Poll: Would you play a game where the main character was gay?
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If they made a big deal about it, probably not, because any game so heavily politicized would very likely be saturated with ridiculous stereotypes and hence bad. I'm not interested in games that focus a lot on *sex*, either (hence why I won't play The Witcher). Romance, yes, but not sex, and if the gayness of the main character was a big deal I'd expect sex to be an equally big deal in the game.
If it were a game like Mass Effect, however, where gay/lesbian romances were possible options (even if those were the only romance options!), I wouldn't be bothered, although I'd probably give the romantic subplot a miss unless I was REALLY sure my housemate was asleep (he tends to tease and I don't like that when I'm trying to enjoy a serious moment in a game, and I take romance seriously).
There, I think that's a sufficiently comprehensive answer.
If it were a game like Mass Effect, however, where gay/lesbian romances were possible options (even if those were the only romance options!), I wouldn't be bothered, although I'd probably give the romantic subplot a miss unless I was REALLY sure my housemate was asleep (he tends to tease and I don't like that when I'm trying to enjoy a serious moment in a game, and I take romance seriously).
There, I think that's a sufficiently comprehensive answer.
Considering that Alyx, the only 'hot' girl on the entire planet was annoying as hell, and would always send Gordon on those crazy suicide missions, I believe the one I was trying to not get killed, secretly confessed his interest in a particular young man named Bob who services dune buggies.The_root_of_all_evil said:
As many have said already, it wouldn't really make a difference. As long as the character isn't all about "being gay" then it wouldn't bug me.
But think of the possibilities!needausername said:
GAYS OF WAR!
*Feminine Storyline involving missing wife.
*Over-Compensating Masculinity oozing out of every pore.
*GIANT "worms".
wait... a minute...DAMN YOU CLIFFY B!
No. I could ignore it if it was casual interest, the game was good enough for me to get and no one would see me play it anyway, but considering a lot of game developers these days don't know their heads from their rectum when it comes to staying in-tune with the general populace, they'd find a way to overemphasize it, fuck it up, and deter potential buyers. I wouldn't be willing to risk it.
I think this is actually a good post, cuz alot of people I know personally who are dudes, won't play as a woman. And vice versa. It sucks when 2 of my female friends are both playing L4D at the same time, cuz then I get to sit for a damn year listening to them complain about who gets Zoey. Anyways, yes, I would by all means. I love a games story, and if theirs any bit of a good story, i don't care if the main character is gay, straight, both, none, black, white, asain, hispanic, middle eastern, green, neon red...this has gone on way too long.
Would I play a game if the main character was gay? No, I wouldn't. And here's the reason why: As has been stated several times over the course of this thread if the gameplay is good, the story holds your attention, and the characters interesting, it shouldn't matter if the main character was gay, straight, or whatever. But with our hypothetical game it seems that the main character's 'gayness' is a selling point. And just about every media that has tried to use a character's gender preference as a hook to get you interested has been an exercise in lameness and stereotypes. So if a game like this actually came out, I'd find better places to spend my money.
It's not usually plot relevant if a character is straight, but they all are.Baby Tea said:
How is the homosexuality of the main character of a game a marketing ploy any more than heterosexuality of the same? You don't have to focus on it for it to be a fact of the character-- generally, a character's sexuality is hinted at by their (non-sexual, usually) relationship with members of the opposite sex. If you have a plot heavy, say, mystery horror game, where the main male protagonist is urged on by memories of his dead boyfriend, or a game where a female space pilot is trying to protect the earth and consequently her girlfriend from being conquered by aliens... Those are just two examples of ways in which you could easily substitute a homosexual relationship for a heterosexual one and it wouldn't change the gameplay.
The question I have to pose is: why does a homosexual character's sexuality have to be "plot-relevant", when the heterosexual character's sexuality doesn't?
It depends. If it's a good game, then yes, absolutely. But I suspect any game that actually did this would make it all about the main character's orientation, and end up a big angsty mess. I'm not going to play a game about someone's love life, regardless of orientation. I guess what I'm saying is: I would play a game with a gay main character, but not a game ABOUT a gay main character.
Also, if we include certain Japanese games... I imagine you could find plenty of games with homosexuality. Especially girl-girl ones. (cough cough).
Also, if we include certain Japanese games... I imagine you could find plenty of games with homosexuality. Especially girl-girl ones. (cough cough).