A same-sex love scene in a popular new game has some fans cheering – and others jeering, revealing what some experts call the homophobic underbelly of the gaming community


It's when the male elf assassin and the strapping warrior peel off their clothes and start making out that you know you've left the realm of traditional video games far, far behind. This ain't Super Mario Brothers.

It's the prelude to a same-sex love scene in the recently released role-playing game Dragon Age: Origins that has many heralding a major step for the video game industry – and has thrown into relief the homophobia within the gaming community.

“It's not trying to be over the top, it's trying to show a gay relationship in a positive light, which is certainly a big change,” says Paul Hunter, managing editor of NextGen Player, a Toronto-based gaming blog.

But while gay and lesbian characters are slowly gaining a place in video games as more than just stereotypical caricatures, the sex scene in the sword and sorcery game, released last month by Edmonton-based company BioWare and available on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 platforms, has drawn hateful comments online.

In one scene, players can choose to engage in a gay love scene with a male elf following some coy dialogue (“Is there something in your tent that needs assassinating?”). The two men are shown wearing only underwear as they kiss while lying on top of one another. The scene eventually fades to black.

A clip of the scene posted on YouTube three weeks ago has garnered more than 230,000 views and hundreds of comments. One commenter called the scene a “deranged homo-propaganda campaign.” Another said the scene is meant “to promote gayness to youth” – though the game is rated M for mature, meaning for players 17 and older – while another called it “disgusting” and “filthy.”

Many others praised the scene. “We've truly come a long way to have this in a video game as a valid option! I mean this sort of scene has happened so many other times with male/female, so why not? Gay people exist too!” one wrote.

Gay and lesbian characters have a long history in video games – rarely, however, have they been anything other than caricatures.



For full article:
http://www.theglobeandmai...le1387692/
[Edited 12/6/09 11:23am]

I have no comment; just came across it and decided to post

Mstrustme said:

You may wish to rephrase that remark.

It amazes me that two penises rubbing together causes so much hubbub.

IDontBelieveYouHeardMe said:

What does that mean?

Are there straight love scenes in video games? Then who cares?

Mstrustme said:

lol. Oh, how to explain this without blushing.....

Vendetta1 said:

It's optional. You very much decide how it pans out

IDontBelieveYouHeardMe said:

Vendetta1 said:

Exactly. Straight sex scenes are a-okay. And having tits and ass all over the place is good. And prostitution? Yes!


Folks need to settle the fuck down. This game is rated M to begin with, and the gay sex scene is optional.

I think it's awesome and even better that it's optional. Congrats to Bioware!

connorhawke said:

Question: the article says Bioware is Edmonton-based. Where is this?

o for fuck sake if they have a issue with a gay scene then why the fuck they CHOOSE it anyway...its just one more thing to bitch and moan about.

surprise!!!!! for real people need to get over it. gays arn't going anywhere, we're going to be in every form of media and entertainment, it's not a children's game and you don't HAVE to choose the gay option for the character as you play the game

thanks for including everyone into the world you've created with this game, BW

connorhawke said:

Alberta, Canada
[Edited 12/6/09 19:36pm]

toots said:

matthewgrant said:

Yay for Canada then!!!!

Because of the content I automatically assumed Europe until I read this.

Off-topic.....is the game any good? I love RPG's

Jesus Christ!!!

The Romans and Greeks did nothing but eat and fuck eachother...seemed to workout fine fir them and they got a shit load done - perhaps modern society c
should spend less time worrying about computer games.

"Another said the scene is meant “to promote gayness to youth”"

of course of alot of games center on killing someone or something.but thats ok to sell.i mean ya know

There are others. Both Fable game have same sex relationships, Mass Effect has one and one of the Start Wars Kinghs of the old Republic. Si I am not sure why this game would cause any problems. And it is rated M.

Ha I watched it, the disgusting part is that they are so dirty. I know they smell horrid. They do not have some spring or magic spell to wash up with before?

well that and the voice acting and over all poorly written lines.

But I warns you at least twice!

Now before anyone says "Hot Coffee" this content was disclosed and a simular hetro sex scene was shown in one of the demos. AND the M rating warns of 'sexual exploits"

There may also be a brothel were one can have a man woman or ....!

so it seems I know what to ask for for christmas!

connorhawke said:

Canada. What's somewhat surprising is that Edmonton is the capital of Alberta, easily our most conservative province.

connorhawke said:

Don't quote me on this, but I think there is an Edmonton in the UK somewhere...


This one's definitely ours though.
[Edited 12/7/09 10:37am]

LMAO @ the male elf being the bottom

bboy87 said:

???

freakin hilarious with that song.

ufoclub said:

forreal, that music is not helpin'

meow85 said:

yup there is, one in Australia too

Okay, but the talent here is definitely luv4u's hometown: http://www.bioware.com/bi...o/contact/

meow85 said:

It may come as a surprise to you colonial types, but where there is a Canadian/American/Australian place was usually named after a pre-existing town in the UK.

Unfortunately, the "Edmonton" in London is not a quaint little village anymore - it's (mostly) an absolute dump: http://farm4.static.flick...ee7d42.jpg
[Edited 12/7/09 13:30pm]

IDontBelieveYouHeardMe said:

I know perfectly well that nearly all North American places with European-sounding names were named for an existing place or after a person. I was just unclear on whether Edmonton was called after the place or after a figure. No need to be condescending.


Holy ballsack, is that a cemetery in the foreground!?
[Edited 12/7/09 17:28pm]