LGBT topics in Video Games

[The Gnome King]

Do you think that there shud be more LGBT topics in Video games.

i reckon yeah because it may teach understanding which cud mean less discrimination and theres a hell of alot of that.

or even something about yourself that you didn't know may even help with a problem.


please explain your answers

I think that there "should" be topics of any sort in video games; I'm one of those people that actually views gaming (and games) as an art form; and art wants to express itself.

If there are heterosexual love interests in a game, toss in some bisexual or homosexual or asexual characters as well. What's wrong with showcasing the whole spectrum of human experience? Romances tend to be optional in games, anyway. I have yet to play a game with a "forced romance" but maybe they're out there...

 

[Cain_Zeros]

Only if they write it well and don't shove it down your throat. And they manage to make me care about the character for some reason other than their sexual quirks.

Like her.

 

[Shikua]

Well, if it were, it would probably go past hugging reaall fast XD

This... cannot be denied...

And... I don't think it would be a bad thing... at all...

 

[Thaluikhain]

The reason this topic is never addressed is because games generally only sell well if people can relate to them, and most of the population can't relate to being LGBT simply by virtue of not having experienced it. Similarly, it's hard to treat such an issue in a credible manner if you're unfamiliar with it.

Well, there's that, yes, but then most games don't really reflect the average life of gamers to a great degree anyway. Unless being a 7 foot space marine fighting zombies accompanied by scantily dressed women of rather odd proportions is just easier to understand than a person fancying a member[footnote]no pun intended[/footnote] of their own gender.

 

[The Gnome King]

The reason this topic is never addressed is because games generally only sell well if people can relate to them, and most of the population can't relate to being LGBT simply by virtue of not having experienced it. Similarly, it's hard to treat such an issue in a credible manner if you're unfamiliar with it.

Well, there's that, yes, but then most games don't really reflect the average life of gamers to a great degree anyway. Unless being a 7 foot space marine fighting zombies accompanied by scantily dressed women of rather odd proportions is just easier to understand than a person fancying a member[footnote]no pun intended[/footnote] of their own gender.

Yeah, this was lol-worthy.

 

[The Gnome King]

Yay! Hugs for all the pansexuals!! Why is THIS not an option in videogames?! D:

Actually, THIS is a huge problem for me.

"I'm a minority, why aren't I represented in videogames/movies/books/TV shows/informational pamphlets/billboards?"

I'm going to say something that will probably offend a lot of people, but screw it. The majority does not have to change to accomodate a minority. The majority should change if it is mistreating a minority, or if the minority is not on an equitable social scale, but for anything else, just shut the fuck up. It's not our job to change just because you want to feel included.

Please note Fenris, that wasn't aimed at you, because I'm pretty sure you were just joking around. But you did remind me of the people who actually do think that way.

And yet, Bioware has admitted that the gay/bi romance options are some of the most explored in game when they get the data from people actually playing.

How odd, yes? Perhaps we're not as much a "minority" as you might think.

 

[The Gnome King]

And yet, Bioware has admitted that the gay/bi romance options are some of the most explored in game when they get the data from people actually playing.

How odd, yes? Perhaps we're not as much a "minority" as you might think.

Context mate. Please, please look at the context.

Also, wait what? How does that apply to what I said? There's a difference between "It's there, people will use it" to "I DEMAND TO BE ABITRARILY IN FORMS OF MEDIA DUE TO MY MINORITY STATUS OTHERWISE IT'S DISCRIMINATION RAAAAGH"

Kind of hard to have a conversation with you. Perhaps you know this already.

 

[The Gnome King]

But hey, at least they tried to put a male homosexual in there. I mean, he turned out to be a rather unlikable slut, but at least they tried.

He wasn't unlikable, he was really sweet once he opened up. And what he said when I chose to take someone else into the final mission was by far the most emotional response out of any of the romances. But I'm just one of what seems to be about five Zevran fanboys so I'm biased

About having more LGBT characters in games sure if it's done nicely. Compare Dragon Age Origins to Dragon Age 2, Zevran and Leliana were both well designed characters even if Zevran made himself look like one night stand material only and Leliana had some freaky moments ("I was just watching you sleep" being the one that instantly comes to mind). On the other hand the Anders retcon combined with the fact he's the most flirtacious of the romances does make me think they just wanted to showcase the PC aspect of it. Fenris is still good though, still on my first playthrough so haven't really tried the others.

I thought it was adorable when she said that... I said that about a girl I liked once, she appreciated the compliment, but she didn't like me that way.

If you've never watched somebody sleeping that you love than perhaps you won't get this. But yeah, it's actually quite endearing. My wife told me this once and I thought it was anything but "creepy" ...

 

[The Gnome King]

Kind of hard to have a conversation with you. Perhaps you know this already.

Is that because you seem to be trying to talk about something completely different?

No, mate. Simply saying that including these supposedly "minority" plot-lines and options in games seems to be immensely popular.

You were the one that went off on the (uncalled for) anti-minority rant.

To each their own, I suppose. Just might want to note that in the privacy of their own living rooms many people seem to want to explore these supposedly "minority" tangents.

Kind of how like many men I've known seem to want to explore more than what they claim to be when... ah, nevermind. You either get it or you don't.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8772014

Seems like a lot of people secretly want what they rail against.

Again, just 'sayin. Along with government sponsored studies. And Bioware sales/use statistics.

Minority, indeed.

 

[The Gnome King]

Well, if it were, it would probably go past hugging reaall fast XD

This... cannot be denied...

And... I don't think it would be a bad thing... at all...

Of course not!

Actually, THIS is a huge problem for me.

"I'm a minority, why aren't I represented in videogames/movies/books/TV shows/informational pamphlets/billboards?"

I'm going to say something that will probably offend a lot of people, but screw it. The majority does not have to change to accomodate a minority. The majority should change if it is mistreating a minority, or if the minority is not on an equitable social scale, but for anything else, just shut the fuck up. It's not our job to change just because you want to feel included.

Please note Fenris, that wasn't aimed at you, because I'm pretty sure you were just joking around. But you did remind me of the people who actually do think that way.

Firstly, that was supposed to be taken in jest. Of course they're not including the option to have hug-fests in Call of Duty 15.

Secondly, I find it hard not to take these things personally. Hearing that I shouldn't ask for equality because heterosexuals outnumber LGBT-people is insulting to all the people who support it.

Next, have you ever considered that this majority you speak of actually constitutes several minorities? Take gender for an example. This is one divider of our "majority". Cuts everything into about half. Then we take another dig at the majority, dividing it this time by ethinicity. Next, by nationality. Next, by age. Then we look at who is middle-class, and who is upper-class. We separate each other by political views and religious views, and finally we get to sexuality. You will probably find that there is one person of an "alternate" sexuality in almost all minorities, and even so, LGBT-people are bunched into their very own minority. For no reason. We're not monsters, and we're not that rare. We're only guilty of taking the same sex into our hearts (and beds). But there is a very outspoken minority that stands in the way of anything other than "hot lesbian fanboy food" getting into videogames -- namely, homophobes. I won't delve into my opinions of them, as I'm sure it is no better than what they think of the likes of me. However, a minority stands in the way of another minority getting content that satisfies them into games.

I mean, seriously, a "gay-filter"? How do you think that will make me feel? Or anyone who has ever been with someone of the same sex?

LGBT-people are not as rare as some like to think, and I will boldly state that they will likely make up about 20% of all gamers. I don't base this on statistics, however, but on what I have seen and known from all my time in various gaming communities. That's not too bad for a minority. Women likely make up a similar percentage -- a minority -- but you do not feel it's unfair that women feature in videogames?

I shouldn't have to shut the fuck up and just deal with the fact that my sexuality is considered wrong. I never chose it. I was born with it, I embraced it and I live with it. I want to see that it is acknowledged. I don't rub it in anyone's face, and I don't mean for anyone else to do it either. I just want there to be an opportunity for me to get my rocks off, just like there is for "everyone else". That's not much to ask. If sex and love is to be included in a game, and in particular if it is love, then gender shouldn't matter.

It's actually not that hard to make a character PC-sexual. As in, they can fall in love with the playable character, regardless of gender. As long as the first move lies in the hands of the player, no one should be offended by this strategically implemented "bisexuality" either, as the content would then only activate if you were pursuing a romance. Which should be clearly marked out by little hearts, if that's what if fucking takes for homophobes to not ask for a "gay-filter".

*Please note, I am absolutely drained, as this is the umpteenth bloody time I have to defend my sexuality, and the right to its inclusion in videogames.*

This reminds me, exactly, of when blacks are told by (mainly whites) to "just take it as a joke" and "enjoy the humor" when racist jokes are told in their presence.

Blacks are in the minority in the USA, yes; doesn't mean they should be excluded from games or art in general. Doing so just increases the majority tendency to ignore/disdain anything that doesn't look like/act like/think like them.

I don't disdain heterosexual people at all. Makes me sad that they would want to marginalize and/or disdain me.

 

[Pedro The Hutt]

And let's not forget that really, when writing a game you want to tell a good story. A story of sexual acceptance (either from the outside world or even coming to terms with yourself) can add a real depth to a story, as Persona 3 (I believe) showcased, for more on that, check out the Extra Credits episodes about sexuality in games on this very site.

And heck, stories about minorities have sold, think of the X-Men, their entire story is about them being a minority trying to get accepted by society. It's a simple allegory that can be filled in by sexuality, gender, race, or a variety of other things that can make one a "minority".

Or more simply, if you want to make sure people can empathise with their character in their game, adding an option to romance someone of the same gender can be just the thing they need to make the hero of the game just that much more likeable to them.

Of course it doesn't have to be in your face, references about one's sexuality can be so subtle that they're in a "blink and you miss it" manner. But really, anything that can add depth and diversity to a story and setting is something I'd applaud.

 

[SwimmingRock]

Having them for the sake of having them is inappropriate and disrespectful.

Oh, and the proper term is LGBTQ. If you want to be as PC as possible, QUILTBAG.

Queer/Questioning
Undecided
Intersex
Lesbian
Trangender
Bisexual
Asexual
Gay

I shit you not.

This, right here, is why I distance myself from the LGBTQ (the Q is also new to me) community even though I am bisexual. I get that the whole point is equality and inclusion, so the acronym gets continuously extended as more groups are included, but you're going to end up at just people, which makes the whole thing redundant. Also, there is no way in hell I would call myself part of the Quiltbag community and I'm proud of being a brony for gods sake.

OT: As others have point out, OP is vague about what LGBT "topics" would be. If topics is meant in the broad sense where people of varying sexual inclinations are represented in videogames, I'm all for it. However, I prefer my games didn't try to teach any lessons or morals, so let's keep the heavy handed "equality, yay!" messages in our crappy tv shows, okay? Think of it this way: good writing was refused on Saved by the Bell so Duke Nukem wouldn't need sensitivity training.

 

[The Gnome King]

Having them for the sake of having them is inappropriate and disrespectful.

Oh, and the proper term is LGBTQ. If you want to be as PC as possible, QUILTBAG.

Queer/Questioning
Undecided
Intersex
Lesbian
Trangender
Bisexual
Asexual
Gay

I shit you not.

This, right here, is why I distance myself from the LGBTQ (the Q is also new to me) community even though I am bisexual. I get that the whole point is equality and inclusion, so the acronym gets continuously extended as more groups are included, but you're going to end up at just people, which makes the whole thing redundant. Also, there is no way in hell I would call myself part of the Quiltbag community and I'm proud of being a brony for gods sake.

OT: As others have point out, OP is vague about what LGBT "topics" would be. If topics is meant in the broad sense where people of varying sexual inclinations are represented in videogames, I'm all for it. However, I prefer my games didn't try to teach any lessons or morals, so let's keep the heavy handed "equality, yay!" messages in our crappy tv shows, okay? Think of it this way: good writing was refused on Saved by the Bell so Duke Nukem wouldn't need sensitivity training.

"but you're going to end up at just people"

I think that is actually the point. We're all just people at the end of the day. My polyfidelitous bisexual triad, at the end of it all, is concerned about paying the mortgage, walking our two big goofy dogs, and just living life.

A lot of people don't know what to do with us - two males, one female, all physically close... are they brothers? Sisters? - but at the end of the day we're usually able to get our point across. Which is that... we're just people.

 

[Pedro The Hutt]

But isn't it pretty much that line of thought that would stop games from ever becoming a true artform? If we're just going to make nothing but shallow arcade experiences gaming will never reach its full potential. "Serious topics" need to get included in games.

Not all games mind you, I still enjoy myself some Blazblue or Team Fortress 2, but I definitely would like to see more Mass Effects or other games that dare to throw moral or ethical issues in our path.

 

[SwimmingRock]

"but you're going to end up at just people"

I think that is actually the point. We're all just people at the end of the day. My polyfidelitous bisexual triad, at the end of it all, is concerned about paying the mortgage, walking our two big goofy dogs, and just living life.

A lot of people don't know what to do with us - two males, one female, all physically close... are they brothers? Sisters? - but at the end of the day we're usually able to get our point across. Which is that... we're just people.

Yes, that is the point. You should have finished reading the sentence, which stated that that makes the distinction of an LGBTQ community redundant. In order to work towards equality, "the community" first designated itself a term that sets it apart and is essentially undoing that by extending the designation to include everybody. It's pointless.