According to Kotaku, Blizzard went ahead and changed the look of the male blood elf player model in the World of Warcraft expansion based on player feedback that that the model looked "too feminine".

I find it interesting that a bunch of fuss is being made over a player model. This isn't something that effects gameplay at all - just how people appear in game. I don't play WoW myself, but I did try it at one point and from what I've heard customization is an issue in general - so who care what you look like as a certain race/class if everyone looks the same way? Are people that attached to their characters in a game where customization really isn't that flexible?

Does anyone think maybe the community over reacted? Would you not play a game because the main character "looks stupid/terrible/feminine (if its a guy) or masculine (if its a girl)?"? Thoughts?

I don't like Sam Fisher, they should use Kaori. With some creative thinking, the designers could find another way for her to equip Sam's headlights.

People will still play the game, but there is no reason why they should not be heard by the developer. In role playing games, customization is key. It is true that there isn't much customization, but if players feel like a race looks bad, they should be able to get Blizzard (or any developer) to change it.

As a role player, you want your character to be interesting and often to fit in with your own personality. If you can't "mesh" with your character because of its looks, then you won't like it as much as you normally would. Some of the races, I don't play because I don't like how they look. Others, I don't like their starting location/quests.

For role playing games, all of this is important.

You're stuck with that character and their looks for quite some time in an MMORPG. It had better look good, because in WoW at least, there's no going back.

Customization is indeed a big deal to MMO players, but let's face it, most of the male models in WoW look ridiculous anyway. I know it's just my opinion, but I think a Human Female Rogue looks cooler than a Human Male Rogue. Not to mention the fact that they end up covered in giant padded metal things later on anyway. I spent hours customizing my character in EQII only to realize days later that most of the tweaks I made aren't noticeable at all unless I walk around in my skivvies.

I'd also like to point out that Male Night Elves dance like strippers. Yet a "feminine" Blood Elf is too much? Mmmmm kaaaay...

I always preferred the female models for casters, with the exception of undead and gnome males. This was mainly due to my preference that my mage/warlock/priests be frail, yet powerful; NOT body builders.

I dont mind playing either sex in an MMO, so long ad they look pretty cool.

I think its a bit of a fuss to make over male Blood Elves looking feminine, but it could also stem from the fact that perhaps the image of a blood elf is a bit more tougher, and a frailer looking one would not fit the character.

I don't like playing as a male character who looks feminine. It disturbed me for example in Magna Carta: Tears of Blood.

Oh, you finally agreed with me, Oleg.

Yes, that game had too many flaws, I agree with you. But it wasn't that bad.

And don't try telling me you didn't like the size of the female characters'... ehhh... uh... you know what I mean :)~

I do think the way a character looks is important when playing a game. Take, for instance, Raiden from Metal Gear Solid 2. Ok, wasn't just the looks, but everything on him that made me take a time away from the game. Any Metal Gear fan would agree that Snake is one of the coolest characters in gaming history (despite all clichés).

That's actually one of the reasons I dislike anime. Somehow. media that contains femmy, huge-eyed, pointy-chinned "boys" doesn't sit right with me. But then most hardcore anime fans are weirdoes anyway.

I've noticed that Blizzard has started to incorporate a strong anime flavour to their artwork in recent games.

I actually enjoy various forms of anime. And the characters you refer to have never bothered me because that is the anime style. You expect it. I certainly never complained about the characters in FF just because they are look like anime character rather than "Western" characters (ie. characters with realistic hair and bodies). I will admit that I don't particularly like anime swords, though... swinging a sword that is longer than you are tall is a bit rediculous. Oh, well... I still like anime. :D

Bleach FTW! Giant sword cliches aside, I still love Bleach.

But yeah, I tend to prefer kick-ass looking girls over dorky looking guys anyways. Chances are, I'd just choose a female Blood Elf if I still played WoW.

My guess for this is to attract more of the Asian audience... Getting WoW accessible to the Chinese market before the government locked down the MMO situation over there was clutch for them.

Raiden is an interesting case because Kojima wanted to open up the franchise to a whole new audience by making the character more accessible to people (apparently from an interview that Kojima did, he said that Japanese girls thought Snake was a dirty old man...) Based on the focus groups they did they came up with Raiden.

Who knew they'd end up basically alienating much of their core audience ? lol.

That definitely seems to be the risk here. You could gain more people - but you might also end up pissing off the people who repeatedly buy your games.

At least Blizzard can console themselves, knowing that it's only half of one race, from an available list of ten. With Konami, it was the main storyline character they were messing with. No such playable character exists in WoW.

Young Snake from MGS a dirty old man? Interesting mindset those girls have...

I don't play WOW, but when I am playing an RPG or similar game and I select a male character, it annoys me when it appears to be a hermaphrodite. When I fantasize about roaming the country-side slaying beasts and orcs, I do not imagine myself doing so as Michael Jackson.

LOL! Such imagery!

LOL, I really want to see a game where you fight orcs as Michael Jackson :) You can use your special "Ouu-ouuuuu!" attack while grasping your crotch. This leads to 2000+ HP damage and confusion status to all enemies :-)

For some reason the fantasy sequel to Michael Jackson's Moonwalker just never came up in the weekly meetings...

Snake must indeed seem old to Asian girls. Foreign men always look older to them. They can easily mistake a 20+-year-old Western man for a 40+-year-old one. Don't forget that Asian men usually have very smooth skin and very little facial hair, and they generally look much younger than Western men in the respective ages. So the unshaved, rough-looking Snake must have definitely looked like an old man to Japanese girls, compared to the youthful, more Asian-looking Raiden.

For the record, Raiden-hating really gets on my nerves, almost to the point of Final Fantasy VIII- or Ultima IX: Ascension"-bashing.

Well, sorry Oleg, I would never bash Ultima IX, but Raiden is really a pain in the rear end... =P

We should open a new thread named "Why Do You Hate Raiden" :-)

Seriously, I don't know why everyone hate him so much. I mean, he had every reason to be weird and confused, after everything that has happened to him.

And even if we agree that Raiden is an unpleasant character, it doesn't change the fact MGS2 had a much better story than the first one... more bizarre and complicated, and not so straightforward in moralizing.

Simple, he's not Snake. That's why so many people hate him.

He's also gay, yknow?

Who, Snake? =P

Well I wouldn't rule him out entirely either... we all remember that shameful moment about "falling in love on the battlefield"... and we all know who stuck with Snake for the sequels...

players should be able to look how they want. i think the old blood elves were more attractive, but the bulkier ones are yummy too. players have eight races to choose from so it's not so big a deal. i hope they at least asked the players if they wanted the change before altering everyone's faces and body. that would be a bad touch!

Nerds are really touchy about their virtual masculinity.