Well, I wouldn't buy the game 
First,because I don't like this vision of heteronormativity and family values being pushed to me. And second, because the reason I play Bioware for the freedom. There are plenty of set stories I can get from other types of media.
I'd enjoy the backlash. It'd make ME3's appears as a soft caress . 
"Catered" is a strong word, for a variety of reasons. Whether it's because using the term implies that more focus is being put on all of those non-status-quo sexual preferences, or because it's maligning that same demographic with that of an invalid, hence "catering to a person with impairments." Either way... it's hyperbole. There are lot of people who are fans of BW games, and we are all different. It is a diverse fan base. What drew those fans in the first place was the fact that they could find even just an iota of engaging representation throughout gameplay - a rarity in this industry, especially dating back to the genesis of DAO. I'm sorry but I disagree with you; for them to ask, "Why not make our interests rise to the same level as the status quo's interests?" is not catering. It's breaking down barriers, which have long since needed to be broken down. If anything, it opened up new pathways to creativity.
Trying to please everybody has never been a good tactic. I'll just leave it at that.
Well, I wouldn't buy the game
I'd enjoy the backlash. It'd make ME3's appears as a soft caress .
How would not having romance options in a game be Bioware pushing "heteronormativity" and family values on the players?
How would not having romance options in a game be Bioware pushing "heteronormativity" and family values on the players?
You mean aside from the spouse, child and "fight for your family" nonsense that you would have no control over?
I'm confused. I had to look this up:
Heteronormativity - Denoting or relating to a world view that promotes heterosexuality as as the normal or preferred sexual orientation.
So that said, I don't see how just flat out telling a story, without a romantic subplot, is a writer pushing such a view on the player.
I'm confused. I had to look this up:
Heteronormativity - Denoting or relating to a world view that promotes heterosexuality as as the normal or preferred sexual orientation.
So that said, I don't see how just flat out telling a story, without a romantic subplot, is a writer pushing such a view on the player.
If you have no choice but to be married, have children, and your motivation be "muh family" that's certainly forcing those things on you. If you're a single character you can be whatever sexuality you want. If you have no children and no "I do this for my family" attitude you can support whatever lifestyle you want. But if you start the game with a spouse of the opposite sex, a child, and the motivation of killing natives "for your family" then the game is saying "this is the norm, this is who you are."
Or maybe that's just the story the writer wanted to tell? Why would we assume the worst in a writer's motives? I think this would be an issue of just taking player freedom away in general, but not an issue of the writer being a homophobe or whatever people want to call him.
Or maybe that's just the story the writer wanted to tell? Why would we assume the worst in a writer's motives? I think this would be an issue of just taking player freedom away in general, but not an issue of the writer being a homophobe or whatever people want to call him.
Maybe the story the writer wants to tell - however, given that this is Bioware, I highly doubt it - but that isn't a story that I have any interest in being told again.
Or maybe that's just the story the writer wanted to tell? Why would we assume the worst in a writer's motives? I think this would be an issue of just taking player freedom away in general, but not an issue of the writer being a homophobe or whatever people want to call him.
Maybe the story the writer wants to tell - however, given that this is Bioware, I highly doubt it - but that isn't a story that I have any interest in being told again.
I guess one part of me would be interested. I mean it would certainly diverge from the usual motivations we've seen from Bioware protagonists. But honestly given Bioware's fan demographic, it'd be leaving a lot of people in the dust, so the other part me would think "they better not."
EDIT: Actually now that I think about it they kinda did have a "Look after your family" motivation with DA2 didn't they? Except you were the child.
But in lieu of romances Bioware gave you a backstory that included a husband/wife with a young daughter/son with a half dozen character models for each to choose from. Fighting the alien savages to make a home for your family. Could be a nice change from the standard formula which I feel has gotten a bit stale. Thoughts? Ways to improve?
I'd consider it to be a return to one of the most common formulas in fiction, and a bit of a hack move.
These are role-playing games, not novels. You assume the role of the PC.
And no one said you have to be a homophobe to write a straight character with children. Are you drunk?
Well that's why I followed up with "or whatever people want to call him." I can't say I know the mindset of every person on here. But even though they're roleplaying games, I don't see anything really wrong with defining the PC to some degree, while the player defines and fleshes out the rest of him or her over the course of the journey.
I guess one part of me would be interested. I mean it would certainly diverge from the usual motivations we've seen from Bioware protagonists. But honestly given Bioware's fan demographic, it'd be leaving a lot of people in the dust, so the other part me would think "they better not."
EDIT: Actually now that I think about it they kinda did have a "Look after your family" motivation with DA2 didn't they? Except you were the child.
Yeah, aside from the "even Bioware's kind of done it" thing with DA2 - and look how well that was recieved(note that I'm actually a big fan of DA2) - the problem is that while it may be different for them, it's very, very standard for the rest of fiction.
I honestly think the issue with the "catering" argument is that I believe most of the writers at Bioware actually enjoy writing homosexual and bisexual romances, and I think that is at partly because so few others in the industry are doing it.
In any event, I'll say this. If the game just flat out did not have romances, I might still play it - I'm still not sold on the game as a whole so it would depend on other factors than just that. If the game only had straight romances, ala ME2, I might still play it. I like that they do representative romances, but the fact is that I probably wouldn't boycott a game just out of protest on that front if it otherwise looked amazing.
But if they did what the OP suggests and force you into a marriage with a kid without having the basic decency Bethesda does to kill them off in the first twenty minutes, that would make me actively avoid the game because that is a story I don't want a part of.
But if they did what the OP suggests and force you into a marriage with a kid without having the basic decency Bethesda does to kill them off in the first twenty minutes, that would make me actively avoid the game because that is a story I don't want a part of.
I don't mind the PC having a family when it's actual relatives, but a family, particularly one with a kid, would be like strychnine for my interest.
A love story should be written into the game because the writers feel passionate and encouraged enough to want to write one, not because they have to because it's expected. And it's become pretty clear these past couple years that some of the writers find this type of thing draining.
Could you provide the basis for this conclusion of yours if you would so kindly?
The word 'catering' annoys my man-****** because it completely glosses over the fact that the straight male demographic has been catered to since the inception of modern media. It's one of those things that are just so ubiquitous people don't even think about it. Or they resort to 'well we're the most so everything SHOULD be about us' and if your argument rests on majority = correct I am just so damn glad Bioware doesn't share your vision.
ANYWAY.
Fallout 4 seems to be going the family way again. I'm always leery of family ties that take place/form of screen because so often they don't bother to build anything in game. They rely on the fact that 'family' is an easy way to get to most people's jiggly-wiggly feels and let that do the heavy lifting for them. So if this was the case I'd give it some major side-eye.
I don't mind the PC having a family when it's actual relatives, but a family, particularly one with a kid, would be like strychnine for my interest.
I would not mind a family either especially if the trip spanned generations as long as you establish your relationship with them and are not set in a specific relationship or set motivation with them.
Marriage and discussion about children through adoption or otherwise are things I think could be well-liked elements provided that they are optional roleplaying elements.
I'd prefer some kind of set-base family was a brother/sister or a nephew. And having the chance to decide what are the relationship with said family members. I hated in DA2 that the twins had always the same relationship with Hawke no matter what.
I don't like having a family/lover pre-made for my characters. I like to play different characters with different morality and dreams in life. Some may like the thought of settling down with his/her family (like my Jade Shepard, who is still waiting to be rescue from the rubble and have her house on the beach and raise little orphans with Garrus) and some would like to travel forever around the galaxy without a care in the world like space pirates (like my Nathan Shepard, still waiting for an angry Jack to take him out of the rubble and than steal a ship and run away with his girl and travel around killing every remaining Cerberus scum)
Beside the feeling of having forced on my characters behaviours and values I may not like for certain of them, replayability would be quite killed for me. I like try a new romance at every run. And I enjoy the phases of the romantic ark, even if I'd like it if BioWare would give it a little more attention to it.
And many seem so "concerned" about the writers being "forced" to write romances... sometimes writers may like it, you know? 
It may be a little of escapism to always write conflicts and lore stuff. Is not like is not fun sometimes writing romantic stuff. And in the end, is just another layer of exploration about a certain character.
EDIT: Actually now that I think about it they kinda did have a "Look after your family" motivation with DA2 didn't they? Except you were the child.
Being the sibling/child in the family does lift some of the restrictions off, since that sort of family tends not to be optional, so it doesn't come with all that "Why the f*** did my PC choose to hook up with these people?"
In any case, I think families are something best left scarce. Like, if I want to have a character that's a rebellious jerk that hates his/her father, I can't really do it. Not even the Cousland Warden can hate his/her parents, and that character can murder people for fun.
But in lieu of romances Bioware gave you a backstory that included a husband/wife with a young daughter/son with a half dozen character models for each to choose from. Fighting the alien savages to make a home for your family. Could be a nice change from the standard formula which I feel has gotten a bit stale. Thoughts? Ways to improve?
No thanks, neither like the forced family element or the shallowness of limiting it to the backstory. They should stick with what has worked which is giving romance choices which run alongside the main story.
I don't like having a family/lover pre-made for my characters.
I loathed having a set love interest with very few exceptions because I've had some bad experiences in some games where in the designated love interest was someone I considered so unlikable that I wanted to strangle them.
I don't want a family and emotions/motivations like these forced on me. I also don't like the premise of "fighting the alien savages to make a home for your family." We're invaders. We would be stealing land from native peoples. Trying to put the spin of "fighting for your family" on it seems so childish and wrong.
Yeah, the fighting alien savages was a bit tongue in cheek;)
I loathed having a set love interest with very few exceptions because I've had some bad experiences in some games where in the designated the love interest was someone I considered so unlikable that I wanted to strangle them.
dissappoint,Sad, angry with little furious But I will accept it someday.
But if they force me to become straight.... only choice to me is NOT BUY THAT GAME.
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