useyourfist
Member
This times infinity. All the gay people I know have never introduced themselves as, e.g., hi I'm Neil I'm gay. And they don't 'appear' gay or conform to the camp/buch stereotype.
Gay community - "Why you will not see a gay lead character in a triple-A title".
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This times infinity. All the gay people I know have never introduced themselves as, e.g., hi I'm Neil I'm gay. And they don't 'appear' gay or conform to the camp/buch stereotype.
Winterfang
Banned
Can't roll my eyes hard enough.
Air Zombie Meat
Member
Right, this is why I'm finding all the posts claiming that theres never any indication of orientation in games a little bit strange.
mullet2000
Member
I don't know, is this really any different than, say, AAA action movies like Transformers or something? AAA games/movies/etc are often aimed at the lowest common denominator...is that really the place to look for interesting use of character sexuality/gender identity?
Hades Hotgun
Banned
I think sexuality was bad in ME because they made all of it revolve entirely around Shep being an irresistible figure with all options culminating in a single sexual encounter.
DeviantBoi
Member
Prince Oberyn Martell as a main character in a game?
That would be awesome.
That would be awesome.
We'll still get shoehorned romantic plots without gay characters? "Glad to hear that."
But he is also a Spartan, so he shacked up with a guy until he was 30.
Go develop a game that features one yourself then.
I don't get why people's creative collaboration has to champion the cause of others and tackle social issues.
Funny thing is I was reading this page just yesterday. Some positive portrayals, many negative, but they are out there.
A.D. Skinner
Member
I would be willing to bet that the amount of games where the protagonists sexuality is not ever mentioned or hinted at, than there are games where it is. Sexuality of the character is such a non-point for a story that it doesn't matter.
Then you're left with your own assumption on the characters sexuality. Some would argue "the character is obviously straight, he/she doesn't act gay". Then you will have a massive debate about what the hell that even means, and whether is homophobic to say such a thing.
Editing to add, I honestly couldn't care less about the race, gender, sexuality, or anything else of the character I play as. I enjoy whatever creative vision is made, I would however really hope that anything is done, is never done just to fill a void. A token gay character, or making the protagonist female for the hell of it. I would hope devs make their game, with all their characters planned and a brilliant final product, not just ticking boxes.
Then you're left with your own assumption on the characters sexuality. Some would argue "the character is obviously straight, he/she doesn't act gay". Then you will have a massive debate about what the hell that even means, and whether is homophobic to say such a thing.
Editing to add, I honestly couldn't care less about the race, gender, sexuality, or anything else of the character I play as. I enjoy whatever creative vision is made, I would however really hope that anything is done, is never done just to fill a void. A token gay character, or making the protagonist female for the hell of it. I would hope devs make their game, with all their characters planned and a brilliant final product, not just ticking boxes.
Garrett Hawke
Member
So what you're saying is that pretty much every developer only wants to develop games about straight, white men? Because I don't think so.
There are a lot of gay people working in the industry and I'm sure there are many straight people who would like to write gay characters, but they can't because it "won't sell".
And I will go and develop one, thanks. That's what I'm at University for.
The overwhelming majority of videogames feature asexual characters. They might be straight, they might be gay - we'll never know, because their sexuality isn't part of the narrative. Mario or Link might be gay for all we know. And I believe it's a good thing we don't. Because that way, everybody can feel represented.
Some may find that offensive because it is offensive. How would playing a gay protagonist ruin your enjoyment?
Why not?
Air Zombie Meat
Member
Care to explain why?
D
Deleted member 80556
Unconfirmed Member
Crap, yes. I was thinking what a designer or writer would think of why to include a gay character rather than thinking people are gay because they are. Sorry if it sounded insensitive.
Garrett Hawke
Member
That is offensive. So the game could be the most fun, exciting, best game to come out, GOTD etc and you wouldn't play it cus the lead was gay?
Your loss tbh
Why? is this a joke? wtf?
Garrett Hawke
Member
Read this post. Just because you don't see someone kiss/have sex with someone of the opposite gender doesn't mean that they're portrayed as asexual. There are often hints - even just passing comments in dialogue or in backstory etc.
Is it really about them being gay, or how it's expressed? If it's something you have to dig up to know or it's very subtle I don't get why you or anyone would care if they're not a huge bigot.
Yeah, I think it's Axton, unless I'm remembering incorrectly.
its not just ignorant white males. there is a lot of different races and religions who are against same sex couples. unfortunately those people are the majority.
akidnamededdy
Banned
Just saying it's a topic that's been coming up a lot lately.
Anyway, there may be more gay characters than we realize already. Can you say for sure Chris Redfield is straight, for example? Bayonetta? Big Boss? Auron?
I dunno, it's tricky. If you make a game with an overtly gay protag it seems like it would come off as pandering, like their sexual preference would define them instead of just being part of who they are as a character. Basically it's not a topic I trust most videogame industry writers have the chops to handle properly.
Jimnymebob
Member
I'm all for games, especially bigger releases (especially titles from already well established franchises or developers) including gay main characters both for plot reasons, and just for the sake of it, i.e. if the main character being straight has no relevance then why not make them gay?
However, how would people, mostly curious about the LBGT's opinion on this but anyone's welcome to answer, like to see a gay lead character in a videogame? Would you want something that's subtle, like the AAA DLC people are talking about, where it's not obvious that the character is gay and they don't play up to a stereotype so to speak, or would you be happier with something like Mr. Gold and Mr. Silver from God Hand, albeit toned down; so basically, would you want a main character that doesn't really have and identifiable orientation but is implied/revealed to be gay, but could be considered straight or unidentifiable until the revelation, or a main character that is openly gay?
This is where the situation with gay characters gets difficult for me. On the one hand, the first example could be considered a bad idea due to the fact the game wouldn't really be touching on the character being gay, but on the other hand it'd be showing that the character being gay isn't something that makes them abnormal. With the second example there's the positive example that the game'd be more open in dealing with homosexuality, but on the other hand it could be considered to be portraying the main character as different, and a stereotype.
However, how would people, mostly curious about the LBGT's opinion on this but anyone's welcome to answer, like to see a gay lead character in a videogame? Would you want something that's subtle, like the AAA DLC people are talking about, where it's not obvious that the character is gay and they don't play up to a stereotype so to speak, or would you be happier with something like Mr. Gold and Mr. Silver from God Hand, albeit toned down; so basically, would you want a main character that doesn't really have and identifiable orientation but is implied/revealed to be gay, but could be considered straight or unidentifiable until the revelation, or a main character that is openly gay?
This is where the situation with gay characters gets difficult for me. On the one hand, the first example could be considered a bad idea due to the fact the game wouldn't really be touching on the character being gay, but on the other hand it'd be showing that the character being gay isn't something that makes them abnormal. With the second example there's the positive example that the game'd be more open in dealing with homosexuality, but on the other hand it could be considered to be portraying the main character as different, and a stereotype.
Some people don't like gays or blacks or other minorities. What's so wtf about that? I, personally, don't play games with furry creatures. Everyone has a right to skip a game for their personal reasons.
Winterfang
Banned
If the main character is too flamboyant and the game was about banging random dudes in bars I would understand how it might not be your cup of tea, but to be honest a game protagonist these days might as be just a floating gun.
Higgins113
Banned
The fuck does being white have to do with it?
No disrespect towards you, but I have no respect for you for that dumbass comment.
Oh shit, that doesn't work, does it?
So do people just not know how ridiculous they sound when they say this?
That's funny, for some some reason, it doesn't feel like Mario represents me.
Wonder why that could be.
Garrett Hawke
Member
But there are some writers who do have the chops and want to. For example, the lead writer of the TR reboot was completely open to the idea that Lara was a lesbian and even said that she wrote some of it in that mindset, or something along those lines.
Hence the incredibly close, affectionate relationship with Sam.
I could wrong but in the first Gears of war I don't remind any hit about the sexual tastes of the character except the one who is married.
BananaSprinkles
Banned
This... seems like a racist and possibly sexist comment to me.
How do you know that you haven't already?
There are many big games out there where sexuality of a lead isn't touched upon at all. There is nothing bad about that if it fits, aren't you just making assumptions about those characters as they don't apply to a flamboyantly gay stereotype or similar?
Its not the gay person they don't want to see.
Garrett Hawke
Member
White, straight, male gamers are the least likely to care about representation because they're already massively represented.
Because when I play games I play it as if I am the character and I am not gay. If anything in the game is explicitly done to identify the character as gay, I'm going to find it hard to relate to that person.
Just curious if any straight males opted for a gay relationship in Mass Effect.
Blood Diamonds
Banned
This is so disgusting holy shit
Having gay people working in the industry doesn't mean they share the need to have their sexual preference on display.
No less ridiculous than expecting other people to fight your own battles.
It's going to get to the point where any male and female relationship will be criticized to death. It's not our fault that most developers are straight and grew up around straight people. Why do they have to create leading gay characters if they have no experience with same-sex relationships or have no deserve to create those characters?
When I was growing up, I had some ideas of some cool superheroes and they were straight by default. Why? Because I liked girls and pretty much everyone I knew were straight.
I never mentioned Drake, Kratos or Master Chief, and those three luckily aren't the only three protagonists, or even the three most important or well known protagonists in gaming.
At this point, I think Capcom is sharing your universe. I've seen Sailor Chris and Safari Chris.
Garrett Hawke
Member
Then what don't you want to see?
It's not. Check any gaming comments site (or even this thread) and you'll see a lot of white, straight male gamers completely opposed to any forms of diversity in videogames.
I honestly couldn't care less if a protagonist is gay or not. If it works in the game they can be attracted to whoever they want. I'm not playing to put myself in their position, I'm playing to enjoy the game. In fact, at times it can be a good plot point like Kanji's struggle in P4.
There certainly aren't many of them though, so there should be more.
There certainly aren't many of them though, so there should be more.
Now that'd be pandering to straight males
Garrett Hawke
Member
Neither do straight people by this logic. So stop alluding in any way to having any romantic/sexual relationships, I guess?
Why don't we just have devs stop sharing any of their preferences? Let's just have them all make the same game.
Chris is very popular among 'gaymers', but I think that not writing romances between him and female characters and putting in stuff like his fruity DLC costumes is probably as close as Capcom will ever get to 'outing' him.
I can't believe what I'm reading or tell if its a joke. Skipping a game you would other wise want to play because it has black people in it? That's dumb as fuck and only really horrible people would do that.
Air Zombie Meat
Member
So you don't play any games where the main character is a woman either?