I'm a female and every single game that gives me the choice, I default to female. Not because of some loyalty to the sisterhood or as an expression of myself. But because most games force me to be a guy. I don't mind and have been gaming since I was a very little girl. I had the turbografx even, which is a system most don't even remember. But I liked the space pinball on that more than I liked Mario, although that seems like the opinion of a dumb kid now. If you're a girl gamer, you have to get over the idea of the avatar representing your sex really quickly or you'll play very few games. So for me, it's actually a bit weird when a guy feel he needs to justify playing a girl character with assertions that implies he wanks it to his avatar. Like why do you need to go that far to prove your masculinity? I'm sure way less guys made it for that reason (although I'm sure some really did to have something sexual to stare at) then those who assert that they did. Since I've noticed a lot of guys are just better competitively, they just are. And they certainly couldn't be if they were staring at the their toons backsides all the time rather than focusing on situational awareness. Isn't just "I felt like it," enough of an explanation? And why do so many other guys give guys crap over playing female toons? It doesn't make you seem masculine. It makes you come across desperate for a girlfriend. At least, imo. It's not like you're dating the other person, so who the hell cares? Just shutup and game.