Reblog this and post underneath who you think is the hottest MALE video game character!

DOOOO IIITTT! I’m totally curious!

More Wii games in 1080p.

Nintendo Time!

Alright, guys! I intend to do a Nintendo throwback playthrough for a lot of games on Nintendo consoles. Will, likely, do “Let’s Play” of some of these.

So…tell me:

What are your favorite NES, SNES, N64, Gamecube, and Wii games?

My 30 Favorite Games of This Generation:

Revised and extended my old list. 

30.) The Walking Dead -



Why I love it:

Take it from someone who doesn’t even watch the show or read the comics: The Walking Dead adventure game by Telltale is one of the best things you will ever play. Full of mature story telling with ingenious character development and set against a frightening background, The Walking Dead does things with the zombie concept that prove that video games can be more than paint-by-the-numbers programs and cash-ins, leaning more, instead, toward creative understanding of the power of interactive medium. You will laugh, you will cry, you will scream, and you will grow to love and hate these characters, because they are so well represented.


29.) Metroid Prime 3: Corruption -



Why I love it:

While I’m not a big fan of the Metroid Prime series, I have to admit that one of the best surprises of this generation for me was the enjoyment I got out of playing Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. About the only game series to actually see a real improvement with motion controls, Corruption took the Prime series from a boring, slow, plodding mess with easy combat to a fast paced, brilliantly designed, skill-based game that deserves to wear the Metroid name proudly. 


28.) Metroid: Other M -



Why I love it:

The story execution in this one is murder, even if the backbone provided for some interesting ideas. Where Metroid: Other M really shines, however, is in the gameplay department. Less Prime and more Fusion, Other M has one of the fastest, best made, and most fluid combat systems of any modern game, and holds no punches for the player. Everything here, from the incredibly aggressive regular enemies to the brilliantly imagined and executed boss battles, screams quality game design. Samus was also no longer confined to moving at the speed of molasses as she had been for nearly a decade, and while the game cut down on exploration, it was certainly better than most people ever gave it credit for. If Nintendo carbon-copied the gameplay of Other M, threw in some Prime-level atmosphere, and actually wrote a cohesive, well thought story line, we would have what is probably the greatest game ever made. But, for now, this will do just fine.


27.) Sonic Generations -

Why I love it:

Sonic Generations surprised me quite a bit, coming on the heels of what was the first truly good Sonic in 3D, Sonic Colors (Warning: anyone who mentions Sonic Adventure as being “good” is getting shot in the eye!). Sonic Generations does the impossible and creates a wonderful Sonic game that really takes the best of everything Sonic. Gone are the useless friends and non-Sonic levels, replaced instead by incredible 3D stages that allow Sonic to move at dangerous and fun speeds. Gone are the pointless gimmicks, replaced instead by 2D levels worthy of being able to stand with some of the best old Sonic has to offer. Aside from a mediocre final boss, Sonic Generations is pretty close to perfect.


26.) Bayonetta -

Why I love it:

Easily the greatest action game ever made, Bayonetta perfectly encapsulates everything that makes a good action experience what it’s supposed to be: brutally fast combat, fluid movement, a vast set of moves and options to dispatch enemies with, difficult and creative bosses, and the perfect incentives to get the player to improve with time and understand its many intricacies. Even the story, with its ridiculously awful writing and dialogue, still somehow manages to create likable characters and jerk a few tears here and there. Bayonetta is the standard by which all actions games must now be measured.


25.) Prince of Persia -

Why I love it:

Another game that is severely underrated. While I understand why fans of the 3D trilogy of Prince of Persia games didn’t take too much of a liking to the 2008 iteration of the series, this PoP is an absolute dream of a game. The challenge and focus of this one is less about combat and being punished for falls than it is about getting the flow of platforming right. Your job is, more or less, to traverse through the vast, artistically exquisite, and fiendishly designed overworld in the fastest and most efficient way possible. Throw in a grand, well written story with a likable protagonist and what easily amounts to the greatest female character in gaming (Elika), and you have magic.


24.) Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed -



Why I love it:

The second entry into the modern Sonic kart racers pretty much perfects the genre beyond anything any other series has done. It takes tried-and-true designs from games like Mario Kart and Diddy Kong Racing and mixes them elegantly into one package, while providing a myriad of excellently designed tracks, fantastic gameplay that is almost never unfair, and a slew of some of SEGA’s best characters. I can’t imagine how anyone could make kart racing better than this.


23.) L.A. Noire -

Why I love it:

I’m not a very big fan of crime games, to be entirely honest. I find playing the Grand Theft Auto series to be an absolute chore, and the only crime game I have ever enjoyed thoroughly is somewhere else on this list. With that said, I was pleasantly surprised when L.A. Noire turned out to be more than just GTA in the 40’s; in fact, L.A. Noire could not be more opposite from the Grand Theft Autos. It’s a game filled to the brim with great writing, incredible voice acting, mystery, intrigue, and a methodical gameplay design that requires a certain amount of patience to appreciate. It’s the kind of game that not everyone will enjoy, but which for me was heavenly in every sense of the word: investigating each crime, scouring each crime scene, connecting the dots, etc. was all immensely satisfying. 


22.) Dead Space -



Why I love it:

The survival-horror genre struggled a lot during the early years of this generation, but has seen a steady return to form thanks to new I.P.s that have filled in the gap for the dying ones. In place of Silent Hill we have games like Amnesia, and in place of Resident Evil we have games like Dead Space. As a survival-horror fan, Dead Space is kind of a dream game: a science-fiction terror walk through a derelict space ship full of space zombies. It sounds simple, and it is, but something about how Dead Space mixes the smooth gameplay of new-Resident Evil with a fantastic claustrophobic atmosphere just works wonders. The game isn’t scary, per se, but it is certainly intense, and incredibly enjoyable to play. It’s this ingenious mix of Alien by way of Resident Evil and a dash of Silent Hill. 


21.) Dishonored -

Why I love it:

Dishonored is one of those games that truly gives the player choice and not simply the illusion of choice. You can play the game in many ways and how you complete each mission given is entirely up to you. There is something incredibly enjoyable about stealthing through an entire grand level and reaching an assassination target, or simply choosing a non-lethal way to dispose of people who stand in your way. The game world is well designed as well, and the art is somewhat Alice: Madness Returns by way of Fable, but it works fantastically to differentiate the game. Dishonored is a brilliant experience; a game that truly believes in the player’s creativity and ability to solve problems; a game that doesn’t see a need to force players through endless “set pieces” in a linear way. It’s one of the last games I got to play in 2012, but one of the best, without a doubt.


20.) Assassin’s Creed II -

Why I love it:

I can’t stand the first Assassin’s Creed game: something about how clunky the gameplay feels and how little I like the game’s setting seriously puts me off. I own the game and have tried multiple times to finish it, with very little success. When the second game came out, it took me over a year to take notice of it because I had such a terrible experience with the original. Needless to say, AC II is one of my favorite games of all time. The story is well written, the setting is fantastic, the characters are tangible, and the gameplay improved immensely. While AC II still had gameplay issues, it was fun the majority of the time, and I admit I spent more hours on this game than I ever imagined I would.


19.) Deus Ex: Human Revolution -



Why I love it:

Probably the first non-Bioware RPG I became severely invested in this generation. I played this one endlessly to the very last moment, and to this day, the pro-augmentation choice stands as my absolute favorite video game ending of all time. Although it had its share of problems (read: stupid boss encounters), it was remarkably easy to get lost in the world of Deus Ex: Human Revolution. This is a game that truly enters the science-fiction ring with gloves on and one-hit K.O.s most of the competitors, not only creating a wonderful wold with great gameplay, but asking hard hitting philosophical questions about human progress. It’s masterful.


18.) Tomb Raider -



Why I love it:

Tomb Raider is one of the best reboots of this generation, creating a brilliant new feminist icon for future generations to fall in love with. The recreation of the Tomb Raider formula here is at its near peak, with wonderful gameplay implementations, smooth combat, fantastic story telling, and brilliant character development for Lara Croft. This is the one game where I felt so close to the protagonist that her successes felt like my own, as did her failures. Absolutely brilliant.


17.) Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure -

Why I love it:

Very few people have even heard of this game, but it’s magical in every way. Zack & Wiki is this interesting take on the usual point-and-click adventure designs of western developers by way of a Japanese company (in this case, Capcom), and it succeeds brilliantly in every way. The puzzles in this game are fiendish and fun, while never being frustrating, and the overall experience just oozes charm. In a perfect world, something like Zack & Wiki would have sold millions of copies while repetitive, boring shit like Grand Theft Auto IV would have been left to rot in clearance bins. But, alas, games of this caliber often get the short end of the stick.


16.) From Dust -

Why I love it:

Probably one of the most underrated games of this generation. From Dust pits the player against nature in a desperate race to save early humans from doom. This game provides a wonderful sense of history and atmosphere, with gorgeous graphics and effects. But, it’s the gameplay where From Dust really shines. From the totem powers, to the cataclysms that threaten everything you have worked for, From Dust is a beautifully challenging, fiendishly difficult game that always feels like a ton of fun to play.


15.) Plants vs. Zombies -



Why I love it:

I burned through this game. Burned through it in less than a day. It was that addictive. There is something inherently perfect about Plants vs. Zombies, and it deals with the how it is coated in this paint of casual design while secretly being a fantastic strategy game that takes immense skill to win. The game’s mechanics are simple, but so utterly well used that it is probably one of the best things I have ever played in my entire gaming career, never mind this generation. Also: Zombie Michael Jackson.


14.) Dragon Age II -



Why I love it:

I know pretty much everyone hates the second Dragon Age, but I think it did so many things better than Origins. The most obvious was the story, which in the second game was very well developed and properly paced, with less of an emphasis on “big bad evil” and more of a focus on political intrigue. The party members, while still falling just a bit short of the brilliance that were Alistair, Morrigan, and Shale, are still all incredible in their own right, and much more well rounded as a whole. The gameplay was fun for what it was, if not exactly deep, and Hawke was probably the most interesting protagonist that Bioware has created in a long time (yes, even more interesting than Shepard). The game’s friendship-rivalry system and dialogue wheel were all world’s above the ones found in Mass Effect. All in all, DA II may go down in gaming history as mostly hated, but I’ll always hold that it was superior to Origins in more ways than I can count.

 
13.) Pokemon SoulSilver -



Why I love it:

Pokemon Silver is my favorite Pokemon game of all time, so hearing that it was being remade for the DS made me nothing short of happy! I can safely say that I was not disappointed: Pokemon SoulSilver now stands as my favorite game in the series, and considering it had to compete with the great games that were Diamond/Pearl/Platinum and White/Black, that’s an achievement. Everything I ever loved about the original is here, but improved tenfold. Absolutely adore it!


12.) The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword -

Why I love it: 

I know a lot of people complain about this one because of the motion controls, but I only ever had trouble with the jabbing. Swinging in any direction worked flawlessly, as did blocking, so the annoyance of the controls didn’t get to me very much. The addition of motion controls actually added a brilliant dynamic to enemy encounters, and some of the scant RPG elements added to this Zelda were a welcomed addition. The story itself was fantastic, as was the world (even if it wasn’t quite as amazing as the world of Wind Waker). The art, of course, was on another level from anything else I’ve played: the water color style of Skyward Sword is quite possibly one of the most beautiful artistic styles of any game, ever. Skyward Sword is Zelda perfection, and it feels even more amazing after the disappointment that was Twilight Princess.

11.) Civilization V -



Why I love it:

Because it’s, frankly, one of the best games I have ever played. After playing XCOM, I wondered if the magic Firaxis had spun with their sci-fi strategy game would be there for this game as well. It was. I can’t count the number of times I said to myself: “Just one more turn!” before realizing several hours had passed me by. Something about how Civ V just makes it such a joy to play: seeing your civilization grow, choosing a civilization you feel close to/like, the ability to win through multiple scenarios (Woo for cultural and scientific victories!), etc. I absolutely adore this game.


10.) Bioshock 2 -

Why I love it:

I know everyone adores the first Bioshock, and I do as well, trust me. The story of the first is pretty fantastic, and everything about the original game is pure quality. However, I felt much more emotionally invested in the sequel, because the story was much more personal in nature and instead of feeling like an outsider looking in, I was playing on the other side of the fence. The gameplay improvements were also a welcomed addition, with duel wielding and hacking seeing the greatest overhaul. I will also readily admit that I cried my eyes out at the good ending of this game. The first Bioshock is a hard act to follow for any game, but I think this sequel was pretty brilliant and terribly underrated to boot.


9.) Halo 4 -

Why I love it:

Halo 4 is the quintessential example of how passing the torch from one developer to the next can turn into an incredible situation. Halo 4 is the best the Halo series has ever been, with tight gameplay, incredible polish, fantastic level design, incredible weapon balance, and a multiplayer that gives players hours and hours of fun gameplay, Halo 4 stands as one of the best things Microsoft has published in a very, very long time. My favorite Halo game, by a landslide.


8.) Saints Row the Third -

Why I love it: 

The hours of dickery this game gave me form some of my favorite game memories of all time. But the thing about Saints Row the Third that makes it so brilliant isn’t simply the wealth of options it gives you as a player, but how it doesn’t take itself seriously. The hilariously over-the-top story is told through great action scenes all beautifully voice acted, and both optional endings are incredibly satisfying; considering this the same game that features an auto-tune talking pimp as a main character and a giant dildo-bat weapon hybrid, that’s a hell of feat. 

7.) Mass Effect 3 -



Why I love it:

I know everyone hated the botched ending this game got, and by its nature, the botched ending the entire series got. But, truth be told, I don’t think I have ever felt quite as emotional with any other game as I did with Mass Effect 3. It’s a testament to the glory of its gameplay design and unique ideas for interactivity that even a shit ending couldn’t keep this game out of my list of favorites. The Mass Effect universe is probably one of the best in modern science-fiction, straddling a fine line between the action and drama of Star Wars and a the cohesion of story telling and world design of Star Trek. Mass Effect 3, in specific, had my favorite party members, favorite moments, and favorite places to visit.

Note: this one jumped several places on the original list thanks to the Citadel DLC.


6.) X-COM: Enemy Unknown - 

Why I love it:

In a gaming industry where the basic norm has been to hold the hand of every gamer, XCOM has no problem going hardcore on you. This is the type of game where every single move you make counts, and where decisions you made several turns before will come back to help or haunt you. The game rewards vision and clever use of resources, and it never feels unfair. There is so much I can say about this game: the turn-based combat is satisfying, the ability to build up a squad is entertaining, having to scramble to make sure you are making the correct choices is always a blast, etc. If you guys haven’t had the chance to play this game, then go do it now. It’s amazing in every sense of the word; this is coming from someone who utterly despises strategy games, for the record. Hours of addiction, hours of “Just one mission and I’ll stop!”, and hours, and hours of some of the best gameplay mechanics this entire generation.


5.) The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim -



Why I love it: 

I’m playing the PC version, and while the vanilla form of Skyrim is brilliant in its own right, with its hours and hours of content and fantastic gameplay, nothing compares to what the modding community has done for this game. Modding has turned Skyrim into the offline version of World of Warcraft: there is always something new to do, something fascinating to download and find just around the corner. I have, at least, 20-something mods installed in my Skyrim version that do everything from alter the body shape of my Dragornborn to adding over 100 new spells to the game. Skyrim is pure gaming genius.


4.) Mortal Kombat -

Why I love it:

Mortal Kombat has to be the best fighting game I have ever played, without a doubt. The fighting mechanics are fresh, deep, and engaging; the graphical and art design is fantastic; the story is brilliant; and it’s all full of a ton of hours worth of gameplay. Out of all the reboots made so far, this one is probably the greatest ever for any series, not only bringing back the glory of the old games, but surpassing it. 


3.) Mirror’s Edge -



Why I love it:

Everything about Mirror’s Edge blew me away when I played it the first time. I understand why it might not have for everyone else, because this is a game that when you get the flow down poorly just simply doesn’t work. However, if you were like me and you were able to nail the flow of the gameplay, the level of satisfaction that Mirror’s Edge provides is incomparable. Something about making the leap perfectly, or escaping an oncoming train, or those “OH SHIT!” moments the game gives you when it expects you to do something insane to save yourself, simply makes Mirror’s Edge a hell of an experience. Getting the final sequence right on my first time was so gratifying that I don’t think any game ever has given me such a wonderful sense of accomplishment. Gameplay aside, Mirror’s Edge has some of the most unique art design in gaming, with a beautiful musical score to boot, and one of the strongest and most well made female protagonists in video games.


2.) Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise -

Why I love it:

Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise is one of the best things Rare has ever made, if not the best. A game that deceptively covers up its insane depth in cutesy, colorful art design, but which ultimate translates to digital crack. I have played this game for more hours than I have Skyrim, and my gardener level is 101, which is pretty insane all things considered. The ability to build your own garden, the struggle of catching all the piñatas, the incredible charm, etc. is all so brilliant that it’s an utter crime how little attention and love this game got.


1.) Mass Effect -



Why I love it:

Mass Effect is the first game that really impressed me when this generation came around. I wasn’t ready to jump ships until I played ME a little bit and realized that gaming had really started to grow up: because, that’s the beauty of Mass Effect, you see? It’s a game that does almost everything right: it’s incredibly well written, full of three-dimensional characters, set in a vast science-fiction universe that is second only to Star Trek in its brilliance. But it went further: the art design, the graphics, the hybrid of RPG and shooter elements, the ability to interact with characters in a very personal way, the ability to truly make Shepard your hero, and the way the game’s narrative tailored itself around your choices made it absolutely incredible. That’s the brilliance of Mass Effect, and the first Mass Effect, in specific, will forever remain one of my favorite games of all time, second only to both Shenmues. 

Reading Quest Descriptions in MMORPGs:

Gratuitous Post of Hot Male Video Game Characters:

sodomymcscurvylegs:

Because I’m totally for more objectification of virtual men! *Innocent Whistle*

Gratuitous Post of Hot Male Video Game Characters:

sodomymcscurvylegs:

Because I’m totally for more objectification of virtual men! *Innocent Whistle*

Updated.

My Top Five Games of 2012:

The year is ending, and nothing of note is on the horizon, so I figured I’d make this list now.


5.) Sonic & All-Stars Racing: Transformed -



The first Sonic kart game was absolutely amazing and flew pretty much under the radar at its time of release. The same is true of this sequel, but in most ways, it’s just so much better. The track design, the different types of vehicles, the need race in style a la Project Gotham Racing, the insane difficulty, and the incredible unlockables all make this game really fantastic for me. Easily the best kart racer ever made, despite some flaws here and there.


4.) Mass Effect 3 -



Despite its awful ending and the fact that game basically came in pieces - let’s be honest: Leviathan shouldn’t have been a DLC so much as a main game mission - Mass Effect 3 still manages to surpass the majority of games I’ve ever played. Everything about ME 3 was brilliant up to the last three hours of the game or so, and there is something fascinating about how the game toys with the idea of technology vs. organisms (EDI being the best example). ME 3 is full of memorable characters, and heartbreaking moments, and situations that will force you to fill several buckets with your tears. Even the terrible ending itself is so emotional that you’ll find yourself half crying at how bad it is and half crying because it’s legitimately sad to see Shepard go.


3.) Assassin’s Creed 3 -



Assassin’s Creed 3 is the kind of game that I dream of very often: it is a powerful social commentary on everything we hold dear and that we often romanticize to make ourselves feel better. Despite taking place during the American Revolution, AC 3 doesn’t hold back punches or try to whitewash history into this ideal of American freedom and equality for all. Connor, as a half Native American, half British character, is a perfect vehicle for the overall message of Assassin’s Creed III, and the game does a brilliant job of exposing all of the problems of our political systems, our ideals of what America was founded on, etc. Gameplay wise, AC III is, of course, absolutely top notch: buttery smooth combat, improved free-running, great side missions, an incredibly deep economic system, a flawless system of naval combat, and a lot of memorable characters (the Homestead residents, specifically; even more so than the villainous Templars) are all part of the game’s great design.

The only problem I have with the game is the cliffhanger ending which used a lot of Deus Ex Machina (literally, in this case) to solve problems of the narrative during the home stretch. Ubisoft will have a ton of work to do to rectify this for inevitable sequels. 


2.) Dishonored -



Dishonored blew me away. It’s a game that gave me options and freedom the likes I seldom get to experience in gaming anymore. It is a game that believes in the player and his or her ability to be creative in order to complete goals. Dishonored is the kind of game that developers should be making more often, and the only reason it isn’t my favorite game this year is because Dishonored was criminally short. I imagine that, for a sequel, this would be rectified, and it would be glorious!


1.) XCOM: Enemy Unknown - 



It’s hard to discern exactly what is is that makes XCOM so brilliant: it’s brutally difficult, and sometimes it’s downright unfair and lacking balance. But, no other game this year grabbed me as much. Every “Just one more mission!” led to at least six more, and when I wasn’t playing the game, I was thinking about playing it and coming up with strategies. I grew close to my soldiers, and felt legitimately sad when I lost one on the battlefield; I grew increasingly obsessed with micro-managing everything, as often as possible; I grew to like a game in a genre that I absolutely despise (strategy). 

This is what makes a good game actually good: it gets into your head and you can’t put it down. This is why XCOM: Enemy Unknown is my game of the year for 2012.
 

Honorable Mention:


The Walking Dead -

The Walking Dead wasn’t what I expected at all, but it’s one of the best adventure games I’ve played in a long time. I’ve never even seen the show or read the comic books, but I was enthralled by the way The Walking Dead as a game deals with a zombie apocalypse less as a shooting scenario and more as a vehicle of story telling and character development. From the first episode, to the incredibly disturbing second episode, to the unexpected deaths, and seriously adult moments and themes, The Walking Dead is pure quality. 

Gratuitous Post of Hot Male Video Game Characters:

sodomymcscurvylegs:

Because I’m totally for more objectification of virtual men! *Innocent Whistle*













 







 



 

What the shit?! This post got almost a hundred notes?! When did this happen? Why didn’t I notice?

Sorry; Not Sorry.

When You’re Playing a Video Game and Someone Keeps Walking Past the T.V. Screen…

Gay Video Games

(( Note: I wrote this article back in mid-2011, so some of the information is out of date. I have tried updating it somewhat, but there are still important pieces of information that are likely missing. Feel free to discuss the subject, correct me, or give me constructive criticism. It’s all welcome. Also: none of the art is my own, and I do not claim it as such. ))

 

Civil and equal rights have been a hot topic of debate for longer than most people are probably aware of. You may think that civil and equal rights were first openly discussed in the 60’s, but that is not entirely true. The reason our minds always gravitate to the 1960’s is because, by and large, that was the time when the fight for civil and equal rights was the most successful and most heated, and not only in the case of African-Americans. The 60’s was a decade of social revolution for all minorities: African-Americans saw the desegregation of public institutions, the LGBT community was involved in the Stonewall Riots, and women saw the first wave of modern feminism. Today, it’s hard to believe that our own grandparents or great grandparents lived in a world where it was illegal for a minority to attend public schools that were “designed for the majority,” or to think that they lived in a time period where women were not allowed to finish college educations and get degrees, or a time when being gay was seen as a mental disorder by the American Psychiatric Association. To a lot of us, especially the newer generations, inclusion and tolerance has become the common ideal. But the reality doesn’t always match. For all we have done to push forth for equality, equal rights, and equal opportunity for the world, we are still not quite where we should be. Homophobia, racism, and sexism still abound.

Discussion of difficult social topics such as those mentioned above are not only relegated to scientific and peer reviewed journals, but are expressed in art. Art teaches something, art tackles difficult subject matter that can be either very personal or very general. With the growth of the video game industry and the fact that gamers are getting older, it was only a matter of time before video games began to take on such subjects and make statements about them. With the gaming industry changing from mostly young, white, teenage males to an almost even split between males and females (40% of all gamers are female), the advent of worldwide gaming for all cultures, and the recent rise of the self-titled “gaymers” (i.e. gay gamers), it was only a matter of time before video games changed. See, the video game industry is worth billions of dollars and it’s, in fact, larger than the film industry at this point. That means that developers who previously had to cater to one specific group can now find an extensive audience and that allows artistic freedom and freedom of expression. Not all video games take the chance to make a political or social statement, and I don’t personally mind that. Sometimes, I just wanna’ shoot sh!t and have fun. But when video games do take on difficult subjects, it’s surprising how much they tend to outpace our own reality. This article (one of hopefully many) is to discuss how games are working towards goals of equality, how tastefully and honestly these subjects are being handled, and how these subjects in the game world compare to the real world the players encounter on a day-to-day basis. Specifically, this week I will be focusing on LGBT subjects, and will focus on a different subject relating to equality in video games each new week.

LGBT Rights and Equality:

In Our World -

This has to be biggest “hot button topic” of our generation, with debates raging about equal rights for homosexuals, gay marriage, whether or not homosexuality is genetic or learned, etc. In our real world there are a few places where equal rights for homosexuals and protection under laws of discrimination exist. But unfortunately, these places tend to be the exception rather than the rule. Most nations neither allow nor recognize same sex marriage, or even some form of civil union. Protection against hate crimes of homosexuals is hard to find, and in some cases, it’s even possible to find laws to criminalize homosexuality with a penalty of life in prison or death. In most of Western society, especially in the more populated and urbanized areas of the U.S.A., homosexuality has become a non-issue, but again, these areas tend to be the exception.

Concerning the media, it is very rare to encounter progressive and well written gay characters. Mind you, this isn’t entirely to be blamed on heterosexuals: certain gay writers have been known create some pretty bad gay characters that do nothing to advance the cause of equality. It’s true that lately, gay characters have become more visible and gay role models have started to popup here and there. But you have to keep in mind that as far as non-video gaming media is concerned, most of these venues are much older (films, and particularly literature) and it shouldn’t be taking this long. This is so true, in fact, that Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling caused a bit of a stir when she stated in one of her interviews back in 2007 that Albus Dumbledore, one of her best written and more complex characters, was, in fact, gay. It’s a bit mind-boggling that people still have issues with this when it comes to literature. Unlike the other forms of art, literature has always been the grounds for social progression and change. Yet, gay characters are rare in popular literature of today.

In films, it’s even more rare: it was only recently (five or six years ago, I believe) that we saw the first truly gay-themed film hit nationwide theaters in the form of Brokeback Mountain. But since, not even a peep has been heard, and the situation has reached a point where gay-themed films are even being banned/not given funding for distribution (“I Love You Philip Morris” is a perfect example). Television, on the other hand, has become more progressive on the subject, and believe it or not, it’s not the gay/gay-friendly channels like LOGO and Bravo that have been at the forefront of this change. It’s daytime television that has, mysteriously (and not so mysteriously), been implementing deep, well written gay characters and storylines into their shows. The biggest trendsetters of all are American daytime soap operas.

 

But all in all, the laws that protect homosexuals from hate crimes, that provide equal rights as a citizen, etc. are not as widely implemented as they should be. The non-gaming media is falling severely behind, and gay role models are hard to find. This can be problematic for today’s gay youth, who has to struggle with fear of their own sexuality.

In the Gaming World -

Not everything in the gaming world is peachy, either, but lately, video game developers have been coming out in support of LGBT rights, creating deeply developed and likeable gay characters, and in the case of some developers, allowing the player to express his or her sexuality at will within the game universe. No other company is at the forefront of video game LGBT rights more than Canadian-based developer, Bioware. Originally a small company, Bioware is now one of Electronic Arts’ biggest assets and their games are guaranteed multimillion sellers. You would imagine that this would force restrictions on the creative minds at Bioware that require pandering to a majority, but Bioware has done anything but in this case. This isn’t new, mind you, as for their games of last generation (Xbox, PS2, and Gamecube era), they released Jade Empire where you were able to romance another male character if you were male and romance another female character if you were female. Their immensely popular Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic too has gay content, as it features a lesbian Jedi as a possible party member for the player. But these efforts, though ahead of their time, were superficial.

Back in 2007, Bioware made the decision to release Mass Effect, a spectacular game set in a Star Wars-like, futuristic universe, and despite getting immense critical acclaim and gaining worldwide financial success, it was attacked by the conservative media for its inclusion of a somewhat graphic sex scene. Oddly enough, while Fox News ran an entire segment on the game, most of the conservative and even liberal press completely ignored Bioware’s next release: Dragon Age: Origins. Unlike Mass Effect, Dragon Age: Origins actually allows both the male or female protagonist to meet and romance characters of the same sex, culminating in a scene that is probably twice as graphic as the one found in the original ME. I played DA: O and I loved it, but even then, it wasn’t quite what I had hoped in the sense of equality. The biggest problem was that the male/male option was Zevran, a sexually open elf who is probably less gay/bisexual/pansexual and more of a sexual opportunist than anything. The female protagonist definitely got the better end of the deal, having the chance to romance Leliana, a much better character than Zevran. This is also true of the Mass Effect series where, up to the third game, only the female Commander Shepard was allowed to romance a partner of the same sex.

 

It was early last year where Bioware really went the distance with the sequel to Dragon Age, Dragon Age II. Wanting to step up their game, the Dragon Age team included two possible same-sex partners for each protagonist (both the male and the female), giving gay gamers the power of choice. For me, I played the male Hawke and had him become involved with the brooding, dark mage Anders, who, like my protagonist, was also male. What made it the most interesting was how tastefully it was all implemented into the game’s world: nobody in the Dragon Age universe seems to have an issue with homosexuality. In fact, the only time anyone ever complained about my main character dating Anders was when one of the other main characters stated that Anders was “unstable.” It wasn’t about his sexuality, it was about his personality, which is something that we in our real world still sometimes don’t get. Better yet, I found something I had never found before: a gay hero. Being able to play as Hawke, Champion of Kirkwall and have him be gay was a world of difference from playing Commander Shepard in Bioware’s other series, Mass Effect (at that point). I’ll be honest and admit that I like Mass Effect more than I like Dragon Age as a whole, but Commander Shepard never felt quite “mine.” I had all these choices that I could make, to alter the protagonist right down to his facial features, all in the hopes of creating a deeply personal, engaging story and yet I had a disconnect with Shepard that I never had with Hawke. Shepard’s inability to be gay kept me, at parts, from being able to relate to him. That’s a bit problematic for a series whose biggest selling point is immersion of the player into Shepard’s shoes. My version of Hawke was a whole ‘nother game, however. Hawke is simply a more well rounded option between the two protagonists. 



This was rectified in the third Mass Effect game, which released earlier this year, and feature two same sex romance options for both, male and female Commander Shepard. While late, the addition was nice, and the game features very touching moments between the protagonist and his or her lover. Romancing Liara or continuing a romance with her as female Shepard creates a wonderful depth to the game’s story, as does romancing the Kaidan Alenko as male Shepard. Furthermore, two entire homosexual characters were added in the form of Steve Cortez, a shuttle pilot for the Normandy, and Samantha Traynor, a comm specialist. The two are surprisingly well written, and in the case of Cortez, the game writers even mention gay marriage as a matter-of-fact type of deal.

Bioware isn’t the only developer pushing the boundaries, mind you. UK-based developer Lionhead Studios included gay marriage as an option in Fable and Fable II, and they upped the ante for Fable III by including gay adoption (which I can guarantee you will be the next subject of discussion once the pointless gay marriage panic passes). The not-so-recently released Fallout: New Vegas allows for the protagonist to play as either gay or straight and to engage in special conversations/romance with members of either sex, and the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim allows the protagonist to enter a same sex marriage. This isn’t exclusive to western developers either, however. Konami, most famously known for publishing Hideo Kojima’s multimillion selling series, Metal Gear Solid, did it much earlier. The 2001 release of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty saw the introduction of openly bisexual character Vamp, and the relationship between Solid Snake and his “friend” Otacon borders on something more than platonic with each new addition to the series. The Persona series which became more well known last gaming generation on the PS2 featured gay content in its 1999 release of Persona 2: Innocent Sin. This trend continues onto the fourth installment of the Persona series, which features a character that struggles with his sexuality. The recently released Dragon’s Dogma, a western RPG by way of Japan, also features the option for same sex marriage. Even Grand Theft Auto, a series notorious for its over-the-top violence created to appease the straight male demographic, not-so-recently released a piece of downloadable content called “The Ballad of Gay Tony,” which centers around – you guessed it – a gay character.

This isn’t all completely secluded to male/male homosexuality. Female/female homosexuality has seen a growth in video games that involve less pandering to straight male audiences and give us more well developed characters. Liara T’Soni from Mass Effect is a well written, incredibly deep character who female Commander Shepard can romance (don’t try to argue with me that she’s “monogendered” because you won’t win). On the Japanese side of the market, Final Fantasy XIII hints at the likely possibility that two of its female protagonists, Fang and Vanille, are a romantic couple (they were originally a male and female couple, but were changed and the romantic overtones remain). Transgender issues are a more obscure subject, unfortunately, but transgender characters do exist in video games. The issue with that last part, however, isn’t the existence but how transgenderism is usually handled in the gaming medium. So far, it’s not quite where it should be, but hopefully we will see the gaming industry making great strides in the future.

 

As for what the future holds in LGBT rights for video games? The future only looks brighter. The critical and commercial success of Dragon Age II despite its strong gay content is probably the reason the Mass Effect team felt safe enough to push the boundaries yet again. With developers adding more and more content that blends the preferences of both straight and gay video game players and successfully manage to make money, you can bet that the gaming industry is getting the message of inclusion.

Video games are no longer only for children, and as such, it’s time they developed and gave our less perfect reality a concrete message about human equality. This is something that not only developers understand but that game reviewers and critics alike are picking up on. Same-sex relationships in Dragon Age II became a subject of heated discussion in the Bioware forums, prompting Ben “Yahtzee” of Zero Punctuation fame (and if you don’t watch Zero Punction, start now!) to throw in his two cents. Eloquent as always, he wrote a wonderful article on the importance of equality in video games and his experience, as a straight male gamer, with the gay relationship of his male Hawke with male Anders. Not everyone in the gaming media is as progressive, but Yahtzee sets a wonderful precedent on critically examining a video game when it comes to difficult subject matter.

All in all, although somewhat slow to get the ball rolling, video games are starting to outpace even popular literature in the subject of LGBT rights, and that’s a huge achievement if there was one for a medium that is barely thirty years old.

Gratuitous Post of Hot Male Video Game Characters:

sodomymcscurvylegs:

Because I’m totally for more objectification of virtual men! *Innocent Whistle*

 

Added more. :)

Gratuitous Post of Hot Male Video Game Characters:

sodomymcscurvylegs:

Because I’m totally for more objectification of virtual men! *Innocent Whistle*













 







 



 

sodomymcscurvylegs:

I live in a world of video games and hot men. That’s the only way to live. My favorite thing is when the two cross over. <3

Reblogging myself, because it’s still true.