Well, as a guy, I’ve been asked multiple times why I systematically play games female characters in video games, to the point of skipping a game if I’m forced to pay a male one, with a few exceptions (I really liked Albus from Troubleshooters for example). Whenever there’s romance in a game, I’ll also take the F/F route. Yet, I don’t think I fetishize those in general. There’s a thing about not liking most M characters in games, but also something about playing someone really different from who I am. We’ve had an interesting conversation about this with my gf who always plays F characters and woyd never play M.
Although I’m a straight guy, I’ve always more identified to female friends and characters, although I have a few male friends too. So I’m wondering who else does that (playing a character not matching your gender), and if you found your own explanation.
Edit : It’s not really an oversexualization drive for me, I try to play a female character that looks like me, even though I’ve never thought about actually becoming a woman.
Edit 2 : So far, I think we have, hmm…
- Playing someone that differs from one’s irl identity
- Physical Attractivity
- Male character writing and design
- Lara Croft effect
- Lady Dwarf
I play female characters because their customization options are much more diverse and they have a lot more styles to choose from. From their hair all the way down to their shoes. Male characters, I find, don’t have as much options. Now, don’t get me wrong on what I’m about to say, people can wear what they wanna wear and that’s cool with me, but if I’m playing a muscle ripped dude with pecs registered as weapons a skirt doesn’t really fit him. Plus, if it’s a 3rd person game, I’d rather be looking at a female butt than a male butt.
That last point is why I play female characters in game that have customization. I’ve played wow for 15 years, that’s plenty of hours I would rather spend looking at a female model over a guy’s model. I do play guys in games that skills are tied to models like overwatch, junkrat is my Boi. But if it doesn’t matter then give me the thick girl model all day long.