I just read this brief article on game politics http://www.gamepolitics.com/2009/01/09/journalist-asks-are-games-gay-enough#comments that makes a very valid point about the rut of the games industry and the tendency to fall back on stereotypes and cliches over examining complex issues in a mature and head on fashion (in this case the use of homosexuality)

When I design a game I rarely have gay / lesbian characters, and I will admit to a fondness of including at least one sexy lady whenever I use human (or humanish) characters.

But I do avoid stereotyping (I'd like to think) and try to keep my writing mature / sophisticated while still being accessible to the market (honestly the game I'm working on right now is about a butterfly going from flower to flower, so these things aren't always issues I can face anyway)

But I'm a heterosexual male and the gay / lesbian people I know well enough to know the gender they prefer only constitute a handful of my friends. For me it is not about being cliched as much as it is about being myself and communicating those things that are important to me.

However, I'm not sure that is an attitude that is always reflected in the games industry which seems more about trying to get as many profanities, explosions, and damsels in distress as possible to make the game "marketable".

Well, ok, you can put "Gay people", or Homosexuals (<- Correct term, acording to my homosexual friends), BUT, alot of gamers are more homofobic than you might think! So it wouldn't sell well, which would upset the whole Homosexual-community... And things would go very bad.

I am not trying to offend. If it sounds like it, I'm sorry

You know I really don't see that much in the way of cursing in videogames, particularly given the situations many action games find the characters in. As far as the industry being too cliched or focusing on cliche's and stereotypes to sell products. You are probably correct in your assesment all I would add is that I do not think the issue even enters their minds.

Does it really matter that much what a character's sexual preference is? Gordon Freeman could quite easily be homosexual, but would it change any part of Half Life 2?

The_root_of_all_evil:
Does it really matter that much what a character's sexual preference is? Gordon Freeman could quite easily be homosexual, but would it change any part of Half Life 2?

This, there just isn't really a way that you can insert a particular sexuality into a game without it seeming gimmicky.

The title of this thread made me do a double take, if for nothing else than the the percieved misspelling of 'gaiety.'

Unfortuneately, sterotypes are easy to write and script. In drama, stock characters are often used for comic relief and are prevalent in melodrama. And video games are stuffed full of melodrama themes. In other words, they are taking the easy way out.

Its hard to blame project teams, though. With market pressure and budgets and technological concerns to have "full 3d up the arse," compelling story is usually put down lower on the list.

On a slightly off-topic note, what kinds of games to you design?

Fallout 3 had a gay couple no one noticed, flak & shrapnel

new_age_reject:

The_root_of_all_evil:
Does it really matter that much what a character's sexual preference is? Gordon Freeman could quite easily be homosexual, but would it change any part of Half Life 2?

This, there just isn't really a way that you can insert a particular sexuality into a game without it seeming gimmicky.

I'm thirding this. I mean, how would stuff like this even come up whilst fighting aliens. "Eat lead Alien Scum! Also, I'm gay!"

Also, did you notice how lesbians are far more prevalent than male homosexuality?

Army of Two anyone? :P

Master chief was gay.

I wouldn't feel weird playing a homosexual character in a video game, so long as the game isn't centered around the fact that said character is homosexual. However, I don't think the majority of gamers are ready for something like that, and it would only reach a very limited audience.

I think it would be better to keep the character's sexuality secret, then spring it on the fanbase after the game has become successful. Kind of like what J. K. Rowling did with Dumbledore.

The world of Resistance 2 is a gay paradise what with the lack of women anywhere in that game.

The fact that in games romance never gets past the part of conversation or implied actions to avoid the 50 foot 18+ stamp, most of the gayity would quickly revert to lesbian relationships. Most gamers a male and most gamers are teenagers thus ensuring that if there is at least one lesbian scene in any game the little acne bastards will buy it.

But honestly how much would you have liked for Cortana to be a man, Alyx to be Alex, Niko Belik chasing after a hot spunky stud with truck, Mario and Luigi to have been more than co plumbers or think about this one for a second a gay Duke Nukem.

And in any deathmatch shooter there are NO women? Halo, all men, Battlefield, all men, Cod, all men, TF2, all men, and on in infinity it doesn't get gayer than 30+ men playing on one map.

I agree with the people that there's no way to let the player know whether a character is homosexual or not without making the NPC explicitly commit an act that is conform with homosexual stereotypes. These kind of acts would be very out of place in let's say Gears of War, though a lot of the characters in there might have different sexual preferences than what you might think (yes, Cole may actually be straight, have you guys thought about that?).

Sure it's possible to do in games like Oblivion (in which the Orc smith in Bliss is clearly interested in your male physique if you're a man) or other RPGs but even then they'd be very corny undertones. In any other type of game it just won't work since you don't want to sit around and see two women cuddle, you want to shoot stuff (just using FPS as an example right now).

I think the majority of gamers (the majority being straight I assume) would have trouble relating to the character if they are quite obviously homosexual. Sexuality shouldn't really be an issue in any games anyway, straight or homosexual. Gordon Freeman may well be gay, but it wouldn't benefit the story in anyway if he was outed. Maybe a game like GTA, where the choice is ultimatly yours, they could incorporate gay relationships (rather than being a mission to blind date a bloke, then kill him). Fable has done so, so if you were inclined, then you'd decide the sexuality of the character.

I couldn't care less though.

Homosexuality in gaming has about as much place as sex in gaming. It pretty much has nothing to do with the appeal behind games, and people who include it in their games are mostly trying to get attention.

Pyronox:

The_root_of_all_evil:
Does it really matter that much what a character's sexual preference is? Gordon Freeman could quite easily be homosexual, but would it change any part of Half Life 2?

Change Alyx to Alex and try to relive the moments of sexual tension of the game. Since you're immersed in Gordon, as you're him, it would make it a little awkward, no?

Ah, but imagine Gordon attracted to G-Man but not interested in Alyx, as he seems to be. No change really, is there? We're not talking about changing the game, just his reactions.

I think that whoever's quote that is needs to learn that there is a difference between "progressing" and "ass kissing".

EDIT: And to the person above me: Of course it would change the game!

EDIT EDIT: And as always there are some crazies on the OTHER side of the arguement.
http://www.tumeroks.com/conservative-christian-investment-firm-flags-gay-content-in-games/

To be honest, stereotyping isn't exactly a bad thing. Over stereotyping is. Making a guy sound and act flamboyant isn't bad. I know many guys in the gay community that are like that. That being said, not all gays act flamboyant and not all lesbians are butch. I thought in Indigo Prophecy they added a gay character nicely. I think it's only bad when you make fun of the gay/lesbian character in a hurtful way.

I'm fine if there were to be gay people in a video game, it's kind of something i wish someone would throw into a game mostly because it'd show the developers a different, even a little different.

The_root_of_all_evil:
Does it really matter that much what a character's sexual preference is? Gordon Freeman could quite easily be homosexual, but would it change any part of Half Life 2?

Well Eli was hoping that Gordon would make babies with Alyx....

Zangief and Eagle from Street Fighter are gay and they were created in the late 80´s. They are also far from stereotypical.

I don't really care whether the characters in my game are homosexual or not. I just care whether the game is fun to play. If you want to make a homosexual character star in a fun game, I'll buy the game. If you make the character straight, I'll still buy the game. But if you make a bad game, I'm not going to buy it regardless of the character's sexuality.

Fanboy:
Master chief was gay.

I wouldn't feel weird playing a homosexual character in a video game, so long as the game isn't centered around the fact that said character is homosexual. However, I don't think the majority of gamers are ready for something like that, and it would only reach a very limited audience.

I think it would be better to keep the character's sexuality secret, then spring it on the fanbase after the game has become successful. Kind of like what J. K. Rowling did with Dumbledore.

But Dumbledore's sexuality never came out in the story and appeared to have no impact on the plot at all.

The Grand Theft Auto series is a culprit of stereotyping homosexuals...
Niko's old army buddy Florian, he's portrayed as a completely effeminate 'comic' character.
It might seem comical to have a stereotype but isn't that a little too far?

I don't mind if there are gay characters in games, but Bernie from GTA IV was just annoying. I remember saying at the time "If he calls me sweetie one more time, I'm going to start emptying AK-47 rounds into him."

Hunde Des Krieg:

Fanboy:
Master chief was gay.

I wouldn't feel weird playing a homosexual character in a video game, so long as the game isn't centered around the fact that said character is homosexual. However, I don't think the majority of gamers are ready for something like that, and it would only reach a very limited audience.

I think it would be better to keep the character's sexuality secret, then spring it on the fanbase after the game has become successful. Kind of like what J. K. Rowling did with Dumbledore.

But Dumbledore's sexuality never came out in the story and appeared to have no impact on the plot at all.

Neither did master chiefs.

The game doesn't have to be different because of the character's sexuality. Would metroid be any different if Samus was just some dude? No, it wouldn't, but the angle that she was a woman did make the game more popular.

MessiahOfPants:
To be honest, stereotyping isn't exactly a bad thing. Over stereotyping is. Making a guy sound and act flamboyant isn't bad. I know many guys in the gay community that are like that. That being said, not all gays act flamboyant and not all lesbians are butch. I thought in Indigo Prophecy they added a gay character nicely. I think it's only bad when you make fun of the gay/lesbian character in a hurtful way.

It depends on who you ask. I have many gay friends, all of whom would feel differently about that kind of stereotyping. If you had one gay character in a game who was very flamboyant, that creates the image that all homosexuals act in such a manner, which emphasizes (perhaps unintentionally) that homosexuals are different from everyone else. If it was a gay character that was just a regular, average guy or girl, it wouldn't add that negative connotation.