"It's just cosmetic" is a phrase touted by a lot of developers and publishers in an effort to justify locking character customisation behind paywalls. It isn't essential to the experience; it doesn't matter. It's optional. ...but we all know better than that, don't we? In a lot of games, and for a lot of people - especially with online multiplayer - character customisation is hugely important. It lets you personalise your character in your own way to distinguish them from the masses, flaunt your own personal aesthetic, and on a more mundane level, stops you from getting bored of looking at the same set of gear for hours and hours. So! Let's discuss video game fashion. Do you pay much attention to what your characters are wearing or using? Have you ever passed on a piece of armour or a weapon with better stats in favour of one that looks better? Across all the video games you've played, which did you find had the best options for character customisation?
The only two games with customization options I play are Pokémon Go and Splatoon 2. I don't really like the customization options in Pokémon Go, as 99% of it is locked behind money, and some even locked behind gender (females can't wear sweatshirts...). The're no option to swap between hairstyles, which is a shame because I really want different ones. But it's such a small aspect of the game, it barely counts. Now, Splatoon 2 is VERY different. Gear plays a huge aspect in the game, and there are 6 different hairstyles for both genders of Inklings (2 for Octos which I don't have) and all 6 are pretty good-looking! The clothes are awesome and although I can't even unlock them, they're pretty darn fresh!
For me, when I think of character customization, I think of Dungeon Fighter Online, a Korean side-scrolling beat-em-up MMORPG (try saying that 3x fast... XD). They're always releasing new outfits and whatnot for the characters to wear, and most of the time they're just cosmetic (at first; there is a way to fuse stats into outfits, but that's high-level stuff and is often paywall-locked). Fun game; I should re-download the game...
I think that cosmetics play pretty decently into a game, with what you've mentioned so far. With a free-to-play game, it seems to be the only way that a producer likes to get money. Fine, but I think the basics should be available to everyone, and then make the cooler stuff, that don't have buffs, available for purchase. @ChocoChicken I had no idea the females couldn't wear sweaters! My character already looks freezing enough in a stupid skirt. I would love to be able to dress warmly, instead of looking like I don't care if my butt shows, if I bend over. Or how about a cosmetic bike to be added to Pokémon Go, when you're driving? That way I don't have to see my character awkwardly jog in place when I'm, "Going too fast!" But not only would that cost money, the developers would actually have to work harder on the game than what is apparent now. I actually played one meager round of Fortnite and I was surprised I could not even change what gender I played as, what I looked like, unless I paid a ridiculous amount of money. And to me, any amount of money spent on a free-to-play game, is a lot. Because of the almighty loot-crates.Plus there's no way I'd sink money into a well shaped like a game. I prefer a game to be full price, and come with every single aspect. No DLC of "important story chapters", or "dress up yourself, because you have the money to do so!" I want the full game, and not have to get into the deluxe, supreme, or gold edition of any game. The only deluxe or supreme I want, is a burrito.
I can understand developers trying to make money, but I do wish more decent outfits were available without having to spend more money, both in game and with actual cash. I'm fine with that being in place, but just that it wasn't all about money. And this is in multiple games. One of the reasons why I stopped playing so many games is because character customization kind of sucked
Is a money sink that's all, I play FFXIV where the running joke is "Glamour is the true end-game" is thrown around often. When you hit level 50 in that game you can start casting glamours on your gear to make it look like a piece of gear of lower level, of course there's a lot of nice looking stuff that's only level 1 so is meant sorely for the purpose of glamour. In FFXIV you can get a decent amount of stuff for free just by regular gameplay if you're willing to spend the time on it and there's also a cash shop that have some vanity stuff as well so I think they've done a pretty decent balance there. I'm just "Does this look decent to me?" if yes is likely going to be how my character will look for a long time till I find something else I think looks decent.
I love games where you can design your own clothing, such as Animal Crossing. I hope in future titles you can design pants/shorts/skirts too and perhaps even textures for better shapes of hats and shoes? In games where gear affects ability, like Splatoon, I kinda... don't really care about how my character looks as much? I like selecting gear with the abilities I prefer. I hope before they stop updating Splatoon 2 that they give more hairstyle to the Octolings though.
i dont really mind what my characters are wearing. although if i have a chance i'll change it to something that i like
My character's aesthetic is something that's really important to me in a lot of the games I play. I had a conversation about this with a friend of mine who plays FFXIV. I've played the demo and a lot of the earlier outfits at least look pretty dumb. The good looking outfits are usually pretty hard to get. When we were talking my friend suggested that making aesthetic a big part of the game and selling certain outfits wasn't much different from pay to win games.
I believe that character customization is needed in modern games. Before, limited choices were seen as acceptable because we have never seen full character customization. Now, now it is more than an idea of what we want but we see it in every mmo or rpg... and yet we will never get all the options. Look at the Sims, a game based around creation and making the sim to represent you. While we get a wide option set in the base game, each expanstion packs which do not include the base game- priced at 40 dollars (the base game being 40 itself) and each game pack being around 10 dollars. At this time there are 6 expansion packs- 240 dollars- and 10 game/stuff packs- 200 dollars- 480 dollars to unlock the full customization the game always advertises.
I tend to spoil my characters rotten with the most expensive/best-looking clothes if I have enough in-game money XD If I'm gonna go around kicking butt, I might as well look good doing it
I like customization and am expecting it to be a big part of the modern games. Fashion is a big part of customization as it allows for expression of the individual.
One thing about customisation that really irritates me is that the two sexes are not equal...as in, female clothing is always better, both in terms of aesthetic design and variety. Monster Hunter it's pretty apparent - literally every male armour set is the same blocky tat. Female armour has varying styles - some of it covers head-to-toe, other parts are off shoulder or have open helms, etc.
I’m fine if characters can’t be customized, but when they can I always enjoy it. I love being able to make character look like whatever you want! Hiding customization options behind a paywall is pretty aggravating though.
