, the bad outweighs the good. If you want to include a tribe of arctic nudists in your fiction, you better have a good explanation for it or it's going to be utterly laughable. Setting your story in a fantastical world doesn't mean that certain things won't be jarring. If Tolkien had included a race of giant pink bunnies that vomit skittles in Middle Earth, it would be out of place.

Is it wrong to do stuff like that? If you mean wrong in the moral sense, then the question is fucking absurd. If you mean wrong as in badly written, then yes, it would be.

 

[EternallyBored]

You know...what is wrong about sexy characters? Must every one dress practical and conservative in an otherwise, impractical and impossible world?

Nothing, when it's done right. Since the entire point of this thread is to point out times when it's done right, I don't see the point of your comment other than mindless, ignorant whining about a topic you didn't even bother to understand.

But who are you to say whether someones art is wrong or not? If the inhabitants in the world wear strictly beachwear, regardless of how cold it is, why is that somehow wrong?

This isn't kindergarten, where we give out gold stars to everyone just for participating. When you put your work out into the public eye, it will be judged as good or bad, correct or wrong, by society, and it should be, because art is not some inviolate sacred act completely separate from all other human endeavors.It is every human beings right to say, "your art sucks and you did a poor job", and if enough people agree with that opinion, then standards, tropes, and rules are built around those perceptions, standards and expectations that will generally need to be met to some extent if you want to reliably sell a product to a certain demographic. On the flipside, it is also the artists right to say, "fuck you, I'll make whatever I want".

As for your example, you seem to have missed the entire point of the thread. Your beachwear world can have all the sexy characters you want, the line where people are going to call those sexy designs well implemented or not, is if they make sense in the rest of the context of your world.

Is this sexy beachwear explained? Why do people dress the way they do? what makes them different than normal real world humans? magic? technology? or are they all aliens running around in human beachwear? Is this beachwear only worn by one sex while the other gets to wear normal clothes? do you explain any of this? are there any exceptions to these rules where people wear clothing other than beachwear in certain situations? How extreme is this setup, is it just beachwear in cold weather or are there bikinis and swim trunks being worn in the cold vacuum of space? Is this a wacky comedy world, or are you trying to sell it as gritty and dramatic? Are your characters silly or serious? etc. etc. etc.

When a fictional story is written, an implicit contract is set up between the artist and the audience; that contract is the willing suspension of disbelief on the part of the audience, and the artists guarantee that they will remain consistent in their work.

A consumer generally assumes that things in fiction will work close to reality, unless otherwise stated by the artist. If you've got characters sitting around trying to portray a serious story, except they are all in swimwear, and this change is never addressed, acknowledged, or explained in any way, your audience is going to be confused and start wondering why all your characters are dressed in swimwear if you aren't actually acknowledging that they are in swimwear. When the audience's suspension of disbelief breaks, then they start looking for alternative explanations, and when they see that the only purpose the swimwear characters are serving is to look sexy, then the audience will generally see that as the explanation for the change.

It's all about sexual content without sexual context, if all your doing is making a character sexy and putting them in situations or poses where it doesn't make sense in the context of the story, then the only reason they doing it is to tittilate the audience. This isn't bad if that's the point of your work, or the situation it takes place in makes sense in the context of your fictional world, but if you're trying to tell a serious dramatic post apocalyptic story and your characters are all standing around with chicken hats on and you never explain why, the audience is going to have a harder time maintaining their suspension of disbelief throughout the story.

 

[Relish in Chaos]

I'm gonna go ahead and say Chun-Li. She's the First Lady of fighting game females and there's a reason she's lasted so long in the eye of the gaming community. Even that stereotypical giggle she did when winning a match doesn't diminish from her badassness and lovely thigh-thrashing Lightning Kick.

 

[SUPA FRANKY]

]

You know...what is wrong about sexy characters? Must every one dress practical and conservative in an otherwise, impractical and impossible world?

Nothing, when it's done right. Since the entire point of this thread is to point out times when it's done right, I don't see the point of your comment other than mindless, ignorant whining about a topic you didn't even bother to understand.

But who are you to say whether someones art is wrong or not? If the inhabitants in the world wear strictly beachwear, regardless of how cold it is, why is that somehow wrong?

Because frostbite?

Sexy is awesome. But when sexiness is done in a way that breaks one's suspension of disbelief with a sickening crack, the bad outweighs the good. If you want to include a tribe of arctic nudists in your fiction, you better have a good explanation for it or it's going to be utterly laughable. Setting your story in a fantastical world doesn't mean that certain things won't be jarring. If Tolkien had included a race of giant pink bunnies that vomit skittles in Middle Earth, it would be out of place.

Is it wrong to do stuff like that? If you mean wrong in the moral sense, then the question is fucking absurd. If you mean wrong as in badly written, then yes, it would be.

If it can be explained, then cool. If not, I'm sure I could hold my suspension of disbelief. I mean, technically, giant robots would be completely impractical, and kinda impossible, but people all think that's cool.

Fighting monsters that can shoot all manners of fire, ice, etc would kill the crap out of you, regardless of what you were wearing ( Unless it's magic or something.)

It's not like there eren't plenty of tribes and clans in various countries that go into battle virtually naked. I don't get the stigma of naked characters in games.

 

[SUPA FRANKY]

You know...what is wrong about sexy characters? Must every one dress practical and conservative in an otherwise, impractical and impossible world?

Nothing, when it's done right. Since the entire point of this thread is to point out times when it's done right, I don't see the point of your comment other than mindless, ignorant whining about a topic you didn't even bother to understand.

But who are you to say whether someones art is wrong or not? If the inhabitants in the world wear strictly beachwear, regardless of how cold it is, why is that somehow wrong?

This isn't kindergarten, where we give out gold stars to everyone just for participating. When you put your work out into the public eye, it will be judged as good or bad, correct or wrong, by society, and it should be, because art is not some inviolate sacred act completely separate from all other human endeavors.It is every human beings right to say, "your art sucks and you did a poor job", and if enough people agree with that opinion, then standards, tropes, and rules are built around those perceptions, standards and expectations that will generally need to be met to some extent if you want to reliably sell a product to a certain demographic. On the flipside, it is also the artists right to say, "fuck you, I'll make whatever I want".

As for your example, you seem to have missed the entire point of the thread. Your beachwear world can have all the sexy characters you want, the line where people are going to call those sexy designs well implemented or not, is if they make sense in the rest of the context of your world.

Is this sexy beachwear explained? Why do people dress the way they do? what makes them different than normal real world humans? magic? technology? or are they all aliens running around in human beachwear? Is this beachwear only worn by one sex while the other gets to wear normal clothes? do you explain any of this? are there any exceptions to these rules where people wear clothing other than beachwear in certain situations? How extreme is this setup, is it just beachwear in cold weather or are there bikinis and swim trunks being worn in the cold vacuum of space? Is this a wacky comedy world, or are you trying to sell it as gritty and dramatic? Are your characters silly or serious? etc. etc. etc.

When a fictional story is written, an implicit contract is set up between the artist and the audience; that contract is the willing suspension of disbelief on the part of the audience, and the artists guarantee that they will remain consistent in their work.

A consumer generally assumes that things in fiction will work close to reality, unless otherwise stated by the artist. If you've got characters sitting around trying to portray a serious story, except they are all in swimwear, and this change is never addressed, acknowledged, or explained in any way, your audience is going to be confused and start wondering why all your characters are dressed in swimwear if you aren't actually acknowledging that they are in swimwear. When the audience's suspension of disbelief breaks, then they start looking for alternative explanations, and when they see that the only purpose the swimwear characters are serving is to look sexy, then the audience will generally see that as the explanation for the change.

It's all about sexual content without sexual context, if all your doing is making a character sexy and putting them in situations or poses where it doesn't make sense in the context of the story, then the only reason they doing it is to tittilate the audience. This isn't bad if that's the point of your work, or the situation it takes place in makes sense in the context of your fictional world, but if you're trying to tell a serious dramatic post apocalyptic story and your characters are all standing around with chicken hats on and you never explain why, the audience is going to have a harder time maintaining their suspension of disbelief throughout the story.

But what if that's justh ow the world is? Why is naked any better than clothes? Various animals and early humans didn't have any problems with being naked, and they got along preety fine ( more or less)

I just don't see how peopel get mad if the characters in a game dress half naked.

 

[Erttheking]

Snip

You know, everyone complains about how there are only negative threads about women and sex in gaming, so I thought I'd extend an olive branch to help smooth things over. You're kind of turning it back to negative.

 

[EternallyBored]

But what if that's justh ow the world is? Why is naked any better than clothes? Various animals and early humans didn't have any problems with being naked, and they got along preety fine ( more or less)

I just don't see how peopel get mad if the characters in a game dress half naked.

Since you apparently skipped the relevant sentence, here it is again:

A consumer generally assumes that things in fiction will work close to reality, unless otherwise stated by the artist. If you've got characters sitting around trying to portray a serious story, except they are all in swimwear, and this change is never addressed, acknowledged, or explained in any way, your audience is going to be confused and start wondering why all your characters are dressed in swimwear if you aren't actually acknowledging that they are in swimwear.

Animals and pre history are largely irrelevant, again, people expect certain things out of a story until the author states that those assumptions are wrong. Animals are adapted to their environment, and yes, people will complain if you stick a polar bear in the desert or a parrot in antarctica, because those animals would die in those environments. Likewise, unless your story takes place far in the past, people are going to wonder why characters in a modern story aren't wearing clothes, just like people will question your story if you write a sci-fi where everyone is running around hitting each other with swords, at least attempt to explain why no one is carrying a firearm.

You can't change something for no reason without people asking why that change was made, and if you don't at least attempt to address or justify it you are basically leaving it up to the audience to decide why something in a story is the way it is.
People would question the story if, in a confrontational court room scene, a random criminal burst into the room and was subsequently gunned down by the judge pulling out a handgun from under the table, and they would be justified in being a little confused and angry if the story just ignores that event as if it never happened. Likewise, the aforementioned apocalypse story, if everyone is wearing a chicken hat, and the author makes no attempt to explain why, people are going to be confused and likely complain or attempt to explain the why on their own.

 

[the December King]

I like Moxxi!

Spoiler

I think she's fabulous, her costume is a demented sexy Circus Announcer, that tends bar, keeps dangerous psycho-miners in line, and everything she says is an innuendo. In alot of ways, she's Borderland's answer to Harley Quinn.

EDIT: I think the costume is actually called a Ringmaster's outfit. My bad.

 

[SUPA FRANKY]

But what if that's justh ow the world is? Why is naked any better than clothes? Various animals and early humans didn't have any problems with being naked, and they got along preety fine ( more or less)

I just don't see how peopel get mad if the characters in a game dress half naked.

Well, early humans and animals have reasons consistent with the world to be "naked," the women of video games generally don't. What's the reason consistent with the worlds of numerous video games for women to be dressed for the sake of sexually appealing to boys before practicality while men dress like normal people? And no, "I wanted tits and asses" is not an acceptable answer outside of the porn industry.

I guess it depends on what you consider sexy I guess. And most of the itme, there are plenty of male characters who dress just as skimpy as the female characters.

Is exposed midriff sexy? Exposed cleavage considered sexualized? What about exposed arms or elbows? Ankles?

How come no one raises a fuss if the men fight shirtless?

An example would be in Dragon Age 2, where all the Qunari were muscular and fight shirtless, even during the cold winter months. No one questioned whether they were sexualized. No one said their manner of dress was "impractical".

Just imagine if they were all female characters.

 

[SUPA FRANKY]

But what if that's justh ow the world is? Why is naked any better than clothes? Various animals and early humans didn't have any problems with being naked, and they got along preety fine ( more or less)

I just don't see how peopel get mad if the characters in a game dress half naked.

Since you apparently skipped the relevant sentence, here it is again:

A consumer generally assumes that things in fiction will work close to reality, unless otherwise stated by the artist. If you've got characters sitting around trying to portray a serious story, except they are all in swimwear, and this change is never addressed, acknowledged, or explained in any way, your audience is going to be confused and start wondering why all your characters are dressed in swimwear if you aren't actually acknowledging that they are in swimwear.

Animals and pre history are largely irrelevant, again, people expect certain things out of a story until the author states that those assumptions are wrong. Animals are adapted to their environment, and yes, people will complain if you stick a polar bear in the desert or a parrot in antarctica, because those animals would die in those environments. Likewise, unless your story takes place far in the past, people are going to wonder why characters in a modern story aren't wearing clothes, just like people will question your story if you write a sci-fi where everyone is running around hitting each other with swords, at least attempt to explain why no one is carrying a firearm.

You can't change something for no reason without people asking why that change was made, and if you don't at least attempt to address or justify it you are basically leaving it up to the audience to decide why something in a story is the way it is.
People would question the story if, in a confrontational court room scene, a random criminal burst into the room and was subsequently gunned down by the judge pulling out a handgun from under the table, and they would be justified in being a little confused and angry if the story just ignores that event as if it never happened. Likewise, the aforementioned apocalypse story, if everyone is wearing a chicken hat, and the author makes no attempt to explain why, people are going to be confused and likely complain or attempt to explain the why on their own.

No one would have any fun if everything in generally fantastic video games had to explain. No one ever explains where the metal for mechs, or how it even keeps it's balance in check, but everyone accepts it. No one ever explains how armor will keep you from getting toasted by a Dragon's fire breathe or how an archer with a bow can take down massive beast, but it's generally not explained in various fantasy games.

There are many cultures where the populace wear little clothing. Hell, high heels and dress shoes are very cumbersome, but people widely wear them for the look. WHy must everything have a practical explanation, when generally, people aren't really practical to begin with?>

 

[McDaioh]

Snip ()

literally made an account just to tell you that man boobs aren't sexualized by our culture. and there are hardly any femboy/digital bulges compared to the swaths and oceans of tity armour and demeaning outfits that are put on women characters for the express gratification of pubescent boys. many of them hold no narrative explanation or anything.

 

[SUPA FRANKY]

Snip ()

literally made an account just to tell you that man boobs aren't sexualized by our culture. and there are hardly any femboy/digital bulges compared to the swaths and oceans of tity armour and demeaning outfits that are put on women characters for the express gratification of pubescent boys. many of them hold no narrative explanation or anything.[/quote

Just look at the average Super Hero comic. All the men are wearing spandex that show every curve of their musculature ( Hell, Superman is practically in his underwear!)

And what counts as sexualization? There are plenty of women who expose cleavage, midriff, even when they aren't going to the club or looking to titilize. etc. Just look at the attire of MMA Fighters, Gymnist, Trackstars.

I mena, no one gives a guy shit for wanting to fight shirtless, but when a woman does it, it's seen as impractical or sexualization? Why can't a women be powerful, competent, etc. and dress in skimpy attire?

 

[Black Reaper]

A sexy character done right is any character you find sexy. So, most of the Senran Kagura girls, the Sorceress and Amazon from Dragon's Crown, the DOA girls etc.

A sexy character done wrong is a "sexy" character who leaves you cold. So for me that'd be Bayonetta and... Hmm. Not sure beyond that.

Beyond personal taste, there's no right or wrong way to do or present "sexy".

It's nice to see im not alone when it comes to not finding Bayonetta sexy

For me, a sexy character done right would be a character that manages to be attractive without making you think "What the hell is he/she wearing!?", which is what i think when i see most of Blazblue's female cast

Spoiler: Examples

Ryougi Shiki
Hers is a design i really like, normally i don't like short hair, but her design is just that good

Shanoa
Her armor doesn't cove her back, but there's a story reason for it, she basically fight with some magic tattoos in her back and upper arms
Don't really know what else to say, i like how her designs shows some skin but doesn't go overboard

Millia Rage
I like her GGx-AC design, but i like her Xrd one the most

Marie from Dies Irae, i haven't actually played it, but i like her

i like G Yuusuke's character designs in general

I can think of more examples, but i am too lazy to go searching for images and shit

Edit:^whoa, what happened to that post above?, it looks all mangled up
And i wear dress shoes everywhere, and they aren't that uncomfortable

 

[Someone Depressing]

Define... "sexy done right". That either means "sexy but tasteful and not too pander-y" or "things you find sexy", which are different for most people.

So, what's a sexy character done wrong? A character that is over sexualised and offensive? Or just not sexy? Whatever, I'm thinking too much. Back to sexy.

Faith (Fayth?) from Mirror's Edge. I like how the dev team went out of their way to not make her your average pandering wank-fodder for 15 year olds so they buy the game. She's pretty, yeah, but she's slender and muscular. She's always covered up - she wears exactly what a free runner would wear. No cleavage or sexy fingerless gloves. She even wears taki-ga - and no male gaze hovering over her constantly in cutscenes.

The director was actually pretty pissed when somebody sent in a modified image that was "a 13-year-old with a boob job", in his words.

...Or Sten from Dragon Age: Origins and you can't judge me because I'm not listening.

I also think the character designs from TrapT (that's a backwards R) are really cool. Pretty sexy, but they're overshadowed by the cool.

 

[Mikeyfell]

So often in gaming making characters wear sexy clothing feels shoehorned in and is only there to pander, sometimes at the expense of the story. Like in Mass Effect 2, where an old wise warrior has a cleavage window. But sometimes it can be done right. Sometimes it just fits the tone of the game or it does it in a way that's actually endearing instead of just "Look at me! I've got boobs! My game is mature!"

I don't think any character artist or modeler is designing sexy characters because they think it'll make people take their game more seriously... anyway

Catherine comes to mind. Catherine was very hot and that was sort of the point of her character. But the first half of that game was just a deconstruction of "sexy characters" so that's cheating.

In Tales of Xillia Milla's character chose to be an attractive female because that made it easier to take advantage of men

Lollipop Chainsaw and Bayonetta
But they're basically deconstructions like Catherine was

I just realized all these games come from Japan...
How about Moxxi from Borderlands 2.
In the Tourge DLC she had a line that was like "I'm sorry the innuendos are just a defense mechanism" or something like that... I don't know

I don't think attractive characters are a problem (Because they aren't) so drawing a line between "sexy done right" and "sexy done wrong" is crazy

Would Mass Effect be better if Samara dressed like a nun? no... she uses biotics to protect herself so it doesn't matter what she wares from a narrative perspective.

Would Record of Agarest War be better if the characters were all 6's and 7's instead of 9's and 10's?
I mean it's my favorite game that's come out in the last 5 years and (To be honest) I wouldn't have played it if it weren't for all the sexiness


To me the games that do sexy characters in bad intrusive ways would be a much shorter list.
Like Cheria in Tales of Graces was supposed to be sickly and bedridden for the first 15 years of her life but when she's 18 she has supermodel good looks. and that doesn't make sense.
Did she use healing artes to give herself an hourglass figure?