As a female "gamer", I have had exposure to a lot of video game characters. One obvious pattern that I have noticed is the highly sexual appearance of female characters. While this is mildly degrading toward women, I assume that the characters are designed to appeal to potential male gamers. What is attractive about a heroine with hardly any clothes on? Not only are the female characters unrealistically proportioned, but they are often clad in outfits that are very impractical for their occupations or surroundings. Some games have even gone so far as to sexualize the monsters that are to be defeated in the game. Who are they trying to attract? Did the game designers intend to get male gamers interested in terrifying beasts with womanly figures, or do they assume that there are male dragons playing the game, and they are trying to please every audience? This unfortunate pattern has not prevented me from enjoying video games, but it is certainly an annoyance.
As a fellow gamer, I can attest the bafflement of seeing scantily clad woman fighting off hoards of monsters in nothing but a bikini (or something to that degree). For me, it's about the fact that the designers and producers of certain games have a target audience, and because they want money they try to make the cheapest, most general appeal known to man: sex. The problem becomes that there are artistic boundaries that a game designer must tread lightly for fear of going too far. Tasteful depictions are alright in my book because the idea of sex is being used to help in the telling of an overall story; whereas in games such as "Boyonetta" or "Dante's Inferno" it's simply a massive appeal to the fanboys so that they can get there fix of pixelated boobs. And that's really what it boils down to, the idea of the gaming nerd, the fanboy. The fact that the gaming community is stereotyped into being compromised of young men all raging with hormones and blood lust - which in turn governs the production of the amount of garbage that comes out year round. So, to appeal to one stereotype it seems that the companies and designers are creating a sexually charged virtual environment that is not necessarily wanted.
Don't assume that all female video game characters are horribly unrealistic and insulting. I agree that yes the most advertised titles are usually directed at young men and those games usually have unrealistic body proportions all around. That's just the market they are aiming for. You'll notice that pretty much everything about these games is exaggerated. If you are looking for a more mature game (for mature people not mature rated) you'll have to look harder. I included links to three pictures of a few female heroines that aren't scantily clad, or unrealistically portioned. These titles are aiming for an immersive more realistic experience. The first is Faith from Mirrors Edge, then Alyx Vance from Half-Life 2, and last is Zoey from Left 4 Dead.
Oh and about those female demons? Who says all demons have to look like men?
http://www.ocaholic.ch/xoops/html/modules/xcgal/albums/userpics/10001/normal_wallpaper_mirrors_edge_05_1600.jpg
http://www.freakygaming.com/gallery/game_wallpapers/half-life_2:_episode_one/detailed_alyx.jpg
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j126/forceflow301/VGW/zoey.jpg