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[Garrett Hawke]

Its humanity/natural vs transhumanism. Can they mix and what's the breaking point, when is to much, to much.

And yet Deus Ex does this without sexbots going crazy while the male hero kills them for it.

 

[Chase17]

It's such a ridiculous term as most if not all humans biologically enjoy and engage in the checking out of the opposite or same sex.

How the fuck do you think you found your wife/husband/partner/current sexual partner? Part of it was with your eyes, but surely hopefully an even larger part through feelings and emotions.

It's more about how the male oriented point of view dominate visual media. Mulvey, who coined the term, has a pretty interesting articles about it.

Because the scenes fit the context of the game and the female characters are otherwise well written?

Reducing them to just "sex scenes" is just dishonest. There is a world of difference between GOW3 "press X to hump" and this.

This one is pretty bad (spoilers) rather then having an interesting reaction about Geralt's decisions it boils down to this.

 

[Sh1ner]

So does Dragon Age but that isn't sexist.

Yet the quality of the Witcher and Game of Thrones characters are much more interesting. You can even argue that in Game of Thrones is having a number of great houses in control by woman:

Grandmother / Margery have the most agency in the Tyrell house
Cersei has the most authority/agency for the longest period in house Lannister,
Danaerys - most agency and authority, has been control of many cities, is judge jury and executioner.
Dorne - if your caught up who's making all the big plays?

Now look at the man, have you noticed that most of the men have repeatedly lost more in power or outright been killed for the main houses of Westoros. I would say that the show is doing a pretty good job of treating both sexes pretty shit.

The Witcher series is all about supporting a female lead who is going to do something huge, she needs your help. The women in the witcher also have many authority positions and treat the main character as a fuckboy. They seem pretty empowered and have a strong sense of agency. I absolutely love Triss characterization from the series. I truly empathize with her as a character. The same can be said about Geralt.

If knocking a woman down from empowered positions is considered sexist, your show is going to be full of boring characters.

 

[KonradLaw]

I wonder what TCR is hoping to gain here. The debate on sexism in games has been one of the more hotly contested ones for a while now, already involving CDPR at that, and TCR isn't contributing anything of value with what comes off as a drive-by comment.

Fishing for free publicity from controversy, to help with the recently launched PC version of Everybody's Gone to the Rapture, which isn't doing all that hot so far in sales, especially compared to their two previous games.

 

[xevis]

I did say exploitation exists, you cropped that out. What I made was a clear differential that not everything can be painted with the same brush. Cases of exploitation have to be looked at and criticised on an individual basis, not used as the standard defacto to go and nuke anything similar (both babes are scantily dressed so any other depiction of nudity has to be a similar problem).

What you're not getting is that exploitation does not preclude consent. Booth babes (probably) consent to be exploited. More than that though, booth babes send a message to the industry, and society in general, that reinforces negative stereotypes about women: that it is OK to treat them like sex objects.

 

[Waingro]

Loving how everybody in this thread keeps ignoring the fact that their favorite serie started with collectable cards of naked female conquests after having sex with them.

Actually, it started years ago with a book called "Miecz Przeznaczenia", but thanks for your concern, gaffer.

 

[Audioboxer]

Is that happening here in the fullest of that general outline? or is the representation not to certain people's liking because it portrays the notion of woman as sexual objects. Even though that's not what the game is saying within the world itself or the seen. Like sometimes people never take things beyond face value and build their case on first impressions alone.

Well there's 6 billion odd people in the world, so reality is anyone can take those general things I've said and say to any given argument I feel one of those so this is sexist. We have to be adults though and focus our efforts wisely. Womens rights in the middle east with not being able to drive, wear what they want and genital mutilation is higher on my effort list.

Priorities. We all have them differently, but one hopes for a fairer and more equal world going forward bigger efforts can go towards things arguably higher up the scale than sex scenes in The Witcher.

What you're not getting is that exploitation does not preclude consent. Booth babes (probably) consent to be exploited. More than that though, booth babes send a message to the industry, and society in general, that reinforces negative stereotypes about women: that it is OK to treat them like sex objects.

Booth babes don't really bother me if they want to do it, but let me assure you I do not treat women like sex objects. Point again being you cannot paint everyone with the same brush. Individuals who treat women poorly are individuals and they deserve all the fire cast down on them.

I can also find companies distasteful for using them at gaming events for all ages, but that again doesn't mean me or even the young teenagers at said events feeling women are sex objects. Shitty people are shitty people. Most of us have to believe our fellow human beings are as sane and kind as us.

For those not they need to be weeded out and dealt with without decent people like me not being able to enjoy sexually stimulating content. If a women dresses at a cosplay event as Quiet and look sexy I'm allowed to appreciate that within limits. Simply looking at her without being obnoxious and staring does not cast me into male gaze or objectifying women territory.

 

[Garrett Hawke]

Fishing for free publicity from controversy, to help with the recently launched PC version of Everybody's Gone to the Rapture, which isn't doing all that hot so far in sales, especially compared to their two previous games.

L m a o

I have spoken to a Chinese Room employee and their entire office culture is based around being human beings from different walks of life with viewpoints that strive to promote the proper culture and diversity of the people who make games, rather than cater to the existing presumed straight male audience. They are not fishing for shit. They believe this stuff, and rightly so.

 

[mclem]

ah, so sex should always be in service of the story. sex just for sex = amoral?

what the fuck happened

When you're writing a story, people are going to discuss why certain scenes were included. And if it's not unreasonable for the conclusion to be "to titillate the audience", that's when it's worth opening this sort of further discussion.

Which doesn't necessarily mean that "to titillate the audience" is a bad thing, but it's something that does raise further questions - which audience? Is it targetting that audience over another audience? Should it? Does it make people who that scene wasn't targetted at feel uncomfortable?

(From my perspective, the fact that sex happens, I'm fine with. The depiction of sex, the choice of camera angles, the focus, that's something worthy of questioning. My more significant issue is that the whole themes of Geralt's sexuality are so heavily towards the fantasy of sleeping around without consequence, with a significant proportion of the female characters being potential conquests, and no inconvenient risk of pregnancy. It's not Gor. Thank goodness. But it's not unreasonable to talk about this.)

 

[CyberPunked]

And yet Deus Ex does this without sexbots going crazy while the male hero kills them for it.

Jesus, what does it matter if in this case the hero is a man? It doesn't matter? It had to be either a man or a woman, so what if the roles were flipped, could you not still claim sexism?
People always have to pretend there are agendas tied to design decisions.

L m a o

I have spoken to a Chinese Room employee and their entire office culture is based around being human beings from different walks of life with viewpoints that strive to promote the proper culture and diversity of the people who make games, rather than cater to the existing presumed straight male audience. They are not fishing for shit. They believe this stuff, and rightly so.

They probably are finishing for publicity, but even if they aren't, this is massively unprofessional of them.

But you shouldn't just force diversity for the sake of it.

 

[ultratruman]

At least they make games though

 

[Summer Haze]

Danaerys - most agency and authority, has been control of many cities, is judge jury and executioner.

Was also the queen of a huge patriarchal horde of horse warriors.

 

[User 73706]

Is The Chinese Room an actual Chinese Room? Maybe The Chinese Room is a character in Cyberpunk 2077 and we've entered a whole new level of meta-promotion.

In any case, Cyberpunk as a genre is literally about the power dynamics in a world of Nieztschean ubermenschen. In cyberpunk,"God is dead" and people can transcend a lot of traditional limits, so what does society become? Does it make society more sexist, oppressive and dystopian, or does it provide a way to create a new, better society.
The question of whether razorgirls are empowered (anti)heroines seeking their own path in a corrupt society or if they are just doomed pawns that have just accepted the sexual objectification that is forced upon them (c.f. Neuromancer's Molly, which is basically the source of the whole trope).

Another thing to take into consideration - especially in the cyberpunk genre, even if it's not necessarily going to be discussed head-on in-game - is that while empowerment is a possibility, programs are also going to be just as flawed (if not moreso) than their parental sandboxes that were responsible for their creation. In other words, for example, an AI designed to act as a policing force using modern contemporary minds is going to have inherent racial biases and justify them in that it's simply "speaking statistically" or it's just trying to promote "objective, rational discourse". The game itself or the programs within it are just as privy to these hurdles.

What interests me is that all the "Mortal kombat characters doing normal things" posters seem to do it to a certain degree.

I just ignore their posts honestly.

That's just confirmation bias.

My best advice is for CDPR to not respond.
Any salacious accusations outside of defined context is always deplorable.

Specifically addressing sexism and the definition of empowerment, please see two of the principal power brokers in the entertainment space and reconcile your position:
Beyonce and to a slightly lesser degree Taylor Swift. Both direct there path/vision while embracing their womanhood and sexuality in full display of the world while not conceding an inch dignity or self-respect. Their perspective not ours.

They're also women.

Like what is sexist and what isn't sexist? does it have a ever changing definition, does it have leeway. People use the word for almost anything that it starts to lose weight.

Sexism is a spectrum just like any other social element. It's totally valid to call out something as being racist, sexist, etc. - the problem is that this almost immediately has people go into defense mode, foregoing having an actual discussion on the topic in favor of fighting tooth and nail to assert that they are, in fact, not sexist (or that whatever they're defending isn't). The reason "people use the word for almost anything" is because there is a lot of shit out there that happens to be sexist in varying capacities.

You think it starts losing weight en masse to the point that it's inconvenient to you? Try actually being a woman on the other end of it every day of their lives.

 

[DannyDanger]

I say don't respond...

Cowards always do the "public attack because I know you'll look bad if retaliate"

 

[T.O.P]

"Good sex scenes" because i am straight of course, everybody likes straight sex am i right?

Geralt is straight, what kind of sex did you expect?

 

[TM94]

Sexuality scaring people again.

So pathetic.

 

[Cabbagehead]

And yet Deus Ex does this without sexbots going crazy while the male hero kills them for it.

See that's the thing the male "hero" didn't kill her for it. She lived at the end and join that same group. Plus Deus Ex is focusing on a different aspect of the cyberpunk genre a one man story with secrets societies and power plays, Cypberpunk 2020/Cypberpunk 2077 is dealing almost solely within that context of economical and society issues and the ground level.

Also she's not a sexbot. Sex bots wouldn't have sabers in their arms, their is a night club around the ways in that scene.

You're the perfect example of someone taking that at face value and not watching till the end. Because in that case it doesn't always result in death. People like that have their purpose in that world, since extreme modification is illegal.

 

[erawsd]

Having sex in a game does not make it sexist.

Yeah, the W3 sex scenes are all as comedic/goofy as they are sexual.

 

[MUnited83]

L m a o

I have spoken to a Chinese Room employee and their entire office culture is based around being human beings from different walks of life with viewpoints that strive to promote the proper culture and diversity of the people who make games, rather than cater to the existing presumed straight male audience. They are not fishing for shit. They believe this stuff, and rightly so.

Don't you know? Anyone that has a different opinion that me is just clearly fishing for attention! No people can really disagree with me ever!

 

[User 73706]

Geralt is straight, what kind of sex did you expect?

Why does he have to be?

Don't you know? Anyone that has a different opinion that me is just clearly fishing for attention! No people can really disagree with me ever!

Maybe if they just stopped "politically" ""pandering"" and turning their games into Undertale tumblr SJWfests they wouldn't be getting critically panned.

 

[Cabbagehead]

Another thing to take into consideration - especially in the cyberpunk genre, even if it's not necessarily going to be discussed head-on in-game - is that while empowerment is a possibility, programs are also going to be just as flawed (if not moreso) than their parental sandboxes that were responsible for their creation. In other words, for example, an AI designed to act as a policing force using modern contemporary minds is going to have inherent racial biases and justify them in that it's simply "speaking statistically" or it's just trying to promote "objective, rational discourse". The game itself or the programs within it are just as privy to these hurdles.



That's just confirmation bias.



They're also women.



Sexism is a spectrum just like any other social element. It's totally valid to call out something as being racist, sexist, etc. - the problem is that this almost immediately has people go into defense mode, foregoing having an actual discussion on the topic in favor of fighting tooth and nail to assert that they are, in fact, not sexist (or that whatever they're defending isn't). The reason "people use the word for almost anything" is because there is a lot of shit out there that happens to be sexist in varying capacities.

You think it starts losing weight en masse to the point that it's inconvenient to you? Try actually being a woman on the other end of it every day of their lives.

You're projecting. I never said that especially sense that general statement applies to all things. When a label is missed used or when a group becomes irrational.

 

[Audioboxer]

Why does he have to be?



Maybe if they just stopped "politically" ""pandering"" and turning their games into Undertale tumblr SJWfests they wouldn't be getting critically panned.

He doesn't have to be but he was written that way. Want a gay protagonist play another game or read or watch something from another medium.

Not everyone in the world is a gay or bisexual being so let's not start saying straight characters cannot be done.

The argument goes both ways, and yes it is good when gay characters appear in games. But every dev doesn't have to try and appeal to every human being. That's impossible.

 

[T.O.P]

Why does he have to be?

Because you following the story of an already pre-estabilished character and not in a "make your own persona" game like Inquisition

Before anything goes, gay dude here

 

[Altairre]

I also found The Witcher 1, 2 and 3 to be quite sexist games. I enjoyed them all very much but that doesn't change the fact that they are sexist. The world depicted is patriarchal thus sexism within the game world is to be expected but it is the fact that there are very few to no women who don't fit the standard gender tropes and thus what makes the game itself and not the world feel sexist. Every woman is either a potential fuck buddy, flirtatious, a prostitute, manipulative, a bitch, or somebody that needs to be protected with most women being scantly clad it all comes across as very shallow and one sided.

I remember reading something about the reason they didn't model a dick for Geralt was because nobody wanted to do it and they didn't want to force anybody. Come on grow up it is only a penis. That sort of thinking comes across quite a lot throughout the game, looking immature in what is generally a mature game, especially when it comes to sex within the game.

I do want to mention Cerys in that regard who is a major character in the Skellige questline in W3 and ended up becoming

Spoiler

the king of Skellige

, at least in my game. She does not really fit any of those descriptions and I thought her arc was rather well done. It does not mean that I don't think there is merit to the criticism and this discussion, just wanted to bring it up. Having read the books I also think that Yennefer and Triss are portrayed rather well, Yen in particular. Yes Geralt can sleep with both of them, which, in the context of their relationship in the books, makes sense, but I never felt like they existed purely to be the object of his desire. There are a lot of great interactions between them, both women have agency in the relationship and both are quite powerful. That was what I took from it at least and if you try to get intimate with both of them

Spoiler

Geralt ends up being alone in the end.

 

[Kinyou]

When Keira takes her bath, she's "sexily" washing her legs, lifting them in an awkward, almost burlesque pose and Geralt is blatantly creeping on her.
When Geralt takes his bath, his legs are comically splayed on the tub and the context of the scene is a goofy gag about a monster bug biting him on the balls.

There's a very clear difference in the way the game presents the two genders. In some sex scenes Geralt might as well be replaced by an eroge shadow person because the camera lingers on the female characters so much, you could miss Geralt's cameo if you blinked.

Okay, that's at least a more valid complaint than just "she was taking a bath". And while she does put on a show, the context is that she does want to seduce Geralt. I also have a feeling that the scene wouldn't be excused as goofy gag if it ended with a monster bug biting one of her nipples.

 

[CyberPunked]

Why does he have to be?

Because that's the character...

Spoiler

Sorry if you being sarcastic, but I really can't tell in this thread

 

[RevenWolf]

Why does he have to be?



Maybe if they just stopped "politically" ""pandering"" and turning their games into Undertale tumblr SJWfests they wouldn't be getting critically panned.

Because the author of the novels made him that way?

these games are based off some novels that were made before the game.

If you feel underrepresented I can understand that as there's not a lot (or any that i can think of atm) of video game protagonist that are exclusively homosexual.

 

[User 73706]

He doesn't have to be but he was written that way. Want a gay protagonist play another game or read or watch something from another medium.

Not everyone in the world is a gay or bisexual being so let's not start saying straight characters cannot be done.

Uh, I'm not saying straight characters can't be done? I'm saying there's millions of straight characters in gaming and media to begin with, so when LGBT+ people are looking for representation of their own in games, "go find your own media, you should come to expect straight as the default already" isn't an argument I'm willing to accept.

Because you following the story of an already pre-estabilished character and not in a "make your own persona" game like Inquisition

Before anything goes, gay dude here

I meant it more as a general commentary, rather than Geralt's story in particular. That being said, just because the protag is straight and does straight things, that doesn't mean the rest of the game gets a pass for not promoting alternatives - Inquisition is actually a good example, considering even the background NPC crowds are pretty diverse and you have characters like Krem.

 

[Audioboxer]

Uh, I'm not saying straight characters can't be done? I'm saying there's millions of straight characters in gaming and media to begin with, so when LGBT+ people are looking for representation of their own in games, "go find your own media, you should come to expect straight as the default already" isn't an argument I'm willing to accept.



I meant it more as a general commentary, rather than Geralt's story in particular. That being said, just because the protag is straight and does straight things, that doesn't mean the rest of the game gets a pass for not promoting alternatives - Inquisition is actually a good example, considering even the background NPC crowds are pretty diverse and you have characters like Krem.

Yes more diversity is good in gaming but we are starting to see that. Checkout Mass Effect or Dragon Age.

My point is Geralt is based off books already written so he is a defined character. It's not a choose your avatar and play how you want kind of game, and like it or not every game cannot simply be turned into that to be politically correct.

If you're not willing to accept that argument then what do you want to do about it? Write your own script or game? Praise diversity when it can be done and is? Or try and shoehorn every dev into needing to cater for every audience?

 

[RevenWolf]

Uh, I'm not saying straight characters can't be done? I'm saying there's millions of straight characters in gaming and media to begin with, so when LGBT+ people are looking for representation of their own in games, "go find your own media, you should come to expect straight as the default already" isn't an argument I'm willing to accept.



I meant it more as a general commentary, rather than Geralt's story in particular. That being said, just because the protag is straight and does straight things, that doesn't mean the rest of the game gets a pass for not promoting alternatives - Inquisition is actually a good example, considering even the background NPC crowds are pretty diverse and you have characters like Krem.

But the thing is, witcher 3 really early on has an npc you encounter who was gay.

Spoiler

he was persecuted and portrayed as ver ytragic

. As a result with that fact, it's understandable that there was no open homosexuality on that game compared to dragon age.

 

[Cabbagehead]

Uh, I'm not saying straight characters can't be done? I'm saying there's millions of straight characters in gaming and media to begin with, so when LGBT+ people are looking for representation of their own in games, "go find your own media, you should come to expect straight as the default already" isn't an argument I'm willing to accept.



I meant it more as a general commentary, rather than Geralt's story in particular. That being said, just because the protag is straight and does straight things, that doesn't mean the rest of the game gets a pass for not promoting alternatives - Inquisition is actually a good example, considering even the background NPC crowds are pretty diverse and you have characters like Krem.

This is were creative choice comes in and what the team or the director wants to make. But in the case of the Witcher. We see the world through his eye's and the source material dictates the surrounding area, within the context of the times, which is heavily medieval eu. Dragon Age has no basis for its world outside the setting. It's a complete separate world from reality with no rules to follow.

 

[darkinstinct]

Chinese Room is pretty good at bait.

They are still learning gameplay, though.

 

[Sh1ner]

Okay, that's at least a more valid complaint than just "she was taking a bath". And while she does put on a show, the context is that she does want to seduce Geralt. I also have a feeling that the scene wouldn't be excused as goofy gag if it ended with a monster bug biting one of her nipples.

Kiera is also love with Geralt, In the story of the Witcher, Geralt can choose between two women, Kiera and Triss who both love him. The witcher series is based on a book series. So if the poster you quoted finds this scene sexist then its not the fault of the devs. Unless you believe its the devs job to filter out the seduction of Geralt completely.

I found the who sequences between Triss talking about her fears / the pushyness of Kiera's and Geralt's relationship. Geralts responses to really humanize fill out all the characters.

The problem is down to the viewer, some of us can put down our ideological lens to enjoy the media at hand instead of looking at accusing the devs of portraying women negatively even though the Witcher does an excellent job of moving the bar forward on how to portray women instead of just eye candy.

 

[NinjaBoiX]

Everybody's Gone To The Rapture was tedious, pretentious drivel.

Coud've used some tits or something.

 

[Tal Shiar Agent]

Yet the quality of the Witcher and Game of Thrones characters are much more interesting. You can even argue that in Game of Thrones is having a number of great houses in control by woman:

Grandmother / Margery have the most agency in the Tyrell house
Cersei has the most authority/agency for the longest period in house Lannister,
Danaerys - most agency and authority, has been control of many cities, is judge jury and executioner.
Dorne - if your caught up who's making all the big plays?

Now look at the man, have you noticed that most of the men have repeatedly lost more in power or outright been killed for the main houses of Westoros. I would say that the show is doing a pretty good job of treating both sexes pretty shit.

The Witcher series is all about supporting a female lead who is going to do something huge, she needs your help. The women in the witcher also have many authority positions and treat the main character as a fuckboy. They seem pretty empowered and have a strong sense of agency. I absolutely love Triss characterization from the series. I truly empathize with her as a character. The same can be said about Geralt.

If knocking a woman down from empowered positions is considered sexist, your show is going to be full of boring characters.

The books are mostly fine. The show is undeniably sexist.

 

[Cindi Mayweather]

To be fair, the question should be asked. I mean, given CPR's history I do wonder if Cyberpunk will be full of half naked women like the pic in this tweet. I'm wearing a sexy nightgown now but you won't see me wearing it in the streets. That's how a lot of these games perceived "sexy" women come off: for complete and utter show. Sometimes they feel like an extension to some weird power fantasy to convince them all the fuck you. I'm pretty sexual, but the way these games sometimes portray themselves makes it hard to take them seriously. I saw that this Cyberpunk image is a tribute to the tabletop game and it still doesn't stop it from looking tacky. Given Cyberpunk is a sci fi game, I hope CPR takes more care in making a more progressive view on this subject matter than what they've been doing for the Witcher games. Since they're working on a new franchise it's an opportunity to make a clean slate.

 

[Audioboxer]

Everybody's Gone To The Rapture was tedious, pretentious drivel.

Coud've used some tits or something.

But everyone has tits, even guys. They just didn't show them this time around. Rest assured if their is humans in a game said tits exist.

I'm pretty certain vaginas and penises alike as well. But if we don't show them we can pretend they don't really exist.

 

[User 73706]

Or try and shoehorn every dev into needing to cater for every audience?

I wouldn't say "shoehorn", but "catering to the audience" is typically how you get people to buy your product, yes

 

[MODEYV3]

I think they're just attention seeking, its nothing else surely?

How could they possibly know its sexist without context?

 

[T.O.P]

I meant it more as a general commentary, rather than Geralt's story in particular. That being said, just because the protag is straight and does straight things, that doesn't mean the rest of the game gets a pass for not promoting alternatives - Inquisition is actually a good example, considering even the background NPC crowds are pretty diverse and you have characters like Krem.

You meet a gay dude like 30 minutes into the game (griffon quest) and not much later there's a trans-elf merchant and a cross-dresser dude

There's quite a bit of different characters in the game (don't really remember much about the first two games tho)

 

[boskee]

To be fair, the question should be asked. I mean, given CPR's history I do wonder if Cyberpunk will be full of half naked women like the pic in this tweet. I'm wearing a sexy nightgown now but you won't see me wearing it in the streets. That's how a lot of these games perceived "sexy" women come off: for complete and utter show.

I'm guessing you're also not a meatbag who was taken over by the robotic implants and went crazy killing people. Those type of lunacits are known for their sensible attire.

 

[Tal Shiar Agent]

But you shouldn't just force diversity for the sake of it.

While it's a reductionist take on it, yes you should. If you don't then you don't get minority and women characters visible. If they aren't visible "white male" will continue to be assumed the default and nothing will change.

 

[Audioboxer]

I wouldn't say "shoehorn", but "catering to the audience" is typically how you get people to buy your product, yes

Then The Witcher has sold millions of copies? They are catering to their audience. Point is it can't be everyone's audience or 40 million people would have bought it on PS4.

 

[John Kowalski]

If anything i expect it to be more sexist.

 

[Whompa02]

the response to their tweet has been pretty good. Chinese Room's social media person seems kind of deluded.

 

[Cabbagehead]

I wouldn't say "shoehorn", but "catering to the audience" is typically how you get people to buy your product, yes

What if they don't want to do that? or figure they would fail at it.

Some people just want to play a game regardless if they're gay, straight or a green alien.

 

[RockTurtle]

I wouldn't say "shoehorn", but "catering to the audience" is typically how you get people to buy your product, yes

they catered to the audience that likes tits.

 

[Audioboxer]

What if they don't want to do that? or figure they would fail at it.

Some people just want to play a game regardless if they're gay, straight or a green alien.

You mean women and gay men can play The Witcher 3 and enjoy it?!

 

[E-flux]

Come on guys, it is sexist. It doesn't mean the game will not be good and I love The Witcher 3 but let's face it, there's a lot of male gaze in these games. And I know, we see Geralt naked too but it's not the same, Yen and Triss are well-written but a part of their personality revolve around their sex-appeal. Don't be so defensive about this.

If you read the books Both Triss and Yennefer know that, they both even use magic to enhance their sex appeal since sorceresses in the world are one of the most powerful people around. The book goes into detail how before entering cities Yen does some magic woob a loo and gets her make up nice and shiny so that she can attract all the attention she wants. The Witcher world is filled with sex and sexuality especially when it comes to sorceresses so removing that and the "male gaze" would do disservice to the world and characters Sapkowski created.

 

[User 73706]

While it's a reductionist take on it, yes you should. If you don't then you don't get minority and women characters visible. If they aren't visible "white male" will continue to be assumed the default and nothing will change.

ding ding ding

You meet a gay dude like 30 minutes into the game (griffon quest) and not much later there's a trans-elf merchant and a cross-dresser dude

There's quite a bit of different characters in the game (don't really remember much about the first two games tho)

I've seen as much ITT, and I appreciate the inclusion of those characters. My problem's more with people who think that including minorities is "forcing" them or pushing an agenda, and that they're only there to fulfill a quota so that once you reach a certain amount of black people in RPGs that They™ aren't allowed to complain about diversity in gaming. Like, a lot of people in here seem to think that diversity will eventually be "completed", which isn't how it works. At all. Which is why it's disheartening to see things like "X, Y and Z already have characters A, B, and C, what more could you ask for?" meanwhile that poster's respective demographics have millions and millions of examples in games compared to maybe thousands if not less of other types.