Why?

[Breine]

Originally posted by devilmaykickbutt
Umm...have you not heard of FFX-2? THE WHOLE FRIGGIN' LOT OF EM' ARE GIRLS!

Yes, I've heard about FFX-2... I just remembered the game right after posting this thread

[DJZen]

It definitely has to do with guys being most of the video game market. Not only are guys less willing than girls (speaking generally of course, I have friends who contradict this (some just to be contradictory)) to pretend to be someone of the opposite gender, but there's still a lot of subliminal sexism in our culture. Not just the whole "women are weaker" thing, but also there's a notion that women need men. Seriously, how many independant female role models are there today? Even if the protagonist is a girl, most of the time, she realizes she just needs a man to settle down with and can't be happy otherwise. I think a little of that is men projecting. Women also just don't seem as interested in pointless fighting (again, generalities, feel free to prove me wrong). I know I get kinda bored by fighting the same 5 imps over and over again to level up when what I really want to do is beat bosses and advance the story. Ultimately, though, I think it comes down to the thought that "hero" still suggests the imagery of a man. A shame? Perhaps, but there you have it.

[Caltrap]

Your right, there is a lot of "man big, woman quick" stuff in videogames still, but I think the real reason for the male main chars is that the main market for VGs is for males (sorry girls, it is changing). Final Fantasy's are only good if the players can relate to the main character and feel what that character feels. Its a lot easier if the main character is the same gender as you. I felt alienated a little in FFIX because I just couldn't see Zidane as doing things out of the goodness of his heart. It changed near the end when he had other reasons, but to start with, I didn't relate at all. Zidane seemed to perfect (tail and all) whereas the flawed characters such as squall Cloud and Cecil made me feel involved.

And FFVI didn't have a main character. Terra was the central character to the plot, but there was no main character per se

--Cal

[DJZen]

Squall made you feel involved? How? All he really did was say "whatever" a lot. Then he bugged out of course, but after that he went right back to saying "whatever".

[DocFrance]

...Then he completely flipped out of character and started caring about other people for no reason at all.

[DJZen]

I'm picturing Squall and Rinoa's marriage.....

R: Squall, our children are hungry...
S: Whatever...
R: Oh come on, you HAVE to get a job! We'll NEVER move out of this trailer if you don't!
S: So?
R: Fine, I'm going to live with Zell. At least our kids can eat hot dogs there...
S: No! Rinoa! Don't leave me! You can't leave! Not now! NOT NOW!!!!! Ri... noa.......