Female Protagonist vs. Male Protagonist

[MrGhostRider]

I prefer Female MC because they way i see it, i am not MC, i am just a like a god figure who gets in to the girl's head and dictating her what to do. I control her action. Kinda like my toy. I like the corruption games where the Female MC struggles initially but then slowly corrupts over the course of the game. I love the they way she becomes conflicted. Those dialogs "why did i do that" "its usual for me to say/do that" "what has gotten in to me" aptly describe what i like in these kind of games.

Although i wouldn't say no to a good Male MC games as well.

 

[Zonal12]

I prefer Female MC because they way i see it, i am not MC, i am just a like a god figure who gets in to the girl's head and dictating her what to do. I control her action. Kinda like my toy. I like the corruption games where the Female MC struggles initially but then slowly corrupts over the course of the game. I love the they way she becomes conflicted. Those dialogs "why did i do that" "its usual for me to say/do that" "what has gotten in to me" aptly describe what i like in these kind of games.

Although i wouldn't say no to a good Male MC games as well.

That there is the problem for me. All my life I've been playing games, viewing myself and the Main Character, in every game, RPG, shoot em up, adventure, horror, even driving games. So suddenly playing as the girl is just not appealing to me at all. I don't see why a guy would want to play as a girl unless they have unresolved gender issues. Not hating, just can't see the point.

 

[Ignazzio]

Female MC is usually superior for me. Choosing how to corrupt (or not) an innocent girl is delicious. Not easy to do but still sometimes there are games who can do it properly.

 

[viewfinderlife]

I like variety. Even in MMORPGs, if i have an option to make multiple classes, i will, and i'll make half of 'em female just because.

As for porn games, I do play more male protag because lets be honest there are more games featuring male protag. The style of game i like to play (more of the sandbox type) is typically male protag and have not yet played a game in the visual style and gameplay style I prefer. This doesn't mean I don't want or won't play female mc.

One of my favorite games is Project Sage. Anyone who has read my review on it knows why I like it so much. It had little to do with the character, much like how I feel about male mc games, but the story style and other elements made it super enjoyable. I didn't care that i wasn't fucking my way through town or school, etc.

Anyway, I will just say i like both, and wish there were more female mc games and especially 3dcg ones that end up completed. It gives you some perspective, may have some insight or just have a story or other elements you might not have discovered otherwise. If you think it makes you less of a man or whatever retarded shit you might think or other excuses to justify your fear, get over yourself and try new things. Just because you play a female mc doesn't mean you're suddenly gay or other dumbass things I've seen people say in other threads.

I am for the record a hetero white male who doesn't worry if my average size penis is going to be concerned about whether or not I play a male or female mc (although male mc games do obviously offer variety of what I like, women).

 

[Mwanted]

Female MC is usually superior for me. Choosing how to corrupt (or not) an innocent girl is delicious. Not easy to do but still sometimes there are games who can do it properly.

The same for me, and one thing that helps me with that choice is that most of the male MC games are just an endless copy of the same *boring* harem route.

 

[Zippity]

As I am a guy, I can relate easier to a male protagonist... The issue though, is that with most Erotic/Adult VN/Games, the male protagonists have this tendency to be hollow perverts who just want to screw every women that exists... Their thoughts are focused on sex almost all the time, and they really have very little emotional attachment to most of the women they eventually do have sex with... And what's worse, is that most of the time, they never develop beyond that stereotype... And I think it's because many developers just find it easier that way, as they don't have to overthink the character or put much effort into proper character growth and emotional/mental development... It's really just a cop out, much of the time...

Now, with female protagonist, 9 times out of 10, the developers have no real clue how women really think, act, and/or react... So instead they default to stereotypes or their male perception of a woman... So, they are typically treated as either oversexualized college partygoers, and/or naïve and easily manipulated, and/or professionals that are easily corruptible, and/or are unwitting targets of any/all perversions the developer can dream up (the victim), etc... It's not very often, where they are treated like a more realistic and strong woman, who is in charge of her own fate... A true protagonist, rather then just a walking target with breasts...

Sure, I'ld love to see more Female Protagonist Characters taking the lead role rather then being used as targets for other characters perversions... But those are very rare... And I'm fairly certain that most developers of these things, are guys... So unless they have the proper experience, training, etc... In order to have a better insight into the mind and actions of a real woman, outside of what they've seen in a movie or read in one of these VN/Games... I don't see it changing anytime soon... Which is sad...

I'm not saying all guy developers have no real clue how to write in a proper female character... But it's not often you sense that the developer has any clue, with most female protagonists, let alone supporting characters, that already exist in most VN/Games on the market... You get some winners now and then, but it's not the norm...

Zip

 

[Joshua Tree]

I don't really care either way. What is most important is how the story and characters is written. Most issues I got with games where you play a female protag, is it's usually about how fast you get turned into some walking piece of meat just waiting to be used in any way.

 

[Joshua Tree]

As I am a guy, I can relate easier to a male protagonist... The issue though, is that with most Erotic/Adult VN/Games, the male protagonists have this tendency to be hollow perverts who just want to screw every women that exists... Their thoughts are focused on sex almost all the time, and they really have very little emotional attachment to most of the women they eventually do have sex with... And what's worse, is that most of the time, they never develop beyond that stereotype... And I think it's because many developers just find it easier that way, as they don't have to overthink the character or put much effort into proper character growth and emotional/mental development... It's really just a cop out, much of the time...

Now, with female protagonist, 9 times out of 10, the developers have no real clue how women really think, act, and/or react... So instead they default to stereotypes or their male perception of a woman... So, they are typically treated as either oversexualized college partygoers, and/or naïve and easily manipulated, and/or professionals that are easily corruptible, and/or are unwitting targets of any/all perversions the developer can dream up (the victim), etc... It's not very often, where they are treated like a more realistic and strong woman, who is in charge of her own fate... A true protagonist, rather then just a walking target with breasts...

Sure, I'ld love to see more Female Protagonist Characters taking the lead role rather then being used as targets for other characters perversions... But those are very rare... And I'm fairly certain that most developers of these things, are guys... So unless they have the proper experience, training, etc... In order to have a better insight into the mind and actions of a real woman, outside of what they've seen in a movie or read in one of these VN/Games... I don't see it changing anytime soon... Which is sad...

I'm not saying all guy developers have no real clue how to write in a proper female characters... But it's not often you sense that the developer has any clue, with most female protagonists, let alone supporting characters, that already exist in most VN/Games on the market... You get some winners now and then, but it's not the norm...

Zip

Come on now, the recipe for success is obvious give a male MC a giant phallus, and then give any female character equally interest in said giant phallus, because all females is size queens that want to get impaled and ripped apart. Remove said things for games out there and see what you left with.. probably a chunk of games that better than what you excluded

 

[Ignazzio]

As I am a guy, I can relate easier to a male protagonist... The issue though, is that with most Erotic/Adult VN/Games, the male protagonists have this tendency to be hollow perverts who just want to screw every women that exists... Their thoughts are focused on sex almost all the time, and they really have very little emotional attachment to most of the women they eventually do have sex with... And what's worse, is that most of the time, they never develop beyond that stereotype... And I think it's because many developers just find it easier that way, as they don't have to overthink the character or put much effort into proper character growth and emotional/mental development... It's really just a cop out, much of the time...

Now, with female protagonist, 9 times out of 10, the developers have no real clue how women really think, act, and/or react... So instead they default to stereotypes or their male perception of a woman... So, they are typically treated as either oversexualized college partygoers, and/or naïve and easily manipulated, and/or professionals that are easily corruptible, and/or are unwitting targets of any/all perversions the developer can dream up (the victim), etc... It's not very often, where they are treated like a more realistic and strong woman, who is in charge of her own fate... A true protagonist, rather then just a walking target with breasts...

Sure, I'ld love to see more Female Protagonist Characters taking the lead role rather then being used as targets for other characters perversions... But those are very rare... And I'm fairly certain that most developers of these things, are guys... So unless they have the proper experience, training, etc... In order to have a better insight into the mind and actions of a real woman, outside of what they've seen in a movie or read in one of these VN/Games... I don't see it changing anytime soon... Which is sad...

I'm not saying all guy developers have no real clue how to write in a proper female characters... But it's not often you sense that the developer has any clue, with most female protagonists, let alone supporting characters, that already exist in most VN/Games on the market... You get some winners now and then, but it's not the norm...

Zip

Well, that's true. Female protags are usually written in a male fashion so they act as a guy would expect. The case is I don't really think it's something bad. For guys to feel some thrill they need to see what they expect and normal acting girls are just bland. The only succesful example of such protag is in Good Girl Gone Bad which is excellent but mostly because of art and branching. Character that's not innocent but is also not corrupted and has normal real-life knowledge, usually doesn't work for heroine because female protags games are almost always corruption based and you can't really feel much of a corruption if heroine acts like a normal person (overly innocent female is already a contrast to a whole theme). Because normal women can't be corrupted the way it works in porn. At least not without a complex plot which in my opinion don't work as well in erotic games. When plot is overly or even a little bit too complex, no matter how good it's written, whole game will fail because of how this market works. Male protags tbh are exactly the same as female in that sense that devs use same cliches over and over. Males (not only MC) are almost always creepy, fat, old etc. even tho devs know how male act and think. That's mostly because normal guy has no specific characteristic that would make him interesting and again for a reason of contrast.

 

[Zippity]

Well, that's true. Female protags are usually written in a male fashion so they act as a guy would expect. The case is I don't really think it's something bad. For guys to feel some thrill they need to see what they expect and normal acting girls are just bland. The only succesful example of such protag is in Good Girl Gone Bad which is excellent but mostly because of art and branching. Character that's not innocent but is also not corrupted and has normal real-life knowledge, usually doesn't work for heroine because female protags games are almost always corruption based and you can't really feel much of a corruption if heroine acts like a normal person (overly innocent female is already a contrast to a whole theme). Because normal women can't be corrupted the way it works in porn. At least not without a complex plot which in my opinion don't work as well in erotic games. When plot is overly or even a little bit too complex, no matter how good it's written, whole game will fail because of how this market works. Male protags tbh are exactly the same as female in that sense that devs use same cliches over and over. Males (not only MC) are almost always creepy, fat, old etc. even tho devs know how male act and think. That's mostly because normal guy has no specific characteristic that would make him interesting and again for a reason of contrast.

I have to disagree on certain things... That may be what you look for in a female protagonist, but that is not what everyone looks for... And while Good Girl Gone Bad is a good VN/Game, it is just another VN/Game where the protagonist is the target of corruption rather then being the one doing the corrupting... But because it is handled way better then most other female protagonist based VN/Games where the protagonist is the target of corruption, it is a far better product over all in comparison to others in it's category...

As to what you said about complexity and good story telling not working in this market... That is such a narrow minded look, and completely untrue... There are plenty of Erotic/Adult Visual Novels and Games with well written stories, that are deep and meaningful, yet still include sexual themes and scenarios, that even include well written female characters... But because you may have different tastes, that doesn't negate that they don't exist... Not everyone seeks the same things, and a majority of Players and Readers never even voice their opinions in places like these...

As to the inability to write male protagonists as deep and meaningful characters with more realistic personalities... It has been done, but it is typically a rarity... But what do you expect from a primarily Amateur Developer driven market?

And just because most developers use cliché and stereotyped characters, female and/or male, doesn't mean the stereotype has to be over the top, and that more realistic characters are not possible... I've seen plenty that are a bit more realistic, or designed outside the typical box... But I do agree, that they are not the norm... At least not for the moment...

Zip

 

[Joshua Tree]

And just because most developers use cliché and stereotyped characters, female and/or male, doesn't mean the stereotype has to be over the top, and that more realistic characters are not possible... I've seen plenty that are a bit more realistic, or designed outside the typical box... But I do agree, that they are not the norm... At least not for the moment...

Zip

I think creators that fall into the use of cliche's and stereotyped characters does so willingly because to write realistic characters (and story), take a lot more time, and much harder to do. If everything is over the top and gives the player an open invitation to "la la" land. The expectations of the player is much more less, and forgiving.

 

[Ignazzio]

I have to disagree on certain things... That may be what you look for in a female protagonist, but that is not what everyone looks for... And while Good Girl Gone Bad is a good VN/Game, it is just another VN/Game where the protagonist is the target of corruption rather then being the one doing the corrupting... But because it is handled way better then most other female protagonist based VN/Games where the protagonist is the target of corruption, it is a far better product over all in comparison to others in it's category...

Well, protagonist being an object of corruption is a general theme of female protag games. It doesn't tell much much about protag itself. When female protag is the one doing the corruption, it instantly gives her a slut label in male mind and that's not really something all that popular in that genre. GGGB is not entirely realistic but protag is written in a believable way and due to the choices she can act believable as well. It's a game created by woman and difference in protag's behaviour is quite huge.
It also puts me off because of how bland I find a protag.

As to what you said about complexity and good story telling not working in this market... That is such a narrow minded look, and completely untrue... There are plenty of Erotic/Adult Visual Novels and Games with well written stories, that are deep and meaningful, yet still include sexual themes and scenarios, that even include well written female characters... But because you may have different tastes, that doesn't negate that they don't exist... Not everyone seeks the same things, and a majority of Players and Readers never even voice their opinions in places like these...

I was talking about our small Patreon market. Ofc there are erotic games with amazing story and writing (I've read tons of japanese VNs) that can even compete with top-selling books but Patreon market and audience is different. I've played vast majority of games we have on Patreon and I don't think I've seen one game that would have some huge (or really even mediocre) value without erotic elements. Western games are focused on erotic while Japanese VNs can be focused on story and that's an issue. I'm not talking about my taste at all, I'm talking about sales and from my observations it seems that it's extremally hard to find patrons if you're focused on a story.

As to the inability to write male protagonists as deep and meaningful characters with more realistic personalities... It has been done, but it is typically a rarity... But what do you expect from a primarily Amateur Developer driven market?

Not much to be honest. But except for prior mentioned VNs it's really hard to find decent males in Japanese erotic games as well. Cliches are used cuz they work I suppose.

And just because most developers use cliché and stereotyped characters, female and/or male, doesn't mean the stereotype has to be over the top, and that more realistic characters are not possible... I've seen plenty that are a bit more realistic, or designed outside the typical box... But I do agree, that they are not the norm... At least not for the moment...

Oh, of course realistic characters are possible. But I just don't believe that you can easily sell a game on Patreon with such characters. It's clearly porn-inducing, flawed model of distribution that requires from devs to release erotic content every month therefore killing any story-driven potential game could have. People say quite often how they would love realistic characters and storyline but reality says that most people won't support such a game on Patreon. It's not my personal preference but rather how I see this issue on our market nowadays.

 

[Joshua Tree]

Oh, of course realistic characters are possible. But I just don't believe that you can easily sell a game on Patreon with such characters. It's clearly porn-inducing, flawed model of distribution that requires from devs to release erotic content every month therefore killing any story-driven potential game could have. People say quite often how they would love realistic characters and storyline but reality says that most people won't support such a game on Patreon. It's not my personal preference but rather how I see this issue on our market nowadays.

If you look at "Lust & Passion with a wife and a mother". some 820 patreons and 5k+ atm. Doesn't that show people are willing to support a game where focus is more on story than actual porn/sex?

Not that I will go as far as claim the story in the actual game is all that realistic, but it sure does fall into the more story driven games rather than sex driven.

 

[Zippity]

I think creators that fall into the use of cliche's and stereotyped characters does so willingly because to write realistic characters (and story), take a lot more time, and much harder to do. If everything is over the top and gives the player an open invitation to "la la" land. The expectations of the player is much more less, and forgiving.

I don't ever expect complete realism, but I do expect developers to put in the time necessary to make a good overall product, that includes things like good story telling (when they include story), good visuals, and so on... If they are lazy, and unwilling to do the work, then they should not expect to do well... Sure, it was probably a conscious choice to go that route, but it may also boil down to in-experience and lack of talent, that leads them down that path... And in some cases, it's just greed driving their choices...

I will always expect more from a developer, and there are lots of developers that do some really good work... But the market is also flooded with poor developers, and it isn't always a matter of them purposefully doing a poor job... It's just how it goes when a developer lacks the experience, knowledge, training, drive, passion, creativity, and willingness to do a better job... Some may be really good at visuals, and think that's all they need, to succeed overall, and then just dive headlong into making their very own VN/Game... And in some cases they may do well, with a certain section of players/readers, who only care about the visuals... But if they truly want to succeed and reach a broader market of players and readers, they have to do the work and improve themselves, on all the other aspects of a VN/Game... In order to make a better product, that appeals to that broader market...

Some are just happy making their small pittance, never aspiring to be good and/or better... And that is a shame...

Zip

 

[Ignazzio]

If you look at "Lust & Passion with a wife and a mother". some 820 patreons and 5k+ atm. Doesn't that show people are willing to support a game where focus is more on story than actual porn/sex?

Not that I will go as far as claim the story in the actual game is all that realistic, but it sure does fall into the more story driven games rather than sex driven.

Wife And Mother is not a story-driven game but a slow burn porn with incredible attention to details. Without erotic elements it has no storyline or value. I really liked early versions of this game but it's certainly nothing anyone would play for a plot.

 

[Joshua Tree]

Wife And Mother is not a story-driven game but a slow burn porn with incredible attention to details. Without erotic elements it has no storyline or value. I really liked early versions of this game but it's certainly nothing anyone would play for a plot.

Well all the different arch's is a part of a story, regardless how thin that story is. So far I don't think it even would raise an eye brow in the bible belt of the US. So I think it does prove people are willing to pay for something different with not an overwhelming focus on sex/porn. For some the tease and build up to something is what make them come back for more.

Imho if the journey is not worth taking, the destination doesn't mean anything.

 

[Ignazzio]

Well all the different arch's is a part of a story, regardless how thin that story is. So far I don't think it even would raise an eye brow in the bible belt of the US. So I think it does prove people are willing to pay for something different with not an overwhelming focus on sex/porn. For some the tease and build up to something is what make them come back for more.

Imho if the journey is not worth taking, the destination doesn't mean anything.

Teasing is also a fetish and I dare to say it's one of the most popular ones. Even tho game has very few hardcore erotic scenes it doesn't mean it has story or even a decent writing. It has none. It's hard to explain it if you never read a real VN but AWAM is a typical Patreon erotic novel where you skip from erotic scene to another. It might be really slow and softcore but it has nothing to do with an actual story. But that's an offtop I guess

 

[Joshua Tree]

Teasing is also a fetish and I dare to say it's one of the most popular ones. Even tho game has very few hardcore erotic scenes it doesn't mean it has story or even a decent writing. It has none. It's hard to explain it if you never read a real VN but AWAM is a typical Patreon erotic novel where you skip from erotic scene to another. It might be really slow and softcore but it has nothing to do with an actual story. But that's an offtop I guess

It's a bit in the eye of the beholder too I guess. I picked this game as example, because of all the people moaning about it doesn't have any actual sex scenes (porn) in it, while people are willing to pledge to it. Even far more than many of other games that have a lot more up front sex/porn it them.

 

[Carpe Stultus]

I don't really care if its male of female MC the thing is that i want a good game sadly i didn't really find many games, that i like, that have a female MC.

 

[88Michele88]

I prefer female protagonist, becouse female are be stronger or when she see the hansome and strongest male character can dacide be corrupted or be remain good girl or turn the bad gay in good guy. I think the male protagonis are big jerk and don't won't be good guys. Female or Futa I think ar my favorite MC. When I Choise female a can choise hers gende and make she futa progonist in the story.