I don't care in most single player games.
If I have a choice in an RPG or an MMO, I will play female. I've long got past the age where I need male fantasy fulfillment out of a video game and I'd really really REALLY not like to spend 100+ hours looking at a guy's ass running on screen. It's not real, it's pixels and all, but I prefer looking at something that at least represents something attractive to me.

Jimquisition has a good video about the ideas of female protagonists around when Remember Me was released. An Interesting listen.
http://www.destructoid.com/jimquisition-the-creepy-cull-of-female-protagonists-249597.phtml


I personally don't care. I've played Mass Effect with 2 females and 2 males. Played Skyrim with both as well (this hardly matters considering it is first person). Played Dragon Age with both. My best characters in Tekken 6 are Lee and Julia Chang.

I guess the issue is, while many gamers just don't care because it's the game that counts. For the 14-15 yr old males market who buy the 18 rated Gear Of War, they want their characters to be big burly men.

Depends on the platform. On PC and Nintendo the female population is larger. On the 360/PS3 its definitely dominated by men.

As for genders I'll play as both but its more compelling if the female playing the role is believable, but as a male when I am gaming as games have become experiences I like to feel like I am in the game. I cannot do this with a female character becuse i cannot relate. Sometimes in a game like the Last of Us I enjoy playing as a genuine female character who is as badass as the creator intends.

I don't care if i play as a male or female as long as the game is good.

Never give thought to the sex of the main character.
You cannot judge a games success by the sex of the characters involved in the story.

Please add in a 'I dont care' option to the poll

If a game gives me the choice I'll always play as a female character. Eye Candy :)

I prefer playing as a man in games as i can relate to the character better (if im playing a game where you can pic the gender i always pick a man) In sims i am a man and woman. I dont really mind if its a girl though. Never gave it too much thought to be honest.

I much prefer playing as male, because it allows for greater immersion for me.  But I like having sidekicks with big boobs and sexy voices.  If I'm feeling especially nerdy and lonely I like to play Xenoblade as Shulk with Sharla and cyborg Fiora.  Hearing them tell me I did AMAZING in cute British accent when I killed that Bunniv makes me feel good about myself and I especially like the part when we go and have a dirty 3-way under the stars on Bionis Leg to celebrate.

I dont mind playing a female protagonist, normally. But in an RPG I will only play as a male for some reason.

I think that study is flawed. I don't think playing candy crush are fruit ninja on your phone,makes you a gamer. hahahahaha!!!!!!