Kotaku 
Enter your username and password.
Denver, 8:33 PM
Tue Dec 1
63 posts in the last 24 hours
Tip us:
Editor-In-Chief:
Brian Crecente
| AIM | Twitter
Deputy Editor:
Stephen Totilo
| AIM | Twitter
Senior Editor:
Michael McWhertor
| AIM | Twitter
Senior Contributing Editor, Japan:
Brian Ashcraft
| AIM | Twitter
Contributing Editor, East Coast:
Michael Fahey
| AIM | Twitter
Contributing Editor, Oceania:
Luke Plunkett
| AIM | Twitter
Contributing Editor, Weekends:
Owen Good
| AIM | Twitter
Correspondent, San Francisco:
AJ Glasser
| AIM | Twitter
Columnist:
Leigh Alexander
Columnist:
Tim Rogers
Original material is licensed under a Creative Commons License permitting non-commercial sharing with attribution.
04/28/09
Brother-on-sister incest on the other hand ...
04/28/09
Jar Jar.
04/28/09
Sad to see that they caved in. Have a backbone. And honestly, I'm tired of all this gay 'flaunting' bullshit, as if the world needs to know. I don't care that you put it in the out hole. Good for you. Does that have anything to do with games? No? Leave it that way.
04/28/09
And, actually, YES IT DOES HAVE TO DO WITH GAMES. You can romance your NPC sidekicks on SW:TOR, so yes sexuality DOES PLAY A ROLE IN THE GAME. The discussion of sexuality is PERFECTLY RELEVANT. So can your "hide that shit" burka-esque attitude and know the facts before you start making asinine assumptions that there's no reason to discuss homosexuality within the context of the game.
04/28/09
But hey, now that I think about it, I hope they do allow all this debauchery in the game. This is why PvP was invented.
04/28/09
Another front by "people like me"? What the hell is that supposed to mean? Just keep digging your own hole, pal, because you're looking more and more like a complete asshole every minute.
04/29/09
Yes, I'm an asshole. Line starts over there.
@Presidentpez: I've played my fair share of RPGs. I enjoy them just fine without giving much thought into the love interests of 'character X'. I'm more concerned about leveling 'character X" and finding good loot while killing bosses and having an all-around good time while advancing the main storyline. Well, what do you know, that's pretty much what MOST gamers do. And the last time a love interest actually mattered was FFVII, but I'm sure it won't compute seeing as it's not two guys trying to play tonsil hockey.
04/28/09
Am I gay? Yes. Do I feel gay culture must be EVERYWHERE in society? No. Do I want to listen to someone tell me where I should be allowed to exist? Not one bit.
Allow ME to make something absolutely clear:
Those who believe homosexuality is the slightest bit inferior to heterosexuality in terms of the relationships themselves is, in fact, a homophobe. Stick to your guns and hold on to your beliefs (goodness I don't want you on my side).
Just know, the people against equal rights are on the wrong side of history; a dying breed which the rest of humanity has no more time for.
04/29/09
04/28/09
Ok, so I'm gay, but come on, rainbow lightsaber? Hells ya.
04/28/09
But let's not tell Sammy J about this.
04/28/09
04/28/09
It's like prohibiting the word mexican because some bigoted idiots think it's a bad word.
04/28/09
Why?
Because if you want to talk about your sexual preferences do that in private messages or elsewhere than in a forum about a game!
I find it very annoying that people bring up such agendas everytime and everywhere thse days.
Be gay, lesbian, hetero or whatever you can imagine, but yeah, keep it for yourself and those who care about it. There´s a place and time for everything and when you think that time is in a game forum you got something wrong or maybe you´re in the wrong type of game´s forum. Yeah, its a great idea to allow everyone to talk about their sexual preferences in game forums so moderators can waste hours looking through posts using those terms to see whether someone just felt like the whole world has to know his sexual preferences or whether someone used the term as insult.
Come on guys, really..
04/28/09
Exactly. Be whatever or whoever you want but what people are arguing about here is just silly.
The word was banned so people couldnt use it as a slang putdown or derogatory meaning, not because they dont want gay people around. Any talk of sexual preference doesnt have a place on a games forum anyway.
I think its just because people are bored because BioWare haven't released enough information for the game.
04/28/09
When people stop talking about booth babes, secret shiva outfit on RE5, touch witches games, how hot heavenly sword, tomb rider and the like heroins are, having a girlfriend/wife/children/mother in laws, wii fit girl, how girly final fantasy character look, cringes about everything Tingle, mass effect, harvest moon, fable, the sims, any MMO, etc... then we can say that sexual preference has no place in gaming forums.
04/28/09
Thank you for speaking up and taking a stand on this important issue.
04/28/09
Where the hell do the words gay or straight ever come into those situations. If you find a bloke hot then fine, say it. If you find a woman hot then fine, say it. Tolerance goes both ways.
You dont need to say Im straight and i find her hot or im gay and i find him hot. You just say your opinion. Sexual orientation doesn't come into it, you've simply stated your opinion on something. BioWare wasnt banning gays at the end of the day. They banned words often used as derogatory words as they have little place on a games forum.
04/28/09
I don't have a problem with BioWare's actions, as that has been resolved. I have a problem with people claiming that those wacky homosexuals are getting all bent out of shape about something that doesn't matter, and shouldn't even belong on a gaming forum at all. When you say that there should be no discussion of sexuality on games forums, you're really saying that there should be no discussion of LGBT sexuality on games forums. Because there generally IS no direct discussion of heterosexuality to get rid of. That argument is just a way of disguising homophobia as a plea for "equality."
The thing is, no one really has to identify as openly straight in order to be considered straight. Even if you don't post a single clue to your orientation, people will just assume you're straight, and treat you as if you are straight. Generally, there are no open discussions of heterosexuality or heterosexual issues as they relate to games/sci-fi because heterosexuality is 'the norm,' and if you identify as heterosexual, you see representations of your sexuality all around you; in the games you play, the discussions you have, the comments of your fellow posters. The entire world is tailor-made to fit you. There's no NEED for direct discussion of heterosexuality in order for heterosexuals to be acknowledged and included. However, LGBT issues are a different matter, because they're NOT generally represented/included in the mainstream. The reason people start discussions about LGBT sexuality on sites like BioWare is because they feel automatically excluded from the heterosexist mainstream and want make others aware of that exclusion in such a way that leads to inclusion. That is not only appropriate, but necessary, in ANY heteronormative area, including gaming and sci-fi. Discussions like that are how we make progress, how we move away from the need for such discussions.
The only way we COULD eliminate direct discussion of sexual orientation is if all sexual orientations are included and accepted in 'the norm.' Since we live in a world where that is obviously not the case, that argument comes across as another way of saying "just stay in the closet so the rest of us don't have to deal with you." THAT'S what I have a problem with.
04/28/09
The guy certainly overstepped his bounds, but I can understand where he's coming from. The word has no actual offensive meaning, and is attached to a pretty fervent and proud set of people. When other people use that word to directly insult someone, the moderator is pretty well between a rock and a hard place when it comes to deciding how to deal with the word.
04/28/09
Insomuch as I am disinclined to indulge in an activity primarily designed to amuse myself (with any amusement being derived by other readers being a secondary bonus), I have restrained myself from a monosyllabic outburst indicative of a mindset which regards alternate choices of sexual orientation as suitable to use as pejorative terms. However, having taken up so much of people's time with this lengthy explanation, I feel I now ought to at least share the pithy rejoinder I had considered using as a reply to this article, pertaining not to the article itself or the writer thereof, but to the events which have transpired and been described in the relevant articles.
*ahem*
Gay.
04/28/09
04/28/09
04/28/09
04/28/09
I remember when this site used to be about games.
04/28/09
I like banging chicks. Call me girls.
04/28/09
I wanr to be a Tingle man!
04/28/09
04/29/09
But if you ever think for a second that sexuality is not already pressent in everyday gaming culture and games in general you are just not paying atention. And we are not trying to get all games nor this particular one to address the subject, however not being discriminated and censored would be great.
Also, sexuality is not a dirty subject nor it's always about sex, even if those are the first three letters of the word. And the sooner that this subject stops being some sort of taboo the better. And what better way of getting the taboo out than BY TALKING ABOUT IT.
04/28/09
I don't see how its discrimination when they are avoiding the issue of homosexuality in an ultra science fiction video game that quite frankly should have its attention focused else where. It seems that the gay community wants to be acknowledge in every aspect of our lives *sigh*
04/28/09
04/28/09
Homosexuality is a subject that deserves the right to be tastefully discussed in any mature conversation or media outlet. It's there, it's real and can drive player interaction and interactivity to a whole new level.
Also, your point that homosexuality does not have a place in science fiction is incorrect. Science fiction has and always will be reflective of present-day politics, issues and technology. The "mundane conflict", as you so insensitively describe, should be reflected intelligently in any self-respecting, science fiction universe, video game or not.
So yes, if you are going to give the player complete freedom of morality like TOR does, it would be discriminatory to not include something as complex as homosexuality. It's a good social topic that should be explored in depth in a virtural world.
04/28/09
It's really not gay people's aim to be everywhere in your life. They're trying to live their own lives. You don't have to pay attention to it. You didn't have to read this thread. You don't have to go to the forum.
I don't see how a thread with homosexual discussion, if done in a mature manner, is invading anyone's life. It was BioWare overreaction that led to the gay community's overreaction.
I have to say I think the same thing about gay marriage. It's the biggest "Who Fucking Cares?" issue in the world to me. Gee, gay people will get inheritance rights, insurance as a family unit, and will spend money on weddings and help this dismal economy. Nobody's saying you'd have to be best man or anything. Gay people should not have to lead hidden lives so you don't have to notice them voluntarily.
04/28/09
Whether people want to acknowledge it or not, there's a real problem with the way this whole issue is typically handled, so distancing yourself from it is a natural response.
04/28/09
"That is one of the reasons I play games, is to escape the mundane conflicts in this country and world."
So let me get this straight: The biggest, most pressing issues-which I assume are what is stressing you-are "mundane."
...really?
04/28/09
04/28/09
04/28/09
04/28/09
04/28/09
04/28/09
Nice going bioware you just pwned yourself.
04/29/09
04/29/09
Shouldn't adopt kids? Yeah, because the kids might catch 'the gay'? Right?
04/29/09
And to XidZen: You best fcuk off before you get banned.
04/28/09
04/28/09
Admitting a mistake would be firing this individual immediately instead of forcing him to post a complete 360 twist of his opinions. Let him share his opinions with a forum community on his own time.
04/28/09
A slap on the wrist, maybe. Its not like he went on a public crusade against gays.
04/28/09
Other than that i think he just mishandled the situation.