Main character too hot - don't wanna play game

TridenT

Lifer
Sep 4, 2006
16,800
45
91
Ever have the issue where the main character is too attractive? I don't like having characters in video games that are attractive. For me, it's very distracting and takes away from the gameplay in the same sense that a very attractive actress will take away from a movie. (Even if they're just in one scene. It completely takes me out of the film because I'm distracted by how attractive they were. I no longer focus on the subject of the film, I'm focusing on how hot they were.) It's obviously a personal issue but I have no idea how to get around it. (If at all possible) It doesn't make everything impossible, just more difficult and less enjoyable.

I started playing Tomb Raider (2013) on my PC today because it came with my 7970 that I bought a year ago. Besides the lack of realism (She has Captain America athleticism while having multiple major surgery wounds) and boring gameplay... She's way too pretty/hot for me to not be constantly distracted. If she was just wearing a t-shirt or even just fucking naked, no big deal. I'd look once and move on. But, you know, they gotta go with the tank top for the sales. And tank tops are the worst kind of clothing sin. They give you more than enough to be interested and you just keep looking. I like the direction they took her but the present clothing choices leaves me wishing they just put her in a burqa.
 

xantub

Senior member
Feb 12, 2014
717
1
46
I didn't find her attractive at all, mostly because she was always covered in mud and blood. Some may find that attractive I guess? but not me.
 

Zenoth

Diamond Member
Jan 29, 2005
5,201
214
106
I'm not really sure what to say about this...

Play games with a male protagonist?

This is a genuine, serious suggestion by the way. Additionally, if you want to or prefer playing as a female character then I'd suggest to play them in games in which you can create them (character creation), such as Skyrim or one of the million MMORPGs out there. Although in most cases that wouldn't necessarily help, since most of the time character creation keeps a very attractive / athletic body (body is usually fixed, cannot be changed much, if not at all except perhaps for the height) while only the face can be changed. I have to say, however, that by default and without mods you can end up with a pretty good result in Skyrim when it comes to "realism" versus "attraction" when creating your [female] character.

As far as Tomb Raider is concerned... well that's subjective, I myself found her to be relatively attractive (so so, she's cute, kinda) but throughout most of the game she's indeed covered in mud, blood, has obviously-crippling injuries (despite of course the fact that she exaggeratedly pulls through all that ordeal Wonder Woman-style) and the actual context of the game isn't exactly encouraging me to put my imagination to work in places that doesn't belong to it (to the context, I.E. trying to survive, saving your skin, helping your friends, figuring out what in the great heck is going on on that forsaken island, etc). I saw it as an adventure that really distracted me AWAY from looking at her butt constantly.

Also have you tried the original Mass Effect? It wasn't bad at all, I thought that by default female Shepard has a "Miss Joey" everyone type of "fit"-enough body without any disproportionate measurements on her breast or her back (not exactly coming out of the gym like a real athlete, but she doesn't look like she dines at fast foods on the Citadel all day long, 'ya know). Starting with Mass Effect 2 it took another route (cleavage galore, Shepard's breast suddenly grew, Liara's breasts too, and women going in space with cat-woman-style suits, and Jack... do I have to continue?) but the first one was alright in that regard.

If none of the above really helps then my final suggestion would be:

1) As a reiteration, play male characters (if you have the choice between genders)...

or

2) Avoid anything "modern" that has enough polygon counts that make you forget that you're just looking at said polygons, and instead rely on older perhaps 2D-exclusive games in which you play as a woman, maybe with a complete body suit that covers all obvious feminine curves and hides any possible direct visual contact with her "skin" (I.E, texture on polygon). Maybe give a shot to Super Metroid?

I'm not being rude here, I'm just surprised to read about a case like yours, to be honest.
 

DigDog

Lifer
Jun 3, 2011
14,330
2,794
126
the only time i thought a character in a video game was "hot" was with jo beth casey in timesplitters 3.

and i spent one hour frame-freezing the cutscene so i could watch that one frame of panties.

jo-beth-casey-cartoon.jpg
 

ImpulsE69

Lifer
Jan 8, 2010
14,946
1,077
126
I can't say this has ever been an issue. I guess because I've been with real women? I mean, men are men, and we're pervs, so sure I get with graphic detail like it is we find some of it erotic, but distracting enough not to play? Just rub one out and carry on. Not sure how this is an issue.
 

AyashiKaibutsu

Diamond Member
Jan 24, 2004
9,306
4
81
I think you need to see a therapist... or go to a swingers club... You clearly have some issues that need to be worked out.
 

ThinClient

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2013
3,977
4
0
Ever have the issue where the main character is too attractive? I don't like having characters in video games that are attractive. For me, it's very distracting and takes away from the gameplay in the same sense that a very attractive actress will take away from a movie. (Even if they're just in one scene. It completely takes me out of the film because I'm distracted by how attractive they were. I no longer focus on the subject of the film, I'm focusing on how hot they were.) It's obviously a personal issue but I have no idea how to get around it. (If at all possible) It doesn't make everything impossible, just more difficult and less enjoyable.

I started playing Tomb Raider (2013) on my PC today because it came with my 7970 that I bought a year ago. Besides the lack of realism (She has Captain America athleticism while having multiple major surgery wounds) and boring gameplay... She's way too pretty/hot for me to not be constantly distracted. If she was just wearing a t-shirt or even just fucking naked, no big deal. I'd look once and move on. But, you know, they gotta go with the tank top for the sales. And tank tops are the worst kind of clothing sin. They give you more than enough to be interested and you just keep looking. I like the direction they took her but the present clothing choices leaves me wishing they just put her in a burqa.

Beta.
 

Stringjam

Golden Member
Jun 30, 2011
1,871
33
91
I think I understand what the OP is referring to.

And yeah, I think the same thing in movies. You watch some dark, dramatic movie in dire circumstances and they dress up the actresses like they just came out of a salon or off the runway.

It's cheesy and it detracts from any real sense of immersion.

I'm not talking about games where that's a reasonable aesthetic, but games where the actress obviously has more important things to do than spend 4 hours doing hair and makeup before crawling out of the rubble.

I think it's just a cheap and easy way for developers to try to attract more teenagers. They older I get and the more I start looking for some kind of substance, the more annoying it gets.

The internet has no shortage of airbrushed, unrealistic sex toys to look at, so please leave that crap out of my game.
 

Subyman

Moderator <br> VC&G Forum
Mar 18, 2005
7,876
32
86
I think I understand what the OP is referring to.

And yeah, I think the same thing in movies. You watch some dark, dramatic movie in dire circumstances and they dress up the actresses like they just came out of a salon or off the runway.

It's cheesy and it detracts from any real sense of immersion.

I'm not talking about games where that's a reasonable aesthetic, but games where the actress obviously has more important things to do than spend 4 hours doing hair and makeup before crawling out of the rubble.

I think it's just a cheap and easy way for developers to try to attract more teenagers. They older I get and the more I start looking for some kind of substance, the more annoying it gets.

The internet has no shortage of airbrushed, unrealistic sex toys to look at, so please leave that crap out of my game.

Oblivion is the game for you :)

I see where you are coming from. IMO, games aren't as bad at making everyone hot as movies are. Sure the protagonists usually aren't ugly, but in most movies even all the extras are gorgeous lol.