Mafia 2 Producer Apologizes for "Gay Space Marine" Comment

[Logan Westbrook]

Mafia 2 Producer Apologizes for "Gay Space Marine" Comment

Mafia 2 [http://www.amazon.com/Mafia-II-Playstation-3/dp/B00198PO5I/ref=sr_1_1?s=gateway&ie=UTF8&qid=1285251173&sr=8-1] producer Denby Grace has apologized after causing offense with a supposedly funny comment in an interview.

Over the weekend, Grace commented [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/103597-Industry-Obsessed-With-Gay-Space-Marines-Says-Mafia-2-Producer] that the biggest problem that the videogame industry faced at the moment was an "obsession with gay space marines." While the comment was meant as a joke, it still upset some people, and Grace has issued a formal apology.

He said that his intention had been to make a funny comment on the "hyper-macho 'bromance'" that he thought was increasingly common in videogames, but that he had regrettably done so in an insensitive way. He described his comment as "thoughtless," and apologized unreservedly for any offense he might have caused.

This really highlights one of the main problems with communicating via the internet: You can never be entirely sure who your audience actually is and so you have to be careful about what you say. Grace didn't mean any harm by his comment, but his choice of words has muddied the point he was trying to make.

Source: Gaygamer [http://gaygamer.net/2010/09/mafia_2_producer_apologizes.html]




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[JourneyThroughHell]

Oh. Well, okay then. I'm glad we had this resolved.

Still, better choice of words next time.

 

[Scobie]

DELETED

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

I knew what he meant...It wasn't hard to figure out.

Also, I love how "gay" has become a general insult in today's world.

Even related to objects.

 

[For.I.Am.Mad]

Hyper-macho bromance. Ain't it the truth. But he was right the first time. Gay space marines, right on the nose.

 

[Demodeus]

Fortunately, in the future we wont have to worry about gay space marines anymore since all future games will be about the extremely heterosexual Duke Nukem after his epic success with Duke Nukem Forever.
Balls of steel baby.

 

[jthm]

No, the problem with communication, via the internet or any other modern medium is some easily hurt douchebag reading it and being able to express their displeasure instantly. The second problem is spinelessness. So you made a funny, apt, but insensitive comment? Stand by it! Don't apologize just because a few people who probably weren't your audience anyway got offended.

 

[Vault Citizen]

I'm going to need someone to help me out here, why is what he said so offensive to x,y and z?

 

[Gralian]

I couldn't help but laugh at this, i knew there would be some sort of PC backlash. If not from angry gamers who buy games featuring 'gay space marines' than from the gay community itself for discrimination.

I suppose it doesn't make it any less true. It's the 300 dilemma all over again. Oh sure, people like the almighty strong naked SPARTAAA moments that make manly men feel masculine, but that doesn't stop it from being incredibly homoerotic.

But as the demographic is - surprise surprise - 18-35 white males, they all get off on a power trip from being a badass in power armour. Don't think you're going to change that any time soon, particularly as the gender divide is so strong in the industry, what with women being marketed things like the wii and HARDCORE JOCKS RAWR being marketed gay space marines on the 360. I know the industry is only giving them what they want, but it's only reinforcing this divide even stronger.

Maybe it's not a bad thing. Maybe we're trying too hard to bring everyone together. Maybe people should just play what they want and leave each other alone. Who knows?

 

[The Cheezy One]

ive been wracking my brains for the last day trying to work out if there are any gay space marines, didnt realise he just meant bromance. i can see how that would be funny in your head

 

[DazZ.]

Source: Gaygamer [http://gaygamer.net/2010/09/mafia_2_producer_apologizes.html]

Are they really irritated by it or just want something gay and newsworthy for their site?

It's really not a bad comment, he shouldn't need to apologise for it.

 

[Lucifron]

Well, that was very queer of Denby Grace.

 

[Cherry Cola]

I was under the impression that he got flack because he insulted an old and boring stereotype[footnote]Space marines and bromance[/footnote] even though he's the producer of a game that is filled with old and boring stereotypes[footnote]Mafia 2 didn't exactly do anything new with the Mafia.[/footnote]

It's like insulting a PC Gamer for having an old PC while being a console gamer who only has a Sega Genesis.

 

[Blimey]

Sigh.

Its a shame, in this hyper-political-correct world, that even a seemingly insignificant joke like this has to draw controversy.

 

[gellert1984]

Whats wrong with lively and colourful space marines?

 

[Karathos]

Oh good heavens. People need to grow a damn spine, and stop being insulted by every little thing.

 

[Tips_of_Fingers]

People should learn to laugh at themselves. What he said has a good semblance of truth in it; it's just the fact that there is a massive elitist fanbase for these kinds of "gay space-marine" games that have been released over the last few years. And we all know that elitist fanbases find it difficult to poke fun at themselves.

If Denby Grace had to apologise for what he said, why don't we make Yahtzee beg for forgiveness on his knees, for every amusing jibe he has thrown EVERYONE's way? He should also suck a horse's dick while he's doing it...that'll teach everyone on the internet not to make fun of people ¬.¬

 

[LightspeedJack]

I don't get why he had to apologize.