GayWired Analyzes Mass Effect Sex Scene, Shows Tiny Dancer Some Love
GayWired has added their coverage to the reporting surrounding the semi-controversy about the optional lesbian sex sequences in Bioware's upcoming space-RPG Mass Effect. While that's all well and good, particularly because it's another gay-oriented media outlet examining the issue, we were particularly flattered that they contacted our own Tiny Dancer to provide his input regarding the whole thing:
David Edison, Associate Editor of GayGamer.net, tells LesbiaNation.com: "...While male same-sex content in gaming is on the rise (see Bully's boy-on-boy kisses, for instance), and heteronormative values of traditionally ideal male sexuality do have dual-appeal as gay sex symbols you might see in a Falcon or Titan video, I'm of the opinion that most, but not all, of that increase is more about general societal openness and lessening of anti-gay reactiveness rather than any real flat-out interest in generating male-male gay game content."
"...While it's nice to see same-sex relations in mainstream media, it's hard to get behind this one as anything remotely progressive," Edison continues. "I see titillation. The exclusion of male same-sex possibilities clearly marks this as another heterosexual fantasy rather than any kind of step forward. That said, if there was equal play opportunity for both genders in the game, it would go a long way toward evening the score, and would definitely show up on our radar as something positive and desired."
The article itself does a nice job of summarizing both the content certain parties are objecting to, as well as the history of such content in other games. While it doesn't really provide any new perspectives to those of us who've been following this for a while, it does an excellent job of catching newcomers up to the whole thing.
New Xbox Video Game Features Controversial Lesbian Sex Scene [GayWired]
Boy of Tomorrow
Posted to Miscellany on 22 September 2007
· Comments (8)
Other stuff like this: bioware, expert witness, fear effect, lesbian sex, mass effect, no man love for us, tiny dancer
Just because this title contains lesbian content and does not include gay male content seems insufficient reason to dismiss it as titilation.
At this point the only public information available is that this content exists. How about evaluating it at release and then making a better evaluation of how progressive or non-progressive it is?
Honestly, I adore Bioware madly, but I never played Bioware games for the romantic possibilities. I don't read romance novels, so why would I play a video game just because of the romance in it? I play it because the plot is awesome, and the games are fun.
You can put me down, anyway, as at least one lesbian who likes following the lesbian romantic plots, and is thrilled that she has that option, but once again, that's not why I'm looking forward to the game.
I'm looking forward to Mass Effect because I loved Knights of the Old Republic, and I loved Jade Empire, and I have faith in Bioware's ability to produce a repeat performance.
I agree with Kitae.
More over, the information I've been hearing is that the "female" NPC in the female/female encounter (and in the male/female-alien encounter) is actually from an asexual race who merely share certain physical characteristics with human females. That actually sets it somewhere outside the standards for such encounters.
All that said, so what if it is just a bit of titillation? Isn't that what most everything (especially anything of a "romantic" nature) is in most games? Barring, perhaps, the Sims (and MMOs where you're talking about two real people), "relationships" in games tend to really just be a little bit of fun/tease/titillation.
I for one am tired of seeing the mainstream market include lesbian sex because it appeals to straight men, but shun gay sex because it repulses straight men.
Of COURSE it's a double standard, and of course it should be upsetting. There's nothing here about the game, i dont think thats the point. but the point is that it's easy for creators of media to use this double standard and not get called out on it.
i think asking gaywired or gaygamer or whomever in the gay media NOT to talk about this is a strange angle for a gay man or woman to take...don't we WANT to see gay romance included in games that include romance? Especially if they include lesbian romance? i'm sorry, but making a character with round hips and buxom breasts and having her hook up with a woman is lesbian sex no matter how convenient it is to say "oh no, it's a neutral gendered alien that just LOOKS like a hot chick."
if so, how exactly do we think we'll get there, if not by calling out developers who take the easy, "spice channel" way out?
it is not really a big deal, but it is not really cool on bioware's part either. kind of sick of seeing a fratboys priorities everywhere on games and tv and stuff.
but way to go gaygamer for being the ones they aksed congratulations!
As I said in the other Mass Effect thread, do not write Bioware off so soon. For God's sake, people, they created THE FIRST LBGT character in Star Wars history (Juhani, by the way)! The lesbian sex scene scandal, as it will be called in the future, is only because there's a flash of boob and our society can't handle nudity. We much prefer bodies exploding in an eruption of gore and bone to an expression of love between two people. Go figure. Will there be a male-on-male scene in Mass Effect? I have no way of knowing for sure. Do I trust Bioware? Yes.
I hope you guys mention something about this the next time you interview someone at Bioware, because they really seem to be taking steps backwards.
First you had Jade Empire where you had a male/male romance, but I read the kiss wasn't shown unlike straight romances (don't know about the lesbian ones) and now they cut out the male/male romance altogether.
They're just hurting themselves by alienating part of their audiance.
My only problem is that Bioware has a history of creating these "incidental" lesbian relationships in their games. It pisses me off considering how highly they tout their treatment of women in games.