Star Wars the Old Republic has added same-sex relationships to the game and that has apparently sparked a big controversy. The relationships are restricted to a single planet, so they aren't game-wide, and that has created charges of segregation.
I haven't kept up with the game, but apparently there are protests from many gamers about the inclusion, too.
I guess I'm most surprised that there is controversy around this change. I'm probably naive, but it seems like a Star Wars game should be more about lightsabers and blasters and less about relationships - regardless of sexual orientation.
Anyone playing this? Anyone have a sense as to what's going on?
QuoteDespite vocal opposition from thousands of angry gamers, a software developer has added support for homosexual relationships to the game "Star Wars: The Old Republic" -- albeit just on a single planet.
"As we have said in the past, allowing same gender romance is something we are very supportive of," wrote BioWare's Jeff Hickman, executive producer of "Star Wars: The Old Republic," in a blog post last week. He revealed that same-gender romances (or SGR) would be allowed on the planet Makeb, and the company is "pursuing more SGR options in the future."
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2013/01/14/star-wars-game-segregates-gay-characters-on-gay-planet/
I don't see the point of any of this: Why bother to introduce such a(n almost entirely cosmetic) feature in the first place? And why are so many apparently freaking out over it? People are strange.
Quote from: LongBlade on January 15, 2013, 09:37:20 AM
Star Wars the Old Republic has added same-sex relationships to the game and that has apparently sparked a big controversy. The relationships are restricted to a single planet, so they aren't game-wide, and that has created charges of segregation.
I haven't kept up with the game, but apparently there are protests from many gamers about the inclusion, too.
I guess I'm most surprised that there is controversy around this change. I'm probably naive, but it seems like a Star Wars game should be more about lightsabers and blasters and less about relationships - regardless of sexual orientation.
Anyone playing this? Anyone have a sense as to what's going on?
QuoteDespite vocal opposition from thousands of angry gamers, a software developer has added support for homosexual relationships to the game "Star Wars: The Old Republic" -- albeit just on a single planet.
"As we have said in the past, allowing same gender romance is something we are very supportive of," wrote BioWare's Jeff Hickman, executive producer of "Star Wars: The Old Republic," in a blog post last week. He revealed that same-gender romances (or SGR) would be allowed on the planet Makeb, and the company is "pursuing more SGR options in the future."
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2013/01/14/star-wars-game-segregates-gay-characters-on-gay-planet/
Not meaning to be cynical about anything - but what is it they say about any publicity ?
Odd that Fox News' outrage seems to be aimed at the 'segregation' and not at the Aquaman-ness of the characters
Star Sims 3 ..... "Honey where did I leave my light saber I am late for a battle"....... :o
Not sure that is really Star Wars anymore...... can we all just keep it light sabers, Jedi, Sith, saving the galaxy and stuff etc... do you really want drama.
PE
Bioware has always been big on allowing players to develop relationships in their RPGs, including same sex relationships. Any of the relationship stuff is completely optional and doesn't impact the core game. You can usually quash any relationship early on with a dialogue option or two. Even if you pursue a relationship, it's all PG-13 stuff- a cutscene of characters kissing and rolling around in their skivvies.
Quote from: PanzersEast on January 15, 2013, 09:52:18 AM
Star Sims 3 ..... "Honey where did I leave my light saber I am late for a battle"....... :o
Not sure that is really Star Wars anymore...... can we all just keep it light sabers, Jedi, Sith, saving the galaxy and stuff etc... do you really want drama.
PE
Well the original trilogy did have an incestuous relationship between two of the lead characters. Plus there was all that sexual tension between R2 and 3PO.
Quote from: mirth on January 15, 2013, 10:02:51 AM
Well the original trilogy did have an incestuous relationship between two of the lead characters. Plus there was all that sexual tension between R2 and 3PO.
Well in a game I just want to kill, build, conquer, and blow stuff up ala my avatar, I am already married. :P
PE
Quote from: mirth on January 15, 2013, 10:02:51 AM
Well the original trilogy did have an incestuous relationship between two of the lead characters. Plus there was all that sexual tension between R2 and 3PO.
<chuckle>
It wasn't incestuous anymore than me wanting to kill my sister makes me a murderer.
Of course I would rather off my sister than boff her.
Quote from: bayonetbrant on January 15, 2013, 09:49:55 AM
Odd that Fox News' outrage seems to be aimed at the 'segregation' and not at the Aquaman-ness of the characters
Actually, upon reading this that was the first thing that caused me to shake my head. If you are going to add same-sex characters, just do it. Forcing them to be on one planet makes it very weird and basically outcasts the characters, in a sense.
Let me put it this way, if the headline had read "SWTOR adds [insert minority or religious affiliation] characters, but only on one planet," the negative aspect of that seems much clearer.
By why do it at all? Don't people ROLEPLAY in a ROLEPLAYING game? If two characters want to claim to be married, they can do so without some official game mechanic.
There are an awful lot of boys pretending to be girls anyway and there always has been.
Doesn't take much to get the reactionaries howling at the moon. People do it for fun.
Maybe they should have a planet where pretend girls can marry pretend boys and pretend to be Jedi
in a pretend Universe. That's a fart in a stockyard if there ever was one.
Quote from: bayonetbrant on January 15, 2013, 09:49:55 AM
Odd that Fox News' outrage seems to be aimed at the 'segregation' and not at the Aquaman-ness of the characters
Get with the times, Bubba.
It's the New 52, and Aquaman has a smokin' hot girlfriend.
Quote from: Longdan on January 15, 2013, 03:23:33 PM
There are an awful lot of boys pretending to be girls anyway and there always has been.
I have had a number of female characters but I have never pretended to be female.
One of the strangest moments I ever had was in Dark Age of Camelot where some dude kept pushing his toon up to me and hitting on me. Bizarre doesn't quite capture the absurdity - and the humor - of the experience, because I kept telling him I was a dude. And yet, he was more interested in my blonde.
Quote from: LongBlade on January 15, 2013, 03:24:29 PM
Quote from: bayonetbrant on January 15, 2013, 09:49:55 AM
Odd that Fox News' outrage seems to be aimed at the 'segregation' and not at the Aquaman-ness of the characters
Get with the times, Bubba.
It's the New 52, and Aquaman has a smokin' hot girlfriend.
He's had Mera long before the New 52.
And even on TV (like Smallville).
And yeah, she's boiling hot sexy redhead. :D
As for the relationship, don't they mean they have an NPC for the PCs to have a same-sex relationship with?
Players RPing together as a married couple was not the bothersome point after all.
Also, they've already had same sex sex in previous games, and this one doesn't even have sex at all! :P
Quote from: Tpek on January 15, 2013, 03:31:43 PM
Quote from: LongBlade on January 15, 2013, 03:24:29 PM
Quote from: bayonetbrant on January 15, 2013, 09:49:55 AM
Odd that Fox News' outrage seems to be aimed at the 'segregation' and not at the Aquaman-ness of the characters
Get with the times, Bubba.
It's the New 52, and Aquaman has a smokin' hot girlfriend.
He's had Mera long before the New 52.
And even on TV (like Smallville).
And yeah, she's boiling hot sexy redhead. :D
Thank you. These heathens apparently fail to appreciate the ubercoolness of Aquaman.
So how do you tell gender in the Mon Calamari? Just...uh...you know...curious....
You rub them. If the product is milt then male. Mon Calamari caviar then female.
I gotta agree with whoever posted this sentiment above. Either introduce this whole hog, or not at all. Putting homosexuals on only one planet implies there is something "wrong" with them.
But what's more difficult to understand is why ANYONE would want to get married in a video game. I play video games to get AWAY from my wife! ::)
Quote from: Toonces on January 15, 2013, 08:50:29 PM
I gotta agree with whoever posted this sentiment above. Either introduce this whole hog, or not at all. Putting homosexuals on only one planet implies there is something "wrong" with them.
But what's more difficult to understand is why ANYONE would want to get married in a video game. I play video games to get AWAY from my wife! ::)
Who said anything about getting married?
We're talking about sticking to the better parts of a man-woman (or same-sex) relationship instead! :D
So many ways to go here. Is the Gay World just gay or do they tolerate Straits/Bi's as well? Are there just Males/males or do they also include girls/girls? If this is they're own Gay World, are they there because they want to or are they confined there? I'll leave out all the possible references to Uranus I could throw in here.
It should have just been a setting that somebody could tweak in the core options, and not "quarantined" to one planet. That geographic limit calls more attention to it, and in a weird way, than just burying it deep in some sub-setting menu.
As for checking gender on a Mon Calamari, I think the only reliable way is to look at the Adam's Apple...
Quote from: Martok on January 15, 2013, 09:45:16 AM
I don't see the point of any of this: Why bother to introduce such a(n almost entirely cosmetic) feature in the first place? And why are so many apparently freaking out over it? People are strange.
I've been stumped by the large concentration on purely cosmetic crap in MMOs over the years, too. You may recall one of my big complaints about Star Trek Online being that the post-release development had a
huge focus on cosmetic junk, much of it due to adamant "community" members stalking every poll about what they want implemented next. I suppose the rest of us were actually playing the game instead of wandering the forums, whining about wanting playable Catiaan 'Cat People' (when the Klingon side of the game was & is still far from unfinished!) and yet more cosmetic outfitting features (was already huge at launch).
Point being.. The Role-Playing is strong with these nerds. Some of them don't even really play the game, just dick around in public areas with emotes and RP. That's fine as long as it's not bothering other people, but these online 'Live-Action' RP'ers also seem to be extremely vocal & focused on getting
more purely cosmetic crap, when the user base is asked about future additions, and get a surprising amount of stuff granted to them.
^LoL.
I haven't played it in a while, definitely not the Klingon.
But that would explain why playable Romulans still aren't implemented :P
Quote from: Tpek on January 17, 2013, 01:50:51 PM
But that would explain why playable Romulans still aren't implemented :P
Probably because they have been too busy creating "recreational" outfits, like bikinis and leisure suits, for the RP'ers to wear.
Quote from: Nefaro on January 17, 2013, 02:44:16 PM
Quote from: Tpek on January 17, 2013, 01:50:51 PM
But that would explain why playable Romulans still aren't implemented :P
Probably because they have been too busy creating "recreational" outfits, like bikinis and leisure suits, for the RP'ers to wear.
Well, no good Star Trek MMO wouldn't be complete without Worf and Picard wearing nothing but a G-string! :D
Quote from: Tpek on January 17, 2013, 03:22:12 PM\Well, no good Star Trek MMO wouldn't be complete without Worf and Picard wearing nothing but a G-string! :D
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1.cpcache.com%2Fproduct%2F499623208%2Fklingon_emblem_classic_thong.jpg%3Fcolor%3DWhite%26amp%3Bheight%3D350%26amp%3Bwidth%3D350&hash=aea24457bd49f761e71d404e05264decf27c89ca)
Live Long and Change Often. ;D
Quote from: bayonetbrant on January 17, 2013, 03:34:25 PM
Quote from: Tpek on January 17, 2013, 03:22:12 PM\Well, no good Star Trek MMO wouldn't be complete without Worf and Picard wearing nothing but a G-string! :D
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1.cpcache.com%2Fproduct%2F499623208%2Fklingon_emblem_classic_thong.jpg%3Fcolor%3DWhite%26amp%3Bheight%3D350%26amp%3Bwidth%3D350&hash=aea24457bd49f761e71d404e05264decf27c89ca)
Tell me this real!
Quote from: Martok on January 17, 2013, 04:40:14 PM
Tell me this real!
http://www.cafepress.com/+klingon+underwear-panties
Quote from: PanzersEast on January 15, 2013, 09:52:18 AM
"Honey where did I leave my light saber I am late for a battle"
Sweetie, is that Your light sabre or Mine? ;)
Quote from: Martok on January 17, 2013, 04:40:14 PM
Quote from: bayonetbrant on January 17, 2013, 03:34:25 PM
Quote from: Tpek on January 17, 2013, 03:22:12 PM\Well, no good Star Trek MMO wouldn't be complete without Worf and Picard wearing nothing but a G-string! :D
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1.cpcache.com%2Fproduct%2F499623208%2Fklingon_emblem_classic_thong.jpg%3Fcolor%3DWhite%26amp%3Bheight%3D350%26amp%3Bwidth%3D350&hash=aea24457bd49f761e71d404e05264decf27c89ca)
Tell me this real!
If it's not and someone has the rights to that image, we can make it real.
I cancelled my subscription. I play games to get away from politics not have it shoved in my face when I am looking to escape.
There are worse things to have shoved in your face. Just ask Elton John.
I have played MMOs. Don't want to "enjoy" the cybersex aspect of it, but if others do enjoy it, I'm good with that.
What I'm not pleased to see is how ham-handed this has been handled.
They've managed to piss off both sides of the issue at the same time. Kinda short-sighted if you ask me.
Maybe they were hoping someone would connect the dots and make a comparison between this lone planet and the few US states which recognize gay marriage.
If that's the case, they need to hire better PR because that message was lost.
I think the problem lies more in the fact that this is supposed to be for a wide audience
and matters of sexuality are probably inappropriate for this venue. Kids learn enough
crap at home without having it in games ....especially when handled in such a strange manner.
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages1.wikia.nocookie.net%2F__cb20120531151661%2Folympians%2Fimages%2Fthumb%2F9%2F9a%2FRegret_-_those_were_the_droids_i_was_looking_for.jpg%2F600px-Regret_-_those_were_the_droids_i_was_looking_for.jpg&hash=ead885f8d0832b34a0ec5ace414103317dc9eaec)
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.distractionassassins.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fpodcasts%2F%2F2011%2F12%2Funemployed.jpg&hash=d5e4b41517f7afaf8b0ef23ca78c2f45995d585c)
Quote from: bayonetbrant on January 17, 2013, 04:56:08 PM
Quote from: Martok on January 17, 2013, 04:40:14 PM
Tell me this real!
http://www.cafepress.com/+klingon+underwear-panties
Frickin' sweet! Thanks
brant!
(Also: Goddangit, I left out the word "is". Sonofabitch.)
Quote from: Longdan on January 18, 2013, 12:16:05 AM
I think the problem lies more in the fact that this is supposed to be for a wide audience
and matters of sexuality are probably inappropriate for this venue. Kids learn enough
crap at home without having it in games ....especially when handled in such a strange manner.
Agreed.
Since this is becoming more of an issue these days, I decided to devote a few brain cycles to it and come up with a concrete opinion on it.
To me, it just makes sense. Think about it: Starting romantic relationships with your companions is a key part of BW games since Baldurs Gate. I find the idea of starting a relationship with a companion of the same sex unappealing, so logic dictates the opposite for a gay or lesbian person. Being gay or lesbian puts you in a small minority as a rule of thumb, but that doesn't mean that minority isn't important to some degree. Why deny homosexual people content that is likely extremely easy to implement, probably as easy as changing a flag. Going forward, for companies like BW, they need to have a non-intrusive check of a players sexual orientation before a romance begins. Simple solution, easily implemented, and it makes everyone happy. Lets not make a mountain of a mole hill.
Now, here comes a catch. I don't think games like ToR should make political statements about 20th century Earth. I am sure we are all feed up with various people trying to shove agendas down our throats and many of us don't want that stuff creeping into our play time. That being said, implementing same sex relationships is rather logical and I really don't see this as a political agenda. If I were gay, I would want same sex relationships because that would increase my enjoyment of the game.
Bottom line: Lets leave politics out of games in fantasy worlds like the SW universe, that includes content that is pro and anti-whatever. Not allowing same sex relationships is a political statment in the other direction IMO.
Hey, Swatter. Welcome!
Dammit Swatter, stop saying what I would have said better than I would have said it!
Oh, and hi. ;D
Thank you and Thank you!
so LB can get married to aquaman in the star wars universe.
so much for that franchise.