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Thoughts on Alex, the new default skin of Minecraft?

KeyLimeSlime's Avatar KeyLimeSlime8/22/14 9:50 pm
1 emeralds 20.3k 287
11/25/2014 1:14 am
-Baron's Avatar -Baron
Earlier today, the Minecraft 1.8 pre-release was released. In all of the new (180+) features, the newest (And most likely the last) one was a new default skin. Here it is:

Yes, it is a female skin, named Alex. Why? Well, a majority of the Minecraft players are male, so naturally many players will be outraged by this. The obvious reason they did this was to appeal to female gamers. Maybe they want the game to have a balanced gender population? I feel that even though all of the manly (But most of the time noobish) Steve's will be replaced with a woman, this could still have potential. Also, Alex isn't a new face in Minecraft. She can be seen in official Minecraft advertisements, like the one here:

So, what do you think of this small, yet game-changing change? Leave a comment down below!
=====================================================================
UPDATE: According to multiple comments, there will be a 50/50 distribution of Alex and Steve skins for skinless players, making it fair.
Posted by KeyLimeSlime's Avatar
KeyLimeSlime
Level 26 : Expert Geek
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287

1
11/25/2014 1:14 am
Level 54 : Grandmaster Guard
-Baron
-Baron's Avatar
Don't necrobump dead threads, please.

Locked.
1
11/24/2014 8:15 pm
Level 4 : Apprentice Mage
Officer Caitlyn
Officer Caitlyn's Avatar
I voted I'm not quite sure... this is kind of 50-50 for me....
1
11/24/2014 6:06 pm
Level 8 : Apprentice Ranger
COOOCOOO123
COOOCOOO123's Avatar
I think Alex would be a good idea if it wasn't the default, but you could change your gender in the options page of mine craft (only if you had a default skin). Plus, if girl gamers are so concerned about it, they can just go and change their skin to a user created one. Also, why is Alex in the front of Steve in the ad? Sexism? Bias? At the very least, they could've put Steve in to the right of the ad, on the same level as Alex.
1
11/24/2014 7:03 pm
Level 1 : New Miner
Mynho
Mynho's Avatar
↑ This
1
11/24/2014 5:30 pm
Level 1 : New Miner
Mynho
Mynho's Avatar
I think it's just plain stupid.
1
11/24/2014 5:30 pm
Level 9 : Apprentice Miner
anonpmc1279828
anonpmc1279828's Avatar
[deleted]
1
11/24/2014 5:18 pm
Level 17 : Journeyman Cowboy
Opqosite
Opqosite's Avatar
I guess the Alex skin is ok, but her arms look to skinny.
1
11/24/2014 4:45 pm
Level 82 : Elite Technomancer
Drazile
Drazile's Avatar
It's Default. It's not meant to look pretty. That's what resource packs and skins are for.
1
11/24/2014 4:41 pm
Level 5 : Apprentice Miner
anonpmc1280016
anonpmc1280016's Avatar
[deleted]
1
11/24/2014 4:38 pm
Level 17 : Journeyman Dolphin
Patchpen
Patchpen's Avatar
Maybe they wanted to say: "Hey Noobs! If you don't wanna look like a girl, make your own skin!"
1
11/24/2014 4:36 pm
Level 9 : Apprentice Cupcake
lovecore
lovecore's Avatar
Alex can be a male skin because Alex looks a little like Jeb...
1
11/24/2014 6:06 pm
Level 8 : Apprentice Ranger
COOOCOOO123
COOOCOOO123's Avatar
Ha! Yes!
1
09/08/2014 8:03 pm
Level 2 : Apprentice Network
robocoder
robocoder's Avatar
I don't like this, steve has been a staple of minecraft ever since the indev versions with the "dancing steve" mob, even though they use both skins I think noob players being steve has always been a classic to minecraft and it shouldn't be changed, it is one thing that Mojang has kept constant for a long time and it should stay that way.
1
09/08/2014 7:54 pm
Level 1 : New Blacksmith
Lemonpound
Lemonpound's Avatar
I personally don't like the design of the skin but I guess it's time for a change.
1
09/08/2014 6:16 pm
Level 23 : Expert Network
-Kali-
-Kali-'s Avatar
Its just another skin. Optional change
1
09/08/2014 6:15 pm
Level 11 : Journeyman Architect
EmpressofNightmares
EmpressofNightmares's Avatar
Really, it's nice to know that Mojang is offering a female skin for the new players. It gives a good sense of welcoming to the female gamers in the gaming community, who are new to minecraft, that their existence is acknowledged through Alex. Better than some gaming companies who insist that 'it's not worth their time/it's too much effort' to make female player models.

Besides, it's a bit refreshing to have a different default skin, no?

Along with that, Alex is more gender-neutral than Steve. Men can have long, flowing hair and wear tunics, and so can ladies! Steve isn't exactly gender-neutral at all, given he has a beard...
1
09/08/2014 6:03 pm
Level 14 : Journeyman Scribe
Yaminia
Yaminia's Avatar
I remember the post Notch did not too long ago about how the game is supposed to be gender neutral. Animals don't have a defined gender, sounds are neutral, etc.
Honestly there's no reason for them to appease to female gamers if that was the decision. If they're gamers then they'll realize that not everyone is female and not everyone is male. (I'm not about to go through 22 other pages for one phrase that may or may not be true.)
1
09/08/2014 5:51 pm
Level 32 : Artisan Toast
_Hellcat_
_Hellcat_'s Avatar
I fixed the problem. Just put on a Steve head, light blue tunic, cyan trousers and you're Steve!
1
08/29/2014 2:47 pm
Level 11 : Journeyman Miner
eminemfan33
eminemfan33's Avatar
Sounds interesting. I'm sure there are many guys who would be annoyed by this, even though they shouldn't really have the right too if those female didn't care about the default being male.
1
08/28/2014 10:56 pm
Level 24 : Expert Taco
Jaxtrm_
Jaxtrm_'s Avatar
I don't want to search 20 pages of responses, but does anyone remember that Minecraft isn't a game about gender? At all? In no way is this game about gender. We shouldn't have to verify our gender for no reason. Also, I think Alex is meant to be a more gender neutral character, which I like more. Even the name Alex can mean Alexander or Alexis/Alexandria.
1
08/29/2014 2:57 pm
Level 32 : Artisan Network
MissMarifire
MissMarifire's Avatar
This. The way I see it, Alex looks more gender neutral to me. I mean, guys DO wear tunics, and there's guys with LUSCIOUS FLOWING HAIR. so anyone can determine if it's a guy or a girl, as not all guys are BUFF HE-MEN WITH BEARDS and not all girls are PASHHUN FUR FASHUN.
1
08/28/2014 9:44 pm
Level 16 : Journeyman Button Pusher
aipoduhfoaifh
aipoduhfoaifh's Avatar
There should be a whole variety of default skins, so we don't have to be ugly steve all the time
1
08/27/2014 6:35 pm
Level 47 : Master Mlem Mlem Bat
Karrfis
Karrfis's Avatar
one reason they added it may be the same reason why Ubisoft added playable female assassins
1
08/28/2014 9:41 pm
Level 19 : Journeyman Network
irritatedCat
irritatedCat's Avatar
cause they're HAWT

lol probably
1
08/28/2014 9:47 pm
Level 25 : Expert Blockhead
1Zera1
1Zera1's Avatar
I like the skin and just because there isn't alot of female players doesn't mean they should always have male characters.
1
08/28/2014 9:45 pm
Level 16 : Journeyman Button Pusher
aipoduhfoaifh
aipoduhfoaifh's Avatar
totz
10/10 response
great for fantas-
nvm
1
08/27/2014 5:48 pm
Level 26 : Expert Toast
Cheezbergur11
Cheezbergur11's Avatar
I honestly don't see the point of having Alex.

If anyone wants a non-steve skin, then they can just get one online.
If you don't like Steve, why not just get a skin off the internet?
1
08/27/2014 5:24 pm
Level 1 : New Crafter
aliyah555
aliyah555's Avatar
I think you should be able to chose because there are a lot of female players as well as male, however, starting as just a girl would be discriminating against males, it wouldn't be fair to male or females if the only skin was alex and the only skin was steve
1
08/27/2014 2:23 pm
Level 38 : Artisan Modder
Calm_Hawk
Calm_Hawk's Avatar
[quote.="Born2Kill_"]Guys, I am really confused, how do I be Alex? If I'm Steve, then how would I change it to be alex? How does the 3 pixel arm work? If I'm alex, and change to my own skin, would my own skin have a 3 pixel arm too? [/quote]
alex is a work in progress, so that's why nothing renders right again, 1.8 comes out in a month. Then you will have information on this stuff also when 1.8 comes out you will be able to change the thickness of the Arm, only difference between alex and Steve.on your profile page. It's not the best system but you will be able to download a Steve or alex skin
1
08/27/2014 2:09 pm
Level 7 : Apprentice Ranger
UtimX
UtimX's Avatar
I got a new account just to test this out. It's true. She also has skinny arms... When I applied my regular skin, it messed up because it wasn't designed for skinny arms. I really want a way to change between. And armour doesn't fit properly !
1
08/27/2014 1:49 pm
Level 49 : Master uwu
Kmjmew
Kmjmew's Avatar
i like the design, it would be great if it somewhat stopped the flow of the unoriginal steve skin remakes. (bad ones)
1
08/27/2014 1:39 pm
Level 35 : Artisan Herobrine
Born2Kill_
Born2Kill_'s Avatar
Guys, I am really confused, how do I be Alex? If I'm Steve, then how would I change it to be alex? How does the 3 pixel arm work? If I'm alex, and change to my own skin, would my own skin have a 3 pixel arm too?
1
08/27/2014 2:16 pm
Level 15 : Journeyman Geek
GamerGeeked
GamerGeeked's Avatar
1 be alex by not currently having a edited skin avalible. you can't change to alex unless you have it and if so you can play offline to have it off. the 3 pixel arm is a WIP option to have on your skin. the skin would only have it if its on 1.8-pre 1
1
08/27/2014 1:38 pm
Level 1 : New Miner
TemplarClown
TemplarClown's Avatar
Personally I think they should have it as a default to choose male or female. That might help...
1
08/27/2014 1:27 pm
Level 40 : Master Warrior
atabler
atabler's Avatar
she looks much better shaded than steve...
1
08/27/2014 9:48 am
Level 33 : Artisan Dwarf
spires33
spires33's Avatar
i know they are not replacing steve but if they ever do what will happen to the t shirts and all that poo?!? don't worry steve your safe :3
1
08/27/2014 9:34 am
Level 12 : Journeyman Explorer
ThePopcornKings
ThePopcornKings's Avatar
First I am going to go into someone else's perspective. So say there is a girl who plays Minecraft but she is so frustrated that she gets a boy skin. Just like how the guys on this thread are upset about having a girl skin. I am quite happy actually (my perspective now) because

a) Will attract more people to play Minecraft
b) More options for the other people who already play minecraft
c) All of the above

I voted yes

Also @SilverFin just posted before I could quote: Is PMC going tumblr?

Also @dog151848 As specified in post #1 there will be 50/50 distribution of the 2 skins. It is like turning half of the mannequins female instead of it being freaky and a bunch of male mannequins modelling their new dress.
.
1
08/27/2014 9:52 am
Level 15 : Journeyman Geek
GamerGeeked
GamerGeeked's Avatar
lol i'd rather have it as my permanant skin than have steve as MY default (which i have an alex so alex won't be a permanant skin for me )
1
08/27/2014 9:30 am
Level 15 : Journeyman Wolf
Colonellooo
Colonellooo's Avatar
This is incredibly dumb. I'm not trying to say males are better in any way shape or form it's just a fact that more males play this game than females. This is like trying to make all the female mannequins in clothing stores in to males.
1
08/27/2014 5:27 pm
Level 17 : Journeyman Narwhal
Useless_Paul
Useless_Paul's Avatar
Sure there a more boys than girls but there is still a large female community on here
1
08/27/2014 1:28 pm
Level 40 : Master Warrior
atabler
atabler's Avatar
look at all these commets... look at all the female skins... look at the PMC community for once...
1
08/27/2014 9:21 am
Level 10 : Journeyman Narwhal
Silver_Fern
Silver_Fern's Avatar
1
08/27/2014 9:30 am
Level 32 : Artisan Dragon
Malaionus
Malaionus's Avatar
Lol
1
08/26/2014 10:04 pm
Level 14 : Journeyman Crafter
Oakydeer
Oakydeer's Avatar
Excuse me? I'm female. And this isn't "outrageous" in the least. Girls play minecraft too. I don't see what's so strange about this.
1
08/26/2014 9:53 pm
Level 1 : New Miner
Jackou45
Jackou45's Avatar
Well I looked the comment, the main topic, etc..

A question Pop-up.. Why replace Steve?

Well I did go on the change log and see that.

Added a new player model with smaller arms, and a new player skin called Alex?


For me I think they ADD and not replace Steve. So I think that we will be able to change the skin in the creation of the account or in the minecraft.net options or In the Minecraft Game Settings.

I hope it's gonna be in the creation and the option of the account. Cause if it's in the minecraft option. The change gonna be apply on all the minecraft skin. (The view of the player) But it's nice to have some change.

Personnaly I vote YES.

Thanks to you for this topic
1
08/26/2014 9:39 pm
Level 7 : Apprentice Explorer
Latouth
Latouth's Avatar
What will herobrine then look like?
1
08/27/2014 9:29 am
Level 32 : Artisan Dragon
Malaionus
Malaionus's Avatar
Sherobrine XD
1
08/27/2014 8:18 am
Level 26 : Expert Toast
Cheezbergur11
Cheezbergur11's Avatar
Sweet. More Minecraft creepypastas now.
1
08/27/2014 9:30 am
Level 45 : Master Sheep
ToadDan
ToadDan's Avatar
meat mah neww creppypesta, Heroinebride
1
08/26/2014 9:47 pm
Level 58 : Grandmaster Sus
shinadafan2012
shinadafan2012's Avatar
He will look like this:

Because y'know, he doesn't exist-OOOOOOOOOOOH BURNNNNN.
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