I Shoot Like a Girl: Gender choices in games
As I get close to my week long vacation which I desperately, desperately need, I wanted to come up with an article that will get you girls, and guys, talking. So I was wandering around my house thinking about an article and decided to throw in a game. I chose Rainbow Six 2 because my character was really close to leveling up and I want to get the tank top. And then I stopped and realized that I just made a gaming decision based upon not game play, but because my character was female.
Game developers over the years have realized something. Women, and I’m including girls, play video games. In fact, they’ve realized this much faster than we give them credit for (and much much quicker than most of the male online community). Developers determined that women like to kill things. We love to grenade cars, rocket launch helicopters, hack n’ slash zombies, and turn bad guys into chickens. (No, I’m not kidding. In Arkadian Warriors the female sorceress can get a wand that turns bad guys into chickens. El Pollo Loco!) So in order to reach out to a larger base of fans and players, developers started letting us choose which gender we want to be. And I think it’s the best thing they’ve ever done.
Back in the day, you generally didn’t have a lot of choice as to gender. You might be able to choose your class/race, such as elf, wizard, archer, etc., but it was rare if you could be a female warrior or a male elf. I’m not sure why that was; maybe developers thought women would be more attracted to a certain type of character. Or maybe because the developers didn’t have the abilities in terms of game size and memory to have more than a few choices, so they chose a few characters to be female and a few characters to be male. Either way, if you wanted to play as a certain character you didn’t have a lot of choice in gender.
As more women became active in the gaming world, not only as gamers but as developers, programmers, coders, etc., there was a rise in female characters. I remember the very first game where I could be either a female or a male of each class: Champions of Norrath. I could be a male or female archer, and it was so much fun. Disgaea also let you be either a female or male of most characters. However, those types of games where you could choose gender were few and far between.
Now, several games allow you to pick your gender. Rainbow Six 1& 2, Mass Effect, and Rock Band are just a few games that jump to mind where your character can be male or female and have the same skills and abilities. (I concede that on Rainbow Six you can only pick your gender for multi-player.) You can change their appearance as well, like facial features and skin tone, giving the player to make her character look like well, her, if she wants. It allows the gamer more freedom in choice and allows her (or him) to become more involved in the character. It’s not just a 2 dimensional thing moving around; it’s an extension of you.
Granted, there are many games where you cannot choose the gender of the main character. Many RPG’s have a set main character who you cannot change the gender. FPS is not much better (*cough* Call of Duty 4 *cough*). There are a lot of shooting games where you can only be a male or female and not have a choice of gender. Static gender is especially true for games which have a history and started way back in the day, such as Halo, Half-Life, Devil May Cry, and Ninja Gaiden. These games have a tradition of men being the main characters and so the main characters will stay men.
I admit it’d be a little disconcerting to play as Dantessa instead of Dante in Devil May Cry. However, as women become more of a force in the gaming world, I see game developers growing with us. And as more women enter the field, I believe they will be more prone to creating games that allow the main character to be male or female because they would like to play as a female or male. I predict a time when picking your gender will be the rule rather than the exception. As technology grows and gaming becomes more accessible, developers will start building characters that represent who plays them, and in many cases those players, and therefore characters, will be women. But until that time, I will choose a female character anytime I can and will continue to shoot you like a girl: I will shoot you dead.
LOL good article, yes I must admit there are not alot of games where you get to choose gender. And for the most part those seem to be more RPG’s than anything else. I think its a good idea, when I create a character it is in a way an extension of who you are or want to be. hmmm makes me now wonder about all the guys who make female characters in some RPG’s…ok not going to go there*LOL* But seriously I would love to see more games where you make the main character instead of having him/her predermined for you. I mean Hell I wouldn’t mind playing a blood randy instead of blood rayne*LOL* ok that was a poor joke but ya know what I mean and I know the same is true visa versa–say Mistress Chief for the ladies
yeah ok I am full of bad jokes today sorry*LOL*. Anywho it may be a sign of the times in the near Future and lets hope that it happens sooner or later
i gotta admit that being a female character was one of the things that turned me on to mass effect. i guess maybe it just feels more personal(?)
anyway i think it’s great that more developers are jumpin’ on the bandwagon. why not, right?! women can kick ass too, sometimes better than the boys. :O
Hey, us girls who play Halo play as Mistress Chief in multiplayer. Haha. But yeah, it would be nice if you could make that choice in campaign as well. It does take a lot more effort, though. All the additional voice acting for cut scenes, animation, etc. But I think it’s definitely worth it. I loved playing through Mass Effect as a female character. That was a lot of fun.
I agree with what the OP is saying in terms of people enjoying making an extension of themselves. That’s definitely what I went for in Oblivion. And I feel like developers understand it, definitely. What’s happening slowly in video games is the same thing that has happened across genres. When people write novels, they often base the protagonist at least loosely upon themselves. I’m sure the same goes for screenplay writers as well. Granted, some people pride themselves on looking outside the box (Male authors will create a female protagonist, or vice versa) but even then these authors will grant those characters characteristics that they possess/wish they did possess. This is part of what makes writing fun for writers.
The same happens in the world of text-based or live action role playing groups. People create characters based on themselves/ what they want to become and that’s why they enjoy playing them so much.
I was thinking about it and honestly some games I’m completely happy with playing as a male. But delving deeper, even I would like to be Frankie West, photojournalista. Who doesn’t want to be a suave and charming not to mention proficient with every possible weapon zombie extermination expert? : )
Good article and I am all for the creation of female characters ect. GTA4 captured that feature in mulitplayer but unfortunately not story mode.. I enjoy making the main character tailored tome
which does usually occur in RPG’s
“blood randy instead of blood rayne”….”mistress cheif” LOL!!! (whats will all the bad jokes? j/k) they made me laugh.,..although when I hear mistress cheif I think of a sleezy woman who drives her warthog to meet up with a married man on the weekends at the motel 6….
As for blood randy its hard for me to picture him wrapping his legs around the head of another guy and doing some of those provocative killing moves blood rayne pulls off?? Perhaps the enemies will be changed to girls for him..
Yah! what is up with guys making girl characters anyways? What they must think we talk dirty to each other in a game or something and want a piece of the action???? Ohhh we have a guy lets ask…Rav have you ever played a girl character? If so what was the motivation?
ohhh no …no women characters for me. maybe its just the high level of Testosterone*LOL* but when I have the preference I always pick a male character. I have always wondered about that myself, never bothered to ask because its normally alot of kids doing it. And the older guys doing it well…..lets just say I always just assume they have issues and leave it at that*LOL*
And Smiles we could change the killing moves for Bloody Randy*LOL* yeah lets not have him wrapping his legs around their heads like that…the mental picture of that for some reason is of Richard Simmons trying to do that and frankly that was disturbing*LOL*
I don’t think that older guys choosing to be a female character is necessarily people having issues at all! This is part of the beauty of having the freedom of choice in your character selection. It’s not just so that males can choose males and females can choose females. It’s so that you can explore every option you so desire. And I think that freedom of choice is great!
Oh I’m all about freedom of choice and I love that you have the options to choose whatever you want, I just find it odd that an older guy *meaning above the age of 18* would choose to play as a woman. I would probably find it odd for an older woman to want to make a guy character too. But thats just me, hell back in the days of UO I used to play with a guy who made only female characters, did I find it odd…yeah….did I stop dungeon crawling and PK’ing (player killing) with him…hell no, the dude was a beast.
Hm. Interesting. I wonder if everyone feels that way. I’ve never seen is as being weird. Most of the time I will choose a female character if there is an option, but I’d say it’s not -always- true. Sometimes it’s neat to see how green the grass is on the other side of the fence. It’s an opportunity to explore something different, I guess.
Well It could just be me*LOL* nobody ever said I was the sainest person they know
Not in a Wild Bill –Silence of the Lambs kinda insane though so its all good. For some reason I always pick Male Characters and call this quirkey but I cannot be totally evil in a game–border line to match my personallity but never totally evil. I’ve just never felt the urge to see if the grass is greener by playing a member of the opposite sex. As for the opportunity to explore something different….ok I’m going to just leave that one alone 
ok yeah I am guy, sorry bad habbits crop up from time to time 
LOL!! “Richard Simmons” Yah I agree with freedom of choice and all, but curiosity does get the better of me at times… perhaps it is nothing more than exploring options but if it is more I wonder what it could be??
I prefer to stick with female characters when possible just a preference and I don’t avoid playing people just b/c they pick the opposite gender character… hey if your good who cares what gender you or your character is??
In WoW I’ve notice that some guys (and girls too) pick girl characters just to take all her clothes off and parade around a big city in nothing but underwear? that is weird..
Ohh Hey miss psychologist… care to comment on why you think some guys play female characters? (I asked this in another post but I think answer would fit here better)
And be honest Rav (we won’t laugh) you never tried out a female????? come on you must have been tempted
ok who is the psychologist here? I would like to know that answer as well though? And Smiles the only time I have made a female character was in games like Icewindale when you create an intire party so I will mix it up abit. Other than that I always pick male characters when I am playing a solo character.
And Smiles you are sooooo lucky I am on my good boy behavior today cause this post “And be honest Rav (we won’t laugh) you never tried out a female????? come on you must have been tempted ” Could have been taken totally out of context*LOL* But since I am in good boy behavior and I knew what you meant you got the good boy answer*LOL*
Oh yeah I thought you would have enjoyed the whle Richard Simmons joke–damn got the image stuck in my head again. I saw an episode of him on “who’s line is it anway” and he keeps popping up. Bad Richard stay away*LOL*
Well, it’s me. Sort of. I’m not a psychologist but I was a psychology major. : ) I can think of one main reason, psychologically for a guy to try a female character. He may be interested in exploring more feminine aspects of his personality and this may be one of the very few safe ways to do so. Society has a tendency to attack effeminate males, and this is a way that a guy can quench his curiosity without being really questioned by his peers. It’s safe. It’s acceptable. And it doesn’t often cause someone to question one’s sexuality, the male in question is just usually seen as quirky.
Non psychology-wise. . . someone might just want to change it up.
Or they are hypersexual and want to stare at a female body for hours.
Or, if playing multiplayer they might want to throw of the stereotypical butch male gamer who thinks all females suck at video games. Trick them into thinking the character is weak when in reality . . .
At any rate, so many possibilities! : )
I had guessed the first reason you had which is why I normally don’t ask questions*LOL* I never really thought about the last though but then again I don’t count on a woman being a weaker player. I guess thats just the different mentalities some guys have though.
RAV PLAYS ON GIRL PLAYERS!!!!!!!! ROFL!!! what do you call them? Ravina?? hehe
Thank you miss psycologist (psych major is close enough 4 me) that was very insightful
Haven’t thought of guys playing girl players to step out of macho man world around them…
Well, of course you don’t automatically think that Rav. If you have at least some level of intelligence you won’t assume that a player is automatically bad because she happens to be a she! Haha.
Well, you’re welcome Smiles. : ) I’m glad I stumbled upon this site, there is not much more that I love more than playing video games, talking about video games, reviewing video games, etc.
LOL Advent yes I am actually a smart cookie*LOL* so I never make any assumptions*LOL* And I deffinetely don’t believe that a persons sex has anything to do with skill in the game. But we are all glad your here on the site, reviewing games and whatnot
LOL Smiles you crack my ass up as always… I about pee’d my pants when I read Ravina*LOL* Though I will stay in my little macho world thank you very much*LOL*
Well, I don’t review on here. . . but basically anything related to video games I enjoy. You could say I have a bit of a habit. : )
hehe yah i agree with Rav.. happy to have ya here Advent
“If you have at least some level of intelligence you won’t assume that a player is automatically bad because she happens to be a she”
Excellent point too!!
Ok Mr. Macho “I have made a female character” hmmm….. isn’t that what you said?
LOL I have only made one to balance out a party when I have to create multiple characters*LOL* what adventure book or movie have you ever seen where adventuring parties are strickly male or female.
what are you trying to say Smiles*LOL*
Hehe I am just saying that Mr. Macho plays with dolls too sometimes
that doesn’t mean its a bad thing.. we gamer girls always have to play guys in almost every videogame no biggie
” Mr Macho who plays with Dolls too sometimes” ROFL. You crack me up.
Advent we all have addictions to gaming here, its like an AA meeting here. Let me start Hi my name is Ravenous Wulf and I am addicted to video games
…..ok everyone is suppose to say Hi Rav at this point and clap. hmmm why do I only hear crickets*LOL*
LOL!!! AA… “Hi Rav” …. “My name is Smiles and I am addicting to gaming” *shaking and twiching violently*
*Smies picks up xbox controller and tries to snort it..”
LOL–snorting the controller*LOL* OMG But I know the feeling*LOL* I tried to light mine on fire and smoke it*LOL*
LOL no lie smiles…ok I see lots of people in here… come on ladies, I know you have some stories. Don’t be afraid… jsut stand right on up and own up to your gaming addiction
Oh, sure. We go broke. And our boyfriends grumble at us for playing so much Halo. And when we aren’t playing Halo we’re still playing Oblivion. And, as I said before. . . we’re broke. Because were always buying more games.
LOL ok now that there are 3 of us who have stood up and spoken out. Well we have one snorter, one smoker, and one thats always broke, and is having to pawn stuff for the next hottest game…..sorry advent had to add the last to add alittle more passaz*LOL* ok my spelling is horrible …dangit smiles stop laughing
“dangit smiles stop laughing” ROFL!!!! how you know I was crackin’ up through your whole post!! LOL!!!!
LOL!! yup 3 down.. come on you all know the first step to getting over an addiction is admitting you have one
OK fellow addicts I know there are others out there…come on just stand on up and speak out.
Apparently there are only three of us.
No lie, i know there are others out there who are just afraid to stand up and speak out. Not going to name any names here..cough cough, Dope, cough cough, Doll. damn bronchitis hitting me all the sudden
Haha yah well hey atleast we 3 can say we have a ‘healthy’ addiction because we know we have one…. how sad the others don’t realize
Now we can say things like “I’m so sorry I can’t stop. But it is an addiction. . . you really have to bear with me. It’s hard to stop!” Haha.
LOL!!! right on Advent! blame the addiction
Ah we should form a group called Gamer Addicts United*LOL* of course since certain addicts aren’t speaking up they can’t be invited*LOL*
LOL!! catchy name Rav I like it! Gamer Addicts Anonymous a GAA group
ok I like yours better GAA is way better
oh happy 4th all you happy campers
Addict is implied! So you keep it simple. GA. Gamers Anonymous. Just like AA or NA. Haha. Hope everyone had a happy 4th as well! I was working. :\
Well my 4th could have turned out a whole lot better to tell the truth, but you feel things are going one way and some one see’s a totally different view what can ya do but grin& bare it and then move on. Though I did pick up my son and we went to see Wallie which he loved..though the first half of it made me want to fall asleep*LOL* but it did pick up near the end. Ok how they turn it into a robot love story though was beyond me*LOL* Oh and sorry bout your luck advent
that sucks having to work on a holiday–GA not bad at all
The 4th hmm… went really well lots of fireworks and gaming
WALLIE!!! ohhh i wanted to see that movie but now that i got a Rav Report i dunno?
yah sorry about having to work advent
Anyone light off fireworks?
The movie was ok but I would wait till it hits the Dollar cinema’s if anyone has one locally. Luckily it was a freebie for me so *LOL* I missed out on fireworks again, I haven’t touched them in forever. I used to be a little explosive maniac*LOL* busted my hands up with enough blackcats I am suprised they still work properly*LOL* oh and bottle rocket and roman candle wars…ah the good old days*LOL*
It sucked a little, but I was making double time and a half. : ) So not as bad as it could of sucked. Plus I was out of work by four! Still had a lot of the day left. I didn’t see any fireworks, but we have a lot more excuses to put of fireworks here in AZ for some reason, so I’m sure I’ll see some others this year.
There’s one tiny little mistake you made in the article. It wasn’t the ranger you played in Champion of Norath, that was me. You played as the female Dark Elf Shadow Knight with super spikey purple hair and swinging a huge flaming axe at double speed. You also leveled up faster than me because you would run ahead with your skeletal minion named “Nobby” and kill guys around corners. However, I was able to shoot all the guys off the screen with my bow or I would never have gotten any experience.
I loved Nobby. He was the bestest ever!
AZ huh Advent?? I bet its hot this time of year..
By the way do we have any women in here that are videogame programers or developers? Or working in that direction? If so what are you plans and keep being my friend so I can get into all the cool G4 and videogame events with you