This isn't a gotcha thing I'm doing, I was watching this AI vs artist Arch was doing where he did one before with black April O'Neil and he's done another with dark skin Velma this time. Some flaws here and there but a massive improvement over the HBO show, at one point, he puts out the idea with what I like to refer to as 'milfy Velma' was having it that she was detached from the group, is a reporter herself and events brings her back with her old friends, so like the show just, not shit.
One of the immediate things that detached me from even trying to watch it was how ugly the self insert Velma was yet if this AI made hotter Velma was in it, I might at least give it an episode.
But a key part of this is that watching shows is passive, you're not interacting so for games it depends for me. Does it fit the setting as if it's a game about giant mechs then it isn't really a factor. If there's character customisation beyond just selecting outfits, then it becomes a big factor as if I want to create a really hot character, the game itself shouldn't limit me. Same as if there's 'romance' choices and all of them are fugly.
I've gotten to the point where having attractive guys but ugly women in a game is a massive red flag for me as then it means this is a self insert game and there's likely to be a lot of ideology in the narrative too. So just want to hear your guys takes if having attractive female characters even affects the shows and games you play/watch.
I specifically look at how attractive the females are in any game I consider as a test of the game designer's position on the axis of 'pleasing' to 'preaching.'
If they are attractive there is an indication that the designer is interested more in making the player happy than in converting them to their own personal worldview. If they are unattractive, they have taken a stance that is combative, adversarial, and impugning of their audience.
Style doesn't factor into this one single bit. You can simply ask yourself if the artist tried to make YOU happy, or they tried to buy off a political racketeer with their design intentions. You will have your answer easily so long as you are frank and discerning.
Yea, how attractive female chars are is one of my red-flag-checks when I consider a game. Making them ugly has become a leftist political statement, so I'll go with the opposite. Same with how "ethnic" characters are.
Very good points, you do get this whole "you enjoy our shit and buy more of it" attitude from these kinds of shows like Velma or that He man show than with even the most blandest isekai anime out there.