Dragon Age 2 Lead Writer Blasts Homophobic Fan

[Xaositect]

While a large part of me actually agrees with you, Bioware has been under a relentless assault of people on their forums saying that all romance interests should be bi-sexual because otherwise it's not fair.

Honestly, Bioware can't win.

I understand your point, but I doubt its as one sided as that, and if Bioware caved in because of that then they only deserved to be criticised harder.

Sometimes a bi character works. I think Liara being bi in ME1 fit perfectly with her character and the nature of much of her species. Somes totally gay, lesbian or straight characters work.

The idea that "they all have to be bi to please everyone" is as offensive to me as the old days where it was mainly just about appealing to straight male gamers. I think its limiting, stupid and not good writing at all.

 

[Jumplion]

How the hell is the guy "homophobic"? That's just unnecessarily inflammatory, and from what I've read of the posts he's at least trying to give out his opinion in a coherent, inoffensive manner. It's not like he's bashing gays, or going "Dude, so friggin' gay! Let me bone more chicks!"

I don't agree with what he's saying, don't get me wrong, it's just that I find this article pretty hostile to someone who really was expressing a simple opinion in a non-derogatory manner. Some of his opinions could be seen as bigoted, but I just don't see it. Could someone explain to me how this comes off as homophobic? I really do want to know, because I just don't see it.

Seriously? The guy is so perturbed by male characters flirting with him that he wants a "No Gays" option in the menu, and you don't see that as just a little homophobic?

Certain aspects of his post, sure, but I just see it as a guy giving off his possibly-bigoted opinion. I dunno, if there was a way to show that I'm giving a "I dunno" shrug over the internet, I'd show that. I don't agree with anything he's saying, don't get me wrong here. Maybe my reading comprehension is low since I've been sick for a while, but whatever.

 

[Deviluk]

Wait, so everyone having the same amount of possible partners, regardless of sexual orientation is bad...? What... I don't even...

Also:
- If you feel "uncomfortable" getting hit on by a particular character, you do realize you can just push the "no, thank you"-button?
- Are we assuming that everyone who plays a video game plays as the exact same person they are in real life? I'm a heterosexual man IRL, and I played DA2 as a female Hawke that romanced Isabella. For my next playthrough, I will probably pick a different Hawke that romances someone else. I see no reason why I should be stuck playing a whose sexual preferences correspond to my real-life self. Who knows, I might play a male Hawke that romances Anders and Fenris. Shock and awe!

Same actually. Although would you break the last taboo...play as an asexual Hawke??

 

[Deviluk]

The romances in DA an ME are just infantile stupidity, whether they are straight, gay, or group humping! We may as well have some hot XXX Krogen vs Krogen humping! Indeed why dont we! Not to mention solo adventures with males and females doing strange things with 15" laser 'probes'! Don't we have 'The Sims' for that kind of crap! For that matter don't we have BARS in the real world for that when it gets down to it! I mean games have plenty of stimulated killing, but no one wants or needs to do that in reality. Sex and relationship is actually legal and viable, and GOOD! Why put it in a game? That's what internet porn is for, no? By making 'romance' possible, what can happen except have your character try to mate with everything that moves in the game. It was a stupid idea. It is a stupid idea, but hey we are talking about it, so it probably helps sell games.... SIGH.... Don't worry homophobes, just cos all the NPC's in your favorite games are bi-sexual doesn't mean you need to feel any pressure to 'join the club!' It's a sick world we live in.

So would you get rid of romance in all books, movies and arts? At least its not as shallow as just sex in DA2, I was super shocked when I had to go through actual pillow talk with Merrill, and actually choose to commit to her or not! That was as exciting as the final boss.

 

[GenericPCUser]

I find it a little ironic that Dragon Age takes place in a medieval time frame (a time where homosexuality is punishable by death) but it seems all the guys love Hawke and it doesn't matter.

Somebody already covered this, but... DRAGONS!!!

But you do have to admit, being a dragon is also kind of punishable by death. In medieval times as well as in every videogame known to man.

Also, just to nitpick: If you are a hunted apostate, I really don´t think you have to worry about wether homosexuality is acceptable... ;-)

Haha, that reminds me of the Anders quest that is so obviously a rip on the Holocaust. "We need people who are willing to openly stand by mages, and help put an end to this 'Tranquil Solution to the Mage Problem." or something to that extent.

Is it bad if that made me laugh more than anything else in the game.

 

[snfonseka]

They should have introduced some characters as straight, some as bi and some as gay. It is more realistic than turning all the romance-companions into bi characters. They should have approached this sexuality issue in more creative manner, where the sexuality is part of the personality. For example, Merrill is straight and Isabela is bi.

I haven't read through 12 pages of posts, but if I agree with anyone it's this, and I'm surprised not that many more people are of the same sentiment.

If it's sensitivity, awareness, political correctness or whatever it is, then it's fair to mimic REAL LIFE right, so that there is a presence of all orientations, bi, homo, and hetero. Not having your WHOLE PARTY bi and hitting on you, what does that say about the development of each character? It actually makes them shallow as shit! Either have them one orientation, and stay that way. Even the bi metro Elf in DA:O had a very interesting angle to himself, explaining how he was a "wild card gambler who liked it both ways" (quoting living color), and this was a part of his reckless, no-consequence personality, (NOT insinuating that's how bi people are, but it had something to do with why he was bi). And I found him quite 3 dimensional. I would have no problems with strictly gay/lesbian characters either.
...

Shallow indeed!

 

[Frostbyte666]

Eh no problems with the same sex romances as stated its easy just to say no thank you to them. The only issue I may have would be if in the fantasy setting the relationships are taboo (though this may make for great script writing and character development). Now in Dragon Age I would have thought same sex would be a bit taboo and may have consequences, but we don't know that for sure since there isn't a codex issue on what the chantry stance on it would be. Though I could see a huge pitch fork burning at the stake riot if there was a romance between human/elf and qunari (Mother Superior: KILL THE HEATHENS!)

 

[Vakz]

cute, nerdy Merril

Hah, that cute, nerdy Merrill made me watch Torchwood again. Too bad Merrill looks nothing like Eve Myles (or perhaps it would have been better the other way around, hmm?)

 

[DArkAbyssKeeper]

I get the impression that the chantry would be too busy worrying about mages and qunari in a lot of cases to care who someone choose to spend their alone time with.

Seems like a fairly liberal religion, except for the whole persecution of people based on something they have no control over thing.

 

[carpathic]

An excellent response. Go BIOWARE!

 

[Sonic Doctor]

*Snip*

"The Dalish creature thing in Sundermount" would be part of Merrill's companion quest, I believe.

Let's say you enter the Dalish village from the south, and run through it.

To the north-east, there's the path to the top of Sundermount, but to the north there's another path that stays on ground level. This is the one you want to take.

This path has three "exits", leading to different areas. Straight north takes you back to the world map. Right to the west of the northern exit is a cave with some challenging battles and a merchant with some exclusive items. To the east is a path that goes around the base of the mountain, eventually leading to a cavern... which is where you want to go.

EDIT: And don't do the Qunari quests until you're done with everything else. <.<

I believe I know what you are talking about, though any time I go to Sundermount, it has me coming from the east and I go very slightly North West to the Dalish Camp; when I am in the middle of the camp, if I go right I go up the mountain, if I go straight-right that takes me to the other exit and immediately to the left of that is the cave with the challenges I have already been in. What you are talking about is the cave that is past-to-the-right of the other exit.

Now if that is the case than I hope my game hasn't glitched or something, because if I remember correctly, I had Merrill in my party, and nothing happened with that cave, it wouldn't let me enter it. You say that creature is part of her companion quest, but it hasn't given me her companion quest. Is it an unwritten point that that herbalist task is her companion quest? Because I'm full friend with her and all I have is those Qunari quests, and that third and final part of the herbalist tasks. I have talked to Merrill in every place, including her home, and I get nothing out of her about any quest.

Well, I'll just put her in my party again and see if I can enter that cave, though I'm not holding my breath.

 

[DevilWolf47]

Inconsistent much...?

Oh well. Probably should tell the bastard that life doesn't have a "No Homosexuality" option and he should get over it, but that's asking for a fucking miracle. I know getting hit on by someone of a different sexuality can be a little awkward at times, but i've never tried to kill my neighbor or shout something ignorant at him.

 

[JediMB]

I believe I know what you are talking about, though any time I go to Sundermount, it has me coming from the east and I go very slightly North West to the Dalish Camp; when I am in the middle of the camp, if I go right I go up the mountain, if I go straight-right that takes me to the other exit and immediately to the left of that is the cave with the challenges I have already been in. What you are talking about is the cave that is past-to-the-right of the other exit.

Now if that is the case than I hope my game hasn't glitched or something, because if I remember correctly, I had Merrill in my party, and nothing happened with that cave, it wouldn't let me enter it. You say that creature is part of her companion quest, but it hasn't given me her companion quest. Is it an unwritten point that that herbalist task is her companion quest? Because I'm full friend with her and all I have is those Qunari quests, and that third and final part of the herbalist tasks. I have talked to Merrill in every place, including her home, and I get nothing out of her about any quest.

Well, I'll just put her in my party again and see if I can enter that cave, though I'm not holding my breath.

Bah, sounds like another bug, then. The quest starts with a cutscene in Merrill's home, where she shows you the Eluvian she's been working on repairing. She needs a Dalish tool to complete her work on it, and that leads to having to hunt down a creature in the cavern I mentioned.

 

[Sonic Doctor]

*Snip*

Bah, sounds like another bug, then. The quest starts with a cutscene in Merrill's home, where she shows you the Eluvian she's been working on repairing. She needs a Dalish tool to complete her work on it, and that leads to having to hunt down a creature in the cavern I mentioned.

Well it must be a random bug, because now that I think about it, I remember that one of my friends has already done it, because he got Merrill to move in with him.

Now what I have left are two Qunari quests, Black Powder Courtesy, and Demands of the Qun. Are those quests together, or are they separate. Demands of the Qun sounds like a final quest while the Black Powder Courtesy doesn't. Maybe if I do the BPC, something will free up and let me talk to Merrill. Though I feel that both quests might be linked as one.

Well, I will just keep a save open, just in case they fix it. Now I've already slept with Isabella, because I thought I missed the Merrill thing, but I read several times that people have slept with Isabella and then romanced Merrill. I also remember it being said some where that the player has to flirt with Merrill once before the scene where she runs in the mansion babbling about something, but not once have I been able to flirt with her, though I think that would happen with the companion quest that is bugged.

 

[D Moness]

Now what I have left are two Qunari quests, Black Powder Courtesy, and Demands of the Qun. Are those quests together, or are they separate. Demands of the Qun sounds like a final quest while the Black Powder Courtesy doesn't. Maybe if I do the BPC, something will free up and let me talk to Merrill. Though I feel that both quests might be linked as one.

if i remember correctly Merrill's personal quests starts halfway the main quests.
black powder courtesy is just the start of the main act 2 quest. It should be availeble after doing that part (but before the end of the main act 2 quest(since you get a few more smaller quests before the last act of act 2

 

[Sonic Doctor]

Now what I have left are two Qunari quests, Black Powder Courtesy, and Demands of the Qun. Are those quests together, or are they separate. Demands of the Qun sounds like a final quest while the Black Powder Courtesy doesn't. Maybe if I do the BPC, something will free up and let me talk to Merrill. Though I feel that both quests might be linked as one.

if i remember correctly Merrill's personal quests starts halfway the main quests.
black powder courtesy is just the start of the main act 2 quest. It should be availeble after doing that part (but before the end of the main act 2 quest(since you get a few more smaller quests before the last act of act 2

Thanks, I thought that was the case, I just wasn't sure. Well, rats, can't do it now, don't have time I have to be somewhere else for the day, maybe tonight. I love game, but anticipation will be a killer today.

 

[Blandy Buchanan]

Because apparently "straight, male gamers" are not pandered to enough in games?

This guy knows Duke Nukem Forever is coming out this year, right?

Supposedly it is.

As a straight, male gamer, I was actually hoping to get some Varric action. Little men with open shirts? Mmmmmm.

 

[Terminal Blue]

Screw homophobia, personally if I was bisexual I would be offended as the lazy nature of the characters make them seem like everyones "go between" instead of a legimate sexuality.

Actually, being functionally bisexual I find it reasonably representative and charming, and it fits much better with the nature of the setting than just having everyone decide at the beginning of the game if they're gay or straight. Kirkwall doesn't have a village, who you have sex with is clearly a very individual thing, and what better way to express that than to have characters express attraction to individuals rather than wearing a little sign saying 'I am exclusively gay' or 'I am exclusively straight'.

What is 'illegitimate' about that sexuality? It's incredibly close to how my sexuality actually works in real life.

 

[Nannernade]

That guy does know they can stop the romances by using the broken heart remark right...?

Probably a troll/ignorance

 

[Layzor]

Bioware have always been pretty heavy handed with romance and making everybody Bisexual in DA2 just seems kinda lazy. This guy's homophobia only goes as far as him not noticing/minding the female characters and their black and white, fuck or fight dialogue.