Dragon Age 2 Lead Writer Blasts Homophobic Fan

[Terminal Blue]

My problem isn't with the possibility of homosexual relationships, but that I couldn't turn down Anders without getting rivalry points. Is adding "I just like you as a friend" too much to ask? Not that I wasn't flattered.

If/when girls do that to you, does it make you warm to them?

It's worth noting that Ladyhawkes can't turn down Anders without getting rivalry points either. Are you basically asking for a special hetero getout clause which allows you to turn people down without making them feel bad or influencing their perception of you?

Because that certainly doesn't exist in real life..

You forgot that the complaint was actually a bit racist too with its "only exotic options of women." I am still shaking my head at that. My wife and I found and still find Isabella to be very lovely. Her skin tone never occurred to me as a negative but apparently it did to the original OP.

I'm going to be very charitable and suggest he might have meant 'exotic' in the sense of 'unconventional'.

It's interesting because she basically has 'white' facial features with dark skin. I'd imagine based on that that she's meant to be mixed race, or perhaps of an ethnicity which doesn't exist in the real world. Still, I really don't see how the original complaint might construe her blackness as 'unattractive', because it literally is just her skin tone.

Actually, going through the game I'm starting to warm to her. I found her character a really offensive 'promiscuous' stereotype at first, but she does start to flesh out as the story progresses.

 

[Jimmybobjr]

The Fact that everone except for Varric ended up hitting on me creeped me out.

As a Strait Male, i really found it creepy, and im not the only one. My friend, who played the game, was confused and thought the programing was screwed up, and the game thought his character was actiualy female.

 

[secretsantaone]

To be honest, he almost has a point. I get putting in a homosexual option, but making every single romance-able character bisexual was just stupid. The percentage of bisexual people compared to straight people is astronomically small, making them seem unrealistic in a way.

 

[DeathWyrmNexus]

My problem isn't with the possibility of homosexual relationships, but that I couldn't turn down Anders without getting rivalry points. Is adding "I just like you as a friend" too much to ask? Not that I wasn't flattered.

If/when girls do that to you, does it make you warm to them?

It's worth noting that Ladyhawkes can't turn down Anders without getting rivalry points either. Are you basically asking for a special hetero getout clause which allows you to turn people down without making them feel bad or influencing their perception of you?

Because that certainly doesn't exist in real life..

You forgot that the complaint was actually a bit racist too with its "only exotic options of women." I am still shaking my head at that. My wife and I found and still find Isabella to be very lovely. Her skin tone never occurred to me as a negative but apparently it did to the original OP.

I'm going to be very charitable and suggest he might have meant 'exotic' in the sense of 'unconventional'.

It's interesting because she basically has 'white' facial features with dark skin. I'd imagine based on that that she's meant to be mixed race, or perhaps of an ethnicity which doesn't exist in the real world. Still, I really don't see how the original complaint might construe her blackness as 'unattractive', because it literally is just her skin tone.

Actually, going through the game I'm starting to warm to her. I found her character a really offensive 'promiscuous' stereotype at first, but she does start to flesh out as the story progresses.

I've found that Bioware's promiscuous characters tend to have a more satisfying conclusion to their romances. I'm also a pervert so I can get along with them more so perhaps I am biased. As for the exotic comment, I could only conclude that he had issue with her color when he mentioned Isabella in the exotic category. The whole "slutty chic" isn't exactly exotic, I've seen at least three in every town I've ever gone to. So while I applaud your charity, I can't share it.

And yes, Isabella is love. Her and Varric are my favorite characters. Oddly enough, I like all the characters. I dig Fenris because I actually understand him but fucked up with my female mage so she didn't get to romance him properly. Oh well, when I play my female rogue, I plan to give Anders a reason to smile. XD

 

[Twilight_guy]

And then Bioware did thoroughly prove the poster to be a dick and have his head up his ass and lo was there much celebration at the silliness made unto the poster and it was good.

Good for the guys at Bioware to stick up for there own self but also as making a game that touches onto other groups and ideas then the standard group. Representing other groups can only make a game stronger and diversify gaming as a whole.

 

[cryofpaine]

You know, it doesn't actually say whether or not he plays a male character. My guess is he's just upset because the romance is actually about the relationship, and not about seeing two naked people going at it. Especially two naked women. Any bets his top search request is "Dragon Age 2 nude mod".

Come on dude, it's a game, one meant to be enjoyed by more than 18-30 year old white males. And if you don't like the flirting, here's a news flash for you genius - don't pick the option with the heart. You can be nice to them without being a tease.

 

[gring]

Well, while I'm NOT defending the guys homophobia, I DO agree that the straight mans romancing options were extreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeemely poor in DA2. As a straight guy, my options are either a toothpick-sized elf who uses blood magic, and a skanky rogue who sleeps with everybody. whoopy. As a "good" warrior, both of these people aren't my characters type, so I just skipped romance altogether.

Also, I didn't have any problems w/ anders hitting on me, didn't mind the Rival points either, cause stuff like that is only natural. You get hit on, you deny them, they will feel bummed, same goes when you hit on someone else and you get denied. It was kind of out of left field though... I remember I was like "oh cool anders wants to talk to me? ya, lets see what my old buddy is up too! maybe im gonna go on an epic quest!" ...only to get hit on, didn't really expect it, but after a couple minutes I started to laugh.

I just think that not only the romance was done poorly, almost the rest of the entire game was poorly done and have actually stopped playing the game, im about 40 hours in and could NOT play anymore. after a while, seeing the same area's over and over again since from hour 2 to hour 40 gets OLD. like angry joe said "this game is SLAVERY!" as the only way to play it is by playing it like a checklist. WHAT HAPPENED TO GOING ON AN EPIC QUEST!? very disappointed with the entire game (except combat which is great (except for the combat animations which I cant stomach (why? because if someone fought like they did, they would get their asses kicked so hard because fighting like a "cool guy" makes you vulnerable in real combat)), but for me, gameplay isn't everything), and ill get a lot of hate over this, but I'm done w/ bioware because they can't seem to think for themselves anymore.

also, "no homo" option is just silly though, grow up bud.

 

[cryofpaine]

Actually, going through the game I'm starting to warm to her. I found her character a really offensive 'promiscuous' stereotype at first, but she does start to flesh out as the story progresses.

I've found that Bioware's promiscuous characters tend to have a more satisfying conclusion to their romances.

If you look at their "slutty" characters (Jack, Moregain, Isabella) they all are really vulnerable, and use their sexuality as a shield. Moregain (I don't know if that's how you spell her name) had a literal witch for a mother who never showed her any love. Jack was taken as a kid and experimented on. Isabella had a jerk for a husband that abused her. So part of their romances are overcoming that, getting past those shields, and forging a deeper connection with them.

 

[Toeys]

As a straight guy, i acknowledge that this is a RPG, and that whatever choice i make is roleplay and not who i am. It's not me having sex with whatever race/sex in the game, it's my character. Anything else is a complete misunderstanding of the concept of RPGs.

 

[Quantupus]

What's he complaining about?

Gay gamers get emo JRPG douchebag Fenris and whiney, insufferable Anders - straight dudes get cute, nerdy Merril and slutty Isabella with her ridiculous tits.

Seems like the straight males/lesbian females got the better deal here.

That's the gist of what I was thinking reading that. I can't imagine every gay man who plays this game would want to romance Fenris. I also can't imagine every strait man who plays this game would want to romance Merril. This guy just personally didn't like the female characters he could romance and felt the need to tell the world that he cares way too much about a stupid little love scene in a video game. And this guy assumes that every strait male player makes a male character. I made a female character and feel no shame in flirting with the male characters. It gives me more friendship points dammit!

 

[GotMalkAvian]

Really? No romance options for straight males? Has this guy even played the game? Why do I get the impression that this kid may be in denial about some things, what with thinking that even every fictional male is coming on to him?

 

[SenseOfTumour]

If I had my way, and I worked for Bioware, I'd track him down by IP and CD key, and send a special patch his way, that sent every male in the game lusting after his pecs, and make him go thru a graphic, oily buttock based mini game to level up.

You know, just so he had a fair reason to complain

Some people like fucking in different ways, get over it. I also sense that he's got zero problem with any girl on girl action going on. I find that homophobia when it comes to on screen action very rarely extends to being offended by girls getting it on with each other.

 

[JohnnyDelRay]

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.

Having everyone open and hitting on you, just makes me feel like I'm running around with some lazily written characters, just put there to please the crowd. I wouldn't have a problem with it. Damn, if there was a really hot girl member of my party, and I found out she was lesbian, and had an angle to her character that supplemented that, I would be more impressed than to find out my character was such a stud that everyone hits on me. Anyhow, the romance options aren't really enticing in DA2 compared to other Bioware games, IMO. I actually found Hawke's sister to be the most enticing, unfortunately.

 

[mageroel]

Awesome, good job!!
It's great to see someone make a game that is accessible for everyone, and have the games break with 'tradition', to make way for something much better.
I approve!

 

[Woodsey]

Homophobia is a virus. The sooner it becomes extinct, the better. For everyone.

Funny, I just had the same thought about you. Twat.

Things that isn't: funny, clever, even remotely cunning, worthwhile, possessing of anything even mildly resembling a point.

Bah, totally misread you. Apologies.

I was just waiting for someone to inevitably come out with something like what I thought you said. I've deleted the quote from the original post.

 

[E-Penguin]

someone get that webcomic where the male Hawke is talking to the elf-guy, and says to himself "Okay, just let him down easy, don't want any rivalry points here" and then the next frame they're in bed, with him puzzled as to why.

Coming right up!

[http://img842.imageshack.us/i/cad20110314c6e0as.png/]

This was the one you were asking for, wasn't it?

 

[The Rockerfly]

Ok as a straight male gamer, I agree this guy is an idiot, don't like that Anders hits on you? Just tell him no, also on a side note, any other straight male gamers slept with Zevran when you had the chance?

yes but only because I made sure that I slept with nearly everyone and I picked the most psychotic lines of dialogue for the lolz

 

[Brandon Storck]

Good for Bio Ware. It's good to see some 1 standing up against these crazy ppl who preach Freedom of Speech and the 1st amendment but then always want to censor anything that does not conform to their personal norms.

 

[Saelune]

i actually had the same problem!
male characters were ALWAYS hitting on me, even though i was hitting on a chock that looked hot.
ijust wanted to kick the characters in the balls!
i think the game is a teeny bit *too*
homosexual
*i think the chick i was hitting on was isabela*

To think anything is too gay, well guess what? To a gay person, the world is too straight. Every movie a gay person sees most likely they are forced to watch such disgusting things like a man and a woman...kisssing!

 

[Mathak]

You forgot that the complaint was actually a bit racist too with its "only exotic options of women." I am still shaking my head at that. My wife and I found and still find Isabella to be very lovely. Her skin tone never occurred to me as a negative but apparently it did to the original OP.

I'm going to be very charitable and suggest he might have meant 'exotic' in the sense of 'unconventional'.

It's interesting because she basically has 'white' facial features with dark skin. I'd imagine based on that that she's meant to be mixed race, or perhaps of an ethnicity which doesn't exist in the real world. Still, I really don't see how the original complaint might construe her blackness as 'unattractive', because it literally is just her skin tone.

Actually, going through the game I'm starting to warm to her. I found her character a really offensive 'promiscuous' stereotype at first, but she does start to flesh out as the story progresses.

Want to know something really depressing? There's a mod out there that gives Isabella light skin, blonde hair and blue eyes. It's quite popular on the forums 'because now she's actually attractive'. Claims of racism are vehemently denied, lol.