Bioware *clearly* hates women and wants them to suffer

[BRex21]

Hmmm, I guess I just never thought it was worth getting into a pointless romance in the game if i didn't like any of the characters. My grey warden didn't get laid, and while my Shepard chose Liara it was really just the choice between bland or outright terrible.

If you actually hate it, why do you feel this content is necessary. Would the game be better without the option?

Well, let's clarify so at least we're on the same page talking about the same things. Do I think the content is NECESSARY? No, not really. Do I enjoy the games anyway? Yes, I do. Do I think the romances, specifically the female romances, could be done better? Yes, I certainly, certainly do.

I actually think Bioware, by and large, feature some pretty excellent writing in their games. I don't always think it's well employed (witness the primary story arc for DA1, which was hilariously hackneyed), but I think they're amongst the best in the industry at what they do. When it comes to the romances, though, they feel hopelessly childish and goofy. This is the kind of writing I expect from an Archie comic, not a developer with Bioware's reputation. So because I think they CAN do better, I feel they SHOULD do better. A well written romance could really add some emotional punch to these games. Imagine if I'd had to make the decision I did with Anders, and I'd been ATTACHED to the bugger, instead of eager to be rid of him.

Mostly though, it was just a spot of fun. I'm doing a ME2 replay right now with my Femshep, and I'm lamenting romancing the soporific Mr. Taylor. Why must I, you ask? Well, I don't want to get locked out of whatever becomes of this tedious romantic bullshit in ME3, and my Shepard is not a lesbian, and the alien sex thing makes absolutely no sense to me whatsoever.

I guess this is where we differ, I found the relationships in DAO annoying and therefore didn't bother, I never assumed it was because they hate me or assume im only into the T'n'A but rather that they just didn't have the manpower to flush out there romances. In DAO i found Alistair to simply be the most likeable character. I also liked Kaidan Alenko as a character.
As a man seeking a woman in 2 of the 3 games I found the choices lacking, Does this mean Bioware hates me?

 

[BloatedGuppy]

As a man seeking a woman in 2 of the 3 games I found the choices lacking, Does this mean Bioware hates me?

No, but this sentence implies you're curiously oblivious to the use of hyperbole as humor, despite the fact it's been discussed at numerous points throughout the length of this thread.

 

[Zhukov]

...the unbearably fabulous Kaidan Alenko, who is almost certainly a moldering corpse on the surface of Virmire because Ashley is so goddam indispensable.

Just out of curiosity, how was Ashley indispensable?

 

[BloatedGuppy]

Just out of curiosity, how was Ashley indispensable?

I played an Infiltrator, of course. SHE WAS INDISPENSABLE. My word is writ.

 

[Eccentric Lich]

Seriously? Don't complain. You still have more than one option in more than two games. Gays have it worse. We don't even have options in any Bioware games except both Dragon Ages. I haven't played 2, but in 1 we only get the massive stereotype character.

 

[Zhukov]

Just out of curiosity, how was Ashley indispensable?

I played an Infiltrator, of course. SHE WAS INDISPENSABLE. My word is writ.

Sorry, I still don't quite follow. You mean she was indispensable in combat, gameplay-wise?

 

[BloatedGuppy]

Sorry, I still don't quite follow. You mean she was indispensable in combat, gameplay-wise?

I recall her being indispensable gameplay wise, yes. I cannot speak as to whether or not this was sensible, as it's been years since I played through ME1.

 

[O maestre]

i am confused why are you posting this at the escapist and not on biowares site where they might actually read this and do something about it

anyway i dont think you can exactly say that the female romances are any more interesting, ashley was as bland as kaiden, liara was wooden emotionally, but still the most fleshed out of them, miranda was angsty and bland, and hot obviously. tali was the only one that had a mildly interesting personality, and yet i personally found her unique personality to be borderline annoying and not attractive.

i cannot say anything about dragon age since i have not played any of the two games to completion.
gameplay reminds me too much of an mmo... every time i try to play through it the gameplay stops me.

my point is that i do not think any of those characters are anywhere near sufficiently "human" to spark any interest... other than the small chance of spotting some alien side boob

 

[BRex21]

As a man seeking a woman in 2 of the 3 games I found the choices lacking, Does this mean Bioware hates me?

No, but this sentence implies you're curiously oblivious to the use of hyperbole as humor, despite the fact it's been discussed at numerous points throughout the length of this thread.

And this one shows how you never respond to my points and are unwilling to admit that the dating sim part of the games are by and large terrible rather than just the parts you tried, but what I find more shocking is this:

Sorry, I still don't quite follow. You mean she was indispensable in combat, gameplay-wise?

I recall her being indispensable gameplay wise, yes. I cannot speak as to whether or not this was sensible, as it's been years since I played through ME1.

How were ANY of the squadmates indispensable? The AI was terrible! you were clearly playing it wrong!

 

[BloatedGuppy]

And this one shows how you never respond to my points and are unwilling to admit that the dating sim part of the games are by and large terrible rather than just the parts you tried.

What points? We are not having a debate! This was never offered up as serious fodder for debate. That's where this whole communication is just falling apart at the seams. You're making points, and I was just having a larf at some loathsome romances. How could we even begin to debate something like this? It's HUGELY SUBJECTIVE.

I've never really understood the point of the "Yeah but that's just your opinion man!" rebuttal in forums. Of course it's my opinion. WhoseopinionwoulditbebutmineIdonteven...

 

[BRex21]

What points? We are not having a debate!

really? because when you say stuff obviously argumentative like this:

I hear what you're saying, but they give themselves some wriggle room when they have multiple romantic interests. If you have just one, you're right, you need to shoot for a bland everyman appeal (Jacob Taylor, I am looking in your direction). But when you've got a range to choose from, you can let them be a little more eclectic and not worry about whether choice A is going to put off 75% of your audience because you've got choices B and C waiting in the wings. I'll throw my hat into the "Varric could/should have been romanceable" ring, with the caveat that I'd want him to stay Varric, and not become a dewy eyed sop the moment I first expressed interest in him. He was fine as he was. They wouldn't need to change him to make him appeal as a romantic interest. He ALREADY appealed as a romantic interest. A lot more than Emo the Wizard, Swarthy the Elf, and Ser Bible.

It kinda implies you want to argue your side. Im simply responding to your argument that the women have virtually no in depth characters to choose from by saying that in fact, virtually none of the characters are well thought out and that some of the suggestions here have been all but impossible without a re-write of some of the larger sub plots.
You may call this "Having a larf" but what you did was make a point to call someone sexist because they didn't specifically cater to you and then you decided to directly attempt to contradict things I was saying to another poster. By "throwing your hat into the ring", expressing that you felt Varric could have been a valid romance, you were obviously defending your opinion.
I will give you some advice, you see that button that says quote down beneath this post? If you push that button, and then post a conflicting statement or opinion, I'm going to take that as an invitation to respond with a counter point, or as you put it "debate". If in the future you see me, or anyone for that matter, make a post and you don't want a debate, don't hit that button and things like this will never happen.

 

[Mount]

I guess as a gay dude, I technically count as a girl-gamer. I too have been sorely disappointed by the 'romance' options in the Bioware games. DA:O as a male character my options for a sweet bromance were: Zevran. Full stop. In DA2, once again, they offer me a bisexual elf (and a psycho mage, for variety.) BLEAH. Note to Bioware: Elves are not sexy, stop it.

I don't even remember if there WERE gay options in ME and ME2. Not that it mattered, because I basically found all the romance options in ME1 revolting. I played ME2 as HeteroShep, and actually romanced Jack. Amazingly, I found that romance line pretty rewarding, because being able to get through to someone as emotionally damaged as Jack is TOUGH. I also liked the fact that Jack remained a badass after being romanced; Just because Shepard got through the shell, doesn't mean she's letting anyone ELSE in.

So here's the deal; the characters I WOULD have romanced were in the games already. They just weren't options! Oghren, Sten, Varric (mmmm Varric), and yes, WREX. Come on, the game STATES that his race's males all have 4 testicles.. aren't you a LITTLE curious?! Dollars to donuts, the reasons these guys aren't available for sweet sweet lovin' is because their character models are the wrong size/shape, and would need a lot of extra work to make the 'love scenes' animate right, but hey... If they can make my male dwarf look good in the sack, then they can make him look good in the sack WITH OGHREN.

 

[PonceyMcTosserFaic]

I think bioware romances are very hit and miss in their games. Dragon Age origins had Alister for the women and Morrigan for the men as decent options Dragon Age 2 on the other had didnt have a single decent romance option in it.

yes u can. we will punch him in his smug faichole.

I dont think it would have been nearly as bad if he had actually been a smug asshole but he wasnt. Instead he was whiney insecure little bastard.

LOL i wonder if we can falcon pawnch him at the same time. EPIC FACE PWNING!!!