Gaming's biggest sex symbol

[Alleya]

I've been thinking about this and asking others, but my curiosity hasn't really been satisfied. Who is the biggest sex symbol in gaming? Lara Croft comes instantly to mind, but she seems more infamous than a legitimate symbol by virtue of being the first one to get really big mainstream attention. As time has worn on, she's really become more of a joke, especially as the gaming aesthetic changed but she did not (until now with the reboot). So for the sake of argument she's out. But let's add 2 more caveats:

A) The biggest public sex symbol. The character most recognizable to the public, with the widest appeal. When someone who's not a gamer thinks of sexy game characters, it's this one.

B) The biggest sex symbol among gamers. The character most recognized and fawned over by gamers themselves.

Choices can be All Time or Current, up to you.

Like I said, my opinion is really nebulous at this point. It's difficult to gage these things in my mind, but I'll give it a shot for All Time.

A) It's really tough to not say Lara Croft, that's probably what it is in terms of all time for the general public. But if I had to go to the #2, it's probably Samus. Especially with the zero-suit. She epitomizes gaming heroines: she's hot, hypersexualized, and shoots aliens.

B) Tifa Lockhart. I don't think I really even need to say anything.

Feel free to spice up the thread with pictures of your choices.

[Hyan]

Well, current is kinda easy! Bayonetta.

[Jicent]

Kirby.... Oh yeah!

[Hiryo]

Unfortunately, i think these days you're better off asking about the biggest "bad-ass" dudes in gaming. These days, the girls you may find in something like Mass Effect or FF are either forgettable or weren't played enough to be a symbol of anything. Like, obviously Bayonetta would be great for this thread, but not nearly enough people know who/what that is compared to old stuff like Lara or Tifa.

Maybe if a game with enough advertisement comes out that enough people play it, but the main character is a hot chick, then we'd have some more up-to-date choices. :\ I Think Gears 3 has a supporting cast of females in it? Don't know if they'll look very good though. I think Halo had a female in it, "the best sniper in the universe"? That still isn't enough.

Someone should make a really main stream game with women you can't ignore.

[Elcura]

Well, current is kinda easy! Bayonetta.

I agree with this. Not just in look but also personality.

Helps that the game doesn't suck ass too.

[Qalbert]

if males are included I submit the following, as far as current gen is concerned:
http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...athanDrake.jpg
as far as female characters I agree with Hiryo that there haven't been many standouts this gen. Bayonetta would be closest I guess, but I wasn't a huge fan of the character personally.

[Odesseiron]

Cammy. Sure you could pick Chun-Li, as I think she's the more recognizable character from SF, and those thighs are absolutely ridiculous. But with Cammy not only is she bad ass, she's got one of (if not the) best asses in gaming history.

Edit: Also as evidenced by Kyo's avatar, she's even hot as a zombie!

http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/y...-cammy-alt.jpg

[Jabberwocky]

http://static.gamesradar.com/images/...icle_image.jpg

Cammy has the accent, but I'd have to give to Chun Li for being the first.

[Jicent]

Actually I retract my previous statement to shed some light upon an even greater sex symbol in this medium. Green tunic hiked up so high you see can see everything, he has a master sword and a mooseknuckle that has destroyed evil countless times. I speak of link, even as a child he showed off his goods because he knows he's got it so he flaunts it. He blows an ocarina and makes sexual sounds when getting beat on, you know he likes it rough. He's a bad boy and he knows it. Blonde flowing hair and Hot pointy ears this sex machine will thrust though evil if you know what I mean.

[Hyan]

if males are included I submit the following, as far as current gen is concerned:

Madness. Can't beat Snake (young or old!)

[Xno Kappa]

Cammy. Sure you could pick Chun-Li, as I think she's the more recognizable character from SF, and those thighs are absolutely ridiculous. But with Cammy not only is she bad ass, she's got one of (if not the) best asses in gaming history.

Edit: Also as evidenced by Kyo's avatar, she's even hot as a zombie!

http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/y...-cammy-alt.jpg

Hell no, Cammy has a flat as fuck ass lol. If Chun-Li's character model in ssf4 wasn't so hideous I'd say her.

[Insanecyclone]

Zero Suit Samus.

[Kyo]

Bayonetta or Cammy.

[Zeb]

In Japan it might be Mai Shiranui. Always see a fuckton of cosplay of her.

[Ragnell]

I'd say Bayonetta or Chun-Li

Chun-li has built a rep over the years for having DEM thunder thighs and usually being High tier in most SF games


Bayonetta for the new age because she's got the proportions in the right areas not to mention does exotic attacks :3

[Rokku]

Isn't this question kind of abstract at it's core? If you're talking widespread public knowledge, it's probably Lara Croft/Mai Shiranui. It's probably not the same across different cultures, groups of people, etc, either. I don't know that it's really on the right track to say that there's any uniformity in people's opinions outside of those two. For personal preference and all that, (aka opinion on B), I'd say Samus, pre-Metroid Other M destruction of her core character.

Also, I'm probably in the minority saying it, but I find Bayonetta to be an unsightly, disproportionate giant with no sexual appeal whatsoever.

[Xno Kappa]

I think Bayonetta's body is disproportionate as hell too.

[Insanecyclone]

Also, I'm probably in the minority saying it, but I find Bayonetta to be an unsightly, disproportionate giant with no sexual appeal whatsoever.

[SubzeroDiabolos]

Peach

[synistar]

I'm surprised no one said DoA yet (beach volleyball after all).

But it's true in the last 2 or 3 years there hasn't been a standout sex symbol. Most gamers are more or less fawning over quality of games more than who is the cover girl.

Bioware kinda makes this point stand out. With the exception of Bioshock, you are given the choice of being male or female and it doesn't affect the outcome of the game that significantly.