If Niko were a woman, what would he do?
The idea of a female gamer as a commodity, I think, is horribly outdated now. Since women have entered the video game world, though, even more stereotypes have developed, many regarding the type of games we prefer. Also very misleading.
But I’m not going to argue with your preconceptions of female gamers. Instead, I bring you yet another GTA IV related editorial. “But RCG, you’ve never posted anything on GameGrep!” That’s because I write for Neoseeker, so normally everything I write winds up there.
Grand Theft Auto as a franchise is very male oriented. I’ve only really spent time with Vice City and San Andreas but quite honestly, both were shallow forms of entertainment I could not play for more than an hour or two at a time. They were good for amusement time and time again, but I had never considered buying my own copies of any GTA game, knowing I would not devote enough time to make a purchase worthwhile.
Then the hype surrounding GTA IV convinced me somehow, and I took a gamble; as luck would have it, the gamble paid off.
While many of you reading this are likely further into the game than I am, I’ve spent enough time in the game to realize that there is something more here than the other Grand Theft Auto titles. Whether my differing feelings toward IV stem from the fact that I am a woman or that I am an art student is a little unclear, but in this case, we will say my sex trumps my college major.
In my previous editorial regarding casual gaming and GTA IV, I already expressed my overwhelming love for Rockstar’s latest. It’s more than just another GTA, and I find its depth much more enjoyable. When I mention to others I’m really smitten with the game, they automatically joke about the violence and how I must like killing hookers after I pick them up for a good time. Bless their cute little hearts, I don’t even have the heart to tell them I’m playing a GTA title because it’s a good game and not for the acts of debauchery.
Artistic achievements aside, I sympathize with Niko on a very deep level, and when I am given control of him, I make an attempt to mold him into a person that appeals to me.
While Michelle has yet to prove herself as a worthwhile character, I find myself dressing Niko up and stealing nice cars before going to see her. I make a genuine attempt to make her happy and at the end of the date, don’t always go upstairs for hot coffee.
There is also the need to remain monogamous for her. I’ve passed hookers and made no attempt to pick them up (though my friends always try to get me to stop and check them out), and did not advertise for more dates on the internet dating service (though I’m not sure if they would respond, even if I had posted something). Hell, in SA, was reluctant to keep more than one girlfriend.
That’s not to say I really like Michelle, though to be honest I rarely approve of female characters in video games. They’re mostly either really weak and pathetic or conniving and bitchy. Regardless, there is no urge to sexually exploit or cheat on him, just the incalculable desire to put my fist in their face, as was the case with Kyrie in Devil May Cry 4. Christ, I hated that useless wench…
Anyway.
Some characters were especially repulsive to me, like the ever “lovable” cousin Roman who I probably would’ve slapped a sexual harassment suite against if I were a woman in his vicinity. Granted, he is an amusing, bumbling idiot, but he sure doesn’t know how to treat a woman (I won’t say much more than this in case you really haven’t played the game yet). And if Roman is a letch, then Vlad is a freaking rapist. That man just creeped the living hell out of me (you can bet I’m laughing at him right now, though).
I’m pretty heavily influenced to interact with NPCs who treat me (Niko) with some semblance of respect. Example? Dimitri, who also happens to be a rather well-dressed looker if you ignore his receding hairline. Is that a deciding factor for me? Hm, must be subconscious.
He doesn’t return my phone calls as much as I’d like, though… I’d totally go out with Niko, but in video games, the awesomely kick ass chick never gets with the main guy.
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She, from what she's told me, is actually much like me, personality wise, if not even more extreme >_>
If Niko was anything like her, you'd want to run in the opposite direction as fast as you could >_> And hope she doesn't feel like killing you for running away. And hope your car is a piece of junk, if you happen to be driving near her >_>
Not much like the stereotype of female gamer, neh?
Generalizations may apply to a good percentage of a 'group', but that doesn't make them accurate all the time, or even a majority of the time. It is best to deal with everything on a case by case basis.
Meh, I don't care for Roman myself, or Vlad for that matter >_>
And about Dimitri...I liked him at first, but well....I'll let you decide later on >_>
Not surprising that most of the people are not exactly 'upstanding' citizens. Be kind of hard to have a ton of real nice, pleasant gangsters. The few that seem like that, well, they might be even worse because they hide their true colours..
Case in point, THAT guy (I won't spoil it for RabidChinaGirl)....
I'm not going to pretend GTA is a game about unicorns and pixie dust. When I play the game, I am well aware of what is happening and what could happen. Like I said, the editorial just points out certain aspects that made me think about the game in a non-GTA manner.
And Rabid China Girl, I DO get your point, but like I said, it is the seedy underworld, it isn't surprising that along with the tendency to solve problems by riddling the problem with bullets, you can't expect many to be 'enlightened' about females....
If it were told from a Woman's (instead of Niko's) perspective, likely the main character would probably be hit on all the time. But in turn, she would kick their asses. The main character has to be strong willed, and not take BS from anyone (except when there i a really good reason)....
Who knows, maybe the next GTA will feature a female protagonist, or a choice between genders....
I was just making a point, really. And I think I've succeeded at least partially looking at what people have said in the comments. =)
Hm... True in some cases, but not always.
I'm loving the end line in particular:
QFT.
I'm always finding myself playing a game or watching a movie where the main guy always gets with (who I deem) the "wrong" girl.
I've often found myself screaming at the screen, "What?! You picked her?! But 'so-and-so' is so much better!"
-
Final Fantasy X is a fine example of this.
After Tidus and Rikku's meaningful discussion on the bike, I was so sure they were going to get together. That discussion was alot more deeper than anything Tidus and Yuna had together, yet he ended up with Yuna anyways!
I liked Lulu (she was the least obnoxious), but I threw up in my mouth a little when she got with Wakka.
I still stand by my belief that the most deserving female characters never get a happy ending unless you're playing one of those RPGs where you have 100~ characters at your disposal so you can *sort of* choose which girl ends up in more cutscenes with your character, and so on, so forth.
I guess it depends on what sort of woman the developers think is ideal.
Yuna and Tidus got a fair few deep conversations as well, and then there was Lulu who you could also get pretty close to
Tidus and Rikku just connected imo. Rikku was the first person Tidus met in Spira - They had similar personalities, views, and opinions throughout the game. Yet in the end, Tidus and Yuna ended up together (in a totally unexpected and random kissing scene). Right up until that point, I was sure Tidus and Rikku would become a couple. Needless to say, as soon as Tidus kissed Yuna I was like, "wtf! what about Rikku?!"
Also he pretty much fell in love with Yuna when he met her in Besaid Island. In the end though Both was perfect. But the sequel title wasn't needed that i can say.
@Tallteen what are you talking about?
Wakka and Lulu though? Talk about opposites attracting >_> Well, they have a history....Lulu was a gothic seductress (and one of the first, at least for the PS2, video game females I really liked and was attracted to....Goth = awesome)....
Chappu was Wakka's brother or something, and involved with Lulu. They didn't want to 'betray his memory' after he died, so they stayed apart, instead of getting together....
/spoiler