Real question...No joke...

[AnkhAscendant]

@Elleh: Playing as themselves is literal. They try to make the character look as much like them selves as possible, and give the character their name. As for acting like themselves, from what I have observed. Not so much - they seem to look on the game as a opportunity to act up and do things they would not do IRL. But, I am sure there are more restrained people who do try to act like what they think their real life self would do in the fantasy world.

 

I can't play as myself... I don't care much for my own looks and I'm named after a fictional character, so every time I make up someone with my name I end up playing her :P

[Guest deleted4349949]

@Elleh: Playing as themselves is literal. They try to make the character look as much like them selves as possible, and give the character their name. As for acting like themselves, from what I have observed. Not so much - they seem to look on the game as a opportunity to act up and do things they would not do IRL. But, I am sure there are more restrained people who do try to act like what they think their real life self would do in the fantasy world. (but I have yet to meet one) As for playing as a female - no way. When asked the first answer was, "That would be gay". One even said that there should not be any women in the game at all. (FO3)

 

Then I submit myself as the first person you have met who fits your example! Given the choice between playing as myself and playing as a made-up character, I often prefer to play, act, and make decisions as though the player character was, in fact, me...... though this is for the most part only when I get super-hardcore into an rpg - when it's beyond just playing and crosses the threshold into super serious metaphorical second life I'm going to beat this game escapism. When I find that I prefer the character to have a different attitude toward a certain aspect of his life than I do, I try to imagine what might have happened to me, in the world of the game, that would have changed my attitude or opinion to the one that I wanted the pc to have, which in turn adds to the *new* back-story I'm creating for myself :P It can get a little convoluted sometimes..

 

But when I'm just playing to have haphazard fun (like in my LP for example), I prefer to allow the present experience of playing to mold the character... I just start making choices and let him/her evolve through those choices until my brain can think up a convincing reason for them to have made them. When that happens I make a mental scribble, securing it as part of their personality/background/whatever, and then keep bumbling my way through the world in that manner until my character's attitude and back-story are more or less complete! Somehow, this has been the best way for me to really find a character that *clicks* with me that I can have a ton of fun playing with. Now that I think about it, I guess that my method could be a reflection of my general scatter-brained way of thinking and going through life. But what can I say.. I am who I am :P

Is it a terrible system? Definitely.

Does it always work? Nope.

Is it fun for me? Absolutely.

Edited May 28, 2013 by ShiverTwitch

[Elleh]

I have lost track of the number of times I have seen this exact same topic here - and from what I have seen, the immature males react with hostility to the very concept, more mature seem to mostly be more open to the idea. And most women (girl gamers) are scratching their head wondering what the problem is.

 

Ahaha.... I know I should just let it alone but... this just made me think: I assume the girl gamers are less bothered by the idea because we've been playing as male characters for a long time, and a great deal of them are not so attractive. Having the opportunity to play a major game as a non-super-sexified and powerful woman is always a huge bonus. Not to say that I don't enjoy games that have male leads, or that every game needs a playable female counterpart. It's just - as a woman - I find the topic interesting, and curiously watch as major game developers make shifts in their target audiences. (Or make no shifts in their audiences. Or try to make strong female leads and fail miserably... usually because they are just trying too hard.) The psychology behind developing games and how we experience them is very fascinating.

 

..... for science.

 

I guess you're right, bben46. It's really all about maturity.

[kleinstaff]

question to some of you

if you think that if you aare male you shouldn't play a female character , some of you even think it is wrong and sort of gay or perverted to play a female character ,that is how some of you seem to think about it

 

so you also think that my wife is actually playing a male character on her latest playthru of skyrim

 

bottom line is this is a game , escapism to give people the opportunity to do something completly different and be creative in a different matter

so playing a different gender should NOT even be a issue

[GeohoundJason]

Current character being played? Female, though I have had a few male characters go through misadventures(Like one who was so deranged, he shot every chicken he saw with a bow. Not kidding, and it was hilarious when I would run out of town chased by some very angry people.) as well. As for why, I find it fun sometimes, plus there's more mods for customization(I love making my female toons look cool without looking ridiculous). Though the character that I hold dearest is my Nord I called Captain Concussion. A daedric helmet, a mace(no shield), and leather armor made for a rather hilarious "super hero".

 

But I digress, I like female characters because I feel I can customize them a bit more than a male character.

[KKrueger]

The only time I play as a woman is when I play alongside my daughter. She insists on a female, despite my urging to create a 7 foot Orc with Mohawk. Must say, though, I actually quite like it, despite the protestations! It's fun to wander the world in an unfamiliar way. However, on my own, I prefer to immerse myself. My initiall characters will tend to resemble me (for that very reason) and then I'll branch out into other male characters, that I can identify with, and explore in a slightly different way. Good question! Nothing wrong with a guy playing a female character at all, but must admit its given me the odd giggle when watching YT videos. You're listening to some dude sound like he could voice Darth Vader and then his character struts onto the screen: a pretty blonde Nord with big bouncing bazzungas! Edited May 28, 2013 by KKrueger