Hello Howard

[Capuut Mortum]

Well, Howard "just a regular guy. like you...". Please, game developers, stop assuming all gamers are male.

[defunct profile]

I thought the same thing when I watched the trailer. There's nothing wrong with male protagonists, except that they're a dime a dozen and not at all representative or inclusive. =\

[Maidev]

Well even female protagonists arent really like normal women. He could have also mean im just a regular person, not assuming we are all guys. like when i say hey you guys! i dont mean, hey all you men around me!

[Heisenberg]

Hey, you know you're doing something right if the feminists start picking at you.

[Capuut Mortum]

Maidev: You are probably right, it´s most certainly a question of language. But for me it really sounded like they just did not give the script a second thought, and that reveals something about the game developers...

[Eski]

Originally posted by Callmepotato83:

Hey, you know you're doing something right if the feminists start picking at you.

You win the internet for today.

[Worst DPS EU]

Can't they compromise and make the person 80% male, 19% female and 1% 'other' - a sort of acceptable combination of politically correct elements in the gaming community. Or just add a shoe shop.

[Goldcat99]

ffs why would you even care? my god.

[Shadowspaz]

Originally posted by Capuut Mortum:

Maidev: You are probably right, it´s most certainly a question of language. But for me it really sounded like they just did not give the script a second thought, and that reveals something about the game developers...

It reveals something about the devs? Really? All I can see it revealing is that they didn't find it necessary to be overly-cautious in their word choice, because, god forbid, they might offend someone with their ambiguity. What could they possibly have been thinking when they included "like you" in the script? Clearly, they wanted to alienate you, and think all women belong in the kitchen. Screw these guys, right?

[Fitzmogwai]

You know what, it's a very good point. The script is still being very heavily worked on, and I'll take this up with the rest of the team. It's always good to be reminded occasionally of one's own blind spots and thoughtless assumptions. Thank you!

[AshStancill]

Okay, going back to the main point at hand.

Originally posted by Capuut Mortum:

Well, Howard "just a regular guy. like you...". Please, game developers, stop assuming all gamers are male.

The thread was about assuming the gamers are male, - nothing to do with whether the protagonist is male or female. So on that point;

Howard says in the trailer "I’m just a regular guy, like you"
This does not mean in any way that we are assuming you are a male.
The 'Like you' is referring to the word 'regular'. Howard was just stating that he is a guy.

It wouldn't work if he said "I’m just a regular guy and|or girl, like you"

Sure, we could say "I’m just a regular person, like you" - But cmon, how derogatory does that sound!?

--
Bottom line. Game developers, especially us, do not assume all gamers are male.

[AvatarIII]

Honestly, I feel like the word "guy" has no gender alignment any more, if I walk into a room full of my friends, both male and female, and say "hi guys", I am not only addressing the males in the room., I'm talking to everyone. the term "guy" has been used for years to mean "extra life" in video games, whether you are playing Mario or Metroid, so, yeah, guy is a unisex term, in my opinion.

[Mrmoneybags1]

I think the OP is reading way too much into the character naration in the trailer. Either that or she is trying to find something to be offended about.

[Hali]

I agree with AvatarIII, guy just sounds like a general term to me since it's used for anyone. I honestly felt the main character was just saying "I'm just like anyone else". I mean, his interests that he listed aren't gender specific. (pizza, beer, games and movies)
A bit off topic but I personally like how this game is inspired by the LSD game, I even thought about making something similar myself but it looks like I was too slow :P I'll definitely be trying this out!

[FLU]

Originally posted by Capuut Mortum:

Well, Howard "just a regular guy. like you...". Please, game developers, stop assuming all gamers are male.

Stop look for a cause, you social justice warrior. It's a narrative based game, not a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ power fantasy.

[oddball eyeball]

So who exactly should be offended by the stereotype? Men who are automatically assumed to be gamers, or women, who are not? Not sure I would have ever asked that question before playing the Stanley Parable, though.