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I was interested to read in a recent issue of edge about race and sexual orientation affecting whether or not you play computer games. it brought out many points such as only white straight males tend to buy computer games and it gave various reasons why.
One of the reasons it blamed were due to the lead character. It said the majority of games did not have a Indian or Black man, etc. Even in the likes of Soul Calibur where there is a vast array of characters to choose from there is no Indian influence.
My questions then are...
1. Should characters be customisable?
2. Does it affect the game?
3. Does it affect the marketing?
4. Are these valid reasons?
1. Well firstly I agree that the likes of Phantasy Star Online are great games, the fact that you can customise your character did not have any influence on me, when I bought the game, but I remember playing the game and showing it to my dad, I tried to get him to play it but he got to the character customise screen and said, "see this is why I don't play these games, all this faffing around." So really when we look at the character customise screen it can really add a novel touch for some gamers, but for others it is a turn off. I think therefore that Perfect Dark were on the right lines, where you could select your character and then customise parts if you wanted or keep the pre-built character. perhaps in future the character could be customised in an advanced section.
2. Does it affect the game, well no not really, how a player looks doesn't affect the game, male characters are not stronger than women, skin colour etc does not come into it (Baldur's Gate), the only way it affects the game is adding realism. If you were to walk around Liberty City in GTA3 and never meet a person of colour it wouldn't detract from the game, but merely detract from the realism.
In games with a pre-built character like Mario etc you can form an affinity with the character, so in the sense that you can become more engrossed and linked to the brand I see why a strong character does affect the game.
3. Does it affect the marketing? Well yes as a game with Mario on the cover cannot be marketed in the same way as Baldur’s Gate, there is no character awareness so Baldur's Gate would have to show other aspects of the game in order to appeal to the audience. When you slap Mario on a box, it is a statement straight away of the intent of the game, (in most cases) it will be accessible to kids, and adults alike, it will be of a high standard, and it will likely be a platformer or Mario Kart (Mario RPG/Tennis etc is a different issue I agree so just for an example.)
4. Are these valid reasons? Well no not really. Looking back at some of my favourite games I remember some of the characters (Ryu, Mario, Sonic) this didn't mean I thought I was Japanese (Ryu), Italian (Mario) or a hedgehog (Sonic). So for me the joy of the game was not whether the main character looked like me, it was in getting to know the player, to learn about them even if it was just the fact that Ryu was always in search of a better fighter to challenge him. How many people play Lara Croft games. Do you buy it because you are a women with an attitude. No. Some may be influenced but from my experience I would say it would be a very small minority.
What are your views on this do you think that the gamers of this world are straight white males because that’s what the lead characters are?
One of the reasons it blamed were due to the lead character. It said the majority of games did not have a Indian or Black man, etc. Even in the likes of Soul Calibur where there is a vast array of characters to choose from there is no Indian influence.
My questions then are...
1. Should characters be customisable?
2. Does it affect the game?
3. Does it affect the marketing?
4. Are these valid reasons?
1. Well firstly I agree that the likes of Phantasy Star Online are great games, the fact that you can customise your character did not have any influence on me, when I bought the game, but I remember playing the game and showing it to my dad, I tried to get him to play it but he got to the character customise screen and said, "see this is why I don't play these games, all this faffing around." So really when we look at the character customise screen it can really add a novel touch for some gamers, but for others it is a turn off. I think therefore that Perfect Dark were on the right lines, where you could select your character and then customise parts if you wanted or keep the pre-built character. perhaps in future the character could be customised in an advanced section.
2. Does it affect the game, well no not really, how a player looks doesn't affect the game, male characters are not stronger than women, skin colour etc does not come into it (Baldur's Gate), the only way it affects the game is adding realism. If you were to walk around Liberty City in GTA3 and never meet a person of colour it wouldn't detract from the game, but merely detract from the realism.
In games with a pre-built character like Mario etc you can form an affinity with the character, so in the sense that you can become more engrossed and linked to the brand I see why a strong character does affect the game.
3. Does it affect the marketing? Well yes as a game with Mario on the cover cannot be marketed in the same way as Baldur’s Gate, there is no character awareness so Baldur's Gate would have to show other aspects of the game in order to appeal to the audience. When you slap Mario on a box, it is a statement straight away of the intent of the game, (in most cases) it will be accessible to kids, and adults alike, it will be of a high standard, and it will likely be a platformer or Mario Kart (Mario RPG/Tennis etc is a different issue I agree so just for an example.)
4. Are these valid reasons? Well no not really. Looking back at some of my favourite games I remember some of the characters (Ryu, Mario, Sonic) this didn't mean I thought I was Japanese (Ryu), Italian (Mario) or a hedgehog (Sonic). So for me the joy of the game was not whether the main character looked like me, it was in getting to know the player, to learn about them even if it was just the fact that Ryu was always in search of a better fighter to challenge him. How many people play Lara Croft games. Do you buy it because you are a women with an attitude. No. Some may be influenced but from my experience I would say it would be a very small minority.
What are your views on this do you think that the gamers of this world are straight white males because that’s what the lead characters are?
But say that the sexuality was known, would it make a difference to how you viewed them or whether you would buy the game?
Honestly I can't see race being a barrier nowadays (for most) so what about sexuality.
ps I totally agree that many could be gay but we don't know, who would you say looks the most obvious, Luigi, probably me thinks!
Honestly I can't see race being a barrier nowadays (for most) so what about sexuality.
ps I totally agree that many could be gay but we don't know, who would you say looks the most obvious, Luigi, probably me thinks!
Interesting.
Anyone want to do some research, and find out which was the first ever black videogames character that you could control?
Anyone want to do some research, and find out which was the first ever black videogames character that you could control?
The thing is, why would the lead character be gay?
In most games, you don't know for sure either way, so the character *could* be gay. If however, you make a point of mentioning that the lead character is gay, you have to wonder why. If you single the character out for whatever reason, isn't that just as bad?
Unless of course you just make it obvious that the lead character is gay without actually saying so - perhaps a few suspect remarks from time to time in a camp voice, or have bleached blond hair and wear a pink shirt.
But then, you do that and you'll probably get sued for stereotyping...
That's the problem really. If you make a character a minority, you have to be very careful, or you may get into trouble - wheras with a white male lead character, you can do what ever you like with them without any fear of reproval.
In most games, you don't know for sure either way, so the character *could* be gay. If however, you make a point of mentioning that the lead character is gay, you have to wonder why. If you single the character out for whatever reason, isn't that just as bad?
Unless of course you just make it obvious that the lead character is gay without actually saying so - perhaps a few suspect remarks from time to time in a camp voice, or have bleached blond hair and wear a pink shirt.
But then, you do that and you'll probably get sued for stereotyping...
That's the problem really. If you make a character a minority, you have to be very careful, or you may get into trouble - wheras with a white male lead character, you can do what ever you like with them without any fear of reproval.
It's a good point but until you mentioned it I have never even thought about it. I doubt many others have either.
I agree with what you're saying (or implying).
The characters in a game don't make a difference for me, and never have done - though perhaps in the modern day when games are focused more and more on realism it is noticable. Not being brought up with these games around today, I wouldn't notice this, if it's the case.
I also think that other races are represented fairly in many games... Shadowman was dark for example - so was Skate way back in Streets If Rage 2.
Though I will say the representation in first person shooters is well off. The lead character in these is almost always a die-hard all-American action hero. Max Payne, Duke Nukem, Serious Sam, and so on. Every other genre has a fair representation though, in my opinion. Every fighter game will have oriental characters in, as do many RPG's. Influenced by the country the game wer made in perhaps?
In older games there is definitely a fair representation - graphical capabilities being so limited that any multiplayer game needed characters of different sexes of skin colours in order to make them clearly distinguishable.
The characters in a game don't make a difference for me, and never have done - though perhaps in the modern day when games are focused more and more on realism it is noticable. Not being brought up with these games around today, I wouldn't notice this, if it's the case.
I also think that other races are represented fairly in many games... Shadowman was dark for example - so was Skate way back in Streets If Rage 2.
Though I will say the representation in first person shooters is well off. The lead character in these is almost always a die-hard all-American action hero. Max Payne, Duke Nukem, Serious Sam, and so on. Every other genre has a fair representation though, in my opinion. Every fighter game will have oriental characters in, as do many RPG's. Influenced by the country the game wer made in perhaps?
In older games there is definitely a fair representation - graphical capabilities being so limited that any multiplayer game needed characters of different sexes of skin colours in order to make them clearly distinguishable.
I was interested to read in a recent issue of edge about race and sexual orientation affecting whether or not you play computer games. it brought out many points such as only white straight males tend to buy computer games and it gave various reasons why.
One of the reasons it blamed were due to the lead character. It said the majority of games did not have a Indian or Black man, etc. Even in the likes of Soul Calibur where there is a vast array of characters to choose from there is no Indian influence.
My questions then are...
1. Should characters be customisable?
2. Does it affect the game?
3. Does it affect the marketing?
4. Are these valid reasons?
1. Well firstly I agree that the likes of Phantasy Star Online are great games, the fact that you can customise your character did not have any influence on me, when I bought the game, but I remember playing the game and showing it to my dad, I tried to get him to play it but he got to the character customise screen and said, "see this is why I don't play these games, all this faffing around." So really when we look at the character customise screen it can really add a novel touch for some gamers, but for others it is a turn off. I think therefore that Perfect Dark were on the right lines, where you could select your character and then customise parts if you wanted or keep the pre-built character. perhaps in future the character could be customised in an advanced section.
2. Does it affect the game, well no not really, how a player looks doesn't affect the game, male characters are not stronger than women, skin colour etc does not come into it (Baldur's Gate), the only way it affects the game is adding realism. If you were to walk around Liberty City in GTA3 and never meet a person of colour it wouldn't detract from the game, but merely detract from the realism.
In games with a pre-built character like Mario etc you can form an affinity with the character, so in the sense that you can become more engrossed and linked to the brand I see why a strong character does affect the game.
3. Does it affect the marketing? Well yes as a game with Mario on the cover cannot be marketed in the same way as Baldur’s Gate, there is no character awareness so Baldur's Gate would have to show other aspects of the game in order to appeal to the audience. When you slap Mario on a box, it is a statement straight away of the intent of the game, (in most cases) it will be accessible to kids, and adults alike, it will be of a high standard, and it will likely be a platformer or Mario Kart (Mario RPG/Tennis etc is a different issue I agree so just for an example.)
4. Are these valid reasons? Well no not really. Looking back at some of my favourite games I remember some of the characters (Ryu, Mario, Sonic) this didn't mean I thought I was Japanese (Ryu), Italian (Mario) or a hedgehog (Sonic). So for me the joy of the game was not whether the main character looked like me, it was in getting to know the player, to learn about them even if it was just the fact that Ryu was always in search of a better fighter to challenge him. How many people play Lara Croft games. Do you buy it because you are a women with an attitude. No. Some may be influenced but from my experience I would say it would be a very small minority.
What are your views on this do you think that the gamers of this world are straight white males because that’s what the lead characters are?
One of the reasons it blamed were due to the lead character. It said the majority of games did not have a Indian or Black man, etc. Even in the likes of Soul Calibur where there is a vast array of characters to choose from there is no Indian influence.
My questions then are...
1. Should characters be customisable?
2. Does it affect the game?
3. Does it affect the marketing?
4. Are these valid reasons?
1. Well firstly I agree that the likes of Phantasy Star Online are great games, the fact that you can customise your character did not have any influence on me, when I bought the game, but I remember playing the game and showing it to my dad, I tried to get him to play it but he got to the character customise screen and said, "see this is why I don't play these games, all this faffing around." So really when we look at the character customise screen it can really add a novel touch for some gamers, but for others it is a turn off. I think therefore that Perfect Dark were on the right lines, where you could select your character and then customise parts if you wanted or keep the pre-built character. perhaps in future the character could be customised in an advanced section.
2. Does it affect the game, well no not really, how a player looks doesn't affect the game, male characters are not stronger than women, skin colour etc does not come into it (Baldur's Gate), the only way it affects the game is adding realism. If you were to walk around Liberty City in GTA3 and never meet a person of colour it wouldn't detract from the game, but merely detract from the realism.
In games with a pre-built character like Mario etc you can form an affinity with the character, so in the sense that you can become more engrossed and linked to the brand I see why a strong character does affect the game.
3. Does it affect the marketing? Well yes as a game with Mario on the cover cannot be marketed in the same way as Baldur’s Gate, there is no character awareness so Baldur's Gate would have to show other aspects of the game in order to appeal to the audience. When you slap Mario on a box, it is a statement straight away of the intent of the game, (in most cases) it will be accessible to kids, and adults alike, it will be of a high standard, and it will likely be a platformer or Mario Kart (Mario RPG/Tennis etc is a different issue I agree so just for an example.)
4. Are these valid reasons? Well no not really. Looking back at some of my favourite games I remember some of the characters (Ryu, Mario, Sonic) this didn't mean I thought I was Japanese (Ryu), Italian (Mario) or a hedgehog (Sonic). So for me the joy of the game was not whether the main character looked like me, it was in getting to know the player, to learn about them even if it was just the fact that Ryu was always in search of a better fighter to challenge him. How many people play Lara Croft games. Do you buy it because you are a women with an attitude. No. Some may be influenced but from my experience I would say it would be a very small minority.
What are your views on this do you think that the gamers of this world are straight white males because that’s what the lead characters are?