Poll: Do You Think A Game With A Homosexual Lead Could Survive?

[Thanatos34]

I wouldnt care, as long as the LMB made em bleed and the RMB made em explode Im a happy gamer.

Although if the leads a real campy queen or butch dyke I probably wouldnt play I hate those guys/gals.

If it was Midnighter I wouldnt play any other game for a year.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midnighter

I have to say, depending on who made it, that might be a game that I would buy.

 

[SomeBritishDude]

Personally I'm still waiting for Oscar Wilde:The Videogame to provide Me with Rentboys and Absinthe Parties.

Now that's something I'd buy. I love that guy!

On topic, since there are very few movies, TV series or even books that do this for the main character, it's unlightly to happen in games any time soon (apart from horny lesbians). I think being given the choice is about as close as we're going to get. The problem is with having a gay male as the main character is that for most of the gaming demographic (straight teenage males), even thoughs who are not petically homophobic, are going to feel alienated instantly. One of the most important things about a main character is to find him relatable (in my books anyway).

This isn't counting the huge amount of controversie this kind of game would cause. You saw the reaction to Six Days. I can see there being an even bigger riot about a "Gay" game, keeping in mind that many people still see games as a childs past time.

It's sad, but I don't think this is going to happen any time soon. Be happy with what we have right now. Gay males have started to be taken into account in games, the Fable series being a prime example (gay partnership and the character of Reaver). It'll probably become more common as time goes on.

 

[Ajna]

I wouldn't play it. Nothing against gay people, I just wouldn't be able to feel comfortable playing the part of a gay man. It would ruin the game for me.

I'm in the same boat. I wouldn't like to play a game with a gay male lead. Not because I'm homophobic, but rather, because it defeats the point of having you play as the lead character. The lead character is supposed to be you to some extent, and because I'm not gay, I'd have trouble getting "into character". Even if I did manage to feel like I was there, any reference to the character's sexuality would throw me back off. I'm guessing the game wouldn't have much success for the exact reason I said: Not many people could achieve immersion in a game where they have to play as a homosexual. A game that was the first to do this, and publicized it enough, may get some extra attention, from people buying it "for the lulz", but even then, I doubt the game could be a commercial success.

Regardless of how accepted the gay community becomes, I doubt a game with a gay lead character will ever be made (at least, outside of indie circles), for the sole reason of immersion. Gay characters may eventually be in the storylines more, even prominently, but few players would want to play as a gay character, unless they were gay.

All that said, if a game did come out that had a gay lead, I'd probably buy it, just so that if I'm wrong in the above, and gay lead characters become semi-normal (Not the majority, but not standing out), I can tell my grandkids that I bought the first game to ever consider it "okay" to have a male gay lead.

 

[Mr.Pandah]

I wouldn't play it. Nothing against gay people, I just wouldn't be able to feel comfortable playing the part of a gay man. It would ruin the game for me.

I'm in the same boat. I wouldn't like to play a game with a gay male lead. Not because I'm homophobic, but rather, because it defeats the point of having you play as the lead character. The lead character is supposed to be you to some extent, and because I'm not gay, I'd have trouble getting "into character". Even if I did manage to feel like I was there, any reference to the character's sexuality would throw me back off. I'm guessing the game wouldn't have much success for the exact reason I said: Not many people could achieve immersion in a game where they have to play as a homosexual. A game that was the first to do this, and publicized it enough, may get some extra attention, from people buying it "for the lulz", but even then, I doubt the game could be a commercial success.

Regardless of how accepted the gay community becomes, I doubt a game with a gay lead character will ever be made (at least, outside of indie circles), for the sole reason of immersion. Gay characters may eventually be in the storylines more, even prominently, but few players would want to play as a gay character, unless they were gay.

All that said, if a game did come out that had a gay lead, I'd probably buy it, just so that if I'm wrong in the above, and gay lead characters become semi-normal (Not the majority, but not standing out), I can tell my grandkids that I bought the first game to ever consider it "okay" to have a male gay lead.

This was...interesting to read to say the least.

I for one don't think it should matter at all. I mean, there really isn't much of a point for the character to be gay, other than overcoming boundaries. If they can incorporate it into the storyline, and actually give me a reason as to why I should care about their sexual orientation, then sure, make the person gay. But if its done for shits and giggles, I don't see a point to it.

 

[Florion]

I do not understand where the hell you got the idea that I am anti-gay, nor that I think they are a different species, nor that I think they feel a different kind of love.

I simply do not wish to pretend like I am gay- i.e. playing a lead who is gay. I might do so were the rest of the story and gameplay fabulous, but a major part of the story would make me cringe, and thus I wouldn't enjoy it.

As a female gamer, I regularly have to play games where the lead is male. I don't feel like I'm "pretending" to be a guy, the same way you don't feel like you have to switch genders when you read a book that's written in the first person from the point of view of the opposite gender.

I'd personally love to play a game where the lead is gay just by-the-by, rather than acting like heterosexuality is the "norm." It's certainly the most common statistically, but that doesn't mean we have to act like it's wrong just because homosexuals are a minority, the same way we don't discriminate against left-handed people.

 

[EchetusXe]

Yeah, as long as it wasn't called 'The Adventures of Fagboy the essential game for fags' then it would survive. In fact the media attention for the pioneering game that did it would result in higher sales figures than it would have had with a straight lead.

Could be a casual thing, such as in the plot a woman asks him out and he says "No sorry I'm gay" and the game continues. Can't see a game where a level consists of you picking up men from a bar doing too well.

 

[Mr.Pandah]

I just thought of a decent plot twist...It would traumatize all of the people that wouldn't want to play as a gay person. "Would you kindly...come over to my place?" DUN DUN DUNNNN. A whole generation of young boys, traumatized, they now think they are gay because they were actually playing as a gay character all along! Its the perfect plan.

 

[MagnetoHydroDynamics]

For female homosexuality, maybe... (most gamers are men).

Srsly though, I think we should sit and wait. We alreadu have a protagonist with Diabetes...

 

[Ajna]

I just thought of a decent plot twist...It would traumatize all of the people that wouldn't want to play as a gay person. "Would you kindly...come over to my place?" DUN DUN DUNNNN. A whole generation of young boys, traumatized, they now think they are gay because they were actually playing as a gay character all along! Its the perfect plan.

I try to avoid use of the term "LOL", due to its overuse on the internet... But that actually did make me "Laugh Out Loud".

I presume you were using some "[sarcasm][/sarcasm]" tags in there, about turning young kids gay?

 

[mykalwane]

Well I would think how is it presented. For a gay relationship to work, it must be like a regular relationship. That it doesn't feel forced, which I think Jade Empire is a great example of this. I have played all possible endings and had the gay relationship happen by accident. Both the strait and gay relationship work, because both seem to be natural, while not being the key of the game. Which is the way it could work, is rather then having it be one thing or another. Just be something that is apart of them, write now for most writers it is too forien thing. It is something that is too unknown for it to work well for most.

For most the topic of being one or the other is so different, that most don't understand it. From that point it is tough to write of what one doesn't know. I do think that it is possible, when people use it just as an element in romance. For some it happens, others it doesn't. Now right now it is something that is so rigid, that you must be or must not. No real in between. So the whole thing becomes forien. It is a tough walk, simply because one can't force it. Which Torchwood for example which turned my dad off from watching the series for a while. This is a deal that has to grow naturally, much like any romance for it to work.

They may have it happen, though I do not think that can be right now. This from the point that in Godfather 2 the kiss of death was removed, the fact that had two men kissing was why it was eliminated. The fact that it had great meaning, matter not. Simply because it was two men kissing was it removed. It is something people are leaning towards because the of the idea of lesbians, which just like kitties no one can seem to get enough of them. So in time there will be the option, though it just seem right now it is too soon to do so when so little know how to do it right.

 

[Mr.Pandah]

I just thought of a decent plot twist...It would traumatize all of the people that wouldn't want to play as a gay person. "Would you kindly...come over to my place?" DUN DUN DUNNNN. A whole generation of young boys, traumatized, they now think they are gay because they were actually playing as a gay character all along! Its the perfect plan.

I try to avoid use of the term "LOL", due to its overuse on the internet... But that actually did make me "Laugh Out Loud".

I presume you were using some "[sarcasm][/sarcasm]" tags in there, about turning young kids gay?

Yes, yes I was...





Or was I? =X

 

[Florion]

Well I would think how is it presented. For a gay relationship to work, it must be like a regular relationship. That it doesn't feel forced, which I think Jade Empire is a great example of this. I have played all possible endings and had the gay relationship happen by accident. Both the strait and gay relationship work, because both seem to be natural, while not being the key of the game. Which is the way it could work, is rather then having it be one thing or another. Just be something that is apart of them, write now for most writers it is too foreign thing. It is something that is too unknown for it to work well for most.

For most the topic of being one or the other is so different, that most don't understand it. From that point it is tough to write of what one doesn't know. I do think that it is possible, when people use it just as an element in romance. For some it happens, others it doesn't. Now right now it is something that is so rigid, that you must be or must not. No real in between. So the whole thing becomes foreign. It is a tough walk, simply because one can't force it. Which Torchwood for example which turned my dad off from watching the series for a while. This is a deal that has to grow naturally, much like any romance for it to work.

They may have it happen, though I do not think that can be right now. This from the point that in Godfather 2 the kiss of death was removed, the fact that had two men kissing was why it was eliminated. The fact that it had great meaning, matter not. Simply because it was two men kissing was it removed. It is something people are leaning towards because the of the idea of lesbians, which just like kitties no one can seem to get enough of them. So in time there will be the option, though it just seem right now it is too soon to do so when so little know how to do it right.

I like the way you think.

Now, if only we could teach more big video game developers how to write a story that doesn't feel horribly contrived!

 

[mykalwane]

Well the deal is that most have the story as secondary to the gameplay. Which in cases like the First Gears of War where they focus on making a good game that works. The story is rather something that for some don't know how to do well. Which is why those that are, are so great. Right now the idea for someone being homosexual or not is more of a concern from what would alienate the majority of players. Majority of players are strait men, which means most developers would want to avoid it. As it becomes more accepted, then there will be character who just happen to be gay as a side kick, but for how it will occur is a deal of slow growth. That in the future it will happen, this is simply because to allow a gay man, allows for the possibility for a gay woman without problems. So with that in mind it will occur, just that if it does it won't be for a good while because of that.

 

[Thanatos34]

I do not understand where the hell you got the idea that I am anti-gay, nor that I think they are a different species, nor that I think they feel a different kind of love.

I simply do not wish to pretend like I am gay- i.e. playing a lead who is gay. I might do so were the rest of the story and gameplay fabulous, but a major part of the story would make me cringe, and thus I wouldn't enjoy it.

As a female gamer, I regularly have to play games where the lead is male. I don't feel like I'm "pretending" to be a guy, the same way you don't feel like you have to switch genders when you read a book that's written in the first person from the point of view of the opposite gender.

I'd personally love to play a game where the lead is gay just by-the-by, rather than acting like heterosexuality is the "norm." It's certainly the most common statistically, but that doesn't mean we have to act like it's wrong just because homosexuals are a minority, the same way we don't discriminate against left-handed people.

Point to you.

However, I very rarely play games where the lead must be female, for the exact same reasons, (Off the top of my head, for PC, I really can't think of any that I have played. Never played the Croft series. Hmm, I know I've done so, now this is going to annoy me). Other males that do, do not come at it from the position that they are being the lead character, but rather that... well. I don't really need to spell that out now, do I?

I think the position would be exacerbated in a situation where the character MUST be gay. This is the point that others are missing. Jade Empire is one of my favorite RPGs ever. In Jade Empire there is no less than 6 different romances available, (M+Dawn Star+Silk Fox, M+ Dawn Star, M+Silk Fox, M+Sky, F+Silk Fox, F+Sky), two of which are homosexual. However, the character has the choice to make the lead character gay/lesbian, if they want to do so.

Why then, would you make a character that must be gay/lesbian, and alienate 75% of your customers before they even buy the game? (A gay character would do this, I am almost certain. A lesbian character, you might be able to get away with, because of the demographic you are selling to.) A teenage boy will play as a female, and in this case, they do not fantasize about being the person they are playing, they come at it from a different standpoint, as mentioned earlier.

I think it might also depend on what type of genre the game is. An RPG game, where you normally get "in character"... not so much. An RTS game would be entirely different, for obvious reasons.

Edit: AHHA! It was Beyond Good and Evil. Jade. See now, give me a story like that, and I could care less what the protagonist looks like.

 

[twistedshadows]

I think it would depend on the game and how well it was developed.

 

[Hazy]

It happened with Fear Effect, so sure.

 

[Thanatos34]

Well the deal is that most have the story as secondary to the gameplay. Which in cases like the First Gears of War where they focus on making a good game that works. The story is rather something that for some don't know how to do well. Which is why those that are, are so great. Right now the idea for someone being homosexual or not is more of a concern from what would alienate the majority of players. Majority of players are strait men, which means most developers would want to avoid it. As it becomes more accepted, then there will be character who just happen to be gay as a side kick, but for how it will occur is a deal of slow growth. That in the future it will happen, this is simply because to allow a gay man, allows for the possibility for a gay woman without problems. So with that in mind it will occur, just that if it does it won't be for a good while because of that.

So true. And it's so annoying. The Myst series, (minus the final game in the series), is a classic example of story>gameplay. It's a risk, because it's well known that a game with bad story and good gameplay will sell a hell of a lot better than a game with good story and bad gameplay, (not bad graphics, that's a different issue).

More games should be made with great stories. KotOR 1 was great. Jade Empire was pretty good, too, except by that point I was looking for Bioware to do an epic spoiler because of what happened in KotOR1.