21.September.2014

As most gamers can tell you, the main protagonist is normally a man, as it has been since the existence of video games. As usual this has caused a lot of uproar from the supposed feminist gamers. From the feminist point of view, this is sexist and should be changed so that in every game you should be able to play as either gender. But are the developers of games wrong for not introducing more female protagonists?

As we’ve seen in the past decade, history-based games are a massive hit, ranging from the Call of Duty games to Assassins’ Creed. Is it wrong to not see female protagonists in these games? No, it is not. As a former History student (as well as being a logical person), I can tell you many reasons about why, in the range of games that have been complained about, women are not featured as a main protagonist. It wasn’t until the early 19th century that women could vote, let alone have jobs or professions, so would it make historical sense to have a female First World War soldier? Absolutely not – so why should it be featured in a game?

Most of the games that have been complained about for the lack of female protagonists are games that have a historical aspect. Yes, it isn’t fair that the female gamers in the world always have to play as men in the popular games, but it would be seen as ridiculous if a history-based game destroyed the era they are basing the game in for the purpose of introducing a female protagonist when most gamers don’t mind the male protagonist. Not only is it historically correct that way, it sticks to the main audience of the game.

 Personally, as a woman, I don’t mind playing as Trevor Philips when I want to go on a rampage in Grand Theft Auto V. I know that most of the series created by Rockstar are set about to appeal to the male audience, who are the majority of their sales. Companies will always appeal to the majority instead of the minority, and the same goes for games developers. Though it may seem like there are no female protagonists in the game world, the handful of female protagonists that exist are all strong, empowered women whose independence makes them great. Would you rather have women in all games with behaviours and plots like Trevor Philips, Stanley Parable and Desmond Miles or would you prefer strong women like Lara Croft and Ada Wong who can fight their way out of problems? If you make female protagonists the norm, then the whole way women are portrayed as the protagonist will change.

~ Kirky