How i would prefer this could be done is if the female model was a bit slimmer and there was a skirt texture you could use (perhaps the rest of the empty skin space) literally all of the female skins ive made would be better if there was some long optional skirt texture that goes down to the feet I could use.
For example this is a skin I made of a shrine maiden a while ago
now it looks okay right now but while running forward obviously it dosen't look much like a skirt.
Another way this could be useful is putting a badass longcoat on the male character.
if you really really want to diferentiate the genders, have the female skin be a modified version of the old Rana mob. as for sounds, i think a option on which voice you wanted would work just fine.
How about just a high, low or mdeium voice option to reflect their age/gender/personality/voicebox/whatever and let the players mess with the skin? new accounts have a "medium" voice and the neutral blue jeans blue shirt miner skin that we all know and love (minus the 5 o'clock shadow).
Cons:
1. Someone would have to find two new voice samples and upload them?
2. Someone would have to make a new option on the menu, but then they'd have to do that anyway for a male/female option.
3. Couldn't really think of any major con.
Pros:
1. I can't think of anyone it wouldn't satisfy, from feminist videogame critic to ultratraditionalist mountain man.
2. Its gender neutral (so women aren't stuck with another game where they default as men, think about it, portal and tomb raider, how many other games are there with a strong female lead?)
3. Its minecraft, not gendercraft, do we really need male and female labels? Just picking an outward appearance and sound is enough.
4. Like most good things in minecraft its simple :biggrin.gif: While still achieving everything it set out to do.
(PS, I know the above system wouldn't seem like an advantage to a male/female tickbox to most people, but then it doesn't seem to really offer any disadvantages either).
You missed two cons.
3. Requires skinning abilities of the player.
4. Requires player to accept the androgynous current model as female if skinned that way.
I'll point you to Froman's post for the example...
I know what character that's supposed to be (and it is female), but that looks damn far from female.
Also, Robot Gender? Atleast we actually have females playing the game. Come on guys.
Lastly, read the description on that Youtube vid. That was that one guy's creation. So unless that's Notch himself, that's just a pet project, and is just as far from implementation as this idea.
4. Requires player to accept the androgynous current model as female if skinned that way.
I'll point you to Froman's post for the example...
I know what character that's supposed to be (and it is female), but that looks damn far from female.
Okay, Notch could release an 'official' female skin, then.
Because these few skins in particular:
Look plenty 'female' to me. So it IS possible to make a good female character on the existing model.
@Pai: I'm still not sold on an "official" female skin. Not that I care too mcuh personally but alot of my friends would find those skins a wee bit sexist (albeit undeniably female). I still think a neutral starting skin is the best option. Then people can branch off into whatever they want (including female humans).
Oh, personally I also don't care if there is an official female skin or not; it's mostly the damage sound effect that I'd like to be different. But if some folks want an officially-available female appearance, I don't see the harm in it.
My argument is mostly that the current model doesn't have to be modified to accommodate that option. I know the skins I showed aren't everyone's style, but they show that you can make obviously 'girly' characters with the options we have right now without having to change anything but the skin.
I was looking for a thread about this before posting my own, this is the first one the search brought up.
I am female and would very much like to not hear a male grunt when I get hurt in game. I would like to have an option of having a female character, with the voices included.
Also yes, I see the recommendations that you can supposedly be female by using a female skin, but the voice is the most annoying and noticeable part. I don't ever really see my skin anyway.
I wouldn't mind a simple model option between the current Male Model and a Female one so that it is a bit easier to tell if the skin is male and female.
But in all seriousness this should be an option somewhere down the line.
For example this is a skin I made of a shrine maiden a while ago
now it looks okay right now but while running forward obviously it dosen't look much like a skirt.
Another way this could be useful is putting a badass longcoat on the male character.
That wouldn't be offering two gender options so much as only giving players the option of playing either an adult male or a child...
And since it's completely possible to make good female skins on the existing model, I don't think making a new one is even needed.
Either way, if the 'damage' voice is really going to be replaced with neutral sounds, the entire subject is moot anyway.
You missed two cons.
3. Requires skinning abilities of the player.
4. Requires player to accept the androgynous current model as female if skinned that way.
I'll point you to Froman's post for the example...
I know what character that's supposed to be (and it is female), but that looks damn far from female.
Also, Robot Gender? Atleast we actually have females playing the game. Come on guys.
Lastly, read the description on that Youtube vid. That was that one guy's creation. So unless that's Notch himself, that's just a pet project, and is just as far from implementation as this idea.
Okay, Notch could release an 'official' female skin, then.
Because these few skins in particular:
Look plenty 'female' to me. So it IS possible to make a good female character on the existing model.
Do you have a reference of Rana?
I wasn't around when it was a mob.
@Pai
Granted.
And an "official Female skin" would be fine.
Those actually employ the use of shading so it doesn't LOOK like they have no chest.
Oh, personally I also don't care if there is an official female skin or not; it's mostly the damage sound effect that I'd like to be different. But if some folks want an officially-available female appearance, I don't see the harm in it.
My argument is mostly that the current model doesn't have to be modified to accommodate that option. I know the skins I showed aren't everyone's style, but they show that you can make obviously 'girly' characters with the options we have right now without having to change anything but the skin.
And if all noises are going to be changed to generic landscape noises, then yeah this does seem pretty moot.
But TBH, its a small thing, it isn't necessary, and as shown before, female skins can be made for the current model just fine.
Cause if not, that's one of the main reasons to implement the "checkbox" and "generic female skin"
If so... please tell me how :]
I am female and would very much like to not hear a male grunt when I get hurt in game. I would like to have an option of having a female character, with the voices included.
Also yes, I see the recommendations that you can supposedly be female by using a female skin, but the voice is the most annoying and noticeable part. I don't ever really see my skin anyway.
And IIRC they're changing the grunts to "cracks" for falling. In other words sounds of damage instead of sounds of reaction to damage.