Define "A Well Writen Gay Character" in Gaming.

[jehk]

I'm pretty sure Kanji is bisexual if not gay. He shows attraction to men in the game and anime. Even though (zomg spoilers) Naoto is a girl she looks like a guy and Kanji definitely finds her appearance attractive.

Also, the "happens to be gay" really means that person doesn't fall into an easy gay stereotype. The character can be flamboyant and flaunt their sexuality so long as they act like a genuine person. Being gay is just part of them and is one of many attributes that define that character. You know, just like real people.

 

[IamLEAM1983]

It's been said enough times before. An engaging gay character would and actually does keep his sexuality on the down-low. Cortez from Mass Effect 3 mentions his husband because he's in the process of mourning him - that just happens to be a good, believable and natural way to show his sexual orientation without having him re-enact scenes from "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar".

This just proves that a lot of studios start with an idea, a game design concept, a few meagre character concepts, and then wing it. Oftentimes, you'll see characters that are so much FLAMING in their nature that you lose all empathy for them or ability to sympathize with them. The same can be said of Don Juan types, too.

I mean, shit. I hated Zevran's ass from Dragon Age 2, and Isabella's role seemed to be limited to "I have boobs, I'm sexy, won't you please try and fuck me?"

I figure we'll see realistic gays on the day the industry will stop thinking every male protagonist needs to be this barrel-chested douchecanoe who only expresses himself in grunts and Army slang - or when female protagonists will honestly be seen as a means to show off a decent personality, rather than BOOBIES, OMG. GUNBOOBIES. SO HAWT.

Most male gamers are getting into their thirties. I can only hope that as we keep maturing, we'll get out of this ridiculous need to have our hormones be pandered to. In a sense, we're getting there. Nathan Drake isn't some grossly caricatural Alpha Male, we've had Ethan Mars as a conflicted and very vulnerable protagonist, etc.

So things are changing, and I think they're changing for the better. Still, there's always going to be a niche for the ridiculously endowed Femme Fatale with guns, the Neanderthal with a chaingun, or the sassy chronic fence-jumper. I can only hope they'll eventually become a very small part of AAA game development standards.

 

[SextusMaximus]

While it's not necessarily a game character, Dumbledore seems to stick out in my mind as this.

I mean hell, JK didn't mention he was gay once in the entire book series.

 

[sabercrusader]

What about Leonardo Da Vinci in Assassin's Creed Brotherhood? He wasn't the greatest written character, but he was pretty good.

 

[jackinmydaniels]

Now, I see lots of people say that Cortez is a well written gay character, but I gotta disagree, really nothing against gay people at all and at least he's there, but I don't think he's all that well written. His having a husband was really his only defining character trait whatsoever, and that was about it, or at least that's all I really seemed to think.

Kaiden is a pretty decent gay guy in ME 3, though I guess he loses points for also being femshep romanceable.

Aside from that I don't really know, they are all I can think of to be honest.

 

[Overusedname]

Now, I see lots of people say that Cortez is a well written gay character, but I gotta disagree, really nothing against gay people at all and at least he's there, but I don't think he's all that well written. His having a husband was really his only defining character trait whatsoever, and that was about it, or at least that's all I really seemed to think.

Kaiden is a pretty decent gay guy in ME 3, though I guess he loses points for also being femshep romanceable.

Still a good thing. He counts.

The title of this thread should probably be 'Define a 'Well-written LGBT character"' .

 

[tofulove]

id say any character whos sexual preference is not show could be a well written gay guy. although a lot of well written characters who show interest in girls, and few in guys. video game world does need more good gay characters (who you cant choose to be not gay)

 

[lacktheknack]

The first thing that comes to mind is Trevor from Phantasmagoria 2: Puzzle of Flesh.
Bet you didn't see that one coming, did ya!?

But Trevor was MY example!

He is:
-The only really likable character in the game
-Not stereotypically gay, he's more of a standard dork
-The main character's best friend, and they clearly have healthy amounts of affection for each other (shoulder punching, brief hugs, etc).
-Employed at a computer firm
-Has the main character's back

The only thing that really draws him out as being gay is:
-The main character how it went "with the last guy"
-A couple jabs from/at the main character
-I nightmarish dream(?)-sequence where a zombified Trevor says "I think I'll take you up on that kiss".

In short, he's a likable and defined character who has basic banter referencing his gayness, nothing more.

I'll expand further: About the limit I'd put for "Well Written Gay Character" would be Wallace from Scott Pilgrim Versus the World (at least in the movie), where the gayness was all-encompassing but the dude was still affable. However, you should be aiming for Travis, a secondary character in a B-grade "horror" slasher point-n-click.

It's a crazy industry.

 

[bl4ckh4wk64]

I don't know if you guys consider her well written, but Traynor from Mass Effect 3 is a lesbian. In response to the OT, I'm not sure of any others. Has George Takei voiced any video game characters? I'm positive there's well written, strong homosexual characters in video games, I just haven't played enough to really know.

 

[peruvianskys]

While it's not necessarily a game character, Dumbledore seems to stick out in my mind as this.

I mean hell, JK didn't mention he was gay once in the entire book series.

Why is that a good thing? A well-written gay character isn't just a straight person who happens to like men. If a gay character is well-written, then his or her sexuality will inform many different elements of their personality. If a gay character is poorly written, they will either be a giant walking stereotype or a "Dumbledore" where you can't even tell until they make a token reference.

The flaming queer archetype and the straight character who happens to be gay are both equally poor representations of LGBT characters.

 

[blank0000]

Vamp from Metal Gear Solid.

I like him because "as most people have said about Cortez" He was a character that happened to be gay, it didn't define him. What's more, you could pick up on it by examining his interactions with Raiden. His sexuality wasn't something hidden, or something that had to be pointed out, it was just an aspect of who he was.

 

[acosn]

None.

Because sexuality for homosexuals is about as character defining as being straight.


Anyone who writes a homosexual character into games and makes it a major component of the character is either just admitting they're a bad writer or is doing it for shock value.

 

[captaincabbage]

Honestly, I'd say that Cortez is a great example.

What should define a gay character as good is what would define any other character as good, which is their character, not their sexuality. Of course a character can have sexuality, it's just a matter of balancing that with the rest of the character.

I pose a question to you, dear escapists. What makes it okay/not okay to give a character such as Morinth (again, from the Mass Effect series) a rampant sexual appetite and not a gay character such as Cortez a similar trait? Why do we let our sensitivities and social compass drive us to making decisions on what is and is not okay in modern society?

 

[Something Amyss]

Let's start with getting a few well-written characters, period. Let's face it, the gaming industry doesn't exactly do that often. Get that down, then we'll talk abotu well-written gay characters.

 

[SextusMaximus]

While it's not necessarily a game character, Dumbledore seems to stick out in my mind as this.

I mean hell, JK didn't mention he was gay once in the entire book series.

Why is that a good thing? A well-written gay character isn't just a straight person who happens to like men. If a gay character is well-written, then his or her sexuality will inform many different elements of their personality. If a gay character is poorly written, they will either be a giant walking stereotype or a "Dumbledore" where you can't even tell until they make a token reference.

The flaming queer archetype and the straight character who happens to be gay are both equally poor representations of LGBT characters.

What are you talking about when you say a 'straight character who's gay'?

Dumbledore is a well written character who is gay, but it's not the standout trait of the character.

 

[Sectan]

I would consider Veronica from Fallout:New Vegas to fit the category. Her orientation is just one aspect of her character thats mentioned in passing. It adds depth to her.

Don't forget Arcade Gannon . It's only a passing comment like Veronica's. "You're probably wondering why some lucky bachelor hasn't swept me off my feet."

 

[Lieju]

I think the better way to put the question would be
"How do you portray sexuality"

Someone being gay shouldn't be their only defining characteristic, just like someone being straight shouldn't. Whether their sexuality has a big impact on their character depends on how the society treats it. If everyone just treats it like it's no big deal, then it's not going to be a big deal for the character.

But if they live in a society where people like them are demonised and persecuted, then it's going be something that has a big effect on them and their self-image.
This goes for all kinds of characteristics.

Dumbledore is a well written character who is gay, but it's not the standout trait of the character.

It doesn't stand out at all. As for his sexuality, he is more of an asexual, and that's how he comes across. He fell in love once in his youth, but apart from that he doesn't have any relationships like that, mostly because of how traumatic that whole thing was.

I'm not saying this is the case with Dumbledore, but making characters who are gay but who you can't tell are gay , and that aren't allowed to do the same things heterosexuals are, tends to give the message of "It's okay to be gay, as long as you hide it".

 

[SFMB]

Maybe one of the best gay characters is Captain John Price from the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare franchise. His bear-like fatherly compassion for the main protagonist is endearing, but the same time manly. Very best in closet-homosexuality.