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…

  1. Playing someone that differs from one’s irl identity
  2. Physical Attractivity
  3. Male character writing and design
  4. Lara Croft effect
  5. Lady Dwarf
  • Avg@lemm.ee
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    9 months ago

    It’s ok to say you like playing as the opposite gender without fear of anyone thinking you’re gay, you don’t have to objectify women to make a point.

    • grue@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      The point is that the difference between 1st person view and 3rd person view matters.

    • RatherBeMTB@sh.itjust.works
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      9 months ago

      I also like to play woman characters in games, tomb raider being my favorite one. And it’s because I don’t like to watch a guy’s ass the whole time! I’m playing Cyberpunk right now and I chose a female character for exactly the same reason.

          • Jakeroxs@sh.itjust.works
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            9 months ago

            I disagree, in most 3rd person games I’m hardly ever looking at my character model, but I don’t usually play games with a lot of downtime like MMOs I suppose.

            Still though when I’m running around a dungeon in Elden Ring, in not staring at my characters ass, I’m looking at the dungeon/monsters/next thing I’m doing. It’s kind of like a nose, it’s always there and you can see it, but it’s rarely the focus.

        • GBU_28@lemm.ee
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          9 months ago

          In a game like WoW your character is dead center of the screen for hundreds of hours. You didn’t a lot of time looking at your character’s movements

        • Honytawk@lemmy.zip
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          9 months ago

          Try playing a game in third person with an invisible character then