LGBT topics in Video Games

[Elijin]

Prior to this topic I hadnt ever encountered 'LGBT'. I've worked out more or less what it is through reading replies, but I still think it was a bit odd to create a topic abour promoting understanding, but then doing it in a way which forces them to know already or be left in the dark. Like the original post didnt exactly shed much light on what he was talking about.

 

[Therumancer]

Do you think that there shud be more LGBT topics in Video games.

i reckon yeah because it may teach understanding which cud mean less discrimination and theres a hell of alot of that.

or even something about yourself that you didn't know may even help with a problem.


please explain your answers

Not really, one thing that people tend to keep forgetting is that we're dealing with an incredibly tiny number of people overall. I already think that there is too much coverage of this kind of thing in the media already. This kind of material really caters to a small group of people, and is actively unappealing to everyone else. Even if your not anti-gay, if your not gay then that kind of material is a turn off, or something you just don't care about, so wasting all that time and content on it is rather pointless.

Right now the only reason why this is an issue is because homosexuality has become a hot button topic. Like it or not the nessicary battles have been fought and run, you can't FORCE people to like or accept a group, what's more you already have a pretty fair representation given their numbers throughout society. Anything else right now is designed to generate contreversy, or push for more than actual equality entails. See, by it's very nature you can't really have minority groups getting an even split with the majority. Especially when you start to look at all the minority groups demanding a piece. The occasional mention of something for a small group is fair. Discrimination is when you actively work to remove specific groups of people from plotlines and stories when they should be present. Such as doing a movie based on a book where a character is gay, but then either removing that character or making them straight.

The issue with these kinds of topics is as much being beaten upside the head with them as anything. See, a gay prescence doesn't need to offend you, to be bugged by games where your constantly being propositioned by members of the same gender. If anything this kind of "in your face" treatment of homosexuality is going to backfire, because it's pretty much reinforcing the attitude that guys have to worry about being peeped on, flirted with, or
felt up by other dudes if they are gay when they aren't interested. Basically we need less
of it, and we need it to be substantially lower key than it is now.


In general I am fairly anti-gay men though (which I will state to be fair). I won't go into a rant about this, as it will go nowhere good, and there are probably some back messages with my overall thoughts on the subject (which have nothing to do with religion). For whatever that is worth. I am however not someone who gets into some kind of uncomfortable, frothing rage at the merest mention of gay men. For the purposes of most arguements I really don't give a crap. Homosexuality exists, and as such I see no reason to pretend it doesn't in the media, I'm not going to boycott something because it's present, however at the same time I don't think I need to be beaten over the head with it constantly.

 

[Gralian]

Having them for the sake of having them is inappropriate and disrespectful.

Oh, and the proper term is LGBTQ. If you want to be as PC as possible, QUILTBAG.

Queer/Questioning
Undecided
Intersex
Lesbian
Trangender
Bisexual
Asexual
Gay

I shit you not.

This just made my day. I know it's completely irrelevant, but QUILTBAG is hilarious. It sounds like something you could use in lieu of an offensive term.

"Damn you, you quiltbag!"

"I... what?"

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OP: I don't see why all genders and sexes couldn't just be romanceable as seperate plotlines in games like Mass Effect and Dragon Age as long as 1) Their orientation is purely incidental to their character rather than a primary trait that's exaggerated and a constant focus defining who they are and 2) The player must always be the one to initiate the romantic interaction and interest without feeling it's either being forced down their throat or that the 'romance' is the result of a 'hey let's do a quickie' rather than that of prolonged emotional connection with the character(s) in question. I think the player has to really grow attached to the love interest before sex or physical affection even enters the equation. Leliana was a perfect example of this. She wouldn't just jump into bed with you. You had to get to know her, what she loves, what she hates, her past, her pious nature, what she's left behind and who she's become. It's only until she finally uttered the words 'I love you' that you ended up in bed together, and that didn't come easy. (If you didn't cheat with the feastday gifts that is)

Most of all though, i don't want homosexual relationships to degenerate to the point of pure caricaturism such is evidenced in this comic:

Spoiler: How Anders is presented in DA2

They should be more fleshed out like in Leliana's case. I know you're going to say "But that was just Anders' nature, the fact he's bi has nothing to do with it", but they did the same with Zevran. It just seems a bit fishy to me that they choose to make two male bisexual characters into promiscuous manwhores.

 

[sylekage]

Does it really move the game along if there is anyone like that in it? I'm gonna say no. Unless it's a game Like Mass Effect, Dragon Age, or any other RPG where you can create relationships, it's just unnecessary. And I'm not saying that to be a douche, but imagine, if you will, that you're playing a game where you have a companion who's flat out gay. His posture, the way he talks, the way he acts, just implies that he's gay. As long as they don't overdo it, I think that that works, it doesn't get in the way of whats going on.

Now, if you take this guy and the way he acts, and then amplify it by 100 and have him announce it every time he talks it would get annoying and you'd want to destroy him. I think that, yes, LGBT should be a topic in video games, but not to the point where people would get annoyed. Just ease it in until we can accept it.

Like the whole Dragon Age II thing, this is only what I've heard from, you know, everyone, but if I was wondering the world and got hit on by most male characters, I would break the game. It doesn't move the story and is completely unnecessary.

Anyone want to flame me? Have at it

(please don't)

 

[seraphmaclay]

Prior to this topic I hadnt ever encountered 'LGBT'. I've worked out more or less what it is through reading replies, but I still think it was a bit odd to create a topic abour promoting understanding, but then doing it in a way which forces them to know already or be left in the dark. Like the original post didnt exactly shed much light on what he was talking about.

Well, let's start off simple. LGBT (or the similar GLBT) is a common acronym for the four most common (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender). From there, "Alphabet Soup", or the slightly more humorous "Quiltbag" (though, that might get offensive), starts to take effect, with gender identities and sexualities outside of hetero-normative (heterosexual and cisgendered, or born as the gender they identify as).

Beyond that, the Thread's been more or less about whether or not elements of the sub-community of the European and American worlds should be included in more video games. The Japanese have been including them for decades, and some big name Western Devs have just started dipping their feet in (in a good light) over the last eight years (Thank you, Bioware).

The question is whether or not more of these themes should be included, and if so how?

 

[KalosCast]

Now, if you take this guy and the way he acts, and then amplify it by 100 and have him announce it every time he talks it would get annoying and you'd want to destroy him. I think that, yes, LGBT should be a topic in video games, but not to the point where people would get annoyed. Just ease it in until we can accept it.

Well yes, doing this with a straight character, or an ethnic character would be equally as annoying... because it's bad writing. Nobody wants this in a game.

 

[Kingsnake661]

I don't much care for ANY "message" that jumps out and smacks a player (or viewer) in the face. And a lot of, mainly movies atm, do just that.

So, i suppose that if it's woven into the story and gameplay(somehow, gameplay that is) and it isn't forced or overbearing, then i wouldn't MIND it. Not being a memeber of the LGBT community, topics dealing exclusively with it, well, don't matter, or really intrest me at all. I'm not gay. So, gay stuff in games does little for me. Much the same reason i play a boy in Harvet Moon and not a Girl. My the same reason I play Male Shepards in mass effect.

So, the best i can offer is, i'd be indifferent to more LGBT stuff so long as it isn't preachy and hitting you over the head with it.

 

[SanguineSymphony]

Kanji Tatsumi Persona 4... They even had an episode of Extra Credits about him.