Guy gamers who play girl characters

[TheRogueX]

In game avatar doesn't represent yourself at all but a character of your own design.

That may be true in single player games with a set protagonist, but it's not always true. Some people (lots of people even) view their characters as an extension of themselves, especially in RPGs or MMOs.

Anyway, I've always seen the whole 'I don't wanna look at a dude's butt all day' as a lame, weak, cop-out excuse that comes off as a bit homophobic. I'm not saying these people are homophobic, it just could be taken that way. Besides, who actually stares at their character's butt all day? That's kinda creepy no matter what kind of character you play.

To weigh in, though.. my main character is always a guy, because I'm a guy. I come from an RP background, and I'm not able to accurately RP a female, so I would never try to play one. Any secondary, non-RP characters I have, though, might be female just so I can see how the gear looks on them.

Oh, and the concept that over 3/4ths of the female characters are played by guys? I'm not so sure that's true anymore. Though I guess if a lot of the girls are playing guys, it could still be technically true.

[MrLeonheart]

I don't want to play as me. I want to play as Cyrus Twirkin, a big strong Roegadame who don't need no man.

[Rikkustrife]

Because Rikkustrife is female.
I have 2 male characters, though i may change one of them, since i do not really care for the male miqo'te design. I really only like the male lalafells.

[Aethaeryn]

Anyway, I've always seen the whole 'I don't wanna look at a dude's butt all day' as a lame, weak, cop-out excuse that comes off as a bit homophobic.

Oh, and the concept that over 3/4ths of the female characters are played by guys? I'm not so sure that's true anymore. Though I guess if a lot of the girls are playing guys, it could still be technically true.

I always thought the "don't wanna look at a dude's butt all day" thing was just a running joke over the past fifteen years. lol, the more you know, I guess.

And yeah, the 3/4ths female characters = male players is false and has been for a long time. The gamer split for MMORPGs is closer to 60:40 males to females, which is pretty nearly identical to the numbers for general gaming. You can read about it here, as I know someone's going to come after me for the whole internet statistics thing. This info is compiled from surveys done on the Daedalus project and is somewhat dated now (2009), but the gap is likely even smaller now.

Edit: I guess that doesn't really have anything to do with number of female characters played by irl males, but I really doubt a majority of females playing MMORPGs use male characters. :P

[Velthice]

You are sexist/homophobic if you play a man/woman in a video game. There will be witch hunts, and you will be judged.

(Personally I always seem too busy actually playing the game than worrying about what random passerby's sex is. Maybe I'm playing the game wrong.)

[ruinedmirage]

I play a female alt sometimes to get free stuff from dudes. I've also noticed if you play a helpless female character, people are more forgiving XD

[jars]

I don't make characters that are appealing to be, I make them that are appealing to me.

or in this cause to be super kawaii

[Pandastirfry]

To weigh in, though.. my main character is always a guy, because I'm a guy. I come from an RP background, and I'm not able to accurately RP a female, so I would never try to play one.

It's actually pretty easy to RP as a Female character if you're a guy...Think up a back story for a male character, switch all the pronouns, if it still makes sense, ta da you just created a convincing female character, RP as usual and remember to respond to female pronouns. and no one ever said you have to get involved in the silly romance story lines some people dream up. the trap a lot of male RPers trying to play female fall into is trying to play it 1: uber-girly, 2: hyper sexualized, 3: weirdly butch, or some combination of 1 and 2 or 2 and 3. Just play a normal person (alignment not withstanding) and you're golden.

[MeeDeggiThePunisher]

I'd feel weird trying to play myself in a game. Different strokes I guess.

[Xieveral]

I\\\\\\'ve met a few on FFXIV, and I\\\\\\'m so curious...Why play a girl character in game if you are a guy IRL? I guess the same question for girls who play guys. Not looking to troll, just genuinely wondering.

I guess because I view my character as a representation of myself, I play a guy in game because I am a guy IRL. So I\\\\\\'d like to understand the reasons why others would make a different choice.

Short answer: eye candy

Long answer abridged: Cute girls are a dime a dozen and not my thing. Also, its a confidence booster. I like to feel like a badass every now and then instead of the timid housewife I really am ._.