9 réponses à ce sujet

[AllThatJazz]

 Okay, I know a thread on this just got locked. And I don't want to start a war or anything. But between putting my kids to bed and making dinner, I have been writing this for AGES, so I want to get it out there. Please forgive length etc.

Re: making a male PC the 'face' of DA2

The problem is, in order to appeal to their core demographic
(blokes) and attract new members (poor choice of words?) of that demographic,
they have to market the game in a certain way. Either by highlighting the
'violence' aspect (big fella, big sword) or the sex (scantily clad lady). I
don't like it terribly, but until women overtake men as the dominant force in
gaming, it probably won't change. Honestly, I'd prefer the guy - I HATE Lara
Croft and that type - just big boobs and tight outfits, and let's face it, if
they were going to market the game using a female PC, she'd be equally sexed
up.

 In my DA games, I play female characters who can kick a
phenomenal amount of ass, and still look fabulous in a bikini (not at the same
time). Do I want an image of a greatsword wielding, underwear-wearing Red Sonje
type thrust into my face at every marketing opportunity? No. Such an image
would totally put me off the game, as I would be completely convinced that it
was a game solely for pubescent boys. Am I aware of my own hypocrisy in this
matter? Yes.



 A more 'sensible'
female image would be fine for me - fully clothed and with vaguely normal sized
breasts. Yes please Bioware. Would such an image successfully market the game?
Highly unlikely. The number of female gamers encouraged to buy a game by
positive marketing of a female PC image is probably (sadly) outnumbered by the
number of male gamers put off by such a move.



 Since Bio is a business first, agent of social change second
(Third? Fourth?), profit is the bottom line. I accept this and will be
pragmatic for now, content in the knowledge that the choice to play a female PC is there, if not overt. Know this, however. Women are taking over the world, and one
day, Dragon Age 300 will be marketed. And the image will be a slightly
overweight, middle-aged, scowly woman in a big dress. Or a fit bloke in a
codpiece.

[syllogi]

Welp, before this thread gets locked (), I guess I'll try to reiterate and explain my points from the other thread again.

I have no problem with the fact that Bioware Marketing feels that catering to their target demographic means that they must create a male "poster boy" character for their advertising campaign.  I feel it would be refreshing and different and cool if they went with a female Hawke this time, but it's not the end of the world.

What really concerns me is that it is quite possible that there will be NO information disseminated about Female Hawke before the game comes out at all.  That is alienating and disturbing, in many ways, that fans of playing female characters could be dismissed and marginalized so easily.  Mass Effect 2, for instance, had a huge marketing campaign, and it would have only been a positive to create a short trailer focusing on Female Shepard, generating good will with established female fans, and creating interest with those who were unaware that it was possible to create a female player character.

I would like to see customization options for female Hawke, information on her voice actor, and advertising that features possible love interests for a female character.  I think that it is possible to have both Manly Beard Hawke *and* trailers and screenshots featuring Female Hawke. 

Will this happen?  I'm doubtful at the moment, but being vocal about it may change things down the line.  I can at least remain hopeful.

[term8]

ha ha nice post. women are taking over the world, and have succeeded in many many areas thus far. With this i do not disagree... but please think of the men in this situation. Once women take over every aspect of our existence where will men retreat? answer: to well crafted, violent, bloody, sex filled video games.

So by the time dragon age 300 roles around and women have an unbreakable stranglehold on society... i hope the cover model has huge heaving naked breasts covered in blood... let men live in there fantasy worlds... cause what else will they have?... nothing..

[AllThatJazz]

I'm fairly sure I remember (forgive me, memory a bit vague here), that I did know that Jennifer Hale would be voicing FemShep a fair while before ME1 was released. Because I was quite excited about this, as she's one of my favourite voice artists. And that Kaiden (and Liara) were love interests for female protagonists. So clearly there was SOME info available, though nothing about her appearance, certainly.



I'm choosing to have faith, here. Maybe not about a FemHawke (?) in trailers, (though that would be cool), but I'm pretty sure Bio won't neglect us, information-wise. Female fans are very vocal on the Bio-boards, and good thing too!



term8 - by Dragon Age 300, men may very well be living in small harems, existing only to provide us ladies with ... errr ... amusement .... and fixing lawn mowers and stuff .... we may allow you the odd picture of heaving bosoms, but absolutely no guarantee, and only if you behave!

[SSH83]

See cover art of Beyond Good & Evil and Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodline.



Those two are great games (just ask anyone who played them) didn't sell well for some reason...



DA2 would probably still do fine with a sensible female character in the cover, but... it would be selling in spite of the cover, not because of it. At which point... that defeats the whole purpose of marketting. o.o

[Stalky24]

so to sum up the thread:



****** OR GTFO

[AllThatJazz]

I have played VtM:Bloodlines - great game, bit glitchy though. I have to wonder if the marketing there didn't damage its sales. Possibly the same for Beyond Good and Evil. I'd like to think we (the gaming, and specifically CRPG community) are better than that, but I don't know .... sex seems to sell better than sense.

[AllThatJazz]

Stalky - are you being weird ? I have had quite a lot to drink ....

Modifié par AllThatJazz, 08 juillet 2010 - 10:10 .

[term8]

AllThatJazz wrote...

I have played VtM:Bloodlines - great game, bit glitchy though. I have to wonder if the marketing there didn't damage its sales. Possibly the same for Beyond Good and Evil. I'd like to think we (the gaming, and specifically CRPG community) are better than that, but I don't know .... sex seems to sell better than sense.

Oh, i'll be the best he-slave i can be ha ha... but I don't think you should fault society for wanting sexy awesomness in their video games. I mean video games are ment as an escape right? and what man doesn't want to escape to a world of sex and violence. If a game cover promises this than its a buy for sure!

I have to be sensible in reality, i don't want it spilling over into my video games...

EDIT: i should not have generalized there with my "what man" comment

Modifié par term8, 08 juillet 2010 - 10:14 .

[AllThatJazz]

Oh, absolutely! I'd agree that sexy awsomeness is, er, awesome! Even though the definition of 'sexy' can differ quite a bit.



I guess ultimately, Bio is treading safer ground by using a male image to promote the game. Using an outrageously sexy woman as a marketing gimmick could well draw accusations of misogyny (which I do NOT think Bio is guilty of), and a female icon not perceived as sexy enough could damage sales from their target demographic (young men). I think I'll stop there, since there seems to be a brand new thread on this very subject! x