Poll: Would you play a game where the main character was gay?

[PxDn Ninja]

As long as the game is solid and the story is good (I mention story because if the sexuality of the main character is coming into discussion, then the story is obviously important), then it doesn't matter to me.

 

[The Great JT]

I would say yes and no. Yes if the story is good and the character's interaction with other characters is tasteful and the homosexuality of the character isn't forced or giving in to stereotypes. No if it's the opposite of the aformentioned.

i think weve covered that, sparkle fags are tottaly annoying, but dont act like its some stereotype a bunch of manly men in a room made up to prove how gay gays are.

go to the gay bay, and find me one who isnt sickeningly colorful. if its a stereotype, its one they themselves created through shit like the pride parade

Rob Halford. He made leather and studs heterosexual.

That is my rebuttal.

 

[Baby Tea]

The assumption of heterosexuality isn't some veiled discrimination. If that's the case, and you assume that unspecified sexuality automatically equals heterosexuality, then you'd be discriminatory against yourself. Seems pretty silly. Again, it doesn't matter.

Internalized prejudice is exceedingly common. That's not really news. That said, our culture is heteronormative-- which is, yes, discriminatory. It supports the idea that heterosexuality is the only sexuality, the only one that's normal, the only one that's okay.

Well I'd say that there are more heterosexual people then homosexual ones. It certainly seems that way, at least. And if that's the case, then heterosexuality IS the norm. That's not discriminatory. That's the norm.

(Aversive prejudice: Consciously knowing, and/or professing, that all people are equal, yet subconsciously treating and judging some groups (races, genders, ethnicities) differently.)

And you prove this is the case because of the lack of gay heroes in video games? What an air-tight accusation! Why didn't I see if before? Yeah, I understand what aversive prejudice is. But just because there is a lack of gay heroes or characters in games doesn't mean that the industry is discriminatory. Sexuality is rarely mentioned because it doesn't matter. If I'm playing Call of Duty and it's casually thrown out that the guy I'm playing is gay, what happens? Nothing. Is that some big battle won for gay right? No. It's pointless. Just start assuming that non-specific sexuality is gay, and suddenly you'll be amazed at the amount of gay heroes! Save your sensationalism. It's wasted here.

Well not everyone either wants, or cares, about it as much as you. And you seem to be in the minority. Most of the posts on this thread are people saying 'who cares?', and I'm not sure that's localized to the Escapist. If people aren't calling for it, why would the developer even care to implement it?

Because it's an interesting twist on an old story. Or a new story to be told. Or just because gay people exist and why shouldn't you?

Then talk to developers, not players. Nearly everyone here said 'who cares?', including myself. If you've got some beef about this, take it up with those that make the games, not those that play 'em. If this thread is an indication of the average gamers reaction to a gay hero, everyone will just shrug and say the same thing: 'Who cares?'

 

[nova18]

Games do better when they leave it up to you to shape the character.
I couldnt connect to my character if they were gay, black, female, green, because I am none of those, therefore it is harder for me to connect.

However, if a gay character is crucial to the plot and I am given some background info on the main character, then yeah I would buy it. I dont mind the developer GIVING me a character to play as, providing that they are likeable and dont get on my nerves.

 

[ryuutchi]

And you prove this is the case because of the lack of gay heroes in video games? What an air-tight accusation! Why didn't I see if before? Yeah, I understand what aversive prejudice is. But just because there is a lack of gay heroes or characters in games doesn't mean that the industry is discriminatory. Sexuality is rarely mentioned because it doesn't matter. If I'm playing Call of Duty and it's casually thrown out that the guy I'm playing is gay, what happens? Nothing. Is that some big battle won for gay right? No. It's pointless. Just start assuming that non-specific sexuality is gay, and suddenly you'll be amazed at the amount of gay heroes! Save your sensationalism. It's wasted here.

They do it with heterosexuality all the time, though, so yes. when we've gotten to the point where it's thrown out there that Random Soldier 13 has a boyfriend back home he misses just as easily as it's thrown out that Random Soldier 12 has a girlfriend he misses, then yeah, that's a pretty big battle won. And even more so when it's a main character in a game that has nothing to do with sexuality.

When it's as unremarked upon to have an out gay character in a game where his homosexuality is not necessarily a plot point the same way it's unremarked upon to have a heterosexual in the same position, that's a battle won, because it means that the game, and the fanbase are not treating gay people as anything out of the ordinary.

Then talk to developers, not players. Nearly everyone here said 'who cares?', including myself. If you've got some beef about this, take it up with those that make the games, not those that play 'em. If this thread is an indication of the average gamers reaction to a gay hero, everyone will just shrug and say the same thing: 'Who cares?'

Who says I don't?

And like you said, if there's no one asking for it, then the big game developers may not even realize there's a market for it. Therefore, I speak out. Who knows who might see my comment and take away from it "hey, maybe I should do this in my next game."

 

[Chibz]

Wait, you mean every male Square Enix character isn't gay?! I'm SHOCKED!

Have you played any Square Enix game? They all have a heterosexual romance storyline at some point, so no more Square Enix "help" for you at the glory hole.

Of course they do. It's hard to be taken seriously as a hero if you are gay, so they're thoroughly closeted.

So you really do need them to be gay, huh? Your arguement is that anybody that likes girls is a closeted homosexual... Hmm, well i never.

Really, I've never seen a heterosexual male who is that effeminent. Ever.

 

[tangylaser]

why dose it matter i mean your not gay its just the person your playing as

 

[zoozilla]

If the main character was gay and was not a horribly stereotypical joke character, yeah, I definitely would.

If the game was good and the character interesting.

 

[HPoirot]

If the main story is rather heavy with references to the male character's homosexuality I would probably be a little uncomfortable.
However if the homosexuality was mentioned but never explicitly shown or part of optional side quests I would be fine.

 

[Jurassic Rob]

I have in Mass Effect. And I was totally cool with it

 

[ModReap]

I have played as samus....

well....

So long as there weren't any ahhh.... (intimate) scenes or anything close to the like DX

 

[AlexanderZero]

The assumption of heterosexuality isn't some veiled discrimination.

Just because it's not intended discrimination doesn't mean it isn't accidental discrimination. Honestly, it really sucks when homosexuals are assumed to be straight (especially by homophobes). Talk about awkward.

 

[pantsoffdanceoff]

It would shoot immersion in the face becuase I really cant imagine myself as the main character. However if it was a good enough game I could probably get over it.

 

[Blood_Lined]

As long as the character isn't all creepy and "showy" about it.

WHAT!?! I want the Hulk in pink spandex with matching lipstick and rouge in a video game now!!

*Did I use my out loud voice just now?*

ha

 

[KeithA45]

Why the hell not? It'd be interesting to say the least and atleast it'd be different.

Just please no gay sex scene.

 

[Lucifus]

i wouldnt, but not cause im prejudiced but just cause if the character's sexuality has a need to even be mentioned, i would like it to represent my own

And you think that bothers gay people when playing 99.9% of games? Well it does a little but its ignored.

There has been suspect gay/bi main characters in gaming. Solid snake, Chris (Resident evil) and possibly even Gordon Freeman. Both Chris and Gordon has smoking hot women throwing themselves at them and they don't even notice/care.

Theres also Voldo, Liquid snake, Vamp, Raikov, Tingle (Spit), Hanah and Rain (from Fear Effect), Birdo, Alfred Ashford, to name just a few.


To be honest when i reverse this, playing straight characters don't bother me unless they are steriotypical (Which seems to be the same reasoning here too about gay characters). Games with women throwing themselves at gun toting and nauseatingly macho men irritate the life out of me. But then again a camp gay man as a main character sleeping his way through a bar would annoy me too.

but like that's my point
none of these characters express their sexuality and same goes for most "straight" gaming characters
if for whatever reason, they do need to show their characters' sexuality then i want it to be my own, i dont want to be playing through as a gay guy (or a lesbian) trying to find their partner (to be fair, i wouldnt want to play that as a straight guy either, sounds kinda boring)

but you get the point

Vamp does in the storyline, snake killed his boyfriend. Hanah and Rain are in an openly lesbian relationship (a main plotline of the game with ungodly amounts of lesbian loving) and Nintendo has stated that Birdo was actually transgendered. Most characters don't state their sexuality at all which is why i can stomach most love interests in games.

I agree though, typical "Find your partner" things are tedious and a fair bit of laughing was had in half life 2 where Alex once again almost throws herself at Gordon while im thinking "Yeh right love....wheres Barney". Any attempt at an openly gay/lesbian main character will be for shock value and i very much doubt it will be non offensive. Even gay support characters do my head in, one of which was the gay guy in Farenheight which almost lead to the monitor followed closely by the keyboard being hurled out the nearest window.... Except for Vamp who was blatantly kick arse.

WHAT!?! I want the Hulk in pink spandex with matching lipstick and rouge in a video game now!!

*Did I use my out loud voice just now?*

*Spits out tea*

HAHHAAHHAA.

 

[AtlasShrugged]

Well, if porn artists have anything to say about it... ;D

 

[AtlasShrugged]

Sure, sure, sure.

 

[US Crash Fire]

ive played both Devil may cry 3 and Heavenly Sword. and i loved both of them.