Doing a little research on the subject, I found these results from Electronic Entertainment Design and Research (EEDAR).
"In a sample of 669 action, shooter, and role-playing games selected by EEDAR in 2012, only 24 (4%) had an exclusively female protagonist, and 300 (45%) provided the option of selecting one. Examining the sales data and review scores of these games, EEDAR found that the games that included the option of selecting a female hero obtained better scores, but the ones with male-only protagonists sold better than the others. However, games with a female-only protagonist had, on average, only 50% of the marketing budget of female-optional games, and 40% of the marketing budget of games with male-only protagonists."
Not only are games with female protagonists less common, when they are made, there's less effort to advertise them. The trend is changing though, which is good. I'd be interested to see a breakdown of American versus Japanese games, but I couldn't find that information, if it exists. It's rather interesting and counter-intuitive that games with the option of a female protagonist receive higher ratings yet don't sell as well as games with no female options, though that probably has to do with the marketing difference.
I think it's encouraging, though. The game industry seems to be evolving towards more equitable and realistic female roles. I think as more games like this appear and attract more female gamers, this perception in the industry that female protagonists aren't as profitable as their male counterparts will disappear.
"In a sample of 669 action, shooter, and role-playing games selected by EEDAR in 2012, only 24 (4%) had an exclusively female protagonist, and 300 (45%) provided the option of selecting one. Examining the sales data and review scores of these games, EEDAR found that the games that included the option of selecting a female hero obtained better scores, but the ones with male-only protagonists sold better than the others. However, games with a female-only protagonist had, on average, only 50% of the marketing budget of female-optional games, and 40% of the marketing budget of games with male-only protagonists."
Not only are games with female protagonists less common, when they are made, there's less effort to advertise them. The trend is changing though, which is good. I'd be interested to see a breakdown of American versus Japanese games, but I couldn't find that information, if it exists. It's rather interesting and counter-intuitive that games with the option of a female protagonist receive higher ratings yet don't sell as well as games with no female options, though that probably has to do with the marketing difference.
I think it's encouraging, though. The game industry seems to be evolving towards more equitable and realistic female roles. I think as more games like this appear and attract more female gamers, this perception in the industry that female protagonists aren't as profitable as their male counterparts will disappear.
I'm a tinker! Tinkerer? Hrm.... I'm an artificer! - Myxie Tryxle | Impressions and Memories
