Poll: Gay Gamers - What do you want?

[happyninja42]

To clarify in case that subject line seems inflamatory, it's not. I've just noticed on multiple other threads, that when the subject of LGBT stuff in games comes up, it quickly gets sidetracked, with random opinions on what the real issue is in LGBT representation.

So, I thought I'd make it a little more specific, and toss up a poll!


To the LGBT community of gamers, what would you rather see in games when the subject of LGBT stuff comes up? Would you rather have games that are all about LGBT stuff? Sort of like the video game equivalent of Queer as Folk, or The L Word? (Not saying the game needs to be a relationship/soap opera game, but simply that the entire subject of the game is about LGBT relationships, social life, culture, etc) Or would you rather just have characters who are LGBT, but it simply be one part of their personality, in a game about something else, but have them be represented 3-dimensionally and realistically?

If you don't wish to declare yourself as LGBT in this thread, that's fine, I'm not trying to out anybody or anything, just simply curious to have the question directly presented. Instead of it morphing into the subject halfway down a 12 page thread topic that started out as something else.

 

[Silvanus]

A little from column A, a little from column B.

This isn't an expectation that every game must contain any particular thing (which I would have thought should be obvious); this is an issue of trends, not individual examples.

 

[nomotog_v1legacy]

A little from column A, a little from column B.

This isn't an expectation that every game must contain any particular thing (which I would have thought should be obvious); this is an issue of trends, not individual examples.

Ya it's about verity. My personal want is a cyberpunk game that kind of spins around LGTB themes.

 

[happyninja42]

A little from column A, a little from column B.

This isn't an expectation that every game must contain any particular thing (which I would have thought should be obvious); this is an issue of trends, not individual examples.

I didn't say every game should be LGBT, I simply asked if seeing more of that type game was what you preferred.

 

[NemotheElvenPanda]

If the trend continues as it is now, I can expect to see a lot more interesting and fun characters that happen to be gay in more video games which is great. At some point having a main character be gay or even a game almost exclusively about gay characters would be interesting to see, but so far I'm pretty happy from what I'm seeing if Dragon Age Inquisition is any indication.

 

[ninja666]

To be honest, I'd want less gay characters in games. Recently it has become so popular to express your "gayness" around that it becomes tiresome when you have it forced down your throat just for the sake of it. I'm especially talking about recent Bioware RPG that for some reason have to meet the unwritten "obviously gay" character quota. That isn't saying I'm all against it, though. As long as it's made well and subtly, it can be implemented. A good example of it is Dragon Age Origins - I never would've guessed Leliana goes both ways and I only knew it because I read it in a guide. Or Arcade Gannon in Fallout NV - you don't know he's into men until you discover it by accident.

 

[The Lunatic]

As a homosexual, what do "I" want?

Well, less heavy-handed Bioware stuff would be a nice start.

Bioware stuff is pretty cringe-worthy and I've always felt it was more tokenism than much else. The fact they basically use it as PR is also pretty eye-rolling.

For me, I just want games that have good characters. If they happen to be gay, then, that's neat, but, making almost all of your cast have leanings of homosexuality is just trying too hard and seems disingenuous.

I'm not asking for the main characters of games to be homosexual, I'm not asking for even supporting characters to be homosexual, it's such a small percentage of the population that it's pretty unlikely it'd happen, but, sure, it's nice if you do.

However, what I am asking for is just acknowledgement. If you have an open world game, and somewhere in that game, there's an NPC who passingly mentions he or she is gay, then that's completely fine with me. You accept that homosexuality exists and that's really all I want.

 

[Noontide]

I'm bisexual. I've never been very interested in queer-focused fiction (like the shows you mentioned) but I appreciate it when a character shows up in another work and happens to be LGBT.

For me, I just want games that have good characters. If they happen to be gay, then, that's neat, but, making almost all of your cast have leanings of homosexuality is just trying too hard and seems disingenuous.

This is true, but in games where romance is a big part of the game (like Bioware titles or Persona) and where you can create your own character the representation of other sexualities is more important for me, because that way I can experience the romance storyline I want with whichever character I create.

Bioware's use of sexuality as a marketing tool is very cringeworthy though. It's 'sex sells' in a different guise.

 

[nomotog_v1legacy]

LGBT marketing. Two people have mentioned so I am now thinking about it. Dose biowere use LGBT characters as a selling point? I can't recall it being in the official advertisements, but so much of game advertising isn't what you would call an advertisement. It is clear that the word gets out one way or another. The next though is would it be a bad thing to advertise that?

 

[Silvanus]

I didn't say every game should be LGBT, I simply asked if seeing more of that type game was what you preferred.

I recognise you weren't saying that. Sorry, I should have been clearer, that wasn't meant to be directed at you.

 

[happyninja42]

LGBT marketing. Two people have mentioned so I am now thinking about it. Dose biowere use LGBT characters as a selling point? I can't recall it being in the official advertisements, but so much of game advertising isn't what you would call an advertisement. It is clear that the word gets out one way or another. The next though is would it be a bad thing to advertise that?

I dunno if they actually market it with advertisement, but I wouldn't be surprised if they had discussions about making sure to have it represented in their games. And honestly, from a business standpoint, I think it's a smart move. In another thread, someone said that the LGBT population is roughly 5% of the overall population. When you say it like that, it seems small, but when you consider a population of roughly 7 billion, 5%'s a pretty significant number. And as a company, if it seems like that 5% isn't being targeted with merchandise, than to them, it's an untapped market, waiting to be filled. I'm not sure how many people that actually pans out to be, or if that figure is even correct, but I'm pretty sure it's probably in the 10's of millions, if not more. That's a lot of people who might be willing to shill out 60 bucks for your game if they had incentive. So yeah, Bioware probably is very aware, and very deliberate in their LGBT agenda, for the money reason. And I really can't fault them for it if that's the case.

I know from my personal experience, that my friends who are gay/bisexual, are usually very excited for the next Bioware game, and they frequently state one reason is relationship stuff with some of the characters. One friend in particular was gleeful for his chance to boink Kaiden in ME 3. As for if it's a bad thing to advertise that, I don't think so. Just like I don't think it's a bad thing to advertise any number of things that I personally don't like.

I didn't say every game should be LGBT, I simply asked if seeing more of that type game was what you preferred.

I recognise you weren't saying that. Sorry, I should have been clearer, that wasn't meant to be directed at you.

No problem Monarch xD

 

[The Squid King]

As a bisexual person, I would love to see more (and better written) LGBT chracters in games, as well as more diversity in general. The developers don't even need to make a big deal about an LGBT character's sexuality, just have them mention it in passing etc.

I would love for more games to explore ideas relating to the LGBT community but I certainly wouldn't want every game to.

 

[Rebel_Raven]

I don't think my option is up there.

I'd like to see a playable protagonist from somewhere in the LGBT area that doesn't come in a game like mass effect, dragon age, where you create a character that may or may not be LGBT.
And a -good- game, too. The game needs to be so good that people will play it. People that might normally be opposed to it, or something. The game quality needs to go a long way to overcome objections for many so they just play it anyhow.

 

[Vault101]

I could list the agenda but it would be too long

actual answer: like anything else a good or bad gay character is subject to different thoughts and opinions

like a of Gay women hate the infamous sex scene from [b/]Blue is the Warmest Color[/b] because they found them cold, porn like, and kind of ridiculous. Others actually liked it for being brutally up front and raw

so much like anything people are gonna have different opinions "gay that happens to be part of their character" for one might mean a well rounded character OR it might mean "lets praise this character by how NOT gay they are" which...well you know complicated discussions

I think the most useful/tangible thing to say it to [b/]avoid bad stereotypes/representation[/b] which again subjectivity, I can't speak for gay men but I can think of some that happen to gay female characters

-getting killed off
- if they aren't totes conventionally attractive then being portrayed as scary "dykes"
- always involving a guy somehow like..."oh noes I'm drunk and I slept with a guy"

 

[Albetta]

Im gay. I want more strategy games. That is all.

 

[LysanderNemoinis]

As a heterosexual guy, I say bring on the diversity! The only thing I don't want is for LGBT characters to be put in just for the sake of putting them in. If it fits the story and themes, great. If it doesn't, also great. And just because the game has diversity, that doesn't mean you as a developer can use it as a shield for being bad or boring and calling your detractors homo/transphobic because they don't like it...unless they specifically say that's why.

I love the diversity of characters in the Fire Emblem series, which is great to begin with while I found Gone Home to be boring as hell and so cliched it actually hurt.

 

[Luminous_Umbra]

I'd say both, but more in "stories with well written LGBT characters." That said, I'm more of a quality over quantity kind of guy. For all of the heterosexual characters, so many of them are just completely...eh.

 

[Vigormortis]

As a homosexual, what do "I" want?

Well, less heavy-handed Bioware stuff would be a nice start.

Bioware stuff is pretty cringe-worthy and I've always felt it was more tokenism than much else. The fact they basically use it as PR is also pretty eye-rolling.

Couldn't agree more.

It's always felt like an incredible disservice to the LGBT community in how Bioware handles the 'relationships' in it's games, as well as the related marketing.

Tokenism is NOT inclusion, Bioware. Especially when you make a point of telling us, "Look! Gay characters in our games! My, how inclusive and progressive we are!"

For me, I just want games that have good characters. If they happen to be gay, then, that's neat, but, making almost all of your cast have leanings of homosexuality is just trying too hard and seems disingenuous.

I dunno. For me it would depend on the context of the game. Or, more to the point, the story. But I kind of agree.

Still, if a dev wants to make a COD-clone with an all-gay cast of main characters, I'd say, "Huh. That's cool. The character design for the brunette over there is kinda cute. Can I have my sniper rifle now?"

However, what I am asking for is just acknowledgement. If you have an open world game, and somewhere in that game, there's an NPC who passingly mentions he or she is gay, then that's completely fine with me. You accept that homosexuality exists and that's really all I want.

This is how I feel, in a nut shell.

Openly accepting homosexuality as a "thing[footnote]And by 'thing' I mean a natural part of life ostensibly no different than heterosexuality.[/footnote]" is far more inclusive and progressive-thinking than just adding token gay characters to the main cast.

 

[Trippy Turtle]

I'm Bi and I'd prefer they make a decent game with a good character regardless of gender or sexuality. I'm not going to choose one game over another because it recognizes that I'm a special snowflake.
In 90% of cases, a gay character is just that. A character thats whole 'thing' is being gay. Boring in every other aspect. I'd prefer they write a character that's interesting. Not one that fucks the same people as I would.
And just to make it clear: I wouldn't care about a game that has a bisexual character in it. It wouldn't affect my choice either way.


I voted for I don't care either way, so if it was a gay gamer only poll take one off I guess. I can see how being Bi might make my opinion slightly less relevant as I can still relate to Kratos liking chicks for example.