Loli characters in MMORPGs – cute or disgusting?

Girl-like characters in MMORPGs with sexy clothing – why is this a trend? Is that just disgusting?

In many Asian MMORPGs, there are races or classes that appear especially young. In the case of TERA, these are the Elin, a purely female race that has a childlike appearance – even though their story often claims they are centuries old. In Moonlight Blade, there is also the option to represent female characters as young.

Especially in Europe and America, these girl-like characters often lead to discussions. Questions and opinions such as:

• Is this even legal?
• Doesn’t this fall under pedophilic depictions?
• Anyone who plays (or develops) such things must be mentally ill!

  

But where does the term “Loli” characters actually come from? And what is behind it?

“Loli” comes from the Russian novel Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. The novel primarily deals with a pedophilic relationship between the main character and a girl he calls Lolita. The name has become a fixed term – it is found in the “Lolita complex” or in the Japanese manga and anime genre Lolicon.

“Girl-like” characters and sexualization = Lolicon

Basically, one speaks of Lolicon or simply “Loli” when female characters have particularly childlike traits and are highly sexualized. In the context of TERA, this includes particularly revealing clothing for the Elin, and the same applies to the Lyn from Blade & Soul.

The increased presence of such characters and media coverage have led to even “girl” characters that are not sexualized already being referred to as Lolicon. However, this is fundamentally incorrect. Lolicon always refers to the sexualization of girl-like characters (regardless of actual age). But when exactly does sexualization occur is not always easy to recognize, as the boundaries are fluid.

Lolicon in Anime

Large, childlike round eyes are one of the core features of anime and cannot be taken away from these series.

Anime that do not feature this representation are rare – no wonder, the appearance is popular. Even adult women in anime almost always have large eyes. On closer inspection, this results in a group of characters, where the female characters often have eyes that are three or even four times larger than those of the male characters. Yet, anime fans have become so accustomed to this, that it no longer seems unusual but rather consistent.

Similar to MMORPGs, there is often a “Loli” character in anime. This character appears especially young and has “childlike” features – such as a flat chest, a small stature. Interestingly, these features are often combined with “adult” traits – such as long-grown hair, mental maturity, or “adult” intelligence and typical, rather adult emotions (like jealousy or anger). This is already quite similar to the Elin from TERA.

The Baby Schema – An Instinct of Humans

However, another aspect must be considered with Loli characters. The fact that these characters are very popular with many people has biological-instinctive reasons.

There is the principle of the so-called “baby schema”. These are various features that make a face appear more childlike. This includes:

• especially large eyes
• a round head shape
• and the general proportions of the face.

These features lead us to perceive childlike faces as “cute” and “vulnerable”. An inbuilt mechanism of Mother Nature that ensures the offspring is protected among many living beings (not just humans).

There are various research and studies on the topic, but on average, they convey the same message: Men find women more attractive who possess some features of the baby schema. For this, pictures of women were shown to men, adjusting them to the baby schema in 10% increments (0% = “normal” adult woman, 100% = baby schema). The highest attractiveness was reached at about 30% baby schema.

That the baby schema also increases attractiveness in men (from the perspective of women) is, however, controversial. Studies on this come to different conclusions.

Features of the baby schema therefore evoke various feelings that can also be transferred to video games. We care more about “cute” characters – this makes identification with the character easier. At the same time, these features can also make characters more appealing and attractive.

Lolicon in MMORPGs – Food for Pedophiles?

A major accusation often comes from Europe. Races like the Elin exist in the game only to attract “pedophile gamers”. Sometimes the accusations even go further: such characters would even create pedophilic behavior.

From my personal conviction, I would say “No”, because in my opinion sexual orientation – with all its manifestations, whether legal, illegal, or classified as a mental disorder – is not something that can be “trained”. Who and what one finds attractive and desires is, in my opinion, inherently present in a person and largely depends on society in terms of how one is allowed and able to show and live it.

Ultimately, however, one should never forget one thing about all of this. The major MMOs with childlike “Loli” characters are primarily just that: purely virtual games where one plays a foreign role. Even though I personally do not agree with putting Elin in swimsuits and making the skirts so short that they no longer deserve their name, I can ultimately always come to terms with it: It is a game, and there are many factors that cause people to “be into” such things – and the least of that is directly a serious crime.

What is your opinion on these “Loli” races in MMORPGs? Do you like playing them? Do they disturb you massively? Or are they just indifferent to you? And: What do you think of this article?