To all the "Girl Gamers!"

[Blue Lemma]

Someone like John Wayne is admired by other men but hardly by women (or so I've read somewhere)

I'm not so sure - I used to work at a nursing home, and John Wayne was pretty popular with the ladies They would also get nostalgic for a time when "men were men."

Just sayin' hee hee

[SundownKid]

I wonder if it's possible at all to come up with characters that are liked by both men and women.

There is no "special secret" to making a likeable character, as long as they are not stereotyped into a single "role", their personalities will decide whether they are likeable. When you have a bald space marine or warrior girl, they are characters imposed on by the player, not living, breathing people. Also, each man and woman has their own preferences, so a guy might like a really girly-girl character or a warrior woman.

If you mean "physically likeable", that's another story, since there are obviously ways to play towards the male and female demographics by adding some type of sex appeal.

[DaFool]

eastern games...

I think one thing that Japanese games have, that they seem to have more girl players, is not only do they have bishounen (Tales), but they're more like character-control games rather than role-playing games. So you're not a blond spikey haired hero with a big sword? Neither are you a bald space marine, but at least with the spikey haired hero you turn off your ears when he whines since you're not really him, you're more like some overlord entity that guides the party of cliches to their next destination.

I'm also surprised that GUST games had
1.) female players
2.) dads who would play them with their daughters
because AFAIK there's just too much loli pandering innuendo in those games. They're extremely cute games though and hardcore in an old school sense, maybe that's why they're so enjoyable. But sometimes I wonder if their success is due to the pandering, or if they would have met the same result by making their cute, appealing-looking games truly E is for Everyone.

For example, that ghost that runs an item shop -- well screw her name since she's a cliche anyway -- that concept is very appealing to children, it's just that most situations she ends up in is more for fanservice.

I like the Yakuza example... take something that at first glance wouldn't have subject matter that appealing to women according to focus group/marketing experts, but inject it with just enough quality to be relate-able and whola, you got a good game. That's exactly what I'm trying to do with my current top secret project.

[LateWhiteRabbit]

I'm also surprised that GUST games had
1.) female players
2.) dads who would play them with their daughters
because AFAIK there's just too much loli pandering innuendo in those games. They're extremely cute games though and hardcore in an old school sense, maybe that's why they're so enjoyable. But sometimes I wonder if their success is due to the pandering, or if they would have met the same result by making their cute, appealing-looking games truly E is for Everyone.

For example, that ghost that runs an item shop -- well screw her name since she's a cliche anyway -- that concept is very appealing to children, it's just that most situations she ends up in is more for fanservice.

I found the article on one of GUST's games at Sankaku Complex to be hilarious.

"Gust, the developers of the Atelier moe-RPG series, have stated that their mysterious decision to turn the protagonist of the original Kishida Mel designed game into a loli in the upcoming Atelier Meruru was because they could not bear the prospect of having her appear in her thirties…"

A series of illustrations of the loli protagonist follow, then we get this sentence:

"Expect the game to be banned throughout the west." It's funny because it's true.

It reminds me of a story I was just reading about the Disney animators on the Jungle Book having an argument with Walt on how the movie should end, and Walt was adamant that a girl should lure Mowgli into human society. The animators didn't like the idea, insisting it would feel tacked on and was too sappy. Walt told them it was happening. So then the animators had the difficult task of making a little girl "sexy and come hither" enough to believably catch Mowgli and lure him to her, but not so sexy the audience would get weirded out. The animator Ken Anderson included a sketch of Mowgli grabbing her up off her feet and making out with her just for kicks (or to get a rise out of Walt). "Well, you know, he IS a wolf boy."

There is no "special secret" to making a likeable character, as long as they are not stereotyped into a single "role", their personalities will decide whether they are likeable.

Yep. It's why I'm not a fan of faceless protagonist's for VNs.

[dramspringfeald]

Guys what kind of female character would you want your sister, daughter or friends looking up too and why?

Girls Who did you look up to in gaming and why?

[Obscura]

I wonder if it's possible at all to come up with characters that are liked by both men and women

I think I remember there was quite an outpouring of affection for Alistair when Dragon Age Origins was released, by both men and women. Straight men were like, "he's my best bro", and women and gay men were seriously crushing on him. I remember playing that game and finding it impossible to ever be mean to him...despite wanting to explore all the available story lines. It was so shameful...

I remember a lot of men and women liking Morrigan too...though there were also quite a few players who couldn't stand her.

[LateWhiteRabbit]

I wonder if it's possible at all to come up with characters that are liked by both men and women

I think I remember there was quite an outpouring of affection for Alistair when Dragon Age Origins was released, by both men and women. Straight men were like, "he's my best bro", and women and gay men were seriously crushing on him. I remember playing that game and finding it impossible to ever be mean to him...despite wanting to explore all the available story lines.

Alistair was a very well done and likeable character. All through out the game I was rolling my eyes at him being such a goofy dork, but it was kind of endearing. When he does that thing he can do at the end of the game, I was totally surprised and yelling at the screen. Then I got a little choked up thinking, "Oh, my God, you big hearted idiot. That was supposed to be me."

Guys what kind of female character would you want your sister, daughter or friends looking up too and why?

I....don't think that's our call to make? I mean, isn't that what men have been doing for ages, holding up examples to women and girls of what they should emulate and be? I don't think it makes sense to break it down that way. I would want the same thing for a son or a daughter, for them to be intelligent, independent, and compassionate. I don't believe in specifically writing a likeable female character any different than I would write a likeable male character.

To hi-jack and turn Jack Nicholson's quote from As Good as It Gets on its ear:
"How do you write women so well?"
"I think of a man."
"How do you write men so well?"
"I think of a woman."

A good, likeable character that is well-rounded, with interesting flaws, and behavior that is worth emulating is going to be written the same, regardless of gender.

[AshenhartKrie]

First off, we are not 'girl gamers' we are gamers.

Secondly - to your original question: I want to see more riveting storylines. At the moment everyone seems to be obsessed with zombies and undead things (or maybe it's just the guys I hang out with). I have nothing against shooters, but if I hear one more guy tell me that I'm not a 'real gamer cos you don't play COD' I will flip the eff out and show him EXACTLY how good I am at kicking ass. I find it hard to find any games with original storylines. They all run on the same cliches. But that might just be becuase cliches are easier to write.
I'm a fan of BioWare games (I actuallly got sick of Alistair and was disappointed that Morrigan couldn't be romanced as a girl). I quite liked Jade Empire (even though I never finished it) becuase I hadn't seen it before.
As for characters, I don't care if I play as a guy or a girl. Most of the time I'll play as a guy, becuase meh, why shouldn't I?
But yeah. More interesting stories.
(I would have more game examples if I had money.)

[DreamDragonHatchling]

First off, we are not 'girl gamers' we are gamers.

Secondly - to your original question: I want to see more riveting storylines. At the moment everyone seems to be obsessed with zombies and undead things

NOPE we aren't all gamers!! , but in reality there are gamers and small brain teens with no experience with women's that want to see big boobs, blood, gore and guns and last one is the one for who many games are made for, because thy don't need story or things that gamers like, just best graphics, boobs and... killing? And that kind of games are easier to make.
(and teens in there brains not years... so 30 year old teen??.........something like that)
So females just don't like so much games that are made for hormonal teens... because we grow up mentally faster then boys...


As for my taste: Like RPG, creating my character is the best thing. MAKING them evil, sadistic and cruel ;3 if game lets me do that, i'm in haven. I like games were you can be good or evil, but THE BEST are, that lets me decide if i am something in the middle. I may save someone that is in danger in front of me, but going to save some princes far away for free, nope. I may give money for charity and blackmail some noble. ;3 And i am not punished for not being completely evil or good. Because in some games if you are this good you can do this or get that, but if your evil you get something else, but there is no if your 50% good and 50% evil you get something complicity else. If i want some extra option thing or scenery i have to be all good or all evil >_> and in that way i feel punished, i may kill someone if i like or save them.... i am not 100% evil but i am not all goody goody or good.... natural or evil is option i choose the most.

I like games with romance in them, but romance as main point of game... it sound like MC will be all things i hate in otome games MC.
I probably hate that kind of characters because i am polar opposite.

Female characters i like if thy are smart and witty and overcome there difficulty's without getting help from there love interest. Help from friend is okay.

And female characters have to stop being female characters but just characters. In too many games if there is a FC it is the weakest from them all... or a healer.... a fucking healer or any other supporter class..... like rouge... so she can wear sexy clothes.....

In how many games MC male is the healer and FC is a warrior?

........okay fantasy games are my favorite so.... using fantasy examples.

[Aines445]

I like games with romance in them, but romance as main point of game... it sound like MC will be all things i hate in otome games MC.
I probably hate that kind of characters because i am polar opposite.

Female characters i like if thy are smart and witty and overcome there difficulty's without getting help from there love interest. Help from friend is okay.

And female characters have to stop being female characters but just characters. In too many games if there is a FC it is the weakest from them all... or a healer.... a fucking healer or any other supporter class..... like rouge... so she can wear sexy clothes.....

In how many games MC male is the healer and FC is a warrior?

........okay fantasy games are my favorite so.... using fantasy examples.

I agree with you so much on that. In otome games I don't like to play as this defenseless damsel in distress that gets saved by her guy! I want to save myself and get that guy in the process! I'm also kinda the polar opposite, so it totally bothers me.
I don't know am I just not that much of a feminist or something? (I personally thought I was pretty feminist but oh well) I don't really mind the distinction in this is a FEMALE character and I am a GIRL gamer, I like to be recognized as a girl that plays games, and I think they should be GOOD FEMALE CHARACTERS not just characters, an individual has their own gender so for a guy I would just say, it is a MALE character or just straight out dude XD (Like how I would say girl for a female character). For me the issue would be they create female characters how guys would want them, which aren't GOOD female characters.
And yeah I would totally wish to see a game where the guy is the shy healer and the girl is the brave warrior I would be pleased and honored to play it XD. I also hate how they put girls in those jobs in fantasy games (Fantasy's also my favourite so yeah, I really liked those examples), like when they put them in some sexy clothes I literally just rage and joke that this is not my type of game XD. Like would they like it if THE GUYS were put with sexy clothes?? I would literally laugh my ass off XD. So yeah I totally agree with you, why should the girl be the weakest?? (Now I'm trying to picture the girl as the brave warrior and the guy as that shy healer stereotype that there sometimes is for girls XD)

[AshenhartKrie]

like when they put them in some sexy clothes I literally just rage and joke that this is not my type of game XD. Like would they like it if THE GUYS were put with sexy clothes?? I would literally laugh my ass off XD. So yeah I totally agree with you, why should the girl be the weakest?? (Now I'm trying to picture the girl as the brave warrior and the guy as that shy healer stereotype that there sometimes is for girls XD)

Pfft. I'm trying to picture my straight-laced no nonsense male characters in the sexy clothing that the girls all tend to wear. I don't think they're very happy with me....

[DreamDragonHatchling]

Like would they like it if THE GUYS were put with sexy clothes??

something like this?

Lol found it in internet couldn't stop laughing.

[AshenhartKrie]

Like would they like it if THE GUYS were put with sexy clothes??

something like this?

Lol found it in internet couldn't stop laughing.

lol. I was imagining them in this sort of thing, except guys.

[DreamDragonHatchling]

Now boy/man that see this will understand how women see picture on the left.

[SundownKid]

That skimpy of an outfit is pretty ridiculous for any gender. At least if they have SOME clothes, they can have something to potentially remove... but wearing a metal bikini as their default outfit is not very titillating to constantly stare at, is degrading, and leaves little in the way of original character design.

What I want to know is, are female gamers just naturally not as attracted to characters wearing "sexy clothing" and more towards their personality, or would putting guys in skimpy outfits ostensibly be as much of a "turn-on"? (Assuming it is one).