Activision Shunning Female Lead Characters?
"Who would say no to ME??"
Ever heard the phrase “sex sells?” According to some people in the industry, Activision does not (or at least, did not) feel the same way, and apparently male lead characters in video games sell much better.
According to Gamasutra, Activision rejected the original concept of a game starring a female lead character in 2007. Seeing top-selling games such as Modern Warfare, Halo 3, Assassin’s Creed and Madden, when approached with a game codenamed “Black Lotus” starring a female, Activision apparently “killed [the project], said they don’t do female characters because they don’t sell.” This project later went on to become True Crime: Hong Kong. Activision has of course denied these allegations, but considering none of Activision’s franchises have included a female lead character since 2005 besides licenses such as Dora the Explorer and Barbie, that would leave many to skepticism.
23 Responses to “Activision Shunning Female Lead Characters?”
well, recently Velvet Assassin and Wet didn’t sell too well. I can’t think of a game recently with a female lead that has. (this negates FFXIII as both male and female characters generally look the same, and it’s only till we hear their voice or see their interactions with the opposite sex do we truely know their gender)
So your telling me those aren’t all girls in ff13?
I feel dirty now
lol@brooklyntheboy
the true problem isn’t that female characters can’t lead a game, its usually that the game is total shyte. If that were true then why would there be any tomb raider sequels. I dont care if a games lead character is female or male, first and foremost is the gameplay worth spending my time and money on. My guess is that Bobby has been shot down so many times by women with his creepy serial killer smile that he won’t put a female character in a lead position.
That’s ’cause Activision is Gay, quite literally too
btw sorry for the use of the derogatory term but Activision had it coming!
well Tomb Raider always did well. I think it had more to do with how the game actually plays than anything and both Wet and Bayonetta were trash if you ask me. In my opinion though, since the majority of video gamers are male, they don’t really want to play as a girl kicking other guys a$$es. In order to fit into our own fictitious fantasy worlds where we are the bad-a$$ hero and wish we had super powers, or at least the ability to shoot all the enemies with deadly precision the lead character has to be male as well. We play video games because they let us become the characters and not many guys I know, I know there are a few out there, dream about being a girl. We would rather be the awesome male hero who gets laid by the sexy girl when we rescue her.
There is an example of sexist and greedy Activision
@Rictor
What? Lightning’s boobs didn’t give it away? Wow. What TV are you playing on? A 12 inch?
Meh!
Nothing of theirs has interest me since Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3!
So no matter what the do, whether Male of Female lead, I won’t be interested in it.
Lara Croft in Tomb Raider series. It’s most popular game in history.
I wouldn’t say no to you Chloe.
i think Nariko is the baddest chick in a video game..period!
How about they write real women and not sex objects that appeal to 13 year-olds? Try that.
who say’s lara croft is the most popular…more popular than mario? I don’ t think so.
put it this way…what did you have more fun playing…
uncharted…or tomb raider?
bayonetta sold well and was well received by the critics.
hello …
i don’t like the way they treat women in the media world (games / movies / etc …)
I’m a fan of Lara Croft & a really big fan of Nariko (So True ! WestSiide …
)
So it’s not a matter of male / female, it’s about the fun & the characters …& depends on the game.
In Diablo II i always play the Sorceress, the options are more appealing to me, not the genre.
In Uncharted 2 MP, my choice go to Nathan, when i play some games where have no choice (God of War or Heavenly Sword), makes no difference, as long as the game is good.
I would really love to see more female lead character though … & Activision, if it wasn’t for Blizzard, I would never ever look their way …
cheers!
I partially agree with those who say female can’t lead a game. It’s hard to do that. I would say The Boss from MGS3 has the ability to lead an MGS game.
hmmmm… already listed here are the obvious ones, Laura Croft, Lightning, and Bayonetta. Lilith in Borderlands, although the characters themselves have no real personalities in that game – but Lilith (the siren) is definitely the best one. I’ve always enjoyed when an RPG gives you the choice, like Demon’s Souls, Fallout 3, and Mass Effect. I’m not sure about ME but it was cool that in Fallout and DS the choice actually effected what equipment you could use, and certain dialogue choices. The new Gears of War is introducing female warriors to the mix as well. Being the typical testosterone driven male, I feel more like a badass controlling a male character, but at the same time I don’t mind playing as some unrealistically hot female for some eye candy in my gaming (hey, the graphics are so good they look real now!)
I always knew Kotick had something stuck up his ass, I just didn’t realize it was dick!
oh yeah, also… Mirror’s Edge had Faith, Heavy Rain had Madison Paige, Chell in Portal and Portal 2 (yea try telling me Portal 2 isn’t gonna sell like hotcakes), and Joanna in Perfect Dark… wow, this is surprisingly hard to name good games with girls as the lead, but it can be done!
@tootergray34
You trying to compare old Tomb raider to Uncharted ?That wouldnt be fair you stupid.
When i said that Lara Croft in Tomb Raider series. It’s most popular game in history. you heard that right. Almost popular than mario. Lars Croft is the most popular female charctor in gaming history.
Do your research on Tomb raider bio and watch the Tomb raider video behind the scene then you will understand. BTW there videos to watch,
I mean there 6 video to see.
Activision is sexist? And this is news to some people? This is the games company that uses paychecks to blackmail their workers and bullies Infinity Ward. I’m never surprised by the level Activision are prepared to sink to.
I don’t mind if a game has a female lead though I hate games where they use the fact that she’s a girl to sell it to us guys, as if we’ll buy it because the girl in it looks hot. The only game where the character is female and not just that for sex appeal is Metroid.
@TimeWarp – AH!! good call on Samus!
l’m surprised someone didn’t say that sooner