bd223437 wrote...
Bill569 wrote...
ME3 DLC with characters open to same-sex relationships would also be a good idea. But that DLC should be released right after ME3 is released.
I could agree with you, but only if you're suggesting this DLC be free with game purchase like Shale in DA:O. Otherwise producing the male oriented relationship for further money is just exclusionary in a different way. A specific orientation should not have to pay extra just to be included.
I respectfully disagree with the interpretation of the sentiment that is trying to be expressed as entitlement. There are four possible single partner pairing combinations involving the human concept of sex (which is the attitude and understanding of both players and their avatar Shepard so Asari concepts of a single sex [despite their blatant embrace of female pronouns] are not really a concern). Obviously, male Shepard has female partners available to him. Female Shepard also has a variety of male partners. Additionally, female Shepard has two options for female partners. Only male Shepard may not explore that avenue, and intentional or not, it sends a message that male orientation toward other males does not exist, should not exist or has in some way been eliminated.
The emotional response from players, as I am experiencing it, is an acute awareness of being excluded. Providing female Shepard female partners and omitting male partners for male Shepard is hypocritical at best, and insulting at the worst. I cannot comprehend how anyone can pick and choose the attractive aspects of a culture, in this case girl on girl action, toss out the rest and consider it acceptable to not even acknowledge the inequality.
I can see how this could be construed as entitlement; however I think it is a completely justified expectation for anyone to feel represented and included in a situation that highlights such a wide variety of human traits including sexuality. It is all the more confusing then that a game company that has consistently included this group has repeatedly excluded them in this series. Contrary to the assertion that we should give them a break, I consider that less appropriate here. They should be held to their own high standard, not allowed to simply get by, or worse, move in the opposite direction (as in the case of claiming Kelly isn't really a relationship and Liara isn't really a woman).
I highly doubt a boycott would be a particularly effective demonstration at this point. Personally, I am inclined to retain my $60 which I would not expect to be anything even resembling a drop in the bucket. I would pass on ME3 knowing full well that this is only a symbolic gesture about the omission of a single aspect of a game. In turn that omission of a single aspect is in itself a symbolic gesture so I think we'd be even from cosmic accounting standpoint. This aspect could be just as easily included as the three existing pairing variations. A single line with the same sex VS asking Shepard why they were chosen could offer A) a romantic option, 
a friendship option, or C) an "I flipped a Krogan, you were tails, Wrex faceplanted, so you won" option. Options b and c in that example return things to business as usual, option A opens up a chance at romance. Option A could only appear if the VS is the same sex as Shepard and Shepard has not engaged in another romance during either prior game. That approach seems the most consistent with the design philosophy of the game hinging on decisions made from the previous two. It's a bit like returning to the Jade Empire approach, but a slight backslide is preferable to an all out tumble down the slippery slope.
I like this post, articulate and well thought out. I don't see what you are talking about as entitlement, and there are plenty like you on this thread, but there are plenty on here who are expressing entitlement. I can see how some people are offended, which again I think is down to assumptions about Bioware's agenda which frankly I can't see as supportable on account of the fact they have been inclusive in the past.
Another avenue I would like to correct you on is on Bioware's consistancy, in Baldur's Gate there were no romance options, Baldur's Gate II only includes hetero romance options, Neverwinter Nights included none, Jade Empire is their first game that includes same sex romances (and it takes a fair bit to unlock the m/m option), Knights of the Old Republic includes only hetero and f/f (so in that respect the ME franchise follows in KotOR's footsteps, but I don't recall such opposition to that game), and now we have the Dragon Age franchise which is thier first franchise to openly and equally include options for all.
The situation as I see it in giving them slack is that we are all on a collective journey, towards greater more acceptance of all races, colours, creeds and orientations. Bioware have in games like JE and KotOR opened up the door to that acceptance, and hopefully wth Dragon Age and franchises beyond that will continue to open it more. Mass Effect as a franchise if guilty of anything has simply continued what was established in KotOR. At the time ME1 was released JE was the only game they featured a m/m romance option, so ME wasn't odd in not featuring it at all.
I can understand people's sense of feeling excluded, but I think in a lot of ways a lot of people have lost perspective, looked back on past games and seen things that weren't there. I remember when in Baldur's Gate II female gamers were hacked off that Anomen was thier sole romance option when males got Aeris, Jaheira and Viconia. What we have seen is inclusion of more choice so now female hetero gamers have choices in line with what guys get, and ME has been a step along the way, but not unfortunately the end to that journey when we will see well written and varied romance options for all.
Peace
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Devon Shepard is a Liara man, I'm afraid. 
Johnathan Shepard doesn't have a problem dating a bi guy, does he? Martín Shepard saved the Citadel from a huge geth attack, he's a standup guy. And he's got his own ship and everything. 
