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[StrongBlackVine]

Did people forget about Lara Croft? God the amount of shallowness coming from the industry's side is outstanding.

One Lara Croft versus hundreds of male protagonists. I guess you could use Lightning, but that had more to do with the brand than her. Hopefully Mirror's Edge Catalyst and Horizon do well so execs can stop being so skittish about female protagonists.

 

[Tomohawk]

They should've focus tested that hair. I immediately thought of the guy from Bionic Commando.

But dreads are cool, and less resource intensive.

 

[LudicrousSpeed]

Actually, the reboot sales were considered disappointing by Square enix so thats not a good argument to bring up.

Square considered the sales a disappointment because they were hoping it would be big enough to shoulder the losses from multiple bad bets across the board.

To compare some figures, Sony was touting that Infamous: Second Son sold a million copies in 9 days after launch (the heaviest sales period). For another SE title, Deus Ex Human Recolution sold just over 2 million in 3 months time.

Tomb Raider sold 3.5 million copies in its first month. About the only games selling more than that are the ones in the Call of Duty, Halo, GTA tier.

Square's irrational disappointment is not a mark against Tomb Raider, it's a mark against Square.

 

[Alex_Mexico]

They should've focus tested that hair. I immediately thought of the guy from Bionic Commando.

I hate this lame design with the force of a thousand suns. Especially after the wonderfully rad 80s-tastic yellow haired, sunglasses toting funny badass that he was in BC Rearmed.

But I digress.

Guerrilla: don't change a thing about Horizon's main character. She's perfect and already makes the game more interesting to me.

 

[Mr. Pointy]

I'm more annoyed that she's another redhead to be honest.

 

[John Bender]

I'm more annoyed that she's another redhead to be honest.

I love readheads @_@

 

[Alex_Mexico]

I'm more annoyed that she's another redhead to be honest.

What do you mean by "another"? Are you implying video games have a surplus of redhead female protagonists in AAA games? Because you'd be factually incorrect.

 

[Alo0oy]

Square considered the sales a disappointment because they were hoping it would be big enough to shoulder the losses from multiple bad bets across the board.

To compare some figures, Sony was touting that Infamous: Second Son sold a million copies in 9 days after launch (the heaviest sales period). For another SE title, Deus Ex Human Recolution sold just over 2 million in 3 months time.

Tomb Raider sold 3.5 million copies in its first month. About the only games selling more than that are the ones in the Call of Duty, Halo, GTA tier.

Square's irrational disappointment is not a mark against Tomb Raider, it's a mark against Square.

The TR Reboot sold as well as most Halos did anyway.

 

[unholyrevenger72]

What do you mean by "another"? Are you implying video games have a surplus of redhead female protagonists in AAA games? Because you'd be factually incorrect.

Nariko and Trip are the only ones i can think of.

 

[AusRoachman]

Don't think I've ever played a game with a female and wished I was a male or vice versa. I just accept what the devs vision was .

 

[Alex_Mexico]

Nariko and Trip are the only ones i can think of.

Pretty much the only ones I can think of too. And three hardly makes readheaded female protagonists a surplus.

 

[Ensirius]

I cannot imagine this game without the female protagonist.
She looks badass and super interesting.
Cannot wait to learn more from her.

 

[MrNyarlathotep]

Yea... If some of you think developers themselves don't bring people in early on projects for both focus and play testing fairly often, you're only kidding yourself.

That's on top of what marketing will do once a product is closer to market. Dev's do it to make a product and marketing does it to position the product.

It's just kind of a weird thing to bring up in an interview... But it's NOT a weird thing to do.

I said earlier in the thread, its not the fact that focus testing was done, its the fact that somebody thought a relevant question to present in that focus testing was "Are you sure you don't have a problem with the fact that the main character is a woman?".

Focus testing is just like surveys. You mostly get results based on what you ask, and if you ask loaded questions you get skewed results.
"What do you think of the main character?" - standard question, insight into what public perception will be.
"Do you have a problem that the main character is female?" - this should not even be a fucking thing that needs to be asked. If people were spontaneously bringing up "I don't want to play as a woman" that's one thing, but it seems as though the focus testing process was pre-emptively assuming narrow minded bigotry.

 

[EVA UNIT 01]

I love that its a female protag and her designs perfect imo.
Thought nothing would match fallout 4 for me but somehow guerilla of all devs did it.
Good job GG.

 

[Tecnniqe]

She looks awesome and looks like she fits in with everything they showed so far.

 

[Berserker976]

I'm just going to echo the people saying not to change anything about Aloy's design. It's honestly one of the most refreshing designs I've ever seen in a game.

Also, I don't know if this is the correct takeaway from this story but... isn't it kind of cool that after a bunch of focus testing this character was deemed acceptable? That alone seems like a pretty significant sign of progression.

 

[Kyoufu]

I love readheads @_@

Now I know why you like Knack!

 

[Kane1345]

She's perfect, love her design

 

[kswiston]

Actually, the reboot sales were considered disappointing by Square enix so thats not a good argument to bring up.

I think Square Enix is fine with the sales now. Tomb Raider had a long tail, even if most of those copies were sold at bargain prices.

Who knows why they decided to make the sequel platform specific though. 3 million of their 8.5M sales were on PC.

 

[SnowFlakeCake]

This has got to be a really expensive project to say the least so people in this thread saying why did focus testers need to get involved seemingly don't deal with the realms of reality. I think the game itself, such as robot fucking dinos will be enough to pull people in but if the sales of this game were to be reduced significantly due to there being a female character, then I would rather it be changed so the game flourishes on a sales perspective. That's because I've never cared about whom I play as but some people do, thankfully in this instance the focus testing showed that there being a female character did not put gamers off but if it did I would rather have the character changed.

Reality is that if the game sells like shit, chances are that's the last we will ever see of this franchise and probably a lot of people would lose their jobs.

 

[Doosi]

 

[Zoetis]

no riding robos

 

[Gbraga]

Noooo, her hair is amazing, the way it moves is fantastic. Don't change a thing about her, GORILLA GAMES.

Actually, there's one thing they could add: The ability to climb dinobots.

 

[Finale Fireworker]

They should've focus tested that hair. I immediately thought of the guy from Bionic Commando.

She's basically a cavewoman.

Dreads make sense.

 

[chiimisu]

Lol, the first thing I've thought of when I saw the MC.

 

[LegendofDragoonLives]

I'm just going to echo the people saying not to change anything about Aloy's design. It's honestly one of the most refreshing designs I've ever seen in a game.

Also, I don't know if this is the correct takeaway from this story but... isn't it kind of cool that after a bunch of focus testing this character was deemed acceptable? That alone seems like a pretty significant sign of progression.

Either way, I hope they don't listen to focus testers too much. Since I hear that focus testers hated TLOU's ending, I am more and more wary of their opinions. Use them as decent examples rather than end all be all.

Saying that to add to the many sentiments of others here, I really enjoy her design. I care more about her character and her storyline though, and I am hoping they nail that aspect.

 

[Tevious]

I wish companies would quit worrying about stuff like this. It didn't even phase me while watching the trailer that the protagonist is a woman, but then I'm not sexist.

My friend showed me a recent Q&A with Kate Mulgrew and she was talking about how she had all these producers examining her performance every day after getting the part for Captain Janeway on Voyager. They had male captains ready to jump in and take her place if they didn't think she would work out (as a female captain). It's a shame things haven't really changed since the 90's or at least the video game market hasn't gotten past this yet.

 

[mentallyinept]

People, can we put the dreads talk to bed already?

She doesn't have dreadlocks, they are braids.

Observe:

HQ Source: http://images.gamersyde.com/image_horizon_zero_dawn-28643-3283_0005.jpg

 

[John Bender]

Now I know why you like Knack!

How can you not love him?

 

[Brunobi02]

No wonder Sony let MS get the Rise of the Tomb Raider exclusive.

For now........

 

[LegendofDragoonLives]

4.5 years

3 of said years were only around 20 or so people

It's only after Shadowfall shipped that the whole studio is on-board.

It's hard to measure development cost when a large bulk of the time they're basically an internal indie team

Do you have a link for this or are you guessing? because Naughty Dog has 50 people working on another game while most of the work on Uncharted 4. They have 258 people. GG has 270+ people. I really doubt only 20 people were working on this.

My friend showed me a recent Q&A with Kate Mulgrew and she was talking about how she had all these producers examining her performance every day after getting the part for Captain Janeway on Voyager. They had male captains ready to jump in and take her place if they didn't think she would work out (as a female captain). It's a shame things haven't really changed since the 90's or at least the video game market hasn't gotten past this yet.

The market is improving. It's not where it needs to be, but it is improving. It's annoying that people pick black and white in regards to this issue.

 

[deadman69]

Redhaired female. Nerds eat that shit up.

 

[RDreamer]

Why are people so surprised that they're nervous? As someone else here pointed out, I don't think there's been any other open world RPG with an exclusively female protagonist. That's kind of a big genre where the fans really like to put themselves into the role of the character. Look at all the arguments and talk about romance options the Dragon Age series gets. Also look at how few actually chose a female main character in something like Mass Effect.

I'm glad they were able to go with their gut and vision, though. Can't wait to play the game.

 

[sometimes i game]

Why are people so surprised that they're nervous?

You know what's weird? You can argue Bryce Dallas Howard is the main character in Jurassic World. The dude is the supporting character. But the commercials would never have you think that.

It's not surprising, it's just sad, and it shouldn't be an issue. A good story is a good story. Hunger Games starred a woman, Tomb Raider stars a woman, media doesn't always need to center around a white dude. But it tends to.

Actually, the reboot sales were considered disappointing by Square enix so thats not a good argument to bring up.

Square was crazy. They wanted to sell something like 8 million units, for a reboot that needed to prove itself in a crowded market.

It sold 3.5 million, and the moment Square said that was disappointing/a failure, every gaming blog called them nuts for months whenever they wrote about them.

 

[silvermember]

I said earlier in the thread, its not the fact that focus testing was done, its the fact that somebody thought a relevant question to present in that focus testing was "Are you sure you don't have a problem with the fact that the main character is a woman?".

Focus testing is just like surveys. You mostly get results based on what you ask, and if you ask loaded questions you get skewed results.
"What do you think of the main character?" - standard question, insight into what public perception will be.
"Do you have a problem that the main character is female?" - this should not even be a fucking thing that needs to be asked. If people were spontaneously bringing up "I don't want to play as a woman" that's one thing, but it seems as though the focus testing process was pre-emptively assuming narrow minded bigotry.

There is nothing inherently wrong with focus testing it. This is something company executive do to protect themselves in case of a bomb.

As a matter of fact if the game bombs they can argue it certainly wasn't due to the main lead being a woman. Since they have the test to back it up.

We shouldn't need to focus test, but given gamer gate and given the fact that it is a new franchise with a AAA budget, I don't think it is wrong. As an executive I am going a focus test to protect my ass.

 

[pixellated_man]

Great character design. Don't you dare change a thing about her Guerilla.
She definitely talks to herself a little too much though.

 

[machemachete]

I didn't like her, looked too rough for my taste.

 

[Big Green Anus]

How can you not love him?

My man!!

 

[Summoner]

......Square was crazy. They wanted to sell something like 8 million units, for a reboot that needed to prove itself in a crowded market.

It sold 3.5 million, and the moment Square said that was disappointing/a failure, every gaming blog called them nuts for months whenever they wrote about them.

3.5 million is kinda low for a huge budget AAA game for a console base in excess of 150+ million. That's where they're coming from, so they were happy to take MS money for the sequel to offset the risk.

As for this topic, I don't care what gender/race/being my character is because I don't immerse with a character when I play a game. They are just a means to an end, I care more for the gameplay and journey as well as the payoff at the end.

I don't understand why people care about the character resembling them, we play games to escape realism, not bring it to the fantasy world of video games.

 

[FranXico]

Great character design. Don't you dare change a thing about her Guerilla.
She definitely talks to herself a little too much though.

This, she suffers of Nathanitis.

 

[nampad]

Yoshida is afraid of everything that doesn't fit his PS4 mainstream AAA bill.

 

[szaromir]

Nariko and Trip are the only ones i can think of.

Pretty much the only ones I can think of too. And three hardly makes readheaded female protagonists a surplus.

You should play less AAA games. Plenty of redheaded women in games out there.

 

[silvermember]

Yoshida is afraid of everything that doesn't fit his PS4 mainstream AAA bill.

If that was true he wouldn't have greenlighted projects like dream or beyond.

Also it is easy to make remarks when your job is not on the line.

 

[Koobion]

Love this character's look. She's definitely part of the reason this was my favorite game from e3.

 

[SolidSnakex]

Yoshida is afraid of everything that doesn't fit his PS4 mainstream AAA bill.

You're saying this about the head of a studio that showed The Last Guardian, Dreams and this at E3.

 

[SeanTSC]

People, can we put the dreads talk to bed already?

She doesn't have dreadlocks, they are braids.

Observe:

HQ Source: http://images.gamersyde.com/image_horizon_zero_dawn-28643-3283_0005.jpg

Yeah, I said that a while back too. I don't know how people can think those are Dreads. Did you guys all forget what Braids are and look like?

Also, red heads are the best. There's always room for more red heads.

 

[Zakalwe]

Noooo, her hair is amazing, the way it moves is fantastic. Don't change a thing about her, GORILLA GAMES.

It's threads like these that ruin games. As we type Sony are focus testing whether to go with bangs or pigtails.

Good one guys.

 

[DeepEnigma]

It's threads like these that ruin games. As we type Sony are focus testing whether to go with bangs or pigtails.

Good one guys.

Right?

I think her model is perfect. Do NOT change the hair.

 

[Deified Data]

People, can we put the dreads talk to bed already?

She doesn't have dreadlocks, they are braids.

Observe:

HQ Source: http://images.gamersyde.com/image_horizon_zero_dawn-28643-3283_0005.jpg

It's plainly obvious. I don't know why it's still a thing. With all the talk over Aloy you'd think people would, you know, look at her.

 

[autoduelist]

I said earlier in the thread, its not the fact that focus testing was done, its the fact that somebody thought a relevant question to present in that focus testing was "Are you sure you don't have a problem with the fact that the main character is a woman?".

Focus testing is just like surveys. You mostly get results based on what you ask, and if you ask loaded questions you get skewed results.
"What do you think of the main character?" - standard question, insight into what public perception will be.
"Do you have a problem that the main character is female?" - this should not even be a fucking thing that needs to be asked. If people were spontaneously bringing up "I don't want to play as a woman" that's one thing, but it seems as though the focus testing process was pre-emptively assuming narrow minded bigotry.

It's far more likely the questions are more like:

"Did you find the main character appealing?"
"Did you identify with the main character?"
"Did you enjoy playing as the main character?"

Not the nonsense, biased questions you're presupposing in order to get angry. I mean, how do we know the question wasn't ""What do you think of the main character?" and that they simply paid special attention to gender references?

Focus testing makes sense. Games like Heavenly Sword and Beyond did not sell to expectations and it's only natural they want to ensure this character resonates with players.

Fabricated controversy based on not understanding that gender, does, in fact, affect potential profit if approached incorrectly. Focus testing helps them ensure they aren't messing up.

Unless, of course, someone leaked the document earlier in the thread and I missed it, and it had your questions like '"Are you sure you don't have a problem with the fact that the main character is a woman?". But even if it did? Makes sense - they want to make sure it's not a problem. Many things, including gender, impact our ability to identify with a protagonist. It's not a big deal.