Wait, how is Deus Ex sexist?
Well, I vaguely remember one popular user on the old Bioware forums, who kept announcing how she refuses to play anything that has a protagonist with male genitalia (in this game industry that's roughly.... 70% of the games, I'd say) and that the devs mere misogynistic, woman-hating and sexist.
Among the mentioned games was Deus Ex, Alpha Protocol, most military-centered games and suprisingly... The Witcher. 
Except in tabletop RPG where I play as my gender ( male ) for convenience's sake, or multiplayer games with character creator ( like Guns Of Icarus Online, DayZ,... and I don't play MMOs ), I play both genders equally as there isn't much difference for me except physical appearance.
In ME and DA I have equal number of male and female playthroughs.
For games I don't play as much I go with what I'm feeling at the moment or decide depending on what the character creator allows me to do.
I also don't have a problem playing as "myself" even when playing female. I can also make not so out of the ordinary looking females that look like me because I have long ginger hair.
for example :
I played female in Fallout 3, male in Skyrim, female in Saint's Row, male in Kingdoms of Amalur...
I play with both, given the chance.
For me, it would seem rather stupid to miss out on more content because of personal gender restrictions.
(there are people who refuse to play Deus Ex, The Witcher or Tomb Raider and Metroid Prime for these very reasons. Misogynists and misandrists sicken me.)
However, If I had to really choose, I would probably feel more comfortable as a guy.
Oh, and people still yammer about The Witcher being sexist? In 2014? Get a grip.
Depends on what you mean by sexist. I appreciate that The Witcher isn't afraid of nudity, however the use of the nudity in the game can be described as sexist.
I really like The Witcher, especially because it has a very "mature" atmosphere (and I specifically don't mean the nudity), but some women (especially the infantile "trophy-card" thing in Witcher 1) are nothing more than sex-objects.
I usually flip a coin to decide what gender I play in a game.
I don't usually have problems playing female or male. They are, after all, both people.
Guest_simfamUP_*
Oh you know how to really give me a case of the giggles MrSim
It's what I'm here for! :-)
Depends on what you mean by sexist. I appreciate that The Witcher isn't afraid of nudity, however the use of the nudity in the game can be described as sexist.
I really like The Witcher, especially because it has a very "mature" atmosphere (and I specifically don't mean the nudity), but some women (especially the infantile "trophy-card" thing in Witcher 1) are nothing more than sex-objects.
I haven't played the Witcher, but this is what I've seen people say about it. What is sexist about it is the fact that Geralt gets "cards" every time he sleeps with a female NPC. Which is the age-old idea of sex as a kind of trophy-conquest, or a notch in the bedpost - for men, anyway. The more women Geralt beds, the more cards of the mostly naked women he's slept with, he gets.
I'm not an advocate for rigid monogamy - I'll leave my IRL personal life out of this - it's fine with me that Geralt sleeps around, rather than the Bioware model of male-het PC basically maybe only bedding one or two and usually deciding to stick with one for the happily ever after romance ending - I just don't like that the game is kind of giving him a reward structure with the cards for as much wham-bam-thank-you-mam as possible.
Depends on what you mean by sexist. I appreciate that The Witcher isn't afraid of nudity, however the use of the nudity in the game can be described as sexist.
I really like The Witcher, especially because it has a very "mature" atmosphere (and I specifically don't mean the nudity), but some women (especially the infantile "trophy-card" thing in Witcher 1) are nothing more than sex-objects.
True enough, but while I don't personally condone these themes, I have no problem if they are within the context of the game, lore or universe. Sexism, racism etc.
It occurs to me that for example, the vastly popular Game of Thrones has a very sexist middle-ages society, rapists or paedophilia, yet people don't have an issue with that because it 'fits the universe'. So why not The Witcher? And let's not pretend that G. R. R. Martin is some paradigm of "the most mature writing" as well.
That's why I always get angry when someone decides to beat CD Projekt and their game with the "sexist, misogynist" stick. You want misogynist? Look at some of the sex sims from Japan.
I haven't played the Witcher, but this is what I've seen people say about it. What is sexist about it is the fact that Geralt gets "cards" every time he sleeps with a female NPC. Which is the age-old idea of sex as a kind of trophy-conquest, or a notch in the bedpost - for men, anyway. The more women Geralt beds, the more cards of the mostly naked women he's slept with, he gets.
See, this is my problem with some people in the community.
The cards were stupid, poor-taste and the reason why I gave the first Witcher only a 7/10. But they are not in the second nor third game anymore, yet some people who "haven't played it" always assume it's some kind of a trademark of the series, thus spreading the ignorance -> we get even more people who have no idea what the Witcher is about, but the only thing that comes to mind is "Oh, hey, that's the game with sex cards right?" thus, disparaging the game even further.
Contrary to what most of this "will-not-play-a-male-character" board thinks, there is more to a Witcher game than "boobs and sex-cards". Just as there is more to a Bioware game than "gay romances". And actually any game that is popular.
PS: I am not talking particulary about you, CybAnt1. Just a general rant.
See, this is my problem with some people in the community.
The cards were stupid, poor-taste and the reason why I gave the first Witcher only a 7/10. But they are not in the second nor third game anymore, yet some people who "haven't played it" always assume it's some kind of a trademark of the series, thus spreading the ignorance -> we get even more people who have no idea what the Witcher is about, but the only thing that comes to mind is "Oh, hey, that's the game with sex cards right?" thus, disparaging the game even further.
Contrary to what most of this "will-not-play-a-male-character" board thinks, there is more to a Witcher game than "boobs and sex-cards". Just as there is more to a Bioware game than "gay romances". And actually any game that is popular.
to each their own, though.
PS: I am not talking particulary about you, CybAnt1. Just a general rant.
Understood. But as I've said, the reason I haven't played Witcher is the same reason I haven't played Skyrim, or any of its predecessors. Doesn't really have to do with what I've heard about how Geralt behaves in the game.
I like party-based SRPGs that let me control a party of characters. I realize this is becoming a problem, since it's hard to find people other than Bio making them.
... MMOs are cool, if only because on the fly I can easily group up with a bunch of people, though I'd love if the one I'm playing most (WoW) had a hireling system and not just pets, so I could at least be controlling 2-3 chars at once when I'm not grouping and soloing (which is a lot of the time).
For me, it would seem rather stupid to miss out on more content because of personal gender restrictions.
(there are people who refuse to play Deus Ex, The Witcher or Tomb Raider and Metroid Prime for these very reasons. Misogynists and misandrists sicken me.)
I don't like being forced to play as a dude in RPGs, but that hardly makes me a misandrist. I'm perfectly happy to play as one in other types of games - very much looking forward to Moebius and Tesla Effect later this month, in fact. But with Western RPGs part of the appeal for me is creating the central character, and I hate getting stuck playing a man. And it's always a man. I have no idea how I'd feel about playing as a fixed female protagonist in a CRPG because the issue has never arisen.
That said, I have played male characters in both DA games and plan to in DAI as well. Part of the replay value for me is in trying all the options out.
Understood. But as I've said, the reason I haven't played Witcher is the same reason I haven't played Skyrim, or any of its predecessors. Doesn't really have to do with what I've heard about how Geralt behaves in the game.
I like party-based SRPGs that let me control a party of characters. I realize this is becoming a problem, since it's hard to find people other than Bio making them.
... MMOs are cool, if only because on the fly I can easily group up with a bunch of people, though I'd love if the one I'm playing most (WoW) had a hireling system and not just pets, so I could at least be controlling 2-3 chars at once when I'm not grouping and soloing (which is a lot of the time).
I don't like being forced to play as a dude in RPGs, but that hardly makes me a misandrist.
If anyone thinks that just because a girl doesn't like playing as a male makes her a misandrist then they need reevaluate their lives lmfao.
So you only choose to play party based RPGs?
No, but I prefer them better.
And, if I'm going to have companions, I'd rather have them under direct control, then only indirect control (i.e. only being able to tweak their AI), which is why I liked the NWN2 companion system better than NWN1's.
Hmmm. I never got into Fallout: New Vegas, but I just looked at their Wiki. So you can have two non-controllable companions, one human, the other a bot - either a robot dog or a floating eye - making a party of three. Might work for me, but I still like four, with the three under my control.
And give me six controllable characters, like in Storm of Zehir, and I'm in nirvana. If they made an add-on to that game where the chars could go into the epic levels, I'd probably still be playing it NOW. (Though I found out a while ago you can cheat to level 30, problem is, then the game gets ridiculously easy, as the enemies are assuming you will max out at around level 16.)
It takes me back to the fine days of dungeon crawling with parties of six characters. It was never the tabletop way, but for a long time it was the CRPG way (to control six chars), and I grew to enjoy it.
With six characters, you never feel "guilty" assigning one to doing nothing else but "support" (i.e. playing a bard song that bolsters the rest of the party, or focusing on nothing but healing), and you can really think deeply about how to synergize the actions of all six.
To use the football metaphor, you really start to feel like you're coaching a big team.
No, but I prefer them better.
And, if I'm going to have companions, I'd rather have them under direct control, then only indirect control (i.e. only being able to tweak their AI), which is why I liked the NWN2 companion system better than NWN1's.
Hmmm. I never got into Fallout: New Vegas, but I just looked at their Wiki. So you can have two non-controllable companions, one human, the other a bot - either a robot dog or a floating eye - making a party of three. Might work for me, but I still like four, with the three under my control.
And give me six controllable characters, like in Storm of Zehir, and I'm in nirvana. If they made an add-on to that game where the chars could go into the epic levels, I'd probably still be playing it NOW. (Though I found out a while ago you can cheat to level 30, problem is, then the game gets ridiculously easy, as the enemies are assuming you will max out at around level 16.)
It takes me back to the fine days of dungeon crawling with parties of six characters. It was never the tabletop way, but for a long time it was the CRPG way (to control six chars), and I grew to enjoy it.
With six characters, you never feel "guilty" assigning one to doing nothing else but "support" (i.e. playing a bard song that bolsters the rest of the party, or focusing on nothing but healing), and you can really think deeply about how to synergize the actions of all six.
To use the football metaphor, you really start to feel like you're coaching a big team.
For the Mass Effect series the VA was definitely a main part of influencing me to play FemShep, of course with the Warden being silent in Origins. I'm not sure why I chose a female character (In Skyrim I chose a guy).
I think it may be partly down to the fact that I enjoy playing strong and independent heroines. I haven't yet played a guy for very long in any of Bioware's games (although I have just started a Male Human noble).
Choosing a female Hawke at first it was just because I wanted to play a female character, but now its also due to how great the voice acting is.
If you play on PC you can use unlimited companion mods to take control of all 8 of them. I also recommend you to use a better combat mod because it gets really easier when you have 8 characters punching things.
Thank you. I didn't know there were mods to do that. And yes, I'm def. a PC player, so you've now convinced me to try it.
True enough, but while I don't personally condone these themes, I have no problem if they are within the context of the game, lore or universe. Sexism, racism etc.
It occurs to me that for example, the vastly popular Game of Thrones has a very sexist middle-ages society, rapists or paedophilia, yet people don't have an issue with that because it 'fits the universe'. So why not The Witcher? And let's not pretend that G. R. R. Martin is some paradigm of "the most mature writing" as well.
That's why I always get angry when someone decides to beat CD Projekt and their game with the "sexist, misogynist" stick. You want misogynist? Look at some of the sex sims from Japan.
I agree. And like I said, I really like The Witcher.
When I mentioned the "mature" atmosphere, I pretty much meant what you are talking about in your comment. "The Witcher" has a very unique atmosphere, which i haven't seen in any other game (incuding DA) and I would almost completely agree, that it indeed "fits the universe".
The problem imo is, that The Witcher is a game, and that the game somehow "encourages" the player to have sex with as many women as possible by "rewarding" you with a card or a sex scene. I'm fine with Gerald (or any other man/woman) having sex with multiple partners, what's bothering me is this "reward-structure". This kind of degrades the partner (in this case some of the women).
From what I'm hearing from this, I should feel weird for playing the Walking dead Season 2. Considering I'm playing a 9 year old little girl. Your just partaking in the story the game gives you is all. Same can be Applied here. For the different variations of story I'll most likely play the female Inquisitor as well.
I have no idea how I'd feel about playing as a fixed female protagonist in a CRPG because the issue has never arisen.
Interesting. However, fixed gender has never bothered me in my enjoyment of the medium because I usually evaluate the game first before going to roleplaying aspects. *shrugs* But if I had to play as a fixed female and the game/RPG was good? Bring it on.
Also, I didn't specifically call you a misandrist, did I? My comment was mostly aimed at the hardcore "female/male or bust!" crowd, not people with valid preferences. So unless you seem to identify with either group, I don't see how it applies to you (seeing how you apparently have no problem with playing both).
I agree. And like I said, I really like The Witcher
When I mentioned the "mature" atmosphere, I pretty much meant what you are talking about in your comment. "The Witcher" has a very unique atmosphere, which i haven't seen in any other game (incuding DA) and I would almost completely agree, that it indeed "fits the universe".
The problem imo is, that The Witcher is a game, and that the game somehow "encourages" the player to have sex with as many women as possible by "rewarding" you with a card or a sex scene. I'm fine with Gerald (or any other man/woman) having sex with multiple partners, what's bothering me is this "reward-structure". This kind of degrades the partner (in this case some of the women).
No arguments from me, sleeping around as a "reward cutscene" after a quest is a valid complaint. However, most of these sex scenes are strongly optional and not forced if I am not mistaken (you can pretty much refuse all the time, apart from the initial intro scene) so I guess it largely depends on the player wheter the "the game where you sleep around a lot" trope is true or not. 
I don't play as men in RPGs, which is why I haven't played Witcher. I've tried, it's simply not enjoyable. It's neither the story I want to tell nor the type of roleplaying I want to do.
Thank you. I didn't know there were mods to do that. And yes, I'm def. a PC player, so you've now convinced me to try it.
There's also loads of fan made companions with good voice acting and stories, I recommend the mod 'Niner', you can search for it on the FNV Nexus. 
Guest_Puddi III_*
I don't like playing a female if there is a romance element to the game involving said female. Makes it weird tbh. Otherwise I'm ok either way.
It occurs to me that for example, the vastly popular Game of Thrones has a very sexist middle-ages society, rapists or paedophilia, yet people don't have an issue with that because it 'fits the universe'. So why not The Witcher? And let's not pretend that G. R. R. Martin is some paradigm of "the most mature writing" as well.
Firstly, because the witcher is not a realistic portrayal of women or sex - men in the middle ages didn't get a printed card with a nude picture of the woman he just banged. And there are few if any women that are fully realised characters and not there solely for the purpose of offering sexual gratification for the main character (and by extension, the player). Treating women like objects to conquer is not a reality of the place the game is set, it's a game mechanic. The excuse of 'well, the middle-ages were sexist' is pretty thin at that point, since it's clear the game isn't portraying realistic sexism normally found in that era or even condemning it - it's revelling in standard sexual objectification as something to reward players with.
Secondly, Game of Thrones is praised because it is not complicit with the misogyny it portrays. The society is sexist, but GRRM categorically shows us how awful this is by giving us heaps of female characters who explore this aspect of society. We see through their eyes, hear their thoughts, and empathise with their struggles in a system that strips them of power, and shows us the various ways women seek to assert control over their own lives (or the lives of others) - whether its to eschew femininity altogether and become outcast (like Brienne and Arya) or 'play the game' (like Sansa and Cersei), or even take advantage of the unique attributes of femininity that is normally used against them and turn it into the greatest rallying cry for seizing power (Danaerys rising to power as a symbol of motherhood, both to dragons and the people she conquers). Game of Thrones has an abundance of female characters who are all unique, who don't just exist to pleasure men, and who are as important to the plot and the course of history as any male character.
Do you see the difference?
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