Poll: Video Games and Sexual Preference

[mireko]

It kind of makes sense, but only if the developers expect your character to broadcast their sexuality at some point. In practice, I can't see what it would affect.

Wishful thinking on my part, but maybe if people like the 'Straight Male Gamer Demographic' guy keep seeing it in games they'll actually learn to deal with it

Also, regarding the romance system in general:

One of the crucial flaws in DA:O's romance system was the whole hate/love gauge on all characters that boosted whenever you gave them some small trinket. The weirdest part was that even if you gave them something they just barely accept, their approval would still increase, and eventually they'd fall in love with you.

I can't tell if that's bad design or the most cynical thing ever put in a game.

Even ME had the courtesy to hide that stat, and DA2 *kind of* replaced it with a similar but differently-functioning system. But I suppose if you're actually trying to manage a romance, whether it's in BG2 or Mass Effect, you're ultimately just trying to figure out a puzzle [small]('which answer will yield the most positive result?')[/small]. That might be why they're somewhat unsatisfying. If they would put a little unpredictability or chaos into the characters' personalities, it could work so much better.

[sub]Though I concede BG2 had a lot of unpredictability in Jaheira's romance.. to the point where it felt like the game was just trying to screw with you on purpose.[/sub]

 

[Zaik]

The only reason this would be really necessary is if they were going to have a character outright try to force themselves(before someone freaks out, I'm not saying rape, just aggressively pursue) on you at some point, and your input determined the gender of the character in question.

 

[Meggiepants]

Steam doesn't carry the Baldur's Gate series actually. The best place to pick the BG series up would either be by buying the 4in1 box set re-release that's easily enough found from a variety of places or from GOG if you just want to buy it cheap online.

Spoiler: Dragon Age: Origins was supposed to be a spiritual successor to the BG series, so if you liked that you'll probably like BG

Whatever the case, if you do pick the series up let me know and I can recommend some mods to improve the experience and make first-impressions easier. Baldur's Gate 2 is generally agreed upon to be the highpoint of the series, but the first game isn't bad by any means and there are a couple amazing pieces of community work which update and improve the original so that it compares more favourably to its renowned sequel.

Personally I still consider the Baldur's Gate series overall to be my favourite rpg experience. Playing from the very start all the way to Throne of Bhall is something to be remembered, and the cast of characters you'll meet along the way unforgettable.

Thank you for the information.

I didn't realize Steam didn't have these. I had to go to GOG for a compatible version of Planescape Torment when I wanted that, so I have an account with them. I'll check out the 4 in 1 though seeing as how Amazon has it for a pretty good price. I'll have to see if it will work on Windows 7, though, since I no longer have an XP machine.

In any case, thanks again for the info.

 

[oplinger]

Steam doesn't carry the Baldur's Gate series actually. The best place to pick the BG series up would either be by buying the 4in1 box set re-release that's easily enough found from a variety of places or from GOG if you just want to buy it cheap online.

Spoiler: Dragon Age: Origins was supposed to be a spiritual successor to the BG series, so if you liked that you'll probably like BG

Whatever the case, if you do pick the series up let me know and I can recommend some mods to improve the experience and make first-impressions easier. Baldur's Gate 2 is generally agreed upon to be the highpoint of the series, but the first game isn't bad by any means and there are a couple amazing pieces of community work which update and improve the original so that it compares more favourably to its renowned sequel.

Personally I still consider the Baldur's Gate series overall to be my favourite rpg experience. Playing from the very start all the way to Throne of Bhall is something to be remembered, and the cast of characters you'll meet along the way unforgettable.

Thank you for the information.

I didn't realize Steam didn't have these. I had to go to GOG for a compatible version of Planescape Torment when I wanted that, so I have an account with them. I'll check out the 4 in 1 though seeing as how Amazon has it for a pretty good price. I'll have to see if it will work on Windows 7, though, since I no longer have an XP machine.

In any case, thanks again for the info.

works fine on windows 7, no tweaking at all needed. ....I just installed it again to confirm >_> so I know I'm not lying to you XD

I fully agree it's a game you need to play.

 

[mireko]

works fine on windows 7, no tweaking at all needed. ....I just installed it again to confirm >_> so I know I'm not lying to you XD

I fully agree it's a game you need to play.

If you're on the DVD version, did you have any trouble with the widescreen mod? I've heard there's a version incompatibility.



That said, it does work just fine on W7, there's also a nice list of very useful mods.

[sub]Running the game at 1920x1080 on a normal monitor makes it look like your perspective is from low orbit, though.[/sub]

 

[oplinger]

works fine on windows 7, no tweaking at all needed. ....I just installed it again to confirm >_> so I know I'm not lying to you XD

I fully agree it's a game you need to play.

If you're on the DVD version, did you have any trouble with the widescreen mod? I've heard there's a version incompatibility.



That said, it does work just fine on W7, there's also a nice list of very useful mods.

[sub]Running the game at 1920x1080 on a normal monitor makes it look like your perspective is from low orbit, though.[/sub]

I have the good ol' 4 CD version. but I don't use any mods for it actually. I did use the widescreen mod a while ago...but since you said DVD version..i suppose my feedback is useless? It worked fine.

 

[Meggiepants]

works fine on windows 7, no tweaking at all needed. ....I just installed it again to confirm >_> so I know I'm not lying to you XD

I fully agree it's a game you need to play.

Well, for $18 and with two enthusiastic recommendations, I guess I can't really go wrong. I just ordered it.

Thanks for confirming it works on 7.

That said, it does work just fine on W7, there's also a nice list of very useful mods.

[sub]Running the game at 1920x1080 on a normal monitor makes it look like your perspective is from low orbit, though.[/sub]

And thank you for the link.

 

[mireko]

works fine on windows 7, no tweaking at all needed. ....I just installed it again to confirm >_> so I know I'm not lying to you XD

I fully agree it's a game you need to play.

If you're on the DVD version, did you have any trouble with the widescreen mod? I've heard there's a version incompatibility.



That said, it does work just fine on W7, there's also a nice list of very useful mods.

[sub]Running the game at 1920x1080 on a normal monitor makes it look like your perspective is from low orbit, though.[/sub]

I have the good ol' 4 CD version. but I don't use any mods for it actually. I did use the widescreen mod a while ago...but since you said DVD version..i suppose my feedback is useless? It worked fine.

Ah, I meant the pack with BG1, TotSC, BG2 and ToB on four separate DVDs.

Anyway, the big fixpacks are definitely worth it, imho. [small]Even if I did end up spending an hour and a half installing and configuring all of them last time..[/small]

 

[oplinger]

works fine on windows 7, no tweaking at all needed. ....I just installed it again to confirm >_> so I know I'm not lying to you XD

I fully agree it's a game you need to play.

If you're on the DVD version, did you have any trouble with the widescreen mod? I've heard there's a version incompatibility.



That said, it does work just fine on W7, there's also a nice list of very useful mods.

[sub]Running the game at 1920x1080 on a normal monitor makes it look like your perspective is from low orbit, though.[/sub]

I have the good ol' 4 CD version. but I don't use any mods for it actually. I did use the widescreen mod a while ago...but since you said DVD version..i suppose my feedback is useless? It worked fine.

Ah, I meant the pack with BG1, TotSC, BG2 and ToB on four separate DVDs.

Anyway, the big fixpacks are definitely worth it, imho. [small]Even if I did end up spending an hour and a half installing and configuring all of them last time..[/small]

Usually how it goes with me and mods, is the mod will do something I like, but it's a compilation of things I don't care for. So I usually ignore mods all together D: ...except the mod that makes BG1 run in the BG2 engine. That was pretty cool all around.

 

[Programmed_For_Damage]

I really think this is a non-issue. I don't play games to get my freak on. And even if, as a straight male, I was forced in a game to play a gay character who has a gay relationship / sex I really wouldn't think much of it because it's a game; it's not my life.

If it was a game like Mass Effect 2 or Oblivion where the character is a bit of a tabula rasa and the only relationship options were contrary to my sexuality, sure I'd think it would be good if they could include my sexual preference, but I'd roll with it and choose accordingly.

 

[Wayneguard]

Hell, I'd hit on something without a heartbeat if the music and lighting were right.

lulz

OT: I really don't think this is an issue in the context of Dragon Age 2 because you can pursue roleplay any sexuality you want. There really isn't a need to predefine it in cc (unless you REALLY wanted to role play and wrote up a little bio like in baldurs gate lol)

 

[Meggiepants]

There should really not even be a need to choose your sexuality.

But if you were allowed to choose sexuality, do we choose from straight/bi/gay?

What about transexuals? Pansexuals? Asexuals?

Should we include fetishes in our character sheets? Feet, food, bondage?

My answer to this matter is a huge resounding "No."

You aren't choosing your sexuality per say, rather your sexual preference. If you are pansexual or asexual, then choosing from a set of choices that would say, male/female/both/none would still work for you in a game like Dragon Age.

Even if you are a foot fetishist, you are likely going to have a preference for the sex of the owner of the feet. Just because you are a fetishist, doesn't mean you can't prefer just males or just females. But again, if you don't really care what you're hitting on, like myself, then you would choose "both" as it allows for the greatest flexibility.

...And what? transmit the information to other party members through ESP? How would they know? They'll whip out your character sheet and confirm before they hit on you! Or you can wear a neon sign! "I AM GAY"

...All ridiculousness aside, the idea is sound, however it makes no sense when applied.

I've thought on this some more overnight and I think I have a better example than the one I originally argued with. You do typically choose a trait about yourself that isn't physical and immediately identifiable when you are playing table top D&D, your alignment. Most people don't go around with signs on their chests saying they are Lawful/Good. But this information is less about what they other people in your D&D group know about you, and more about what the DM knows about you. Other player characters may pick up that you are Lawful/Good by your play style, but the DM is the one that plans the game around his or her players. Companion characters in a video game like DA are not like your friends sitting around a tabletop game. They are more like the NPCs a DM would control. A good DM, imo, takes your character and tries to challenge you based on what you have chosen you character to be. Just like in ME, where you can choose some of your history, the DM, or the Bioware writers in this case, give you an encounter based on your past, whether you are a spacer or what not.

Making a choice like this in character creation, allows the developers to better tailor a game to what you might be looking for.

Again, I still don't think it's necessarily an ideal situation, but I don't think it's unprecedented either.

 

[II2]

In gameplay, by virtue of action taken, sure.

In character CREATION, no.

 

[Vivace-Vivian]

As awesome as it might be it would also be unrealistic. Not every gay person anounces it outright, so changing the game just because someone 'knows' through some astral power would not exactly fit.

 

[nodanaonlyzuul]

I think Bioware is playing it just right, just because a male character decides to flirt with your male character doesn't mean you have to flirt back. If it makes you uncomfortable, then you can just imagine how your main character feels and BAM--you've got immersion.

Remember, you can always just say no.

I'm with you on this. I enjoy immersion in games. In real life there is no "sign" of someones sexual orientation. You could always guess, but you never really know for certain in all cases. And just like in real life, you can always say "no" or "not interested". Done.

It really isn't that big of a deal.

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

...All ridiculousness aside, the idea is sound, however it makes no sense when applied.

In a game such as Dragon Age where they have multiple voice actors doing multiple lines for one situation, adding/removing romance lines from them isn't that much of a stretch. It makes perfect sense from a preferential standpoint.

OT: Good idea.

But how would you let your companions know without telling them? The option becomes meaningless in an immersion kind of way. You'd have to tell them you're gay, or straight, or tell them you're not interested in putting that there....or you'd be willing to give it a shot....

If they just -know- ....that's just kind of creepy, do you -smell- gay or something? How would you make it work?

It would work. Bioware would just rewrite companion's preferences. They already did it with Anders. If you play a guy, canonically he is gay, if you pick a girl he is straight. So what would be the problem?

 

[veloper]

I don't need any romance in games, so I don't need this.
Sofar they've all been pathetic cutscenes.
Non-issue.

 

[Valkyrie101]

As we have seen from other threads, and if you have played the game you probably know this, being nice to Anders means at some point early on, he's going to flirt with you regardless of your gender. You get three choices at that point, two flirts and one, "Hey dude, I ain't into you that way," kind of response.

Easy, have a strong negative response expressing disgust. More choices, and homophobes get to blast gays in-game.