Boys like to play girls, and girls like to play girls. There's a pattern here.
by Ben Zackheim 
{ Mar 18th 2005 at 12:00PM }
Game girl advance examines an intriguing statement made in a Gamespot interview. Sheri Graner Ray, of Star Wars
Galaxies, is quoted as saying that the numbers she's seen indicate men are much more likely to play women than women
are to play men in their games. Jane (the writer) seems to be living proof of that statistic.
Personally I always choose a male when I'm creating an RPG character (I'm a male, by the way). I find it distracting
to play a woman for some reason. I think it's less immersive. I mean, how can I be that woman on the screen, when I'm a
guy? Simplistic, probably, but true. When it comes to MMOGs I won't even entertain the idea of playing a female hero.
It's far too likely that I'll get hit on. BrrRRRrrr.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
NewXBoxGamer @ Dec 18th 2005 8:46PM
Hey, I like to play with girls too! Now, videogames aren't we play with...
rab @ Dec 18th 2005 8:46PM
(I´m male and) I play as a girl in UT2004, since they make smaller targets . . . I find playing as a girl a little weird, but the first person perspective make me forget fast.
Casey (Perigon) Miles @ Dec 18th 2005 8:46PM
I always play a female. I just like them better than I like men. I want to play a character I'll like :p
Not to say that I would never play a guy, but these days MMO's turn guys into these huge body builders, and that just irritates me. I think it's the equivalent for women who hate playing super models.
When I can play a little computer geek in a game, I'll be happy.
Kamalot @ Dec 18th 2005 8:46PM
Do people really associate themselves as being their in-game model? I play females in fighting games because they are typically faster, and that's how I like to play. In WOW, I was a male Tauren because they were an interesting race but in Guild Wars, my friends and I almost always play female characters, cause they are so easy on the eyes.
I don't ever remember feeling wierd about playing any character other than Voldo.
http://www.geocities.com/nitropolo13/soulcalibur/soulbody/voldobody2.jpg
*eeew!*
You know, the more I think of it, the more I enjoy watching female characters than I do watching male characters.
spicytuna @ Dec 18th 2005 8:46PM
Two reasons why I picked a female as an alt in WoW.
1) to hear the female /silly's
2) free stuff. (I can I have some gold? /flirt, /hug, /kiss)
Laurens Holst @ Dec 18th 2005 8:46PM
I just like girls a lot, that’s why I often pick them :).
~Grauw
genericname @ Dec 18th 2005 8:46PM
As much as some of it can be pinned on our obsession with women, I think the developers are as much to blame. With all due respect to all the effort that goes into creating MMOGs, male character designs absolutely suck. They're just not pleasing to look at, and usually fall into only two categories:
1. Gangly and creepy.
2. Big and dumb.
Even fashion, which is a huge deal in MMOGs, is weak for men. Take a look at The Matrix Online. All the guys aren't wearing trenchcoats because they're bad-ass. They're wearing them because everything else looks stupid.
tolerance @ Dec 18th 2005 8:46PM
Some guys seem to be afraid of playing female characters in a console or MMOG because it reminds them of when Mommy locked them in the closet and made them play with dolls.