Remember how journalists have been advocating that half of all gamers are female and that more games should be developed with this audience in mind?
Capcom has finally published the results of its “Super Election,” a global survey where fans voted on their favorite Capcom games, series, and characters, and shared what they’re looking for in new games.
The survey also addressed important questions like which Capcom franchise fans would most like to see get a new game or sequel, and what criteria gamers prioritize in modern games.
Conducted months ago to gauge fan interest, the results likely came as a surprise to the globalized Japanese company.
A total of 254,148 fans voted in the Capcom Super Elections, with the United States and Japan having the most voters. Of the participants, 82% were male and 14% were female, completely debunking the theory that half of all gamers are female. This discrepancy is especially notable given that previous studies included mobile games.
Additionally, there’s the misconception that women make up the majority of console gamers, often because they are the ones purchasing consoles, likely as gifts for children or their significant others.
From all the data collected, Devil May Cry V was crowned the fans’ favorite Capcom game. Dante emerged as their favorite Capcom character with over 26,874 votes, followed by Leon S. Kennedy with 23,417 votes.
After Devil May Cry V, the original Dino Crisis was the second favorite with 10,978 votes, indicating a strong demand for a remake or sequel. The 2023 re-release of Resident Evil 4 came in third place with 9,017 votes. In contrast, the original Resident Evil 4 secured seventh place with 7,134 votes.
When comparing how native Japanese audiences rated their games versus the Western world, you’ll see a staggering difference. Japan’s preferences placed OKAMI at the top, with Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney titles taking 2nd, 3rd, and 6th positions. Street Fighter 6 came in fifth.
When combining votes globally, female players favored OKAMI over Devil May Cry V for the top spot.
When it comes to fans’ favorite Capcom franchises, there’s a notable difference between global and Japanese preferences. In the West, Resident Evil is adored, securing first place with 42,037 votes, followed by Mega Man, Devil May Cry, and Monster Hunter rounding out the top four.
In contrast, Japanese audiences favored Monster Hunter as the most popular, followed by Mega Man, Ace Attorney, and Resident Evil (Biohazard) in fourth.
Regarding favorite characters, both Western and Japanese audiences chose Dante and Leon S. Kennedy as their top picks, regardless of gender. However, preferences diverge when it comes to favorite female characters.
Jill Valentine, despite her hideous redesign in the remake of Resident Evil 3, took the top spot for Western audiences, no doubt thanks to her likeness depicted by Julia Voth. She was followed by Regina from Dino Crisis, Claire Redfield in third, Chun-Li in fourth, with Ada Wong and Cammy rounding out the top six.
In contrast, Japanese audiences favored Chun-Li over Jill Valentine, likely due to her iconic style. Jill came in second for Japanese fans, with Maya Fey from Ace Attorney securing third place. Ada Wong, Cammy, and Nina from Breath of Fire completed Japan’s top six female characters for Capcom’s IP.
The most startling fact for Capcom’s pro-ESG executives is the overwhelming demand from players for unique and attractive characters, which ranked as the second most important aspect after gameplay. Exciting storylines came in third, followed by a great soundtrack, replayability, and difficulty, rounding out the top six priorities for players.
Breaking this criteria down between the West and Japan, there isn’t much difference, except for the fact that Japanese audiences barely favored attractive character designs over gameplay by a mere seven votes.
Replayability came in third, followed by exciting storylines in fourth, a great soundtrack in fifth, and a novel worldview rounding out the top six.
Regarding how survey participants view Capcom as a company, Japanese respondents consider them to be “full of playfulness,” followed by “competing on the world stage.” This perception aligns with Capcom’s massive resurgence in the gaming industry following the release of Resident Evil 7 and subsequent games built on their new RE Engine. Japanese participants also see Capcom as a bit quirky, in a good way, appreciating their willingness to try something new.
In the West, respondents favored Capcom’s creative spirit above all else, with strong originality taking second place, followed by their extensive collection of popular intellectual property.
When it comes to the sequels Capcom fans would like to see, Japanese audiences favored Ace Attorney, with Monster Hunter and Mega Man coming in second and third. In contrast, Western audiences, particularly those in the 30-50 age demographic, heavily favored Dino Crisis, propelling it to the top spot, followed by Devil May Cry and Mega Man in second and third.
Regarding games fans want to see remastered with the latest technology, the unanimous choice was “Not in Here.” However, the iconic and legendary Resident Evil 4 was deemed the most influential game, beating out Devil May Cry 3 and the original Resident Evil.
These survey results are certainly interesting. They show that the majority of Capcom gamers are predominantly male, making up 82% of the demographic, with 4% identifying as something else (most likely biological males).
Capcom’s games are primarily made for men, with Japanese players favoring more “casual” and sophisticated games.
However, it goes without saying that nearly all respondents favor attractive characters in their games. Despite this, Capcom has heavily pushed for ESG initiatives over the past few years, producing more androgynous and less traditionally attractive female characters.
Capcom should focus on creating games tailored for their actual gamer audience rather than trying to appeal to a wider audience that seemingly does not exist.
Capcom has been pioneering the concept of gender neutrality in character design, as leaked corporate slides indicate their intention to eliminate stereotypical portrayals of female characters by avoiding overly revealing and sexualized depictions. This approach is evident in Street Fighter 6, which has taken significant steps to censor attire for iconic characters.
Capcom has been advocating for LGBT representation in their games, which includes censoring the design of iconic female characters. They aim to appease BlackRock and portray themselves as more inclusive and tolerant toward marginalized audiences, while avoiding accusations of sexism.
However, games have their own niche and target demographics. Some cater to specific audiences or genders. It’s counterproductive to dilute and censor franchises to broaden their appeal and inclusivity.
For instance, the latest Monster Hunter installment has transitioned into a generic open-world experience, simplifying the game and making it more accessible to a wider audience. Companies like Capcom risk undermining the unique qualities that made their franchises iconic in the first place, all in pursuit of appealing to a broader audience.
It’s hilarious to see the obvious, that being that both men and women appreciate attractive representations of female characters in games. However, Capcom has taken measures against PC modders, particularly those creating nude mods and other visually appealing content deemed disruptive to their agenda.
Players simply want great games with attractive characters, not political agendas or mandated agendas imposing ambiguous and unattractive designs into our games. Despite Capcom’s surveys likely contradicting their expectations, don’t expect them to change course soon.
Capcom has increasingly treated consumers as disposable wallets rather than dedicated fans, even collaborating with transgender porn actors to shill for Dragon’s Dogma 2. The game launched as a broken and poorly optimized mess, laden with excessive microtransactions for basic in-game features like character customization and fast travel.
Similar practices are expected with their upcoming release, Monster Hunter Wilds, which has stirred controversy with its safe horny character designs.
Capcom seems unwilling to change. They prioritize a globalized audience, continuing to emphasize ESG core values and defeminizing female characters while maximizing LGBT representation.
Like many developers focused on DEI and ESG initiatives, they pander to a phantom audience that does not actually exist, dumbing down beloved games, depriving them of their niche alongside filling them with microtransactions and woke elements in an attempt to attract new players and gain easy capital.
Gamers may find solace knowing that Capcom inadvertently challenges the narrative against gaming being excessively male-dominated.
