Named VS Nameless RPG Characters

Looking for some info here.  Many RPGs these days allow you to name your own protagonist, while others just give him/her whatever name the developers wanted.  Some find a middle ground, such as Mass Effect with "YourNameHere Shepard".  I've always thought that the pre-named character was a much better way to go because in-game characters will actually call him/her out by name in voice acting rather than just using pronouns (ex. "you", "he", "dude").  It also seems to me that games with named characters go further with that character's individual storyline and take steps further than those without, though I'll conceed to the efforts made by Persona 4 and the like.  Obviously, since they're still making many games where you name your own MC, there must be people out there who like/prefer it that way, or perhaps it's much easier on developers.  Could someone who prefers nameless characters explain why?  All thoughts on the matter are welcome.

I guess the popularity of naming your character is that it adds a personal touch to it, therefore making it easier to relate to them.

What about The Nameless One?

It depends on the RPG. Like, if it were a medieval RPG, I think my name (Carlito Cabada) would be extremely out of place. If a default option is offered, I typically go with that; I could always make up a character name of my own, but I'm terrible when it comes to making a good name. In fact, the only thing about Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor I really disliked was the fact that there wasn't a default character name dished out by the developers. Oh, and character limits play a huge role as well. I was sad to find out that my first name couldn't fit in the PSP remake of the first Final Fantasy.

I am for customizing in every game ever.

Unless there's a very specific story the main character has to follow, and their hardly ever is. Look at Final Fantasy? Yeah the main characters are iconic, but those games could have had customization from name to looks(they did have names, but we all know Cloud is Cloud) because honestly, their looks didn't change anything. Cloud could be bald, wouldn't change anything. Most main characters in rpgs are just a way for the player to be 'in' the story.

Some exceptions are Resident Evil, and uhh.. there's some others, I just can't think of them.

" What about The Nameless One? "

it was fine before voice-acting became prominent...now it can be odd where a characters wont refer to eachother by name and the script has to be worked around that, i dont mind it much but i never really felt the need to name my characters either

When I grew up, RPGs were very personalized since you created a character completely from your own imagination.  As video games incorporated the genre, they moved away from this over time and have now began a return although with some limitations.  If I am playing an RPG, identity is very important to me along side customization.  It's a return to what I remember in my youth.  Naming your character is something that adds to the illusion that I am creating this character.  It makes me feel an immediate connection to the character since I had a hand in forming the protagonist's identity, no matter how slight.  I was never able to form the same level of investment in Final Fantasy X as I was able to form with a Bioware game from the same gaming generation.  When I have no imput to the character's identity, I feel basically as if I am watching someone else's story and not particerpating in creating my own storyline.   I admit that not using the user created name in scripted sequences (that happened in a lot of DQ VIII) can be jarring, so maybe the answer is to go the Mass Effect route and allow you to choose just part of her name.  I know that the limited purchaseable choice list of Fable 2 was equally dissatisfying as any pre-chosen identity like "Cloud".

I prefer the wRPG method of allowing you to completely create your own character, rather than what's typical in jRPG's were you're playing as a set persona.  There's definitely advantages and disadvantages of both, but I much prefer thinking of the player character as myself, and creating and tweaking him as I see fit, rather than how the game developers think I should be playing.  I wasn't particularly fond of Mass Effects method by allowing you to create and name your own character but always being labeled as "Shepard" anyway..  Surely they could have just refered to you as "Commander"?

Personally sometimes I like to be able to name my character but sometimes I'd like the game to name them for me. I think that in RPGs that are heavier on diaglogue it is much better to have the latter in place, rather than the former; imagine the dialogue of Persona 4 if they'd actually referenced your character by a preset name instead of just refering to you as "senpai" all the time. However I don't feel that the "middle ground" idea really works, I felt that in Mass Effect the fact that all characters refered to me as "Shepard" kind of made it pointless me even entering my own first name as it was hardly ever acknowledged.

In the age of voice acting it's pretty difficult to implement custom names without arbitrary conceits. The NPCs will never be able to address you by your given name, especially if you pick something like JohnKickassBanana1983 or stuff like  ** >:-O ** or something like  æmæ. What Mass Effect did is kinda silly but the only way to do it, I guess.

"In the age of voice acting it's pretty difficult to implement custom names without arbitrary conceits. The NPCs will never be able to address you by your given name, especially if you pick something like JohnKickassBanana1983 or stuff like  ** >:-O ** or something like  æmæ. What Mass Effect did is kinda silly but the only way to do it, I guess."

There is a way... but hard to implement it... 

I'm indifferent. I find it more annoying when the main character is a silent protagonist. I feel I'm only hearing half of a conversation, as if all of the people are talking on a phone and I'm just listening to their side of it. It irks the hell out of me.

I like to name my characters.

I'll usually go with the default if there is one. If not, I typically use my name.

 I find it more annoying when the main character is a silent protagonist. I feel I'm only hearing half of a conversation, as if all of the people are talking on a phone and I'm just listening to their side of it. It irks the hell out of me. "

The only game that i would ever want to name myself is persona4. The people are really like my real-life friends, so i definitely want myself in the story. Otherwise, like Mass Effect, i don't really fancy myself as a space marine flurting alien chicks, so i won't care about my name. Even for KOTOR, i don't care about what my name is.. what i'm doing is usually the "paladin" stuff, so I get loot specific to the "paladin" side.

All in all, it depends on if i feel attached to the setting or not. Developers can't do much for me, but I don't mind the "Hey, how's it going, *Charlie Tunoku*? "

Star Ocean III did it both ways, actually. You could choose your character's first and last names, and it would appear as such in dialogue boxes, but the voiceovers still blatantly referred to the character as "Fayt Leingod", no matter what you'd called him.

Am i the only one that loves naming your own characters a rude word (only if its a bad game, or like pokemon) 'Are you ready to fight Ass' etc.. anyone else? or am i just childish?