"ASK JJB" - Video PODCAST Q&As: See 1st post/1st page for full list

[Brock]

Latest Ask JJB: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGWyJgVw9zs

[TrickyVein]

Great! Hey, that was Ilves's wasn't it? Fem-AJ? Nice shout-out there.

[AgentOrange]

Originally Posted by Ashpolt

Ah, sorry, thought that was common knowledge on here by now. I'll update my post accordingly.

[EDIT] Agent Orange, can you edit your post to spoiler out the sensitive information as well please?

Yeah, I edited it so it's the same as your post now.

[Viktoria]

Originally Posted by Brock

Latest Ask JJB: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGWyJgVw9zs

Excellent! Thank you.

First page summary, and thread title, updated.

[MrFoxter]

Originally Posted by TrickyVein

Great! Hey, that was Ilves's wasn't it? Fem-AJ? Nice shout-out there.

Definitely.

Nothing new, but it's always nice to watch Mary and/or JJB talking about their game.

Also try to watch it with 1911 filter. I lol'd

[killfish]

These arguments are pretty weak. Playing as a woman has always been my fantasy :/

[Reven]

Female characters are always more interesting then males. they might as well just say that games with female leads don't sell as well as ones with male leads.

[pha]

Nice shirt.

[TrickyVein]

Originally Posted by killfish

These arguments are pretty weak. Playing as a woman has always been my fantasy :/

Arguments? Weak? Did we listen to the same woman?

What is your reasoning for wanting to play as a female lead? For the novelty of it? Because it might have been a possibility at one time?

M/F Alex in Invisi war was so incredibly dull...accommodating both sexes turned the main character into this sexless dork with absolutley no relationship to any of the people he/she (I'll just call Alex "It") encountered along the way.

Relationships you have with other people, the things you expect from each other, how you treat each other, all depend so heavily on gender/sex whatever you want to call it. The story would be much less interesting if it was written to accommodate both a female and a male lead. Or you'd have to significantly extend the development time in order to write two different stories to preserve the same quality of storytelling.

[AgentOrange]

Originally Posted by TrickyVein

Arguments? Weak? Did we listen to the same woman?

What is your reasoning for wanting to play as a female lead? For the novelty of it? Because it might have been a possibility at one time?

M/F Alex in Invisi war was so incredibly dull...accommodating both sexes turned the main character into this sexless dork with absolutley no relationship to any of the people he/she (I'll just call Alex "It") encountered along the way.

Relationships you have with other people, the things you expect from each other, how you treat each other, all depend so heavily on gender/sex whatever you want to call it. The story would be much less interesting if it was written to accommodate both a female and a male lead. Or you'd have to significantly extend the development time in order to write two different stories to preserve the same quality of storytelling.

Agreed, I prefer a deep and interesting character over being able to choose his gender but having a character without any personality...

[iamsunny]

Does anyone have a link to this thread (or just the pictures) mentioned in this video about Adam as a female character?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGWyJgVw9zs

[Viktoria]

Originally Posted by killfish

Playing as a woman has always been my fantasy :/

I must admit, it's wonderful to be a woman. We know how to have fun.

[TrickyVein]

MyImmortal, that is a dangerously open-ended statement.

[Shralla]

Originally Posted by MyImmortal

I must admit, it's wonderful to be a woman. We know how to have fun.

There are definite advantages, but I'll take the ability to pee standing up and making more money any day.

[killfish]

Originally Posted by TrickyVein

Arguments? Weak? Did we listen to the same woman?

What is your reasoning for wanting to play as a female lead? For the novelty of it? Because it might have been a possibility at one time?

M/F Alex in Invisi war was so incredibly dull...accommodating both sexes turned the main character into this sexless dork with absolutley no relationship to any of the people he/she (I'll just call Alex "It") encountered along the way.

Relationships you have with other people, the things you expect from each other, how you treat each other, all depend so heavily on gender/sex whatever you want to call it. The story would be much less interesting if it was written to accommodate both a female and a male lead. Or you'd have to significantly extend the development time in order to write two different stories to preserve the same quality of storytelling.

Without any disrespect to Mary Demarle, what bothers me is her one sided-reasoning. When asked, she replied "the reactions and dialogues wouldn't match, the other characters won't even talk to you like you are a woman...". She gives the impression that alternative reactions or dialogues, respective to the gender of the character, are not even feasible. Writers need to think more outside the box as well. Even if you can't implement the idea, you should at least be aware of your alternatives.

If they gave solid excuses, like time and money constraints or other resources then it would be a more valid excuse. But really, it's like you wrote something then make up reasons to justify it. Common practice amongst today's writers.

P.S My english sucks.

[spyhopping]

I can't say why, but I tend to enjoy male protagonists more.

Originally Posted by MyImmortal

I must admit, it's wonderful to be a woman. We know how to have fun.

Originally Posted by Shralla

There are definite advantages, but I'll take the ability to pee standing up and making more money any day.

Yeah alright, that's fairly useful. But I'm extremely glad that I'm not a man. Nothing personal.

[Pinky_Powers]

Originally Posted by killfish

She gives the impression that alternative reactions or dialogues, respective to the gender of the character, are not even feasible.

Not if you have any context as to who these people are and the company's history. This is their first game. This is Montréal's first RPG. Even creating what they did create required them to learn and figure it out every step of the way. Giving us a female Jensen would have quadrupled their work load, and they weren't experienced enough to handle the sheer complexity of the idea.

Bioware can do these things because they've been doing it forever. Eidos Montréal needs to work themselves up to a level where they feel they can handle it.

Mary DeMarle's reasons were not week. It was merely the indomitable reality of their situation.

For myself, I'd like a strong female protagonist in a Deus Ex game. I look forward to the possibility that EM may find themselves equal to the challenge, sometime down the road.

[Shralla]

I wouldn't mind a game that was just about a woman as the main character, as opposed to having a choice. There aren't enough of them, especially ones where the main characters psyche and personality is explored in-depth.

Might help us guys understand women better.

[donnyfranco]

Originally Posted by killfish

Without any disrespect to Mary Demarle, what bothers me is her one sided-reasoning. When asked, she replied "the reactions and dialogues wouldn't match, the other characters won't even talk to you like you are a woman...". She gives the impression that alternative reactions or dialogues, respective to the gender of the character, are not even feasible. Writers need to think more outside the box as well. Even if you can't implement the idea, you should at least be aware of your alternatives.

If they gave solid excuses, like time and money constraints or other resources then it would be a more valid excuse. But really, it's like you wrote something then make up reasons to justify it. Common practice amongst today's writers.

P.S My english sucks.

Well sure its legitimate to express concerns towards "one sided reasoning". Nevertheless, Mary de Marle also said that their goal was indeed to create a strong personality within the game. That being said, it seems logically to reduce the story to one gender since having two genders in-game weakens the whole story telling. Well, that is not only due to amounts of time and dedication to all the facets of gender change, but also simply because of laying down your focus of attention to only one person, in fact.
Edit: What Pinky said above >feasibility< is a very valid point of course

Besides, who else was lol when watching Mary d' M and JJB's talk about Adam(aka JJB) being sexy?

[Viktoria]

Originally Posted by TrickyVein

MyImmortal, that is a dangerously open-ended statement.

I'm sorry. Pinky has been a very bad influence on me.

[Cronstintein]

I think a female protagonist would be a cool way to go for the possible sequel. I found female Sheppard to be vastly superior in mass effect, though that was likely 99% the voice actor... and they look better in light armor

Besides, who else was lol when watching Mary d' M and JJB's talk about Adam(aka JJB) being sexy?

Yeah I was certainly chuckling at the subtext there.

[TrickyVein]

Right...

It's a conscious design decision. IF after playing the game and you find a male AJ to have been shallow, than perhaps you'd be in a better position to criticize why AJ couldn't have been a woman.

Reasoning aside, if it works, it works, and any kind of thought process that brought you from pt. A to pt. B is largely m00t at this point (but not totally)

Also, the comment from Mary was taken from the context that being able to play as fem-AJ in a world designed for male AJ would be awkward and inappropriate. It's not that she can't think outside of the box. If AJ had been designed as a woman from the very beginning than other characters, like Sarif, would have been designed differently to accommodate this fact.

[Viktoria]

Originally Posted by Cronstintein

Yeah I was certainly chuckling at the subtext there.

Me too.

[Pinky_Powers]

I thought I sensed a rather potent aroma of flirtatiousness between them for most of the podcast. I couldn't help think they'd been at each other in the breakroom everyday for the past week.

[Kvltism]

Originally Posted by Pinky_Powers

I thought I sensed a rather potent aroma of flirtatiousness between them for most of the podcast. I couldn't help think they'd been at each other in the breakroom everyday for the past week.

Or they could just have a really relaxed, friendly environment among the dev team hahah. That's how I am with my female friends; conversation flows and we can make other laugh easily without flirting as such.

Originally Posted by Shralla

I wouldn't mind a game that was just about a woman as the main character, as opposed to having a choice. There aren't enough of them, especially ones where the main characters psyche and personality is explored in-depth.

I concur.

On a somewhat related note, the "He's got somethin'" moment was gold. It made me think that having a woman in one of the "head honcho" roles would be interesting.