How come all new RPG'S have some dude of questionable sex?

[greedostick]

Me and my roomate have noticed that alot of Japanese RPG's lately have some dude of questionable sex, or..... sexual preference. You can usually spot them by there really tight clothes that bear there hairless chest. It gets really annoying. I started to notice the transition in Final Fantasy IX. When I seen that dude with the tail I was like WTF? Then I was really disappointed with the appearance of the main character in FFXII. There have been many other games in between with these types of characters. Has anyone else found this annoying? I'm not prejudice against anyone, It just gets annoying. Just give me a good RPG game 2 or 3 times a year where I don't have to deal with some questionably gay guy? Is that too much to ask?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/greedostick/ff12p-002.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/greedostick/305249671_4bb7b88e31.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/greedostick/kefka.jpg

http://gaygamer.net/images/makoto.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8e/Tingle.jpg

http://gaygamer.net/images/ScreenShot007.jpg

http://gaygamer.net/images/voldo.jpg

http://gaygamer.net/images/benimaru.jpg

http://gaygamer.net/images/bridget.jpg

http://gaygamer.net/images/don_flamenco.gif

[skaar]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8e/Tingle.jpg


Ah, Tingle. He makes my tinkle tingle.

[Cryomancer]

because most RPGs are developed in Japan, where this is popular: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishonen

[Sudo]

Tingle is the only remotely gay character that you listed. Japan has a habit of making "pretty" guys, while America has a habit of making overly macho, unrealistic guys. They're both stereotypes, but what can you do.

[swlovinist]

Yeah, I agree that the female looking male characters are getting a little stale...I just wish that there could be a different artstyle that becomes mainstream and popular. After 10 years of this, it gets old fast.

[kainemaxwell]

Questionable sex sells.

[greedostick]

Tingle is the only remotely gay character that you listed. Japan has a habit of making "pretty" guys, while America has a habit of making overly macho, unrealistic guys. They're both stereotypes, but what can you do.


I'm not talking about gay guys. Just gay looking characters. I did have some other pics but for some reason they're not working. A character from enchanted arms, and Bridget from Guilty gear, and a few others.

[roushimsx]

androgynous male character is the new colored lighting.

[Richter Belmount]

Japan has a different idea of what is acceptable for a male to be or look like and act . But that doesn't transition to the united states and Americans just build a impression that the characters look gay or is. I wouldn't call it entirely intentional to make the characters look gay , It would be more acceptable to call it a lost in translation sort of thing. I doubt it crosses the mind of people who design these characters , I mean look at a big franchise like mgs and the outcry over raiden. Everyone in japan loved raiden and everyone in the united states hated the character for being to in effeminate compared to macho Solid Snake .

[Sudo]

I'm not talking about gay guys. Just gay looking characters. I did have some other pics but for some reason they're not working. A character from enchanted arms, and Bridget from Guilty gear, and a few others.
Makoto was hilarious, he totally made that game worth playing.

[Sweater Fish Deluxe]

Tingle is the only remotely gay character that you listed. Japan has a habit of making "pretty" guys, while America has a habit of making overly macho, unrealistic guys. They're both stereotypes, but what can you do.
Tingle's not "remotely gay," he's openly flaming and flaunting it. It's the other's that are remotely gay, I would say.

Anyway, why? One of the first rules of storytelling is that a little ambiguity makes for a more gripping plot. Maybe that's it.


...word is bondage...

[Trebuken]

I thought they were just metro-sexuals...

[Rev. Link]

I never thought Zidane looked girly. And I really don't think it's fair to bring Kefka into this. He's about the most evil FF villain ever, he can look however he wants. If anything, bring that overrated pretty boy Sephiroth into question over Kefka.

[Lady Jaye]

I personally love the charadesign in the GBA Castlevania games...

Anyways, I prefer seeing adult pretty boys than yet another party of cute kids (but hey, chibi characters are easier to render on the DS' small screen than regular-sized adult characters).

[greedostick]

I never thought Zidane looked girly. And I really don't think it's fair to bring Kefka into this. He's about the most evil FF villain ever, he can look however he wants. If anything, bring that overrated pretty boy Sephiroth into question over Kefka.

Nah, Zidane doesn't look gay. He is just a example, in my opinion, of awful character design. And I have to admit, Kefka is pretty bad ass. Probably the coolest villian in any RPG, or even in any video game ever.

[Richter Belmount]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSyfGm6wXgs

I think the guys at mega64 nailed the main character from ff12.

[Aussie2B]

For the same reason bands like The Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC were popular - young girls like pretty boys.

Keep in mind that in Japan it is much more acceptable for women to play video games, and traditionally women gravitate towards the RPG genre more others (well, besides the stereotypical fondness for puzzle and rhythm games) due to the stronger focus on character development and thought-based gameplay and what have you. Including pretty boys or "bishounen" is just advantageous from a business standpoint, and since the Japanese are more open about sexuality and can see it for what it is and not react with a knee-jerk "that's gay", they don't have to worry about alienating their male audience too much (and they usually throw in some female sex kittens, anyway). Diehard RPG players in the US generally aren't going to let some pretty boys affect their buying habits either, so it's no loss if the Halo/Madden/GTA crowd doesn't like the designs because they're not buying the games to begin with.

[greedostick]

For the same reason bands like The Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC were popular - young girls like pretty boys.

Keep in mind that in Japan it is much more acceptable for women to play video games, and traditionally women gravitate towards the RPG genre more others (well, besides the stereotypical fondness for puzzle and rhythm games) due to the stronger focus on character development and thought-based gameplay and what have you. Including pretty boys or "bishounen" is just advantageous from a business standpoint, and since the Japanese are more open about sexuality and can see it for what it is and not react with a knee-jerk "that's gay", they don't have to worry about alienating their male audience too much (and they usually throw in some female sex kittens, anyway). Diehard RPG players in the US generally aren't going to let some pretty boys affect their buying habits either, so it's no loss if the Halo/Madden/GTA crowd doesn't like the designs because they're not buying the games to begin with.

Point taken. I am definately not gonna stop buying RPG's. A good game is a good game. But hell, at least give me a sexy lesbian or 2 every once in awhile. Other people besides Japanese girls play RPG games. The only chick that comes to mind is King from Art of Fighting. They didn't even try to make her hot. And how many of these guys in Japan actually run around wearing some vest that is 4 sizes too small to show off there manly shaven chest? I am guessing not many unless it's some sort of cosplay. Someone find me a picture of a real Japanese man out in his vest showing off his chest. I wanna see if one really exists.

[Sudo]

Point taken. I am definately not gonna stop buying RPG's. A good game is a good game. But hell, at least give me a sexy lesbian or 2 every once in awhile. Other people besides Japanese girls play RPG games. The only chick that comes to mind is King from Art of Fighting. They didn't even try to make her hot. And how many of these guys in Japan actually run around wearing some vest that is 4 sizes too small to show off there manly shaven chest? I am guessing not many unless it's some sort of cosplay. Someone find me a picture of a real Japanese man out in his vest showing off his chest. I wanna see if one really exists.

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/9453/hardgay1aq3.jpg
But seriously, these are fantasy games. Of course the majority of people don't dress like this in real life.

[roushimsx]

For the same reason bands like The Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC were popular - young girls like pretty boys.

They're just a bunch of NKOTB wannabe sissies any god damn way. Both Donnie Wahlberg and Danny Wood could single handedly knock the fuck out of both of those groups while Jordan, Jon and Joey sat back and told 'em 'bout hangin' tough.

For reals.

[Ed Oscuro]

How come every teenaged kid cares what Final Fantasy characters look like? They're supposed to be attractive to girls and gays, they're not supposed to matter to straight guys.

Also, lol @ "QUESTIONABLE" sex.

Finally: roushimsx is correct, they gonna get KNOCKED THE F*CK OUT

[G-Boobie]

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/9453/hardgay1aq3.jpg
But seriously, these are fantasy games. Of course the majority of people don't dress like this in real life.

Holy crap, someone broke out Hard Gay! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_Gay)

[Press_Start]

hell, at least give me a sexy lesbian or 2 every once in awhile.

Adding a female sexy lesbian to visually simulate teenagers in the bliss of girl-on-girl sex dream is as unnecessary shallow as Dead or Alive Xtreme Volleyball (both games!). Story and characters are always crucial for any RPG, without it is like a PB&J sandwich without the PB&J. The best RPGs have characters with depth, style, purpose, and most importantly SUBSTANCE.

One more thing, why is it that most guys love female aspect of homosexuality yet treat its counterpart as if it were the plague. Guys (at least the ones I know) have a inept fear for anything remotely "gay" and avoid all situations for which their "towering fortress of macho manliness" is put under society's magnifying lens of scrutiny. Seriously, your penis won't fall out and you won't grow a pair of melons just from the three seconds your eyes are exposed to the photo of "pretty guy". Real men stand up and a live a life for what they believe in themselves, not what society or their peers suggest.

Final thought:
"Questionable sex", as the OP called it, is a form of expressionism. Not all men need to fit in the stereotypical gender role from the 1950's. It is possible for men to "pretty up their face", show off their bear chest, AND still be heterosexual. It's a changing world, always has been, always now, and always will be.

[greedostick]

Adding a female sexy lesbian to visually simulate teenagers in the bliss of girl-on-girl sex dream is as unnecessary shallow as Dead or Alive Xtreme Volleyball (both games!). Story and characters are always crucial for any RPG, without it is like a PB&J sandwich without the PB&J. The best RPGs have characters with depth, style, purpose, and most importantly SUBSTANCE.

One more thing, why is it that most guys love female aspect of homosexuality yet treat its counterpart as if it were the plague. Guys (at least the ones I know) have a inept fear for anything remotely "gay" and avoid all situations for which their "towering fortress of macho manliness" is put under society's magnifying lens of scrutiny. Seriously, your penis won't fall out and you won't grow a pair of melons just from the three seconds your eyes are exposed to the photo of "pretty guy". Real men stand up and a live a life for what they believe in themselves, not what society or their peers suggest.

Final thought:
"Questionable sex", as the OP called it, is a form of expressionism. Not all men need to fit in the stereotypical gender role from the 1950's. It is possible for men to "pretty up their face", show off their bear chest, AND still be heterosexual. It's a changing world, always has been, always now, and always will be.

So basically you are saying that there couldn't possibly be a RPG with a good story that involved a girl that was a lesbian? That it would be shallow? I don't feel like a obvious lesbian in a RPG would make for a great story, but it could if written correctly. Perhaps a girl of questionable sexuality would make for a more entertaining story. She doesn't have to be obvious, just keep me wondering throught the story. Just like the guys in the games do. So a girl on girl sex dream is shallow, but a man on man sex dream in a story is not? It's the PB&J of the story? Please explain.

Also, I am not some teenage homophobe. I am probably older then most people posting in this thread. I have friends who are very heterosexual. I have even went to there drag shows. One of my good friends from work is the co-owner of the miss gay Ohio pageant. And although I found it VERY weird. I went there and supported him. It was a very weird indeed. But I actually had a decent time.

In case anyone has misunderstood me. I don't think these girly-men characters are wrong. I just think that it is getting old. There needs to some more originality in RPG's. At least if they made a lesbian in a game it would be original.

[HYB]

Makoto was hilarious, he totally made that game worth playing.

I so agree with you on this one :D. He was definitely openly gay.

I personally love bishounen boys. Too bad they don't exist.

[Tommy]

You and your roommate might, just might, be reading into it a little too much. Do you really have that hard of a time differentiating between a female rpg character and a male? I could see your point but Japanese RPG's are notorious for effeminate male characters. No surprise over here, get over it.

[Cryomancer]

Yeah don't ever play Phantasy Star then, you'll argue for ages as to what gender Noah/Lutz is.

[monkeychemist]

So basically you are saying that there couldn't possibly be a RPG with a good story that involved a girl that was a lesbian? That it would be shallow? I don't feel like a obvious lesbian in a RPG would make for a great story, but it could if written correctly. Perhaps a girl of questionable sexuality would make for a more entertaining story. She doesn't have to be obvious, just keep me wondering throught the story. Just like the guys in the games do. So a girl on girl sex dream is shallow, but a man on man sex dream in a story is not? It's the PB&J of the story? Please explain.

Actually, I think there is a FF6 fan rewrite with Terra and Celes being lesbian lovers. I heard it was pretty cool actually

[BHvrd]

It's about peace love and cookies man! COOKIES!!!

http://www.cas.sc.edu/ling/faculty/dubinsky/images/cookieman1.jpg

[Press_Start]

So basically you are saying that there couldn't possibly be a RPG with a good story that involved a girl that was a lesbian? That it would be shallow? I don't feel like a obvious lesbian in a RPG would make for a great story, but it could if written correctly. Perhaps a girl of questionable sexuality would make for a more entertaining story. She doesn't have to be obvious, just keep me wondering throught the story. Just like the guys in the games do. So a girl on girl sex dream is shallow, but a man on man sex dream in a story is not? It's the PB&J of the story? Please explain.

I agree that a story of a lesbian woman can be interesting when done correctly. Hell, its true for any character. Looking at Dexter, a show about a serial killer, A SERIAL KILLER! A beacon of pure evil by society portrayed in a way that captivates people. However what I'm saying is simply putting a female lesbian in the main role of a game given the task of eye candy without plot, depth, or substance IS shallow.



In case anyone has misunderstood me. I don't think these girly-men characters are wrong. I just think that it is getting old. There needs to some more originality in RPG's. At least if they made a lesbian in a game it would be original.

Lackluster storylines, poor character development, flat personalities, too complex game mechanics, etc. I can make a mile-long list of what's wrong with RPGs today. From your previous posts, your argument for adding women of "questionable sex" to RPGs because you're tired of seeing pretty men is a shallow statement in it of itself. That's like stating we need more ugly, hairy women because there's too many ugly, hairy men.

Bottom line is the winning formula for any RPG is this

Captivating Storyline + Thought-out Character Development + Interesting Gameplay Mechanics + Well-Polished and Distinguishing Graphics = Greatest RPG of All Time :king::king::king:

[Poofta!]

Yeah, I agree that the female looking male characters are getting a little stale...I just wish that there could be a different artstyle that becomes mainstream and popular. After 10 years of this, it gets old fast.

i concur. its alright to have it in a couple games, but i do tire of it and pretty much boycotted every JRPG that has this after FFX.

nuts to that, i cant wait for fallout3

[Raedon]

I've learned this over the years about the generation of girls under me (or under them 13 to 26.) They like Yaoi. In fact it's a huge market in both the US and JPN market. Mostly threw manga.

Now most men assume yaoi is for gay men because it's pretty boy meets cupcake romance. It's actually almost 90% for females.

Also, some men in Japan spend more time on their clothes, makeup, and hair then the girls do. These men are also heterosexual. Japanese women are more into men who are skinny and have what I see as "girly" features. 'Chip n Dales' wouldn't go over well in Japan. The women like their men fit but not all bulged out.

Well, this flows into into your RPGs because they try to cater to the fantasies of females these days. They do play video games too. I'm sure it also doesn't hurt the sales to gay men as well.

[Raedon]

I'd also like to note here that I've never EVER complained with a lesbian / bi love storyline broke into my RPG gaming. \\^_^/

[mailman187666]

I think the RPGs that do have this sort of thing isn't to dominant in the game itself. Persona 3 has maybe one or two characters that are questionable such as the French transfer student that likes sewing, but its barely a big deal and a small portion of the game. Look at the main character of Lost Odyssey. He wears a half shirt pretty much but he seems to be pretty tough in that game. I think a good amount of the outfits and hairstyles that some of these characters have aren't so much trying to be gay or questionable, but more "fantasy" and "out of the norm". I will admit that I do think some characters look girly, but that doesn't keep me from playing any game. Once they start putting dudes kissing each other in games, then maybe I'll start being more careful about my purchases.

[Gentlegamer]

Bonus points for the correct use of "sex" in the thread title instead of the commonly used, but incorrect, "gender."

[Nature Boy]

One more thing, why is it that most guys love female aspect of homosexuality.

'cuz chicks is hawt!!

Seriously though, I don't care so much what the characters look like, I just wish they'd make something that *didn't* involve teenage kids saving the world. Mind you a plot that doesn't involve teenagers rules out the bishonen thing....

(And that is yet another reason I loved Mass Effect)

[Lady Jaye]

Play Neverwinter Nights, there's no bishonen teen in there. Nor is there any little kids on a quest to avenge their parents...

[Iron Draggon]

Me and my roomate have noticed that alot of Japanese RPG's lately have some dude of questionable sex, or..... sexual preference. You can usually spot them by there really tight clothes that bear there hairless chest. It gets really annoying. I started to notice the transition in Final Fantasy IX. When I seen that dude with the tail I was like WTF? Then I was really disappointed with the appearance of the main character in FFXII. There have been many other games in between with these types of characters. Has anyone else found this annoying? I'm not prejudice against anyone, It just gets annoying. Just give me a good RPG game 2 or 3 times a year where I don't have to deal with some questionably gay guy? Is that too much to ask?

I find it ironic that this trend annoys you, and yet you apparently aren't the least bit annoyed with the age-old RPG stereotype of "rescue the girl". If you really aren't a homophobe, then why does this trend bother you so much, while the traditional trend of "rescue the girl" continues as it has for much longer? Personally, I find it much more annoying that every RPG ever made to date has the same basic "rescue the girl" theme. But of course I'm gay, so I'm supposed to just accept it, while the majority of heterosexual males see nothing wrong with it. Funny how it's OK for me to be annoyed with having heterosexuality thrown in my face all the time, but the majority of straight men don't think they should ever be exposed to any form of homosexuality, unless it's a couple of lesbians that they can fantasize about "converting". Then of course it's OK, because they can jack off to it and get off on it.

LAME!

I hope we start seeing more and more gay RPG's, and less and less straight RPG's. Then I can finally play some games that I can really get into, and everyone else can play any one of the thousands of straight RPG's already made. It's about time that gay society was as represented and entertained as much as straight society is. As heterosexuals, most take it for granted that their sexuality is a right of theirs to flaunt in others faces, whether they like it or not, while everyone else is just supposed to accept it and get over it. So wouldn't it be nice if all the gay people of this world started acting the same way about their sexuality, and all the straight people finally got a good dose of all the shit that they've been feeding all us gay people for centuries?

I SAY YES!

[Half Japanese]

Actually, I think there is a FF6 fan rewrite with Terra and Celes being lesbian lovers. I heard it was pretty cool actually

Fan rewrites and fan fiction are never cool.

[Sabz5150]

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/9453/hardgay1aq3.jpg
But seriously, these are fantasy games. Of course the majority of people don't dress like this in real life.

Damnit, you made me bust out laughing in the office! Hard Gay is a trip!

[greedostick]

I find it ironic that this trend annoys you, and yet you apparently aren't the least bit annoyed with the age-old RPG stereotype of "rescue the girl". If you really aren't a homophobe, then why does this trend bother you so much, while the traditional trend of "rescue the girl" continues as it has for much longer? Personally, I find it much more annoying that every RPG ever made to date has the same basic "rescue the girl" theme. But of course I'm gay, so I'm supposed to just accept it, while the majority of heterosexual males see nothing wrong with it. Funny how it's OK for me to be annoyed with having heterosexuality thrown in my face all the time, but the majority of straight men don't think they should ever be exposed to any form of homosexuality, unless it's a couple of lesbians that they can fantasize about "converting". Then of course it's OK, because they can jack off to it and get off on it.

LAME!

I hope we start seeing more and more gay RPG's, and less and less straight RPG's. Then I can finally play some games that I can really get into, and everyone else can play any one of the thousands of straight RPG's already made. It's about time that gay society was as represented and entertained as much as straight society is. As heterosexuals, most take it for granted that their sexuality is a right of theirs to flaunt in others faces, whether they like it or not, while everyone else is just supposed to accept it and get over it. So wouldn't it be nice if all the gay people of this world started acting the same way about their sexuality, and all the straight people finally got a good dose of all the shit that they've been feeding all us gay people for centuries?

I SAY YES!

Yes, the trend does annoy me. As does the trend of almost every rpg having some empire your opposing.

Actually, I can't think of a single RPG with a save the girl theme. It seems like every RPG I play has the theme the world is being taken over by something evil. Unless of course you are speaking of Zelda or Shadow of the Colossus, which I consider a action RPG's.

A RPG has to have some sort of ultimate evil or good that has to be overcome. Or else there would be no fighting in a rpg. It would be more of a sims game. Obviesly if you are going to fight and gain levels, something has to be against you.

As for your idea on having a game where a guy saves a guy, that would be quite interesting. I would play it, unless it was full of token gay guys like you see in sex and the city. Unfortunatly for you, you are far outnumbered by straight males. And probably 99% of people who make games are straight males. So it's probably not gonna happen. There are however gay dating simulators for the ps2 I seen on x-play.

I don't know if you read the whole thread, but I said before I have gay friends, and that a friend of mine owns the Miss Gay Ohio Pageant. And that I have went on more then one occasion to support him and other people I work with who were in the pageant. So I have been to gay bars with people from work, surrounded by hundreds of gay guys. And had a good time. So I doubt I am homophobic.

And as for you hoping there would be more gay rpg's, and less straight rpg's being made; you're getting your wish. That was pretty much the point of the whole thread. RPG's are being taken over by gay stereotypes.

[Damaramu]

I admit, a new Cho Aniki RPG for the PS3 or 360 would be quite interesting. And a trip.

[The 1 2 P]

I think this is one of the many reasons why I don't play rpg's....except Kotor. But atleast all the dudes in those games look like actually dudes.

[FrakAttack]

Both extremes of American butch and Japanese femme are played out. Wouldn't it be nice to see some realistic looking characters for a change?

[Nature Boy]

Play Neverwinter Nights, there's no bishonen teen in there. Nor is there any little kids on a quest to avenge their parents...

I have, and I loved that too!

[Mangar]

I've always considered "The Sims" as a gay RPG. I mean hell, you roleplay interior decorating, personal hygiene, interpersonal drama, etc.. etc...

[Sudo]

I've always considered "The Sims" as a gay RPG. I mean hell, you roleplay interior decorating, personal hygiene, interpersonal drama, etc.. etc...

The Sims could also be considered a torture simulator. Put a bunch of people in a room and remove the doors/toilets etc. and watch hilarity ensue!

[mailman187666]

I find it ironic that this trend annoys you, and yet you apparently aren't the least bit annoyed with the age-old RPG stereotype of "rescue the girl". If you really aren't a homophobe, then why does this trend bother you so much, while the traditional trend of "rescue the girl" continues as it has for much longer? Personally, I find it much more annoying that every RPG ever made to date has the same basic "rescue the girl" theme. But of course I'm gay, so I'm supposed to just accept it, while the majority of heterosexual males see nothing wrong with it. Funny how it's OK for me to be annoyed with having heterosexuality thrown in my face all the time, but the majority of straight men don't think they should ever be exposed to any form of homosexuality, unless it's a couple of lesbians that they can fantasize about "converting". Then of course it's OK, because they can jack off to it and get off on it.

LAME!

I hope we start seeing more and more gay RPG's, and less and less straight RPG's. Then I can finally play some games that I can really get into, and everyone else can play any one of the thousands of straight RPG's already made. It's about time that gay society was as represented and entertained as much as straight society is. As heterosexuals, most take it for granted that their sexuality is a right of theirs to flaunt in others faces, whether they like it or not, while everyone else is just supposed to accept it and get over it. So wouldn't it be nice if all the gay people of this world started acting the same way about their sexuality, and all the straight people finally got a good dose of all the shit that they've been feeding all us gay people for centuries?

I SAY YES!

I don't really think any RPG is necisarily specificaly aimed towards gay or straight people. Its almost like it caters to everybody IMO. You know you don't see gay kissing scenes, or any PDA amongst each other in cut scenes or anything. You've got your straight characters, you have your gay characters, both men and women. Now-A-Days, I don't think they put as much emphasis on romance of any kind. If anything it slightly goes with the story and with dialouge you can see what the feelings are between certain characters. I think the interaction with the characters in Persona 3 is pretty much general. When building your social links, you can gain a realtionship with the women, in which some turn a little more romantic, and then there is that exchange student in sewing class who seems to take a liking to you a bit differently than the other male characters. Say if Square-Enix came out with a gay specific game, they would have to break it down like this.....there are x amount of people in the world...x amount of people play games....x amount of people play rpgs.....x amount of the rpg players are gay. So from a buisiness standpoint, a gay specific release may seem too niche to make money off of. Not to sound anti-gay (because I honestly don't care who is/isn't), with the way society works and how ignorant people can be, Square-Enix (or whoever) would then have to worry about poor reviews from ignorant reviewers, and possibly things being talked about on message boards such as this like calling them Square-gaynix or something. Things like that actually can have an affect on buisinesses. I'm not against gays, I'm looking at it from more of a buisiness standpoint.

[Raedon]

Play Neverwinter Nights, there's no bishonen teen in there. Nor is there any little kids on a quest to avenge their parents...

That is a Western Culture RPG. It's made for Manly Men who play Role Playing Games with a pint of ale in one hand while stroking their manly beard in the other!

Bard's Tale, Eye of the Beholder, Ultima ... if there are any kids in these games they are either Zombies and must be killed or they are just there to die horrible deaths - so the can be Avenged!

[Lady Jaye]

That is a Western Culture RPG. It's made for Manly Men who play Role Playing Games with a pint of ale in one hand while stroking their manly beard in the other!

Bard's Tale, Eye of the Beholder, Ultima ... if there are any kids in these games they are either Zombies and must be killed or they are just there to die horrible deaths - so the can be Avenged!

Are you trying to say that I'm manly (not according to the insides of my shirt) and that I have a beard? ;)

I do like the idea of playing my RPGs while drinking a nice brew, though... Seriously, I think it's also a computer RPG vs console RPG debate (although that's less and less the case, as computer RPGs are starting to be ported to consoles -- see KOTOR and Oblivion, for example).

[Raedon]

You won't find to many dwarf women with beards in JRPGs. You know I'm just joking around :) but the RPGs that come out of the west seem to be about huge breasted women in their late 20's not 16 year old girls coming of age. etc etc.

[eskobar]

Most RPGs are Japanese and they have a very particular fashion and beauty sense...

i frankly do not have anything against the eastern designs, they are very polished and ver stylish compared to a barbarian or huge guy like western designs.

But not all japanese guys are gals, look at solid snake :D

[greedostick]

I have to say, most of the times that I play classic games, mainly rpg's, is after a few brews. Something about drinking and reliving your childhood past makes for a fun night when everyone is busy and can't go out.

[Sothy]

Screw that. Wheres the beastiality RPG's?

[Overbite]

i like barbarians more than pretty elves