crypticlyric

Contributing writer for The Artifice.

Junior Contributor I

?

Articles
0
Featured
0
Comments
3

Ext. Comments
3
Processed
0
Revisions
0

Topics
1
Topics Taken
1
Notes
1

Topics Proc.
0
Topics Rev.
0

Points
23
Rank
X
Score
17

Sorry, no posts matched your criteria.

Latest Topics

games

Write this topic

Breaking Away From the Video Game Protag Mold

So many video games seem to have the same type of protagonist – or at least as the "default" protagonist design. White, straight, cisgendered male in his thirties with dark hair, a "rugged" feature, and questionable character. We see it again and again in some of the most popular titles. The Last of Us, Bioshock Infinite, Mad Max, The Order, even Mass Effect when it comes to their default version of Male!Commander Shepard. I know diversity is a bit of a hot-button issue in many different fields right now, but how could the video game industry change the standard? It's not like every single game can have a create-a-character sytem.

That's certainly one component that the industry glosses over at times, although I feel as though most popular titles grow within their own molds, to say. You can easily examine Call of Duty and other mainstream games, there's clearly a lack of diversity in every concept of an original game, including the protagonist physique. Honestly, it's usually up to the independent (Indie) developers of the gaming community to rectify that, as most of those companies crank products in mere interest of reaping treasures. There are a great many small titles that grind against the grain, and are amazing in their own right. But for the big names, unless a widespread consumer whiplash shakes those groups, they will stick with their typical formula, almost every time. – N.D. Storlid 9 years ago
1
Even beyond the topic of diversity, when games have the same protagonist mold over and over again, it becomes an issue of creativity and lazy writing. For example, the rugged middle-aged white male is a popular protagonist choice in the survival horror genre because it fits into the 'gritty' atmosphere. It's almost too easy to create that protagonist for that environment, and it would be interesting to see how writers could fit a completely different character archetype in. Ellie was a much loved character in The Last of Us (probably a lot more than the protagonist) because she was younger and more upbeat, and the writers worked to fit her into the environment. It takes a lot more effort to include a character that breaks the mold, but they are generally appreciated far more. – Grace Maich 9 years ago
1

Sorry, no tides are available. Please update the filter.

Latest Comments

Sep 24, 2015 crypticlyric Everyone plays games in their own ways. It doesn’t mean that one way is more “correct” than the other, any more than it means that some people are having more fun in their way. People play games for enjoyment. Some like the challenge. Some know they won’t get far on their own and use guides to help. Some people watch Let’s Plays before going it alone, and others watch them concurrently with their own playthrough to see how they different from some of their favorite internet personalities. Gamers are gamers, and everyone is different.	Video Game Walkthroughs and Gaming Culture
Sep 24, 2015 crypticlyric I had never really thought about it in this way, though I have always noticed the clear “breaks” in types of comic book films. Those earlier versions from different “ages” left plenty of room for tweaking, as we see with remakes like Netflix’s Daredevil. I’m curious to see just where this heads next. What more can we do with this stories that so many of us have followed for decades?	The Three Eras of The Modern Comic Book Movie
Sep 19, 2015 crypticlyric Very intriguing article, though a little eerie as I have three of the books mentioned above sitting beside me as I read this. I had never thought to use the term “magical realism” for either author before. Part of me wonders, though, how using Stardust as a comparison would have changed the article, or at least what points you may have pulled from it.	Neil Gaiman and Stephen King: The Power of Realism in Postmodern Fantasy