Lack of gaiety in gaming

[Mrsoupcup]

In games some lesbians would be nice... And mabey a gay guy to design a nice apartmet so you don't have the shitty ones like in grand theft auto.

 

[PirateKing]

Master chief was gay.

I wouldn't feel weird playing a homosexual character in a video game, so long as the game isn't centered around the fact that said character is homosexual. However, I don't think the majority of gamers are ready for something like that, and it would only reach a very limited audience.

I think it would be better to keep the character's sexuality secret, then spring it on the fanbase after the game has become successful. Kind of like what J. K. Rowling did with Dumbledore.

But Dumbledore's sexuality never came out in the story and appeared to have no impact on the plot at all.

It didn't have any impact on the story but I did kind of suspect something after reading that letter to Grindlewald. I wasn't really surprised at all when she said that he was gay.
I'm a writer too, I write stuff, usually I'll give the characters little bits that don't really affect the story like if they're left handed or something. Sometimes characters become themselves regardless of what I originally intended.
She said, "I always thought of him as gay."
My point is, I don't think she just sprung it on the fanbase.

 

[Gunmanj]

First of all, good question

second of all, I would say that its because people may not take these characters seriously, or it could create awkward experiences for the player, especially if it was a child playing and his/her mom walked in and saw two guys or girls kissing on the screen.

Plus, after the whole Mass effect ordeal with Fox, imagine how people would react to this, it could do a lot of damage to sales. dang Homophobes.

I think it would be good idea to add homosexual characters, it would make for some good character depth and writers these days could make some strong storylines with this idea.

( in writing this, I did not mean to upset anyone)

 

[cobra_ky]

If it was made an integral part of the story, then it'd be ok, but I can't think of many instances where that would occur.

most people can't. that's the problem.

I'd love to see a really stereotypically gay character in Gears of War.

i'd rather he be a hulking man-beast like the rest of the COG. then there's a scene where you see him hug his partner or something and he's all like "what? i'm gay." and then marcus sort of shrugs and they go back to butchering locust.

that or make him the next carmine.

Perhaps I should clarify: It's not homosexuality I have a problem with in these cases, its the fact that any mention of a character's sexuality, whether heterosexual, homosexual, or anything else, is completely irrelevant in most games. The few games where sexuality has made any difference are in RPGs, and I've seen plenty of homosexual romance options in those, which I'm fine with, because they add to the story.

While amusing, the idea of that Gears of War scene is exactly the sort of thing I'm against. The way you portrayed it (hug scene, mentions gayness, everyone goes back to killing locust) would be irrelevant to the story, the gameplay, and everything else. It would seem like unneccesary controversy-baiting.

oh, it's absolutely silly and irrelevant. the difference is that the scene i suggested was

1. less offensive to gays
2. silly and heavy-handed, which Gears is a lot of the time anyway
3. funnier imo.

but please, please don't think i was advocating putting a gay character into Gears of War 3. oh god. terrible idea.

anyway, i completely agree it's not something you should do unless it's integral to the game. the problem is, we don't have enough game designers who can make it integral to the game that way. basically, we need more gay perspective in game design if we're going to come up with games like that. most people, frankly, just don't understand. i would have trouble including black characters in a game i designed, simply because i don't enough perspective on how being black affects people's lives. the game industry has had the same problem with female characters for a long time; female characters only started getting better once more women got into the game industry.

 

[Nigh Invulnerable]

Isn't putting gay characters into games just for the sake of having gay characters kinda against the point of true tolerence, because it reinforces the stereotype that gays are different from straights, and should be treated differently? A character should be gay for a reason, not just to appease pressure groups.

What "reason"? Do people need a reason to be straight, too? To be black?

I agree that it's not "true tolerance" to do something to appease pressure groups. True tolerance would be to default to a diverse cast unless there is reason to do something else.

I think he meant they should be gay for a storytelling reason, not just "to have a gay dude/lady" in the game. The questions I still have are these, "What portion of the population would identify themselves as homosexual? How many of them play video games? If it's less than something like 3%, why would game developers feel a need to add a gay character to every game?"

Is it really necessary to have one or two out of every hundred characters be gay? If we wanted to be truly diverse in a global sense, we'd have a ton more Chinese and Indian characters in games.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Being gay, I wouldn't mind seeing more gay leads in games, but the lack of it in no way bothers me.

Why should someone's sexuality matter to them as a (fictional) person?
And hell, if you really want a gay lead, then it's not difficult to imagine Sonic/Mario/Lara or Sackboy as gay?
(Not a pop at you Rabbit, but in general)
Ever see someone from Leicester or Cardiff or Dieppe or Strasbourg or Eskimo or Transvestite or Divorced three times as a lead? OH NOEZ, TEH H8!

Seriously, no one aspect of a person's personality sums them up as a character unless they're shallower than a drained swimming pool. That's the beauty of gaming, you can project your own desires onto the character.

 

[GCM]

Well... yeah, he's right.

Short question: Why?

Long question: There are no particular points or reasons to include said thing. All there would be in the current characterization and/or story would be novelization without a purpose. And I'm against innovation for innovation's sake. So why would we need to?

I'm not saying it's not possible. There's just no place for inserting it in anything I can think of currently.

 

[Sewblon]

Most games resort to stereotypes or other disrespectful depictions with minorities(Grand theft auto San Andreas) and women(Tomb raider.) This is less an issue with attitude towards homosexuals and more an issue with poor writing in games(Gears of War.)

 

[mark_n_b]

Well... yeah, he's right.

Short question: Why?

Long question: There are no particular points or reasons to include said thing. All there would be in the current characterization and/or story would be novelization without a purpose. And I'm against innovation for innovation's sake. So why would we need to?

I'm not saying it's not possible. There's just no place for inserting it in anything I can think of currently.

Long answer: If gaming is a brave new art form it is required, as part of being an art form, to speak to societal issues. Now using technology purely as a point of beauty and entertainment does speak to society in a manner that a form of art should (some paintings are just pretty, and they are pretty for a particular reason). But a number of games go outside those boundaries and attempt to be more than that. Mass Effect was an example I gave of a gaming not only trying to, but actively professing to as well. However it falls short in that goal and compromises its overall artistic value (moving toward the territory of pornographic presentation of sexuality in human relationships).

If the game industry wants to continue to move into the realm of a multi-media form that includes narrative elements, these are issues that need to be addressed. This isn't Innovation for Innovation'ssake, this is innovation as a means of growth in the form.

Short answer: I guess Geometry Wars doesn't have to take the AIDS issue head on.

 

[Necrophagist]

Francis from Left 4 Dead is totally gay. So is Luigi. I don't know what the complaint is.

 

[xitel]

In games some lesbians would be nice... And mabey a gay guy to design a nice apartmet so you don't have the shitty ones like in grand theft auto.

Have you ever met a gay guy? I would assume not. I mean, I'm gay, and I don't know the first thing about interior design. Not every gay guy is a flamboyant "fabulous" guy that loves musicals and hot pants. I personally can't stand musicals, I hate the Fab 5, and pretty much everything else like that. In fact, the only way I seem like a gay guy is that I like men. I realize this was probably just a joke, but I'm kind of sick of the stereotype.

 

[Sewblon]

Francis from Left 4 Dead is totally gay. So is Luigi. I don't know what the complaint is.

What do you base this on?

 

[Necrophagist]

Irrefutable fact, why do you ask? Oh, and "I-ma Luigi! I love the wii-wii!"

 

[Necrophagist]

ps and his name is Francis.

 

[Radelaide]

In games some lesbians would be nice... And mabey a gay guy to design a nice apartmet so you don't have the shitty ones like in grand theft auto.

Wait, wait, wait. "A couple of lesbians would be nice?" Explain this concept? Are you one of those guy's who think lesbians are simply there for your amusement? Being a bi-sexual woman, I think that's highly offensive.

And a "gay guy to design a nice apartment"? Do you believe in every stereotype? You need to get off the computer and out into the big wide world to know that stereotypes aren't always correct.

 

[Necrophagist]

We're all here for each others' amusement, lady. Stop being offended and have some fun. All men love lesbians, and here's why - what's awesome? Lady. What's better? 2 ladies. Even awesomer? 2 ladies getting nasty. Preferably with me between them. This is reality. If it offends you, get over it. Life is too short to be offended, just enjoy the damn ride already.

 

[Necrophagist]

PS Sewblon Re: Myspace photos

Dayamn.

 

[Radelaide]

We're all here for each others' amusement, lady. Stop being offended and have some fun. All men love lesbians, and here's why - what's awesome? Lady. What's better? 2 ladies. Even awesomer? 2 ladies getting nasty. Preferably with me between them. This is reality. If it offends you, get over it. Life is too short to be offended, just enjoy the damn ride already.

Oh, right. I'm here for your amusement. Sorry. I didn't realise. Lemme make it up to you by making out with another girl. For god's sake, grow up. Are you still living in the 70's where women are just objects? All the women I know, hate the attitude you have.

 

[Necrophagist]

I'm a feminist, to be honest. I believe women should own and be empowered in their sexuality. The movement to have you "hide" your sexuality is quite a misogynist one - that is to say, sex is power, and to have a woman hide her sexuality is to hide her power. See, you buy into the new age concept of feminism which argues that any exploitation of sexuality is undermining of a woman's worth - and I couldn't disagree more. The right to use one's sexuality and flaunt it as one sees fit is the ultimate exercise in power and liberation - so, my desire to see you get freaky with a girl is nothing more than you exercizing power over me. In short, you win.

You being offended at someone making a crack at wanting to see two girls make out is the result of conditioning by the patriarchy. You have been TAUGHT to be offended, so you are offended. It's time to get over our fear of sexuality and embrace it - sex is power, my friend, and it's time to use that power to change the paradigm.

Oh, and the conversation about women as sex objects is a long one. Yes, they are. As are men. Nothing, actually, is sacred, and women are sex objects, as are men. We are all vessels of sexuality, and embracing that fact allows us to explore out potential as a species. We should not fear or hate our sexuality, but love and accept it.