Would you still play a game if the main character was gay?

[fisk0]

I find it interesting how many say that they wouldn't be able to identify with an openly gay character, or that it would be in bad taste to have the main character seek for a partner during the course of the game.

I for one would find a game in the vein of, say, Catherine - with a gay protagonist and without the horrible Q-bic sequences - pretty interesting I think.
Also, do you identify with the protagonist when he slaughters hookers in GTA, or smash innocent miners with a sledgehammer in Red Faction Guerrilla? Neither are required actions in the games mentioned of course, but something I'd think most try out when they screw around in sandbox games.

 

[Akirai]

Every answer on this thread seems to be "Yeah, as long as it doesn't define the character."
What?!

As much as people like to believe that gays have equal rights and receive equal treatment, they don't. Anywhere. If you have an openly gay character, the manner in which he or she interacts with the world will HAVE to account for gays being second rate citizens. Having the character's sexuality not matter in the plot would be like having the presence of an Apostate not matter in Dragon Age. It would be dumb.

And a closeted gay character (unless the game is the story of them coming out) will be exactly the same as any asexual straight character! But then again, from some of the answers in this thread, it seems most people prefer their characters to be asexual. Why are we actually demanding flat characters and then appealing for better characterization?

Asexual characters could actually be very interesting in a story. True asexuals have this annoying thing where they don't want the physical intimacy part of a normal relationship but that doesn't mean they don't want the exclusive emotional intimacy. The task of finding this though is nearly impossible.

Otherwise agreed in full with your post. I've always felt that games like Fable, Dragon Age or Mass Effect where you can choose your own sexuality are incredibly lacking. The developers just don't seem to understand that, no, a medieval world is not ok with a guy and a guy being paired together, likewise a girl and a girl. The ease with which these relations are formed and the little impact they have on forming your character makes them caricatures of what being gay (to this day) means in the world.

 

[MisterGobbles]

If a game character was gay, there's no way we would know for sure unless we are informed that the character was gay, making it somewhat relevant to the plot or at least worth mentioning. As long as it was done tastefully (or maybe if the entire game was over the top and a joke, non-tastefully), and they didn't try to beat us over the head with it, then I wouldn't have a problem with it.

 

[Asuka Soryu]

Video game characters(besides Duke Nukem) have sexual interests?

 

[Jacinto]

SMV1172, that's what I do. And i was just explaining it to that guy because it went totally over his head. I love seeing reactions and stuff. But yeah, to stay on topic, sexual orientation means nothing to me unless they go over the top for a main character or make it the focus. Then again, it IS the focus for games like Mario. His sexual preference is the driving force of his games. Save the princess so he can get some.

 

[BlumiereBleck]

Depends on the story and whether the character is someone i might like.

 

[TheIronRuler]

Yes.
But I KNOW they'll make him a horrible hybrid of various stereotypes and folk tales.
Besides, the gay community will NEVER accept a gay character in the spotlight - either he's too gay, or not gay enough.

 

[Ace of Spades]

As long as it was actually a part of the narrative, and actually properly integrated into the story. Making a character gay and never referencing it is pointless, and making a character gay and constantly throwing that fact in the player's face is kind of tacky.

 

[Lilani]

To play through a game and see life through the eyes of a gay person would be an amazing experience. To play through a game through the eyes of a gay person as interpreted by a bunch of straight people huddled around a conference table would be a horrible experience.

 

[Artina89]

I wouldn't really mind, as long as the character was well fleshed out and had a good backstory so that they were a character who just so happened to be gay, it is not their complete personality. Gay people are just as able to shoot, run, jump etc just as well as a "heterosexual" character. If someone created a gay character for the sake of having a gay character, then I would mind, as then it would in all likelihood be the defining part of his/her personality, just to create controversy.

 

[ReservoirAngel]

As long as they weren't only characterised as "look, a gay main character!" I wouldn't have a problem with it, at all. So long as they're a real, deep character with more to their personality than just "he's one of those guys that like guys".

 

[Peteron]

Would you still play a game if the protagonist, antagonist or favourite character in the game was gay?
State the game, the character and a yes or no.
The character could be lesbain also but don't say yes because you think it would be hot if the main character lesbain.

For me yes infact it would maybe make it more reason to play the game because then atleast the character would be interesting instead of generic spacemarine.

Well, I mean, its not like I am itching for a homosexual character. To be completely honest, I could care less. As long as the game is fun and still enjoyable, who the hell cares? Wasn't one of the characters from the Scott Pilgrim games gay? Well anyway, it really didn't affect me in any way.

 

[Gnikhcil]

him being gay would not bug meat, unless he was flamboyant, gay or not flamboyant will never work as a video game charactor

 

[Custard_Angel]

Duke Nukem is the literal antithesis of misogyny.

And you can quote me on that.

Done and done.

Also. Holy shit. If the average post can be called an essay, that is a fuckmothering doctoral thesis.

God...

 

[sam42ification]

Would you still play a game if the protagonist, antagonist or favourite character in the game was gay?
State the game, the character and a yes or no.
The character could be lesbain also but don't say yes because you think it would be hot if the main character lesbain.

For me yes infact it would maybe make it more reason to play the game because then atleast the character would be interesting instead of generic spacemarine.

I wouldn't mind. Now, if they were making out or doing it, then yeah, I wouldn't want to play it.

A lot of games such as uncharted 2 i think show the characters making out then the screen blacks out you just know they are having sex.

What if that happened? Two men kissing, they fall onto the bed and then take off their shirts and then the screen blacks out. What would you do? I would find it very erosing i mean im getting hard thinking about it but would you put down the controller if you knew i could happen again?

 

[sam42ification]

Would you still play a game if the protagonist, antagonist or favourite character in the game was gay?
State the game, the character and a yes or no.
The character could be lesbain also but don't say yes because you think it would be hot if the main character lesbain.

For me yes infact it would maybe make it more reason to play the game because then atleast the character would be interesting instead of generic spacemarine.

as long as you don't atcually have to do some side-mission where you make out/ have sex with a dude.

For me thats more reason to play it.

 

[Torrasque]

I'd only mind if the character was supposed to be a man's man like Master Chief or Duke Nukem.
Besides that, I'd be more likely to play if the main character was gay. It'd lead to some really funny story.

 

[sam42ification]

Sure I'd play a game with a gay character. The person you play as doesn't have to be a carbon copy of your real self for a game to be enjoyable - if that was the case, I'd never get to play anything.

State the game, the character and a yes or no.

You want us to name an already existing game with a gay protagonist? Good luck with that.

No i want you to name a straight character and imagine if he/she was gay. Would the game still be the same for you? I proberly should have worded that better.