[Toru-chan]

Does Sean Dahlberg hate gays? Does Bioware?

Dealing with sexuality and religion in video games has become something of a tender subject, but Bioware seems to be the latest company to fumble in its dealings with the topic. It seems that the terms "gay," "lesbian," and even "homosexual" were stricken from acceptable words in the official Bioware forums, and threads talking about creating gay, lesbian, transgendered or bisexual characters were shut down.

But Bioware fans know that while the terms may not exist in Star Wars, gay and lesbian characters certainly do. It was a pretty open secret that Juhanni, a woman in Knights of the Old Republic, had a female lover. Juhanni would respond to your character romantically if you were a woman. So Bioware can create lesbian characters, but discussions of gay or lesbian characters are verboten? Classy.

The curt response from community manager Sean Dahlberg is telling. "As I have stated before, these are terms that do not exist in Star Wars. Thread closed." That's apparently all the discussion Bioware was willing to have on the issue.

http://arstechnica.c...-characters.ars

Ironically on the Internets Sean Dahlberg's behaviour is known as "Butthurt".

[Vesuvius]

Hmmm... Tis interesting you have a picture of Ahmedenijad in the post being that he's the one saying that "There are no gays in Iran."

Thing is, there are plenty of gays in Iran, they don't parade it the way the West is allowed to. However, it's not looked at as gay in Iran or any of the middle east or Mediterranean areas, men are simply "good friends", not gay. It's very much like the Greeks or Samurai in their aspects of homosexuality. Women are for childbirth, men are for pleasure. (This info comes from a guy I talked to before he left off for Iraq again.)

Back to topic though, Atton Rand and Bao-Dur in KotOR II didn't really come off as entirely straight. Atton made a few comments on women during the game, but it was hard to tell at times what he was if your character was male. Also, Visas showed ambiguity if your character was female and you had enough influence points with her.

[Toru-chan]

Hmmm... Tis interesting you have a picture of Ahmedenijad in the post being that he's the one saying that "There are no gays in Iran." Thing is, there are plenty of gays in Iran, they don't parade it the way the West is allowed to. However, it's not looked at as gay in Iran or any of the middle east or Mediterranean areas, men are simply "good friends", not gay. It's very much like the Greeks or Samurai in their aspects of homosexuality. Women are for childbirth, men are for pleasure. (This info comes from a guy I talked to before he left off for Iraq again.)

I think Dinny and the ayatollahs are the only ones that don't know. I suspect there are many gays in the Star Wars universe too... not to mention Threepio!

Back to topic though, Atton Rand and Bao-Dur in KotOR II didn't really come off as entirely straight. Atton made a few comments on women during the game, but it was hard to tell at times what he was if your character was male. Also, Visas showed ambiguity if your character was female and you had enough influence points with her.

The funny thing is from what I've heard about George Lucas' political beliefs he's pretty open-minded. I doubt he'd have a problem with it, though I can imagine Hasbro might. Well too late. How many kids got a 3PO doll thirty years ago who have now grown up and turned to the rainbow side? Well, get with the times people. Even Obama has an openly-gay first dog.


http://www.zimbio.co...y+Gay+Dog+White

[Eagle]

I suspect there are many gays in the Star Wars universe too...

Yeah, I guess so: NSFW!

But on the other hand who says that R2D2 and Threepio are male? They are robots in first place and so have no gender at all. Threepios voice could also be a darker sounding womans voice.

[Vesuvius]

But on the other hand who says that R2D2 and Threepio are male? They are robots in first place and so have no gender at all.

R2D2 is definitely male.

Don't you remember the scene in the OT where he's always erecting that metal thing into that hole in various computers? He did it on the Death Star a bunch of times. He did it on cloud city, and I think he did it again on Endor. If that doesn't scream Star Wars porn, I don't know what does!

And remember when it happened on Cloud City and Chewie pulled him out of it... R2 was smoking! He was smoking after sex!

[Gobbler]

Don't you remember the scene in the OT where he's always erecting that metal thing into that hole in various computers? He did it on the Death Star a bunch of times. He did it on cloud city, and I think he did it again on Endor. If that doesn't scream Star Wars porn, I don't know what does!

And remember when it happened on Cloud City and Chewie pulled him out of it... R2 was smoking! He was smoking after sex!

Oh... oh god... I... I'll never be able to get that out of my head when watching Star Wars again.

This post has been edited by Gobbler: 21 May 2009 - 04:11 PM

[Vesuvius]

I was tainted with these thoughts too a while back when Conan O'Brian did a number of SW clips for things that should be pointed out about the trilogy.

[Toru-chan]

Don't you remember the scene in the OT where he's always erecting that metal thing into that hole in various computers? He did it on the Death Star a bunch of times.

OMG! In 1977 R2 f###ed the Death Star in front of millions of smiling families AND THEIR CHILDREN and no one realized at the time! What til Fox news finds out about this!

[Eagle]

R2D2 is definitely male.

Don't you remember the scene in the OT where he's always erecting that metal thing into that hole in various computers? He did it on the Death Star a bunch of times. He did it on cloud city, and I think he did it again on Endor. If that doesn't scream Star Wars porn, I don't know what does!

And remember when it happened on Cloud City and Chewie pulled him out of it... R2 was smoking! He was smoking after sex!

LoL!

No, that was just a cord needle. Women always got something like that in their bags.

[njamilla]

Now, hold on. Artoo could be versatile! You don't know until you ask him. Or, you could just see what happens.

Just a little reality check from an expert on the subject.

[TruJade]

LOL WOW

Why are R2 and C3PO
they only characters in question?

Ki-Adi Mundi looks like he might
have batted for the other team

[Vesuvius]

Ki-Adi Mundi looks like he might
have batted for the other team

Ahh, yes. I almost forgot about him. Phallus-Head!

I always knew he was symbolic of a Catholic Priest.

[TruJade]

PHALLUS-HEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

that is soo hilarious

[KurganX]

I think all Science Fiction serieses should focus on nothing but sexuality politics, since I find nothing more entertaining to think about constantly!

Remember, a fictional franchise, especially one about another galaxy from the past, is "bigoted" if it doesn't put every earth minority front and center and in a positive light!


Insert joke here about "Jabba's Gay Uncle" and "that guy with the phallic nose near Docking Bay 94" since all the "gay droid jokes" have been used already.

This post has been edited by KurganX: 29 July 2009 - 07:16 PM

[civilian_number_two]

Quote

I think all Science Fiction serieses should focus on nothing but sexuality politics, since I find nothing more entertaining to think about constantly!

Surely that's not the issue being discussed.

Quote

It seems that the terms "gay," "lesbian," and even "homosexual" were stricken from acceptable words in the official Bioware forums, and threads talking about creating gay, lesbian, transgendered or bisexual characters were shut down.

But Bioware fans know that while the terms may not exist in Star Wars, gay and lesbian characters certainly do. It was a pretty open secret that Juhanni, a woman in Knights of the Old Republic, had a female lover. Juhanni would respond to your character romantically if you were a woman. So Bioware can create lesbian characters, but discussions of gay or lesbian characters are verboten? Classy.

The curt response from community manager Sean Dahlberg is telling. "As I have stated before, these are terms that do not exist in Star Wars. Thread closed." That's apparently all the discussion Bioware was willing to have on the issue.

Surely THAT is. Nobody here brought up the notion that the FICTIONAL world of the game should be force-fed various minorities and sexualities out of some sort of political correctness. What was brought up here is Bioware's insistence that references to homosexuality, even if not in any pejorative sense, will be universally and strictly censored on their forums (even if a reference to lesbianism was not censored from one of their games). This is not as you say a discussion of the FICTIONAL world of Bioware's Star Wars games, but of the REAL world of Biaoware's games forums. You may end your false dichotomy and continue, if you like, to defend the company's decision on whatever factual basis you deem feel you have at your disposal.