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[not so anon]

This is an open letter to David Gaider and the rest of the BioWare, about the writing decisions surrounding the romance options in DA 2 (and the series in general).

I wasn't sure if I wanted to write this for a long time. Partly this was because I was worried about the reaction this might generate (which is why I am posting under a different name -- I really am a registered owner of both DA:O and DA 2, but have reasons for not using my primary account to post this), and partly it was because I wasn't sure that I wanted to be part of the re-hashing of this topic. Even though it is important to me, it's not the only thing that is significant to me about the Dragon Age series, and a portion of me felt a desire to just let this controversy fizzle out. 

But then I read David Gaider's defense of the choices the writing staff made with the romance options in DA 2. I thought Gaider's post was eloquent and inspiring. But, that post also contained a bit of uncertainty about whether the decision to make the romance options for most of the characters available to both genders was correct / a good one. I know many players -- straight, gay, and everything in between -- have posted in support of the writing staff. I am writing this post as a way of doing so too, because the decision of the Bioware writers in DA:O (and continued and expanded in DA 2) had a serious effect on me. And I feel the need to express my sincere thanks because of that.

So, here goes. I'm a gay girl, though I've only been living openly for slightly more than the past year. The Dragon Age series is partly responsible for that. Maybe that sounds strange, but I'll try to explain.

I do have to say something, though, just to prevent this letter from being taken out of context. Dragon Age did not make me gay. Nor was it the only reason I finally widely came out. But it was a part of the process.

I don't know that I can put a finger on exactly how the game helped contribute to me living an open life, but I know that it did. Maybe it was just the frankness of the queer romance options in the first game. Or the way that the BioWare writers defended themselves back when controversy over those options in Origins first developed. I'm not completely sure. But whatever the reason was, shortly after completing the first game I made the decision to embrace my identity and be open about who I am. I credit DA:O for helping that happen. And so I was happy to see DA 2 continue in this vein, and not regress in the face of controversy or complaint.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is... please, BioWare, keep on doing what you have been doing. Keep making choices like you made in Dragon Age 2, and hopefully will make in Dragon Age 3. Make queer friendly games. Include romance options for all of your fans, and not just those in the majority. Because it's important. And it affects people in ways that go beyond the game itself. Ways you may not realize (well, until we put up an open letter to you on your forums, heh). A part of me wishes that it wasn't so important. That such features of a game were so commonplace that we wouldn't have controversy over it every time a new entry in this wonderful series is released. But it is, and we do, and as a result I felt the need to write this.

Since I've been out, my life has become exponentially better. It is freeing to be who I truly am. So, thank you David Gaider. Thank you Dragon Age writers. Thank you to the rest of the Dragon Age team. And thanks BioWare. I really appreciate it.

[Stanley Woo]

Thanks for the great post, not so anon. I'm glad that BioWare helped, however peripherally, in your decision, and I hope you have some awesome friends and family who also support you as the folks in this thread have.

[Stanley Woo]

Schurge wrote...

So am I allowed to come in here and say that I thought making everyone bi-sexual was a bogus decision. That the decision not only cheapened the characters but it was implemented solely because some homosexuals didn't respect the characters in Origins and created hacks that allowed you to romance anyone (to go along with the multitude of porn mods) even though the companions' sexuality was a core part of their character (in the cases of Alistair and Morrigan)?

You are certainly allowed to present that opinion, just as others are allowed to agree or disagree wtih you. We've tried several different ways of presenting romanceable characters, and we've received both positive and negative feedback on each and every one of them.

You, Schurge, have just illustrated one of the difficulties we encounter when creating such characters and stories. You presumably would prefer a character whose sexuality is static regardless of what gender the PC is. but you've just detailed the fact that some of our players preferred romanceable characters whose sexual orientation is either dependant on the PC's gender or is more hetero- or ******-flexible. Who do we listen to? Do we go one way or the other? Is there a third way? A fourth or sixth or tenth? And what do we think? Do we set off on our own thing or integrate some other idea? Which idea, and how integrated? will our target audience like that? Lots of questions have to be asked when dealing with romances since BioWare is one of the few developers who include such things as major game features.

Regardless, it is player-driven, and no matter what decision we make, people will make up their own minds once the game is out of our hands. The static sexuality of, say, Dragon Age: Origins? the pronoun-switching of Jade Empire? The flexible nature of Dragon Age II? Personally, I doubt there is a singular way to present romanceable characters in BioWare RPGs, but I think our writers and designers will continue to treat them with as much respect and care as our other character and story interactions.

EDIT: Let's try and keep the discussion impersonal and at least somewhat on-topic, please.

Modifié par Stanley Woo, 04 avril 2011 - 10:00 .