How come there are no positive gay or lesbian characters in games?

[Skeleon]

Most games I play don't portray sexuality in either way, so who cares what sexual preference the characters have?

 

[Arcane Azmadi]

OK, let me get this straight: if, as most of you keep saying, it "doesn't matter" then why AREN'T there any positive gay/lesbian characters? You just said it doesn't matter either way, so where are they? Stop fudging the issue; what you mean is "it's hard to find a defensible reason to have a gay/lesbian character in a game so it's safer not to chance it".

The simple reason there aren't any is simple: all games developers are either homophobic or scared of getting the homophobes offside. To be fair it's probably more often the latter than the former. Games developers know that if they DID make a game with a notable and positive gay/lesbian character in a major role then the bigoted homophobes in the community would start jumping up and down screaming "BAN THIS SICK UNGODLY FILTH" like a bunch of shaved weasels with tourettes. And frankly, they're too scared of the trouble this will cause them so they don't try it. It's sad and pathetic really, even so-called "controversial" developers like Rockstar are really only interested in seeing how far they can push the envelope in violence, nudity and sex.

 

[Gaskell]

OK, let me get this straight: if, as most of you keep saying, it "doesn't matter" then why AREN'T there any positive gay/lesbian characters? You just said it doesn't matter either way, so where are they? Stop fudging the issue; what you mean is "it's hard to find a defensible reason to have a gay/lesbian character in a game so it's safer not to chance it".

The simple reason there aren't any is simple: all games developers are either homophobic or scared of getting the homophobes offside. To be fair it's probably more often the latter than the former. Games developers know that if they DID make a game with a notable and positive gay/lesbian character in a major role then the bigoted homophobes in the community would start jumping up and down screaming "BAN THIS SICK UNGODLY FILTH" like a bunch of shaved weasels with tourettes. And frankly, they're too scared of the trouble this will cause them so they don't try it. It's sad and pathetic really, even so-called "controversial" developers like Rockstar are really only interested in seeing how far they can push the envelope in violence, nudity and sex.

If there was a "like this post" button, I would press it!

 

[FROGGEman2]

Gays and Lesbians are just at the edge of acceptance, being gay is yet to topple down from being controversial to just being a normal part of our day-to-day lives. When this happens, they WILL appear in games.

 

[EchetusXe]

Who says they aren't?

Officer Tanner from the Driver series could have been gay. Even if the character has an opposite sex love interest doesn't mean they can't be bisexual.

 

[are.you.the.god.its.me.vader]

Who the hell cares! Its just a character.

 

[ThePoodonkis]

OK, let me get this straight: if, as most of you keep saying, it "doesn't matter" then why AREN'T there any positive gay/lesbian characters? You just said it doesn't matter either way, so where are they? Stop fudging the issue; what you mean is "it's hard to find a defensible reason to have a gay/lesbian character in a game so it's safer not to chance it".

The simple reason there aren't any is simple: all games developers are either homophobic or scared of getting the homophobes offside. To be fair it's probably more often the latter than the former. Games developers know that if they DID make a game with a notable and positive gay/lesbian character in a major role then the bigoted homophobes in the community would start jumping up and down screaming "BAN THIS SICK UNGODLY FILTH" like a bunch of shaved weasels with tourettes. And frankly, they're too scared of the trouble this will cause them so they don't try it. It's sad and pathetic really, even so-called "controversial" developers like Rockstar are really only interested in seeing how far they can push the envelope in violence, nudity and sex.

I wouldn't really say that. We don't care, but we're not the ones making these games. Everyone else, however, cares.
Remember the trouble Mass Effect got into? That was just for an optional vaguely lesbian female. Now what do you think would happen if someone made an openly gay protagonist? There would be utter pandemonium.
FOX News would be all over it like they usually are, people wouldn't play it for that character's sexuality, there would be lawsuits up the wazoo for "this game turning children gay", the resulting controversy would spark even more nationwide protests, et cetra, et cetra.

I think, right now, making a gay protagonist would be more trouble than it's worth. It's unfortunate, but the game companies don't want to take that risk.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

With the gay/lesbian story, it opens up for deeper characterizations and stories, perhaps looking at the persecution faced by them, or how characters feel they have to excel so they aren't identified by their sexuality

Because obviously straight characters can't be deep. *rolls eyes*
How many deep characterisations have you seen in ANY game?

 

[Undead Dragon King]

Sad as it may be, there are plenty of homophobes out there who don't want gayness forced on them when they game. That's why I really liked the formula that BioWare adopted in Jade Empire- you could choose to be gay if you wanted to. People could stay far away from the gay issue. Hell, you could fuck two chicks at once if that was your cup of tea. Or you could be gay if you wanted to. Leaving it up to the players to decide-that makes the most sense to me.

 

[Baby Tea]

With the gay/lesbian story, it opens up for deeper characterizations and stories, perhaps looking at the persecution faced by them, or how characters feel they have to excel so they aren't identified by their sexuality

Because obviously straight characters can't be deep. *rolls eyes*
How many deep characterisations have you seen in ANY game?

This is a pretty great point. And not just because I wuv Root.
There are few really well-written games with deep characterization, and the ones that actually are successful are so because people can relate to them. I could relate far better, and therefore enjoy the game much more, to a character who is struggling with the morality of killing for peace, then relate to a character struggling with being discriminated for being homosexual. And I'm sure I'm not the only one.

And, let's be honest, the public isn't exactly crying out for this. The gay-gamers community might be, but, compared to the rest of the gamer culture, that's a pretty small minority. Especially when the rest of us are either apathetic, or don't want it because of being a bigot. And, go figure, developers want to make games that appeal to the most amount of people so that it sells well. Most developers aren't out to make a deep statement. They are out to make a game enjoyable to the greatest group of people, and gay gamers, even though they are certainly out there, are a minority.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

With the gay/lesbian story, it opens up for deeper characterizations and stories, perhaps looking at the persecution faced by them, or how characters feel they have to excel so they aren't identified by their sexuality

Because obviously straight characters can't be deep. *rolls eyes*
How many deep characterisations have you seen in ANY game?

This is a pretty great point. And not just because I wuv Root.

Meh, was an average one. The main point is that do you know the sexuality of any character? Or even any real person? Defining something as "gay" is as much a narrow view as saying "I hate gays".

People are people. And half the game characters aren't even that.

 

[Gaskell]

With the gay/lesbian story, it opens up for deeper characterizations and stories, perhaps looking at the persecution faced by them, or how characters feel they have to excel so they aren't identified by their sexuality

Because obviously straight characters can't be deep. *rolls eyes*
How many deep characterisations have you seen in ANY game?

That's not really fair, I never said straight characters couldn't be deep, I was just saying that it opens up new possibilties
But yeah, not many characters are well developed in games, only a select few.

It's a cryin' shame

 

[CrustyMedic]

Is this question more about promoting someones agenda. I don't know and it doesn't really matter to me.

 

[Baby Tea]

This is a pretty great point. And not just because I wuv Root.

Meh, was an average one. The main point is that do you know the sexuality of any character? Or even any real person? Defining something as "gay" is as much a narrow view as saying "I hate gays".

People are people. And half the game characters aren't even that.

Well touche.
I guess it was because I wuv Root.
But you're just so wuvable.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

With the gay/lesbian story, it opens up for deeper characterizations and stories, perhaps looking at the persecution faced by them, or how characters feel they have to excel so they aren't identified by their sexuality

Because obviously straight characters can't be deep. *rolls eyes*
How many deep characterisations have you seen in ANY game?

That's not really fair, I never said straight characters couldn't be deep, I was just saying that it opens up new possibilties

Look at what you said though: "how characters feel they have to excel so they aren't identified by their sexuality", well you just have. Perhaps they can just excel on their own?

 

[Xerosch]

If it fits the story and gives characters more depth, it's ok. But I as a gay person would rather see no gay character in a game than the homosexual cardboard cutout inserted for political correctness.

Persona 4 featured a nice story arc in which one party member was in fact gay and and another wasn't sure how to handle/talk about it. It was in fact quite believable for a game. Same goes for Enchanted Arms, in which the three main characters all were gay, but only one of them talked openly about it.

 

[The Infamous Scamola]

I wouldn't say it's that much of a "No gays in videogames" thing as much as it is a "No minorities in games".
When's the last time you saw a Black or Asian protagonist in a game?

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

When's the last time you saw a Black or Asian protagonist in a game?

"Do I Look Like One of Them?"