I was just browsing YouTube when I read a comment "explaning" why game companies always used androgynous heroes (I believe in this case, it was to explain the pretty-boy looks of the FFXIII Versus guy that other viewers were complaining about).

The viewer stated that game companies use androgynous characters because they are more "complicated" than straight-out masculine/feminine characters.

I just... don't believe that. I firmly believe that current companies use androgynous heroes because they know it's the flavour of the day--that it's among what gets female gamers' attentions (and to ward off any sexism comments, I believe companies use attractive female characters to lure in male gamers, so it's even). This is not to say that female gamers are totally shallow creatures who lap up anything with a pretty boy in it, and it is also not to say that every company uses androgynous heroes--but androgynous heroes certainly don't hurt to have.

But the crux of the issue--androgynous characters are more "complicated"? What does that mean? Do boys who look feminine automatically become deeper characters? I humbly disagree; Yazoo was damned androgynous but he didn't strike me as being any more complicated than Loz.

I guess what bothers me is the idea that clearly masculine/feminine characters are considered "simple". And it's not always the gamer/viewer's fault. It explains why, even after nearly 10 years, Barret still gets the short end of the stick in terms of screentime and fandom. (Funnily enough, Cid isn't androgynous, but is still more popular...) The masculine, buff guy is usually the staple idiot of most anime/games, fitting in with the "muscles over [grey] matter" stereotype. The feminine, soft-spoken female is summed up as a "damsel in distress" by both fans and, sometimes, the series itself.

This ends up making for cutboard cut-outs of characters, "moulds" to fill the places and buff up the number of your party, with no depth given to them. If writers know the fans will only concentrate on the androgynous characters, what are the odds most of the effort will go into those types of characters? Not that I'm complaining at having more bishounen, but it would be INCREDIBLY boring if all characters ended up like that. You need Loz's masculine looks to compare with Yazoo's femininity and Kadaj's childlikeness. But I don't want Loz to be just "there", I want him to be every bit as deep and involved as the pretties.

And the biggest shame is when there ARE good, solid non-androgynous characters out there--but they get shafted by fandom anyway.

I always blame it on Bridget's popularity from Guilty Gear. You know he claims he's a straight guy and he's crossdressing?

So now, I get to see various guys who looks like a girl, dresses like a girl, but can claim he's not gay. It's really really weird.

As for more complicated that's not necessarily true. The issue is, and we have to admit it, that bishies sells. A lot. There's something to be said to fangirls in general.

I think how complicated the characters are really doesn't help in people buying the games or appreciating them. It's more of their looks - just look at Barret for instance. (Poor guy. T__T) People (fangirls) just don't appreciate him as much as other guy characters because he's not a)angsty and/or b)pretty.

And bishies really do sell well. I know people who just love yaoi (!) and pretty guys. It's really popular nowadays, so Square and other gaming companies are just being smart and exploiting that love of bishies, along with some angst. Girls love guys with problems. <3

Although I find it kinda weird that fanboy nag fangirls on their love of pretty guys (can't really agree on that love though XD) when they just love masculine girls - y'know, not those uber-muscled ones, but those who are just so tough and kick ass and deliver fanservice at the same time.

(Not that I don't appreciate those above-mentioned type of characters. Just saying. XD)

Bridget was born into a village where it was thought that twin boys with bad luck and put shame on a family's name, so he was a raised as a girl. Though we've never found out who his twin is, Bridget is a gay/shota icon anyway, alla "Guys go gay for Bridget" xD

Back on the topic, I've never really fallen into this sort of fandom. I'm not really a fan of the angsty type characters, and some characters who fall into bishie style I don't really like because they usually turn out to be the angst style. I'm more of a fan of the upbeat and cheerful personality which I why I loved Zidane as he was a break from Squall and Cloud.

I definately agree with that Bloodbath, it always happens like during the late 90s when some female fans nagged guys drooling over Lara Croft when the guys were counter attacking with Cloud. Everything in the game industry is somehow related to fanservice nowadays.