I was kind of torn on the subject, I've enjoyed both. Terra and Celes from FF6 for instance or Neriko from Heavenly Sword were great female leads. I think I've turned to male protagonist though thanks to Uncharted. Nathan Drake was just such a funny Indiana Jonesesque character and had that combination of being funny and seriously skilled that Harrison Ford always pulled off so well. It seems more forced, the snarky funny arrogant persona so often asked of action game heroes, in women. Plus a lot of the games have love interests (mass effect for instance, neverwinter nights, ect ect) and who wants to be flirting with a guy?

I just can't imagine a lot of games from Prince of Persia to God of War to Uncharted being as good with a female lead. The maleness of the main character contributed so much to the game I don't think it could have worked without a man at the helm. The only game where I was given a choice and preferred the female lead was Super Mario 2. The princess being able to fly for half a screen was just pure win. If they would just make giving all female characters flight a rule then that would change my opinion immediately.

   I don't know why several people complain about arrogant and/or douche characters.  Those are the best kinds! Tidus, Kratos, Han Solo, Nikko, Wario (for you Wii fans)...its characters like that which make things fun and interesting.  If everyone in games was nice and did the right thing there would just be no fun to be had.  My favorite characters though are Bioware type characters, the kinds that give you a few choices of what to say and are super nice or absolute assholes depending on which you pick.  A great example is early in Neverwinter nights two you run into this town bully who is injured.  You can choose to A) comfort and heal him B) pretend you didn't see him and walk away or C) tell him he had it coming then slit his throat.  That's the best kind of lead character!

Take every game with a male protagonist and imagine the protagonist as female, and then vice versa. Samus being male? Wouldn't change much. There are not that many games where replacing the female protagonist with a male protagonist would make much of a difference. Often times developers just don't understand how to fully flesh out a female main character with the characteristics of the gender.

However, try to replace the male protagonist from several popular games with a female protagonist, and you'll see that it doesn't make much sense.

I'd go for male, but I don't care that much.

I dont care as long as they dont piss me off.

Snake, Link, Leon = GOOD

That kid on FF12 = BAD

Hmmm.. I'm a rule breaker. I go with bisexual... don't care which.... :P

I really prefer to play as Flying Monkeys, Dinosaurs, Mushrooms or a Dancing Robot.

Doesn't matter because I am not sexist

Same here although I'd rather it be a non-douche male with female supporting.

Female lead characters r more masculinised in games than even movies. This is why people don't care about the difference, they are written, designed and programmed by males so Lara / Metroid / Perfect dark chick are generally always Ripley style, male character, but with a pussy.

Freud is spot on about narrative viewpoints always representing the male gaze, etc. Ask a straight girl what she thinks and she might not even see any difference. Ask me, theres no difference and i don't care bcoz im a chauvanist.

Speaking of, Miss Universe is on telly in Oz. Niiiiice