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[The Uncanny]

IGN: Why We Need More Gay Characters In Video Games

[XxPrincess(x)ThreatxX]

Yay, glad i found the new version of this group. now i should really sleep since it's nearly 4am

[The Uncanny]

Yay, glad i found the new version of this group. now i should really sleep since it's nearly 4am

 

I'm glad we're still being found! 

 

If you know of anyone who hasn't found us, let them know we're here! Or send them an invite. 

[The Uncanny]

Somewhat embarrassingly I had forgotten that this was today... 

 

[SerriceIceDandy]

Hello everybody! A newbie here...

 

Reading those past two articles, it got me thinking about the non-hetero characters in Dragon Age, and I came to the realisation that the majority of the characters don't just happen to be gay/bi, but they state a reason for it: they tend to follow the 'prison-gay' trope, or are just portrayed to be very sexually active. It's like they're written with a justification.

Zevran - His job and his past as a prostitute
Anders - The Circle
Fenris - His life as a slave
Isabella - So horny it must interrupt her daily life
Leliana - A bit of a grey area; at first she comes off similar to Isabella, but she does seem to have genuinely loved Marjolaine.
Merril - Can't say I've ever followed her romance arc, but she might be the exception (unless anyone else knows otherwise)

Mass Effect 3 did a slightly better job I feel, but do those portrayals bother you? Don't get me wrong, I was thankful for their inclusion, but just those little odd lines of dialogue irk me slightly.

 

[The Uncanny]

Hello everybody! A newbie here...

 

Hi! Welcome! 

 

 

I came to the realisation that the majority of the characters don't just happen to be gay/bi, but they state a reason for it: they tend to follow the 'prison-gay' trope, or are just portrayed to be very sexually active. It's like they're written with a justification.

 

Isabella - So horny it must interrupt her daily life

 

 

I see what you're saying, and it's an interesting point that I don't entirely agree with.

 

The problem comes back to one of presence versus absence. Is the unstated preferable to the stated because it's less clunky? Or does it simply equate to a silence?

 

The one of your examples I'm most familiar with by far is Isabela so I shall constrain myself to her.

 

Bela is certainly a hedonist in spirit. But back when I chatted with Sheryl about her at the time DA2 came out I suggested to her that Isabela's anything-goes sexuality is an act of self-actualisation. In an environment of accusatory antagonism regarding women's sexuality, Isabela is an admirable figure as her joie de vivre transcends the blame culture by ignoring it entirely or even actively goading it.

 

As empowering as (I believe) that is, it would mean nothing if the character were not as capable of affection, warmth and humour as she is.

 

I don't think any individual character element can be taken in isolation. The character must be taken holistically. And on that front I thought the writing in DA2 was exemplary. I still do.

 

On the other hand, on that same scale I personally thought Mass Effect 3 was a bit of a disaster. I'm not talking about the game there, purely the writing and characters. But that is just my opinion.

[SerriceIceDandy]

Bela is certainly a hedonist in spirit. But back when I chatted with Sheryl about her at the time DA2 came out I suggested to her that Isabela's anything-goes sexuality is an act of self-actualisation. In an environment of accusatory antagonism regarding women's sexuality, Isabela is an admirable figure as her joie de vivre transcends the blame culture by ignoring it entirely or even actively goading it.

 

On the other hand, on that same scale I personally thought Mass Effect 3 was a bit of a disaster. I'm not talking about the game there, purely the writing and characters. And that is just my opinion.

 

I had never considered it from that perspective, to be fair. I guess I was unknowingly being a bit narrow-minded myself.

 

I'd agree somewhat agree with you on the latter point; I think it was a case of spreading themselves too thin. IIRC, they send that they wrote as they went along with the trilogy - - probably why.

[XxPrincess(x)ThreatxX]

Ugh, anyone read the the end of the "trends that should die" thread? got locked because of a homophobe

[The Uncanny]

I had never considered it from that perspective, to be fair. I guess I was unknowingly being a bit narrow-minded myself.

 

No, not at all! Please don't think that. I think we need to continually question and debate depiction, implementation and function. And I thank you for doing so.

 

We need to always be aware not just of how something is meant but also how something can be read. I admire Isabela, I admire the concept and thought behind her. But for a portion of the audience, however large, she is (was?) the character who will screw anything that moves. That is how they choose to perceive her. Whose failure or fault that is, that is another question. But it is a more than valid observation.

[The Uncanny]

Ugh, anyone read the the end of the "trends that should die" thread? got locked because of a homophobe

 

Sadly, they will always be with us.

 

Even though that is - ironically - a nice example of a trend that should die right there...

[XxPrincess(x)ThreatxX]

Sadly, they will always be with us.
 
Even though that is - ironically - a nice example of a trend that should die right there...

Annoying that a decent thread got ruined all because of 1 guy with a my little pony avi saying anti-gay things

[Centauri2002]

I take my eyes off the BSN for a few months (okay, so it might have been more than that) and it completely changes! I'm glad this group is still up and running though.

[The Uncanny]

Thanks from Sian and myself to everyone who has joined up!

 

We love seeing you here.

 

Now that DAI info is coming through hopefully we can start putting this space to use.

[Rowe]

Glad I found this group! It's nice to have a "safe space," to have discussions in!

[The Uncanny]

Glad to be found, Rowe! Welcome! 

[tidusjo51]

I am new to the gaming world and really love the Dragon Age games. I have to say it was a pleasant surprise to have romance included in the game and a even pleasanter surprise when I got to choose who I wanted to romance.

[The Uncanny]

I am new to the gaming world and really love the Dragon Age games. I have to say it was a pleasant surprise to have romance included in the game and a even pleasanter surprise when I got to choose who I wanted to romance.

 

That was how I felt back when I first played Knights of the Old Republic and Jade Empire as a teenager. It's nice to hear that it can still come as a pleasant surprise!

 

I'm still a little bit astonished that other designers and creators haven't taken a more decent stab at trying something similar.

[tidusjo51]

I agree, my only experience with this has been on Dragon Age. I wasn't aware of any other games that have this but bear in mind I am a middle aged woman who just recently, like in the last  3 years started to play video games so my knowledge about gaming and games is pretty limited.

[The Uncanny]

Sorry for not being around for a while, FFTLers.

 

Thanks once more to all our new members for joining. It's always good to see new folks enter the arena! Welcome all. 

[The Uncanny]

I guess I'm going to end up sounding like an echo of myself on this thread, but welcome to everyone who has joined since the last time I welcomed everyone who had joined! It's great to see you here. 

[MouseHopper]

Just wanted to say that I think this is a wonderful thread.  I've been playing role playing games for as long as I can remember.  But it has only been in the last few years where I've started paying much attention to the romance options.  For me (a straight woman) it makes absolute sense that anyone should be able to romance anyone else in the game just as in life.  In my games I have played as both males and females and have had romances with the same sex and the opposite sex in each case.  The nonsense that is spouted by the homophobes and unenlightened of our world does nothing more than prove their own ignorance in my opinion.

[catabuca]

Hello all!!

 

So glad to see some of the old names still knocking around. I left BSN for a good while, but DAI excitement has tentatively brought me back to see what's going on. It's all so different! 

 

I miss the party atmosphere of aufgestockt. Remember that thread? I had such fun.

[MouseHopper]

Catabuca, I just must tell you that I love your avatar!

[Malice]

Hello everyone! I'm a newbie here, so just wanted to say hello and thank you for creating such a nice group

[The Uncanny]

Hello people new and old! Thanks for joining!

 

I hope you meet interesting people here and that the release of DAI provokes positive discussion.