GTA V

[Surf Solar]

Massive, but empty?

Didn't feel empty to me.

How about you tell us, what's so good in having an all male cast?

Because the Rockstar Devs felt more comfortable coming up with 3 males? Or is that becoming a trend now that there simply HAVE to be female characters in videogames, regardless if the developers want that or not, as said, as some kind of token? Would be really interested in the reasoning behind the "omfg no women as maincast!11"

 

[Tagaziel]

Because the Rockstar Devs felt more comfortable coming up with 3 males? Or is that becoming a trend now that there simply HAVE to be female characters in videogames, regardless if the developers want that or not, as said, as some kind of token? Would be really interested in the reasoning behind the "omfg no women as maincast!11"

Maybe the answer is, I don't know, not making them token characters, but fully fledged actors in the game?

Not really. Kinda half joking. I can't imagine them pulling of a realistic female lead though. I hardly like their male leads. Maybe some kind of Bonnie and Clyde thing would work. Aren't most mafioso types males? It just sounds...too far fetched. I can see it now - some hot blonde chick running around with daisy dukes and every guy in the game hitting on her. Maybe a Yakuza chick or a Latino badass would be plausible. Honestly, I'm tired of seeing female leads shoehorned into games that don't need it.

It seems like males are more prone to going apeshit and killing cops and driving 120 mph through traffic. How many woman go on mass murdering sprees? Sure there are plenty of woman criminals, but I usually see meth heads do stuff like that. Maybe make the female lead a huge meth addict. That would be believable. They would have to really make her believable or it would look stupid as shit. I'm so sick of seeing woman portrayed as ultra sexy Tomb Raider-esque killing machines. Not saying it couldn't be done, but doing it and doing it right are two different things.

Is it unreasonable to want something that makes sense? How many woman are in the mob for instance? Other than in the movies of course. Sure GTA isn't supposed to be realistic, but I like it to be kinda believable. Maybe the female lead was raped and left for dead by some shady types and she is out for revenge. That might work, even though it's been done to death. I'm just struggling to imagine what it would look like in GTA.

Hell, I wouldn't mind if they did it good, but I often find their portrayals in video games to be outright absurd. The female characters in GTA 4 sucked for the most part. I do remember Rockstar talking about this same subject before and they didn't seem to think it was a good idea either. At any rate, I don't feel strongly opposed to it, as I said before, so take that for what it's worth.

Why should the female lead be victimized, in order to make her a criminal? Why are you trying to cite "realism" as an argument, only to throw it out the door at the same time?

Rockstar can do female characters, by bringing aboard a female writer and designer. Lord knows it's high time they put in a little effort on this front, the GTA sausage fest is getting annoying.

 

[Surf Solar]

Maybe the answer is, I don't know, not making them token characters, but fully fledged actors in the game?

And why? Is there an actual need for it? Something like "There must be Character XY" ? Besides that Rockstar have already admited before that they can't really design female characters, they often end up like "too tough 4 u" girls or damsels in distress.

I wouldn't even care, let them put 3 female leads in there if they want. But saying "I don't like it because there is no female lead" is... yeah.

Lord knows it's high time they put in a little effort on this front, the GTA sausage fest is getting annoying.

Ah, I see.

 

[Tagaziel]

And why? Is there an actual need for it? Something like "There must be Character XY" ? Besides that Rockstar have already admited before that they can't really design female characters, they often end up like "too tough 4 u" girls or damsels in distress.

I wouldn't even care, let them put 3 female leads in there if they want. But saying "I don't like it because there is no female lead" is... yeah.

It's an entirely legitimate point. Why should Rockstar be given slack for catering to men exclusively? God forbid they have to work, in order to make a believeable female character.

 

[Surf Solar]

Ok, I give up. Please be further angry about this issue.

 

[TorontoReign]

Not really. Kinda half joking. I can't imagine them pulling of a realistic female lead though. I hardly like their male leads. Maybe some kind of Bonnie and Clyde thing would work. Aren't most mafioso types males? It just sounds...too far fetched. I can see it now - some hot blonde chick running around with daisy dukes and every guy in the game hitting on her. Maybe a Yakuza chick or a Latino badass would be plausible. Honestly, I'm tired of seeing female leads shoehorned into games that don't need it.

It seems like males are more prone to going apeshit and killing cops and driving 120 mph through traffic. How many woman go on mass murdering sprees? Sure there are plenty of woman criminals, but I usually see meth heads do stuff like that. Maybe make the female lead a huge meth addict. That would be believable. They would have to really make her believable or it would look stupid as shit. I'm so sick of seeing woman portrayed as ultra sexy Tomb Raider-esque killing machines. Not saying it couldn't be done, but doing it and doing it right are two different things.

Is it unreasonable to want something that makes sense? How many woman are in the mob for instance? Other than in the movies of course. Sure GTA isn't supposed to be realistic, but I like it to be kinda believable. Maybe the female lead was raped and left for dead by some shady types and she is out for revenge. That might work, even though it's been done to death. I'm just struggling to imagine what it would look like in GTA.

Hell, I wouldn't mind if they did it good, but I often find their portrayals in video games to be outright absurd. The female characters in GTA 4 sucked for the most part. I do remember Rockstar talking about this same subject before and they didn't seem to think it was a good idea either. At any rate, I don't feel strongly opposed to it, as I said before, so take that for what it's worth.

Why should the female lead be victimized, in order to make her a criminal? Why are you trying to cite "realism" as an argument, only to throw it out the door at the same time?

Rockstar can do female characters, by bringing aboard a female writer and designer. Lord knows it's high time they put in a little effort on this front, the GTA sausage fest is getting annoying.

I gave more than one example, not just the victimized one. Why do you twist my words to suit your argument? Also, I asked for it to be believable, not as close to realism as possible. Sure they could do it, but they said they didn't feel comfortable doing that. I wish I had the article where they talked about it. If the developers don't think they can do it justice, then they shouldn't do it. If you want a female lead then that's great for you Tagz, but I don't think they could do it right, simply based upon their woman they have done so far in the series. Hiring outside their team might work, but that's up to them and they said no so far. Simple as that.

 

[Ohaimerk]

What about Catalina? Or Elizabeta Torres? Both were plenty psychotic, violent, and capable of a believable mass killing spree. Playing as Torres actually sounds really cool, she was one of the more memorable characters in a game full of memorable characters

 

[Stanislao Moulinsky]

What was wrong with San Andreas' vast map ??

It's too big. It's already hard to really explore every nook and cranny in a game as big as GTA4, what's the need for an ever bigger map that makes traveling a chore and only the more OCD will fully explore? Also going for a "smaller" scale let's you focus more on the quality of what you put on the map.

Also, but I realize it's totally subjective, I don't like a map so vast because I know I won't bother going everywhere and I will constantly have the feeling that I will be missing something cool somewhere while at the same time having the feeling that wandering around will be a waste of time.

 

[Surf Solar]

Also, but I realize it's totally subjective, I don't like a map so vast because I know I won't bother going everywhere and I will constantly have the feeling that I will be missing something cool somewhere while at the same time having the feeling that wandering around will be a waste of time.

I don't think the game is to blame if you think you MUST EXPLORE EVERYTHING. There are games like Skyrim where I am pretty sure I only have "explored" 50% or so of the huge map, but I didn't care because everything is the same in this game. In the GTA games I never had this feeling and enjoyed running/driving around the countryside.

 

[TorontoReign]

What about Catalina? Or Elizabeta Torres? Both were plenty psychotic, violent, and capable of a believable mass killing spree. Playing as Torres actually sounds really cool, she was one of the more memorable characters in a game full of memorable characters

I honestly can't remember either one of those characters. Haven't played in awhile I guess. I trust you though Farmerk. Sounds good to me.

 

[Surf Solar]

What about Catalina? Or Elizabeta Torres? Both were plenty psychotic, violent, and capable of a believable mass killing spree. Playing as Torres actually sounds really cool, she was one of the more memorable characters in a game full of memorable characters

I honestly can't remember either one of those characters. Haven't played in awhile I guess. I trust you though Farmerk. Sounds good to me.

Plus in that interview someone linked here (or was it on the codex, I dont remember) they said they don't want to bring any characters from the Playstation 2 area into the "new" area. Also, I hated Katalina with a passion, or rather the missions you had to do for her.

 

[BFox17]

What about Catalina? Or Elizabeta Torres? Both were plenty psychotic, violent, and capable of a believable mass killing spree. Playing as Torres actually sounds really cool, she was one of the more memorable characters in a game full of memorable characters

Call me sexist, but I would hate having to play as a female criminal. Don't know why, it would just get on my nerves too much. Oh and god, Catalina annoyed the shit out of me in GTA 3 and San Andreas. I wanted to break her jaw.

I mean, first she betrays Claude by shooting him and leaving him for dead, then she tries to blow you up with a bunch of drugged up suicide bombers, then when you give her the ransom money in the final mission, she asks if you came to get her back or to rescue Maria. I mean what the hell!? You've only tried to kill me twice, made deals with gangs to try and wipe me out, and kidnapped my girl (well I'm not so sure if Claude actually liked Maria or not but whatever), why the hell would I want you back!? Stupid woman.

 

[Kilus]

GTA 2
GTA 3
GTA Vice City
GTA San Andreas
GTA Liberty City Stories
GTA Vice City Stories
GTA Advance
GTA 4
GTA The Lost and Damned
GTA The Ballad of Gay Tony
GTA Chinatown Wars

All had a male player character.

And now GTA 5 with 3 male characters. I mean if the argument was a female character couldn't lead a GTA title well now here is the prefect chance to add one.

 

[Brother None]

I'm not really angry about this male-PC only thing, or about the overwhelming number of male characters. GTA is a very machismo type setting. It'd be one thing if they ignored women completely but they have parts to play, often very strong ones, and their female characters tend to be as well-written as the males.

I don't see the problem there. You shouldn't have to include more women just for the sake of including more women, that's ham-fisted.

That said, what Kilus points out above is also true. At this point we're no longer talking about a lot of main characters being coincidentally male, we're talking about a long streak with zero female main characters, and it just doesn't make a ton of sense anymore. Because while it is a naturally male-dominated setting, there are no real arguments while a female lead absolutely couldn't work, and no valid excuse that there has never been one.

I mean, first she betrays Claude by shooting him and leaving him for dead, then she tries to blow you up with a bunch of drugged up suicide bombers, then when you give her the ransom money in the final mission, she asks if you came to get her back or to rescue Maria. I mean what the hell!? You've only tried to kill me twice, made deals with gangs to try and wipe me out, and kidnapped my girl (well I'm not so sure if Claude actually liked Maria or not but whatever), why the hell would I want you back!? Stupid woman.

Catalina is supposed to be really annoying. If she got on your nerves, they succeeded with their writing. Just like Loc Dog or that documentary film maker dude. Sometimes they don't want you to like characters.

 

[Stanislao Moulinsky]

Also, but I realize it's totally subjective, I don't like a map so vast because I know I won't bother going everywhere and I will constantly have the feeling that I will be missing something cool somewhere while at the same time having the feeling that wandering around will be a waste of time.

I don't think the game is to blame if you think you MUST EXPLORE EVERYTHING. There are games like Skyrim where I am pretty sure I only have "explored" 50% or so of the huge map, but I didn't care because everything is the same in this game. In the GTA games I never had this feeling and enjoyed running/driving around the countryside.

Oh, no, I don't think that I have to explore everything, it's just that the size discourages me from doing so even though I would gladly wander around in a "smaller" map.

And frankly, what's the upside of having such a huge map anyway?
Developers have a finite amount of resources anyway, wouldn't it be better to focus those resources and cram more details in a single city?

 

[Tagaziel]

That said, what Kilus points out above is also true. At this point we're no longer talking about a lot of main characters being coincidentally male, we're talking about a long streak with zero female main characters, and it just doesn't make a ton of sense anymore. Because while it is a naturally male-dominated setting, there are no real arguments while a female lead absolutely couldn't work, and no valid excuse that there has never been one.

My point exactly (though technically, GTA1 did allow you to pick two female protagonists; it only affected the sprite and the flatulence/belching sounds, though).

I think it's just Rockstar being lazy/unwilling. If they can't write female leads, maybe it's time to bring a female writer on board? Or do research on how they are portrayed in fiction? Graphic novels can be a start: Punisher Max, Preacher, Transmetropolitan, Watchmen (I'm going off the top of my head, don't shoot me), or even the real world.

 

[Crni Vuk]

It seems there are more games with male players then female players as lead character.

Take shooters as example. Or third person games.

 

[Joelzania]

Why do people really care about having a female lead role in a GTA game, may I ask? It seems like a real non-issue to me.

 

[Walpknut]

It is such a non issue Idon't see why you are rguing about it, like Surf Solar said, Having token characters just for PCness sake is pretty dumb. If they don't intend to do it with a female lead then they have no obligation to do it.

 

[BFox17]

Why do people really care about having a female lead role in a GTA game, may I ask? It seems like a real non-issue to me.

I agree to be honest