Is Having A GTA 6 Female Lead Character A Good Idea?

PlayStation Universe takes a look at what the current opinion is surrounding the new Grand Theft Auto game featuring a female protagonist for the first time.

[chrisx]

its not a bad idea thats for sure. aslong as Rockstar delivers a great story as usual i dont see why not.

[NecrumOddBoy]

I am surprised we haven't get Pam Greer playing a Foxy Brown/Coffy like character in the 70's.

[TheEnigma313]

That would be pretty sick.

[blackbeld]

No please no, I don't want to see Gigolo's in club's!

[mikeslemonade]

No

[Chaosdreams]

That'd be really cool to see. Grand Theft Auto characterization from a female lead. I imagine they'd make it great.

[_-EDMIX-_]

Better question is how exactly would it be a bad idea?

[EricLane]

Head to the boutique and select a nice pair of thongs and sports bra, fight off some gang members with my pepper spray, stiletto heel knife and rape whistle and then let off some steam in my Lamborghini getting nailed by a male prostitute. Then head back home and make some sandwiches for my husband, vacuum the floor and fold some laundry.

That would be the ABSOLUTE worst GTA experience EVER! EVER!

[winter_hill]

LMFAO!

[Fishy Fingers]

Rather it was a dude myself.

[ravinash]

We don't even know what the story line is yet, so how can you tell if you prefer a dude?

[kparks]

Because most guys don't want to play a game as a chick. Or at least be forced to that's the answer plain and simple lol.

[rainslacker]

@kparks

Given how well games with female protagonists can do, I would say that most dudes don't care one way or the other.

Plus, no one is forcing them. They can choose to not play the game. It's not like GTA is required to continue gaming. I've only ever played one in my entire life, and never got into the series.

[Teflon02]

Rain... It's GTA if people just stopped playing that would be bad. I always pick a female character in everything if you get to make a character but a game like GTA, unless I make my character I'd want a male lead to be honest. I'd personally find it hard to play a game about a girl getting into some gang shit etc. I don't even like girls talking a certain way in real life, just like I don't like dudes acting a certain way unless they're gay which is perfectly fine. But if they add a Gay gangsta girl, I can go with that. I just need it to be a character I'll believe can be in those situations. Of course some females are into the shit GTA does but it's just hard for me to want to play that as a female. Games like Horizon work because the atmosphere is gender less, just that most made those games as males. GTA's atmosphere is usually a Males type of story. But then again they haven't done it so far, so it could be great either way

[EricLane]

Some guys just prefer dudes....

[PurpHerbison]

I will admit, most of the time I played a female, depending on the game (usually third person games) is because they have smaller frames and I can see more of whats ahead, even if it is just a tiny bit more. But I do prefer playing as males most of the time.

[Inzo]

if it was 2008 not a bad idea at all but unfortunately its 2018.

[TheCommentator]

This just in: Women are obsolete...

/sarcasm

Honestly, you've got me curious though; Why was it okay on 2008 and not now?

[Gman32]

because back then it wasnt all about women like it is today

[agent4532]

You are referring to sjws and feminazis

[PhantomS42]

I don't see the problem, especially if they do something like GTAV where you switch between multiple characters again.

[NotoriousWhiz]

As a male, I'm not playing a game that requires me to "date" males. Women leads are fine, but with the whole "sleazy" part that typically accompanies GTA games, I would not do that as a a female. A better idea would be for them to allow you to choose your own gender.

[FunAndGun]

lol, wow....worried about dating a digital man while playing as a digital female inside a video game. I mean, really? Running down pedestrians, gunning down cops, beating down old ladies, but pump those breaks if my masculinity is threatened in the real world because I might have to date a digital male. It's too much to take.

[NotoriousWhiz]

It is. And you're free to disagree. I'm not going to play a character that is dating a dude.

Granted, if they removed that whole aspect of the game, then I'd have no problems with it. I enjoy plenty of games with female leads but none of those games require me to actively date a man.

[C1yn3r79]

Would you feel better if she was lesbian?

[G20WLY]

😏

[NotoriousWhiz]

No. Well yes, but not better enough.

[FunAndGun]

lol, quite the insecurity you have there. OK with killing digital grandma, but will not date a guy. Your sensibilities are damn fragile. Enjoy your facade!

[NotoriousWhiz]

Games are meant to be fun. I'm not going to do anything that isn't fun for me. It's not about being sensitive.

[vivid83]

Just give me a good story I don’t care about the sex of the main character

[The_Jackel]

if its setup like gta v i dont see the problem even as the main i dont really see a problem with it either.

[Inzo]

I am just wondering how exactly this will work. Will I still be able to walk down a street and just start beating random people up? What if I want to beat up or take a car away from a guy that 1.9m tall because playing as a woman in GTA you will be at a physical disadvantage if they use physics and reality as a guide line.

[FunAndGun]

NOW you are worried about realism?!? .....in a GTA game?

[Inzo]

I swear people on this site read only what they want to read. I......said....."if they use physics and reality as a GUIDE LINE!!!" but I suppose because it might be woman protagonist all those things go out the window so I can expect her to be able to fly and defy the laws of gravity. It kind of makes you wonder why a movie like Annihilation tanked because its only a movie right?

[rainslacker]

Knowing how to fight will serve one better over brute force more often than not. Not that GTA ever really got much into well executed fist fights or anything.

[TheCommentator]

Force = Mass times acceleration.

Physics says that flyweights have knockout power just like super heavyweights do because they move faster than their larger counterparts. Aikido uses an opponents force and momentum against them. You think Bruce Lee was at a disadvantage because he was small? What if the girl was built like China (the wrestler, not the country)? News flash... Girls can fight too.

[Inzo]

First of all Bruce Lee was a man, I stand at 1.89m and I would know not to pick a fight with him, secondly, of course girls can fight, they can fight other girls. Why do you think women boxers dont fight male boxers? Or women tennis players dont play male tennis players or that there are so many laws protecting women? Because men are physically stronger and faster, its scientifically proven. And its Chyna not China.

[TheCommentator]

You really are sexist pig and I don't watch WWE, sorry. You want to see what happens in the real world though?

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

Like I said... physics.

[FartLover420]

You cant seriously be using that video which shows a chick knocking a dude out with a complete cheapshot when hes wasnt looking as proof that the average women can fight with the average man.

[TheCommentator]

You guys are fucking morons.

[agent4532]

GTA is fantasy and Rockstar is not a realist company. As for your question, yes women are physically weaker but they know the art of seduction and deceit

[Segata]

It's not a bad idea in theory. I just don't trust Dan Houser to write a good female character without it being one note and her being an archetype.

[antikbaka]

why not... who cares? everyone can be a cruel bi4. Man or woman

[Knightofelemia]

I'd actually prefer a design your own character for the story mode Mass Effect did it Saints Row did it not sure why GTA doesn't do that sort of thing. Or allow me to transfer my GTA online character into GTA 6's story mode that would also be interesting but again it falls back into the design your own character for the game.

[Ittoittosai]

Do both, stop all BS about equality and not actually do it. I personal will sometimes play as a female avatar if given a choice cause if I have to look at a backside for hours on end even a digital one may as well be female. If you're really promoting equality, and not just the latest tokenist fade, then you'd have the choice to play as either sex not one or the other. As long as the game is written with a female lead in mind then it should be fine what I find really really annoying is some marvel changing Thor into a women, writing or simple changing the sex of a main character from male to female with no real attention paid to detail and just believing well no one will notice.

[AnubisG]

I don't think that is a great idea and I will explain why before everyone calls me a sexist.

Firstly, you need to know your audiance. I bet you anything that the userbase of GTA games is over 90% male. Guys rather play as a guy in video games especially when there are missions to date and the option to pay for services provided by "happy girls". You can get more into a game if you are able to identify with the lead character.

Now, there is a way this could work though. If there are multiple lead characters that are different like in GTA V. What they did there was great. So in the next GTA of there are multiple lead characters and one is a female, than I think it could work. But if there is only one lead and that is a female than it will not be a good idea and R* will upset a large part of it's userbase. I know I would be uncomfortable playing a mission or two where I have to date a dude with the female lead character or pay other girls to increase the health bar of the female lead.

I have no problem with playing female leades as my favorite franchise of all time is Tomb Raider and my favorite video game character of all time is Lara Croft (the old cool and badass one, not the new one lame crying and screaming one). However, I would rather play as a guy in a GTA game myself.

[rainslacker]

For AAA games, the general mix for games is about 75% male. Doesn't mean games with female leads don't do well. I don't know the specific numbers for GTA, but I do know a couple females that would play it either way, and probably wouldn't care about a female lead, or may actually find it annoying that a publisher is trying to be progressive in a shallow way. But how they feel about it would probably depend on execution, rather than knee jerk reaction.

[OneLove]

Games with female leads actually don't do that well. Idk why u think they do.

[rainslacker]

Really?

So, The new tomb raider games, Horizon, Nier, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, The Walking Dead 2, Dishonored 2, Hellblade, etc, didn't sell well? And those are mostly games from recent memory.

I'm sure I can find plenty of games with female leads that also don't sell well, but I can do the exact same thing with games that have a male lead.

That leads me to the conclusion that the main characters gender is irrelevant to most gamers.

Here's an interesting fact that came out a while ago. Games with female leads tend to get half the budget of games with male lead. So, is the argument you're making because they don't get as high of a marketing budget, or because they have a female lead. Notice that most of the games that I listed had reasonable to large marketing budgets, and their sales tend to be in line with what one would expect from those budgets.

Maybe rethink your assumption, and realize that it's much more complex than the avatar's gender.

[smolinsk]

Bring it on, ether that or let os make our own character.

[gazgriff2k12]

very good idea. a strong super sexy female

[Psychotica]

If they had multiple characters like GTA V I wouldn't have a problem with it. Personally I would like to see either Trevor or even Niko Belic come back..

[wrblplayas13]

Female lead is awesome. Thought when they were going to the 3 characters, one already would have been a female.

[Jurat]

How about just give players the choice (Like Mass Effect, etc) instead of making it an issue.

[Orionsangel]

You have 3 characters again and one happens to be a female. A Cuban immigrant woman who comes to Vice City.

[thejigisup]

Perhaps if it was brittany spears from 2007 or maybe Lindsay Lohan from just about anytime frame.

[ClayRules2012]

I think I’d be an interesting approach to the series. I was hoping one of the 3 characters from GTA5 would’ve been a female. I could’ve personally done without Franklin. He just annoyed me. Loved Michael and Trevor tho.
Anyways, knowing Rockstars quality of storytelling, I bet they’d do a great job at having a female as the lead character.

[OpenGL]

If they do another multi-character setup I think it would be a good idea to make at least one female.

[greywolf39]

To me def not. Dont get me wrong girls, but I dont think it is a good idea to have female protagonist in game such as this. Maybe as a Side character that you can play in like a few missions, but other than that, it is a no from me.

[Exvalos]

Give us an option with multiple leads

[Cartman55125]

Idc who the character is, so long as their story is compelling

[GreatnessSincePS1]

Who cares, as long as it's in a redesigned Vice City im happy

[bluefox755]

I don't think it would work well. The things the characters do in GTA games just seem uncharacteristic of women. Women generally aren't thugs and gang bangers. If women are involved in crime syndicates, they typically run things behind the scenes. It worked for games like Saints Row because the story was more silly, and didn't attempt to depict criminals realistically gritty like GTA does. Would feel contrived IMO.

[agent13]

in gta, Women have always been nothing but objects. I think a believable and with good characterization female character can be a great idea

[ChunkyHD]

Not really. Michaels wife certainly had characterization. You're get thinking about the worst parts of the game, strippers, etc exist in really life.

[ChunkyHD]

As along as it's in the creators/writers original vision and not forced I don't see a problem.
If they go the same 3 protagonist mode, 2 males, 1 female would be a nice balance considering the demographics that play the game.
But I ultimately think creative freedom should be the most important, envisage a female lead? Do it.

[TheColbertinator]

Male or female doesn't matter. So long as the game and voice work are great.

[Dragonscale]

Yay for diversity lol.

[Skankinruby]

I think it would be cool. A well written script with a Charlize Theron type as lead character could be great. Just no more bull**** characters like Trevor, good God he was annoying.

[giovonni]

I don't see it as a bad thing, as long as they make her skills relevant and the story compelling while adding other characters we can cycle through like the previous GTA. It would be cool if you can use her skills to seduce cops from chasing you

[Protagonist]

Rockstar stories are great so gender does not matter.

[DONTB]

yeah, but I can't help but shake the feeling that the role won't be as fulfilling with a female lead. Like, maybe 77/100 fulfilling.

[ocelot07]

Couldn't care any less weather is female or male. As long as they don't slack on the single player so they can focus on GTA Online and their shark cards.

[Gman32]

My opinion i think they should have a male as the lead and have a woman as the second lead

[isarai]

There will obviously be very LOUD backlash due to morons, but they will just be a very loud minority. Seeing as how there are MANY successful games with female leads in them (tomb Raider, Horizon, Uncharted lost legacy, Hellblade, Nier, ETC.) i really don't think it will make a difference in terms of sales and reception just so long as it's a good character, which i mean... it's Rockstar so yeah it would be a good character.

Personally i would welcome the change, mixing things up is what keeps games interesting.

[agent4532]

This could be interesting, imagine a policewoman gone rogue turning against the police force. Playing devils advocate on both sides. Better yet, a female fatale similar to what we saw in Kill Bill.....

[solidt12]

I would love to see that!

[Pancit_Canton]

Yes, Let's changed the formula that works for more than 2 decades.. Just look what happened to Star Wars. While you're at it, changed Kratos to a female lead as well and called it Goddest of War.

[Tross]

I'm surprised this hasn't been done so far. Female gangsters/criminals may not be as commonplace as their male counterparts, but they do exist. I doubt there would be much if any in the way of a feminist agenda in a Rockstar game anyways. Diversity is only a bad thing if it comes at the expense of writing quality or other aspects of the experience.

Besides, if there is to be any "glass-ceiling raising", it will most likely amount to you having the option to be that hooker or pole-dancer for some extra cash, and if some d-bag tries to off you afterwards to get his money back, you can pump him with lead instead. Ok, and being able to do what male characters have done in the series thus far. I still don't think of Rockstar as being the company to turn the possible inclusion of a female lead into a feminism PSA, so I don't think there's reason to worry.

[PurpHerbison]

The ability to chose would be pretty nice.

[Ristul]

A character creater would solve this, get to it RS.

[Hardiman]

As long as the character is intriguing and has depth I don't care what gender or race they are! A great story is a great story!

[Artemidorus]

Just offer both genders.