Beats the hell out of the usual standard of the protagonist having virtually no sexuality at all.
But then again I am a big fan of Half life style storytelling in games where you don't give to protagonist so much a personality as a basic persona that you can easily inhabit. It's hard to "role-play" saviour of the universe while your character is doing things you may not do yourself. Even if you would have done them, you don't get the feeling they are YOUR decisions.
I don't mean rigidly stick to a 1st person perspective, but don't have the character say or do anything that you didn't directly initiate. You character doesn't necessarily have to be silent, but they shouldn't say anything that the player doesn't at least consent to. Body language would have to be quite neutral.
Then again it would be interesting in a game like Half Life 2, perhaps you could have the choice to choose, will your partner be an Alyx or Alexander? Perhaps it could tempt the (bi)curious?
Maybe the game could just give you no choice but an Alexander, a guy who does "find you cute" and I think it would be an interesting experience, for gay players but also for straight players in interacting with gay characters who aren't just there to act camp and make lame jokes. Ah well, it can't e any more not as awkward than it must be for straight women who play Half life 2 and have to have Alyx look lovingly into their eyes and say "ohhh, Doctor Freeman". Doesn't seem the MOST platonic relationship, they seem to be more than just friends. Course I like it.
I realise now why Lara Croft never shacked up with a guy, because most of the people playing her are straight males, and to an extent they feel like they are her. Would they really like to do it with a guy? Maybe that's why Lara acts so weird sometimes, not just because she is an artificial creation of mostly men, but because she is made mainly for men to fulfil the ultimate cross dressing fantasy, they want to be a woman physically but want to retain the male mentality and continue acting like a man.
Though then again there is the "remote control car" viewpoint that Lara is just a "toy" to be driven around some caves, but I don't follow that perspective, I don't get a sense of freedom ordering something or someone else to jump around pyramids, I project myself onto Lara.
I think this same effect is seen in Mirror's Edge, which tries hard to get you immersed in the role of this young feminine woman... yet as far as I know she remains completely asexual, because as much as straight female and gay males gamers may have liked effectively forming an intimate relationship with a guy... straight male gamers (an I guess lesbians too) would have found it awkward and could only have gone along with it as a joke.
But then again I am a big fan of Half life style storytelling in games where you don't give to protagonist so much a personality as a basic persona that you can easily inhabit. It's hard to "role-play" saviour of the universe while your character is doing things you may not do yourself. Even if you would have done them, you don't get the feeling they are YOUR decisions.
I don't mean rigidly stick to a 1st person perspective, but don't have the character say or do anything that you didn't directly initiate. You character doesn't necessarily have to be silent, but they shouldn't say anything that the player doesn't at least consent to. Body language would have to be quite neutral.
Then again it would be interesting in a game like Half Life 2, perhaps you could have the choice to choose, will your partner be an Alyx or Alexander? Perhaps it could tempt the (bi)curious?
Maybe the game could just give you no choice but an Alexander, a guy who does "find you cute" and I think it would be an interesting experience, for gay players but also for straight players in interacting with gay characters who aren't just there to act camp and make lame jokes. Ah well, it can't e any more not as awkward than it must be for straight women who play Half life 2 and have to have Alyx look lovingly into their eyes and say "ohhh, Doctor Freeman". Doesn't seem the MOST platonic relationship, they seem to be more than just friends. Course I like it.
I realise now why Lara Croft never shacked up with a guy, because most of the people playing her are straight males, and to an extent they feel like they are her. Would they really like to do it with a guy? Maybe that's why Lara acts so weird sometimes, not just because she is an artificial creation of mostly men, but because she is made mainly for men to fulfil the ultimate cross dressing fantasy, they want to be a woman physically but want to retain the male mentality and continue acting like a man.
Though then again there is the "remote control car" viewpoint that Lara is just a "toy" to be driven around some caves, but I don't follow that perspective, I don't get a sense of freedom ordering something or someone else to jump around pyramids, I project myself onto Lara.
I think this same effect is seen in Mirror's Edge, which tries hard to get you immersed in the role of this young feminine woman... yet as far as I know she remains completely asexual, because as much as straight female and gay males gamers may have liked effectively forming an intimate relationship with a guy... straight male gamers (an I guess lesbians too) would have found it awkward and could only have gone along with it as a joke.
