Everyone knows how to sexualize female characters in video games.
But how to sexualize male characters and do “fan service” for the female audience?

  • velma@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    7 days ago

    It depends on the genre of the game.

    Fighting games like Mortal Kombat? Put the men in skimpy outfits that show their muscles like the women.

    Survival game? I don’t need to see the characters sexualized while they’re trying to survive a zombie apocalypse. Give me character depth and growth, empathy, and strong story-telling visuals. I’ll fall in love with man or woman that way.

    • Holytimes@sh.itjust.works
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      6 days ago

      That’s sexualizing men for everybody. He’s asking how to do it specifically for women! It may seem like the same thing but it is different.

    • GrantUsEyes@lemmy.zip
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      6 days ago

      I’ve tried to get into Jojo so many times for the beautiful men, but I kinda get bored.

      Regardless ,thanks Araki. I still love the art.

      • YiddishMcSquidish@lemmy.today
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        6 days ago

        Strange, cause I’m a straight(ish) dude and it hooked me in season 2. Season 1 was cool, but the hyper batshit insanity of the following seasons hits.

  • GrantUsEyes@lemmy.zip
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    7 days ago

    I’ll cite some examples:

    Hades and hades 2 (all the characters) supergiant did it right in both fronts.

    Khazan. (protagonist)

    Elden Ring. Godfrey/ Hoarah Loux & Radagon. (Crumbling or whatever, I don’t care)

    Or give me a guy in full plate with a sexy gait, see: Demon’s Souls Penetrator.

    Or without sexy gait. See: DS1 Artorias

    I’m sorry I don’t make the rules.

    ETA: Halsin! (BG3) how could I forget?

      • GrantUsEyes@lemmy.zip
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        7 days ago

        Of.course, plus Geralt knows how to treat a lady. You know what, let’s trow in Eskel as well, for the “rolled up sleeves” people… I see y’all.

    • Coelacanth@feddit.nu
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      6 days ago

      I can’t believe you’re into Halsin haha. I don’t know how you manage to make a sex crazed man-bear insufferably boring but by gods, they did it!

      • GrantUsEyes@lemmy.zip
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        6 days ago

        (Lol, that’s your objection on this list?)

        True, but I’m not exactly going for substance here, and I’m definitely into how Halsin looks (and sounds.)

        There’s plenty of well developed characters in BG3 that I’m not really offended by him being bland.

        • Coelacanth@feddit.nu
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          6 days ago

          Tbh I’m not really all that into the way he sounds either, although I don’t know how much of that is related to how he’s written and acted. If we’re just talking about the tone of voice I guess it’s okay. But I’ve never really been one to go for the hunks, you know. A swelling bicep is nice and all but doesn’t really move me much.

          Now, a lanky tortured poet on the other hand… Something like Finn Andrews is a bit more my speed.

  • Katana314@lemmy.world
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    7 days ago

    If it’s uncomfortable and disempowering for men, you’re probably doing it right. It’s often a power dynamic.

    But to draw back from a sour take: This will also turn off some people. Both ways. For instance: I love sexualized designs, but some games genuinely went too far. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and Nier Automata had genuine, serious stories to tell, but fell flat on some people for sexualizing their main (female) characters in such an objectifying way.

    I also think for women, the pure visual isn’t quite as important as their movements and actions. That part gets tricky since tastes vary.

    There’s a few gacha games out there designed for women that can give an idea of an extreme end to take it to. Again, keep in mind, there’s not one universal appeal for a whole gender (same for guys) so it will often turn out that the most universally appealing designs are the relatively safe ones you already see.

    • GrantUsEyes@lemmy.zip
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      7 days ago

      I also think for women, the pure visual isn’t quite as important as their movements and actions. That part gets tricky since tastes vary.

      I find Wolf (sekiro) very hot in part because of how his movement is animated. BUT the man looks like he hasn’t bathed in weeks so… He’s more of a "hear me out’.

      And also not thinking about visuals… Yeah, a sexy voice can do a lot of heavy lifting for a character.

  • jellyfishhunter@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    I think you need to check out the genre of Otome games. There’s hundreds of weird dating sim style games catered to women which feature a male cast.

    It’s debatable of how sexualized these characters are. But whatever they do appeals to their female audience.

  • Aganim@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    But how to sexualize male characters and do “fan service” for the female audience?

    Easy, just add Caius Cosades to your game:

  • LurkingLuddite@piefed.social
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    7 days ago

    Just have to add on to all the preferences already described… don’t make them vapid idiots on top of the physical preferences, and you’ll be fine.

    As long as they’re a cohesive, fleshed out character, they could be an evil pile of shit and quite a few ladies will be thinking, “can I fix him?”.

    Same could be said for women characters, but it’s WAY easier to sell to a horny dipshit than a horny lady, since most said dipshits don’t think past hipthrust.

    • Jolteon@lemmy.zip
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      6 days ago

      Just look at the sheer number of women who like Severus Snape of all people.

  • atrielienz@lemmy.world
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    7 days ago

    Was it Captain America Winter Soldier where Cap pulled that helicopter back to the roof, and did all that flexing?