Gender locked race?

[jameseoakes]

... Y'all are taking the pictures way too literally. I just meant it as a funny remark that, without the race being very beasty, which I find very unlikely to happen, I don't see a way for them to introduce a "lion race" that won't just be compared to Miqo'te in the end.

"It's just a short/tall/buff/muscly/skinny/cute/manly/bearded Miqo'te.".

I'd also made that point especially as seekers are based on Lions, unless they do something interesting with them it seems odd to me to add a second cat themed race

[Berethos]

Furthermore, I think youre underestimating player base feelings. We've had the last 4 months be nothing but a slew of player backlash against large companies over many of their design decisions.

Player backlash against major, game play impacting design decisions. Server woes. Duping issues. Lack of end-game. Hyping a version of the game that doesn't really exist, followed by practically patching in more bugs than they started with.

You'll excuse me for not thinking that something as relatively minor as an aesthetic implementation of a race (which is, ultimately, what gender differences are when jobs/classes are not locked behind them) is going to generate significant amounts of internet outrage.

[Theodric]

I'd also made that point especially as seekers are based on Lions, unless they do something interesting with them it seems odd to me to add a second cat themed race

I'd be perfectly fine with them simply being a taller, more muscular version of Miqo'te. I've always wanted to play something similar to Cray from Breath of Fire IV. I'd settle for something inspired by Kimahri from Final Fantasy X though I suspect that is less likely.

[Senn]

If we don't get male Viera watch another 150+ page thread pop up in addition to the continuation of this one.

I or someone else will probably make another thread if we don't get male viera lol
While it'd be nice to stick with this thread, the title and op are lacking. I also think having a lot of "likes" on the first post is important. Instead of duplicate posts, the japanese "like" a post they agree with. The staff probably take into account the amount of likes to gauge what players want. Fortunately, this thread is very active. It's important to have an active thread, too.

[redcurrant18]

You'll excuse me for not thinking that something as relatively minor as an aesthetic implementation of a race (which is, ultimately, what gender differences are when jobs/classes are not locked behind them) is going to generate significant amounts of internet outrage.

That is a massive oversimplification of what we are discussing. An entire race is nowhere near a "minor" aesthetic add on. Your character's race is and appearance is what you'll see on the field, in dungeons, and in the many cutscenes in the game. People choose their character's race for a variety of reasons: wanting to play a character they feel looks like them, one they are attracted to, one that is their opposite gender, one that has a really unique feature that isn't in other games, etc. When only one gender is unlocked for that race, half the interest and potential players of that race disappears. Anyone who was planning to to transition to that race will keep their money, and go play one of the other races begrudgingly. It is an irritating and frustrating point that we even have to be discussing whether or not they will be gender-locked due to how open and free this game is in terms of customization, with the only thing worse than this being gender-locked classes.

[Berethos]

An entire race is nowhere near a "minor" aesthetic add on.

Relatively minor.

There is a damn good reason I chose that exact word, and responses like yours are why. Compared to the game play systems, server tech, etc., what your character looks like is a minor element, and since I was comparing hypothetical outrage from potentially getting only one gender (in a game where gender is an aesthetic element) to the previous months of backlash against gaming companies when said backlash has been based on game play systems, server issues, duping, poor upper level management decisions, etc.,?

In that context, aesthetics are minor...relatively speaking.

[Lacan]

Relatively minor.

There is a damn good reason I chose that exact word, and responses like yours are why. Compared to the game play systems, server tech, etc., what your character looks like is a minor element, and since I was comparing hypothetical outrage from potentially getting only one gender (in a game where gender is an aesthetic element) to the previous months of backlash against gaming companies when said backlash has been based on game play systems, server issues, duping, poor upper level management decisions, etc.,?

In that context, aesthetics are minor...relatively speaking.

I think you're underestimating how seriously people take the races in this game. Even in 11, there was a lot of uproar over genderlocked races. It was just as cosmetic there and people still cared. There is a reason Yoshi made undoing the genderlocked races from 1.0 such a priority. Character race is one of the foundations of the game, it is the point you start your character with. Getting new options for that is huge and lots of people care about it. It is a bigger deal than you think.

[myahele]

Assuming we'll have gender-locked races for the upcoming expansion, I wonder how likely it will be if they can release the opposite sexes of the new races in 6.0 if enough people complain.

[Lacan]

Assuming we'll have gender-locked races for the upcoming expansion, I wonder how likely it will be if they can release the opposite sexes of the new races in 6.0 if enough people complain.

I could see it happening, but announcing them as even temporarily gender-locked is still going to sour the new races for a lot of people. I don't get the logic behind it. Why spring a brand new race (with 0 ingame buildup for it) on people with 5.0 when they could just release male/female viera as a set and be done with them before starting on the next. They're making it complicated for the benefit of no one. They already know people want male viera. Why are they making a new male only race just for the sake of it?

I guess we'll just have to wait to Japan fanfest to find out more, the leaks have just made everything messy! lol

[redcurrant18]

Assuming we'll have gender-locked races for the upcoming expansion, I wonder how likely it will be if they can release the opposite sexes of the new races in 6.0 if enough people complain.

If I have to wait until 6.0 to play male Viera I may as well hold off on buying Shadowbringers and only come back when I see them adding the aspects of the game I'm interested in. 6.0 would be a wait of 2 more years, which is a lot to pay sub money for. I would be better off doing something else during that time. Now, adding them as an unlockable race in an early patch would not be too much of a long wait, so I would only have to pause my sub for a few months. I still shouldn't have to do this because of broken promises or homophobic designers being too grossed out by male bunnies.

My character's appearance and glamour is crucially important to how I enjoy playing games like this where customization is such a major component. If I don't like how I look in the game, it creates a jarring experience that makes me feel disconnected from the story. That being said, things get old, my current equipment/hair/race gets old, and then I feel like changing it to something new. There are countless options for equipment and hair, so I have no fear that ever getting stale. However, if all I have are the same racial options for my gender, with a brand new race being teased but turning out to be female only, I will be very upset.

My method of protest is simply not spending money on Shadowbringers and being as vocal as I can about advocating for male Vieras on the forums. $40 is a lot to pay for an expansion that doesn't meet my expectations, and I refuse to hand over money for a product I deem incomplete.