1.
Aesthetic Perspective ("If Im looking at a character for hours...")
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Some men say:
If Im going to stare at a character on screen for 40 hours, Id rather it be a woman.
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Its about enjoying the visual design or animation of the character.
2.
Role-Playing & Escapism
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Choosing a female character can feel like
exploring an identity
they cant in real life.
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It allows them to role-play from a different perspective, test different dialogue choices, or experience alternate social dynamics in-game.
3.
Game Mechanics
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Sometimes female characters have different stats, move sets, or hitboxes (often smaller/lighter/faster in fighting games).
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A male player might just find them
mechanically better
or more fun to play.
4.
Social Factors
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In multiplayer games, some men feel they get treated differently (sometimes even better) if they use a female avatar.
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On the flip side, others do it for anonymity or to play with how people respond to them socially online.
5.
Psychological Attraction
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Theres also a subtle identification effect: some men feel more attached to or invested in the story if the protagonist is someone theyre attracted to.
6.
Subversion / Fun
-
For some, its just
fun to break gender expectations
. Playing a female character feels like shaking things up compared to their real-life identity.
All of the above except for 3 and 4
There's also something awesome/sexy about a woman being powerful and kicking ass. Guys being powerful and kicking ass is kind of clich now - which can be kind of boring.