Dragon Age 2 Lead Writer Blasts Homophobic Fan

[The_root_of_all_evil]

"Blasts"? That was fingerslaps.

Why is this such a big deal anyway? Someone doesn't like the homosexual romances, the designers says well fair enough, but we want to include everyone.

Christ, is there anything about this damn game that's actually worth me looking at? It seems like someone's tried to design an RPG by committee.

 

[mafiadragon]

I enjoyed both DAO and DA2 thoroughly, and for the most part found no problems with the flirting between npc's and my character, regardless of gender (I found most of what Zhevran said to be hilarious).

My only complaint regarding this sexuality issue was how Anders' character was retconned if you are a male character in DA2. In Awakening, he seems to fly pretty straight (settling down with a lady being one of his aspirations at some point if I remember correctly) and this persona carries through if you choose to play a female Hawke. On the other hand, if you are male, they incorporate a homosexual relationship with a fellow circle mage into his backstory.

I found that this Anders was as equally believable as a character, and I understand that Bioware was responding to people's concerns that Alistair or Morrigan refused same sex romances, but I feel that a character is stronger if the developer can decide on what he/she is. Characters that are sexually ambiguous (Zhevran) work well because that is the way they are. Creating a character who hasn't chosen sides yet (Leliana) also makes sense. An openly gay (and only gay) character would also be an impressive decision for Bioware to make. But going back and directly altering a character's backstory goes against creating strong characters (in my opinion). Why cant my male Hawke get props from Anders about the women I sleep with, stuff like that. If Bioware wanted Anders to be straight or gay depending on the player's preference, then why couldn't he be straight if I was a male?

 

[Pilkingtube]

I'm slightly confused by the OP's assumption that for whatever reason, there are hardly any LGBT people who play computer games? Just google Homosexuality and Technology and you're swimming in research.

Spoiler: Bits i've quickly looked up about LGBT technology and spending trends

LGBT persons lead the way with early adoption of new technology, they have a higher than average income in places like the US ($61,300/annum vs $56,900/annum), meaning more disposable income. As a percentage, there are 80% homosexual men and 76% homosexual women online, as opposed to 70% of straight men and 69% of straight women. LGBT people are 1/3rd more likely to have broadband internet compared to straight people and have $475 billion spending power, per annum in the United States.

There are specific gay computer gamer websites too! It's a bit unfair to assume that because that guy on the battlefield isn't mincing along he must be straight. (Besides, holding down the 'home' button to flounce around is difficult on a keyboard I hear!)
/rant

Regardless, in a game which forces you to revisit the same cave system while pretending it is roughly 14 different locations simply by closing large gray concrete doors, sexual diversity isn't exactly going to be at its best.

 

[JediMB]

My main problem with DA2 is if I tell Anders I'm not interested I lose friend points. Pretty dumb design choice there.

It's not dumb at all. He's going to be disappointed if you don't reciprocate, but it's nothing he won't get over if you're a good friend to him.

I'm not sure if there are variations of the conversation, but for me it was like this: Anders told me that I (Hawke) reminded him of the Warden, and told me that he had the feeling that I was the kind of person who would tell him the truth even if I disagreed with him.

The truth, right there. So I told him the truth, he was disappointed in my lack of interest, and then we moved on to become close friends with a common goal of liberating the mages.

Of course, I won't deny that I'd liked a fourth dialogue option, telling him that I didn't mind his feeling for me, but that I didn't feel the same about him. The whole "I don't want you thinking that way about me" line was a bit too awkward for me.

 

[Lady Kathleen]

Huh, as someone who was just speaking on this topic, can I say how HAPPY I am to see a developer that is actually working on making games a better, more inclusive, more realistic experience for everyone? Like seriously, standing up and saying "YES!!" to my computer.

And to the OP, if I ever see you, I am going to smack you for being such an ignorant ass. You are actually demanding that all game choices suit your narrow definitions of what you find to be acceptable to 'straight male gamers'. I know a heck of a lot of straight males and none of them are offended by the option to play as a woman or have homosexual romance options.

Seriously kid, smarten up and take the silver spoon out of your mouth.

 

[McNinja]

Sounds like the people who complain (possibly) don't know what flirting is.

Keep in mind that to the average straight male gamer, gays existing=TEH GHEYZ R RUBBING IT IN R FACEZ! PANIX!

I wouldn't be surprised, particularly, if people were seeing "flirting" in the same way they see "rubbing it in our faces."

When Anders hit on me (a straight, male gamer), I was like "whoa, that was unexpected." Then I told him I wasn't interested and got the -15 friendship points, meanwhile lamenting the fact that there was no other way out of it, and that I would make up the loss twofold in the next companion quest for Anders. I actually didn't get Anders friendship until right before he jacked up the jimmy-jam in the third act of the game.

The point: I didn't mind it, although it was a bit odd, being hit on by a dude.

 

[JediMB]

Homophobia is a virus. The sooner it becomes extinct, the better. For everyone.

I haven't actually seen anyone starting to scream and retract into a corner or run away panicking because of gay people so i think calling it "homophobia" is kind of a huge misnomer as that implies irrational fear.

Being uncomfortable with a certain situation or certain people isn't that.

Running away isn't the only possible response to an irrational fear.

Some people get angry about things they fear.

 

[Dragonborne88]

Wow. We have literally the opposite opinion on this matter.
Merill is fucking hardcore. She isn't at all like Liara or Leliana (most people compare her to Tali, but I'm not entirely sure why), and most of her dialogue is either charming, funny or heartbreaking. Her companion subplot was also the most interesting.

She does kind of fit the "Tali" archetype, to be honest. Bioware has a thing with their romances. There is usually the broody male, the naive female, the confident female, etc. She fits into the "naive" role like Tali did. So I can see where they were coming from. Not to say I didn't like her though, her story was depressing as crap, especially since I ended up

Spoiler

wiping out her whole clan

by accident. But Isabella was waaaaay to hot to ignore, so I ran for that. Even though my Hawke probably caught every STD ever from her.

I'm glad David took it to that guy. I'm not gay, but hell, I don't care if the characters in the game are. It adds character. Plus, I've hit on by gay guys before, it's awkward, but kind of nice to know that men love ya'. *flips hair back*

 

[gellert1984]

But this is probably a response to the Tali and Jack outrage from Mass Effect 2.

I understand the outrage about Jack, she outright states she's been in relationship's with women in the past, but isnt a romance option.

I was personally disgruntled that there were no Furry romance options for the Companions. I really ruined the game for me that convincing humans were trying to hit on me...

*edit* How come a horny personality when it was on a Bisexual elf (Zevran) many found creepy, but it is regarded as "hot" when on a lady (Isabella)?

I keep expecting to see some addon or rule 34 image to do with morrigan and furry/otherkin relationships.

Zevran came off as more of a letch than Isabella IMO. He's always talking about people as sexual objects, she's always talking about sex or comparing things to sex, it comes of as a lot less stalkerish.

 

[Celtic_Kerr]

I think this is fantastic!!! I thought the game was rather well balanced actually.

 

[InnerRebellion]

Please tell me this isn't weird.
When I read the title, I envisioned a tall oscilating fan sitting in a chair holding one of those WBC "God hates fags" signs, and there was a man jumping out of his computer screen with a shotgun, moments away from shooting him in the face.

....I admit, I burst out laughing.

OT: Oh noes! A developer wanted to try something you didn't like? Too bad, whiny player.

 

[Popido]

Is there any gay character on biowares games that doesnt try to have sex with you?

 

[Buizel91]

I'd be glad to have anyone hitting on me right now.
*sigh*

Need a hug? XD

OT: I thin k it's great Bioware do this, i found it odd at first but that's because DA is the only game i know to do it...

My Male Elf and Zev make a cute couple ^_^

 

[Callate]

Um, I haven't played Dragon Age 2, so I can't really make an totally conformed comment... Do the male characters persistantly hit on the male PC, or is it just like every other Bioware game I've played where if you show disinterest it never comes up again?

I have said, and I still believe, that having every major character in a game be bisexual just to make the greatest number of romantic/sexual options available trivializes the issue and jeopardizes the process of making credible characters who ring true to writers and players alike. But I certainly don't object to having major characters who fall all over the spectrum.

Tangential question- has Bioware ever created a major (non-player controlled) female character who was just a lesbian?

 

[rbstewart7263]

I read the article and was very pleased with davids response. I imagine that as always an intelligent argument can be an exausting 3 paragraph one.

 

[MetalDooley]

I just finished DA2 last night as a straight,male,good guy Hawke(I romanced Isabella.I guess I'm a sucker for slutty pirate girls with big racks)and I genuinely can't remember ever being hit on by Anders or Fenris despite finishing with full friendship with both characters

They should have introduced some characters as straight, some as bi and some as gay. It is more realistic than turning all the romance-companions into bi characters. They should have approached this sexuality issue in more creative manner, where the sexuality is part of the personality. For example, Merrill is straight and Isabela is bi.

In Origins Alastair and Morrigan were straight and would only sleep with female and male characters respectively and guess what..people complained that they were forced to play as a certain gender if they wanted to experience those romances.So Bioware made all romance options available regardless of gender and guess what..people still complained.Can't please everyone

 

[Sonic Doctor]

Wow, really. The guy must be blind, the only way the gay stuff can happen is if you choose the dialogue option that has a heart in the center of the circle. I haven't once had a male character hit on my male Hawke.

Though I am pissed a little that I think I missed out on the Merrill romance. I have played the game to almost the end of Act two, I have like two or three quests left, and not once have I had a heart in my dialogue options for Merrill, and she has been a friend for the whole game. So to get something, I had to pick it up with Isabella. I guess I will get Merrill on the second time I play.

 

[Ilosia]

But this is probably a response to the Tali and Jack outrage from Mass Effect 2.

I understand the outrage about Jack, she outright states she's been in relationship's with women in the past, but isnt a romance option.

She's also psychologically damaged in an extremely bad way, note that these cases where really just people using her for their own ends. Jack's experiences have given her little opportunity to emotionally mature so it's not that suprising that she doesn't really have a grip on her own feelings.

 

[Terminal Blue]

About the rivalry points thing..

Sometimes people get offended if you reject them. That's quite believable. What Anders actually says is along the lines of 'am I making you uncomfortable' (which is a terrible line to drop IRL, but it makes sense in context). If you're playing your Hawke as a straight male, then saying 'yes' is perfectly in character. It is also perfectly in character that it doesn't help your friendship. What 'diplomatic option' would there be. Do you really think saying 'sorry, I don't like guys' is going to make someone who has just gone out on a limb with you like you?

I don't see anyone complaining about all the easy rivalry points you get with Carver at the beginning of the game. That's how your relationship is established to work, it's believable.

Also, if you give an ambiguous response, it doesn't necessarily go anywhere.