Video Game Protagonists

[mechashiva77]

A complaint I see among gamers (and a sentiment I somewhat share) is that video game protagonists are too similar, mostly in mainstream American shooters and Japanese Role-playing Games.

My problem, however, is not being unable to identify with the main character (though as a black woman I really don't have a lot of options). I think it's pointless that you have to be the same gender, race, age, and sexual orientation as the main character to enjoy a game. I just want a little more variety.

So I ask you, what changes (if any) would you like to see in your video game protagonists? What traits do you think they should have?

(Also is it me or is it ironic that they're putting ads in Captchas?)

 

[cardinalwiggles]

with alot of games, your a silent protagonist. this i don't really like. i like becoming a character and i like understanding the person's point of view from them, rather than impose my feelings upon preceedings i'd like it to work in that kind of sense. with silent protagnoists you have to justify your actions using your own sense of morals and story-telling but with spoken one's we can see them develop through the story.

so i'd like more speaking protagonists. with actual character, please.

thanks

 

[Palademon]

Can we get some misanthropes?
Some darker qualities like that would make for some interesting protagonists.

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

Any but brown haired, 30 odd, white guy would be nice.
Getting a bit boring over here. -.-

I'd say more animal (Okami) or non human protagonists but it tends not to be a favourite with developers.
A Mass Effect Origins/Spectre style spin off might be nice with different races.

 

[Strain42]

I prefer silent protagonists (to an extent) not because I'm one of those guys who can go "Oh boy, it's like a representation of myself"

But because I actually hate most protagonists and I can be quickly put off by a game if I can't stand the characters, ESPECIALLY the one I'm forced to control.

 

[Sarah Kerrigan]

I like a Protagonist that speaks, not one that just stays quiet whenever someone tells them what to do.

A Main example is Prey 1. Tommy was an awesome character, and with Killian Samuels of Prey 2 being silent (as far as we can tell) I really was hoping he would speak as well.