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[888]

https://m.ign.com/articles/2019/01/07/overwatch-new-short-story-explores-soldier-76s-lgbtq-backstory

So they have revealed Solider 76 to be gay. Overwatch has been the most open about adding pretty much everything to it as far as representation.

My question is, how much representation do you need to enjoy something. Granted this is only in a short story and isn’t in the game per say, so in a way you could not watch this and go along your merry way. But I was talking with my friend about how much representation do you really need to enjoy a game.

Does the charcter HAVE to look like you.
Does the charcter HAVE to have the same sexual preferences.
Does the charcter HAVE to have the same personality style.
Do you even need to relate to the charcter?

Does this even matter to most people?
For me personally almost none of this matters. I don’t look at a charcter and say hey, they look like me (or doesn’t). I have never thought about a characters sexual preference unless it was detrimental to a story.

If any of the things above I tend to gravitate to it’s more the personality of characters that I find awesome. Geralt, Solid Snake, Kiryu and Majima from Yakuza, hell even Solider 76 himself(I tend to dig the strong, gruff type that doesn’t take crap from anyone). I would much rather see fleshed out good characters than worry about what sexual preference they have. If for some reason there is a good reason for it, then fine.

I tend to play characters for who fits my play style better and could honestly careless what they look like. Most of the characters I play in OW are female and in Rainbow I play Female for Defense and Male for Offense and until writing this I never really even thought about it. I just found the play style I liked and went with it.

Anyways, this wasn’t a hugely thought out post. More of a rant to a degree.

Does any of this matter to you guys or do you just play and not think about it.

Is this needed, wanted? Or is it something along the lines of ticking boxes to appease everyone?

 

[Dthomp]

Does this even matter to most people?

Personally not at all. I have never played a video game and thought or cared about what race or sexuality a character is. People that worry about these things generally aren’t gamers, but people looking to make a talking point for their agenda IMO.

 

[Threeshotgamer]

Obviously it's just a coincidence but it seems like pretty good timing considering all the drama around that fake girl pro from last week. That being said in a hero shooter picking based on anything other than the character's abilities and playstyle seems a little silly.

 

[JareBear: Remastered]

Read it all earlier today. Was wondering when it would hit GAF.

Non-issue to me. I just play OW for the gameplay. I don’t even follow the lore and background stories closely.

I used to semi-main Soldier, I play more Ashe and Reaper now tho

 

[brap]

No surprise there.

 

[888]

Obviously it's just a coincidence but it seems like pretty good timing considering all the drama around that fake girl pro from last week. That being said in a hero shooter picking based on anything other than the character's abilities and playstyle seems a little silly.

Great point. There has been a lot of drama on that issue and what better way to distract people from it.

 

[888]

Read it all earlier today. Was wondering when it would hit GAF.

Non-issue to me. I just play OW for the gameplay. I don’t even follow the lore and background stories closely.

I used to semi-main Soldier, I play more Ashe and Reaper now tho

I spend most of my time as Mercy and Dva with a little Phara and Orisa . But I spent a huge amount of time as Soldier and Reihardt. Not once I have ever said to myself, I wonder what their preference sexually is. Like someone said above in a hero shooter abilities are all that matter. Now as far as getting to know general personalities it’s funny to hear the quips between them and get a general feel for their personality but it really doesn’t matter.

I don’t even play OW anymore after the last few charcter releases. Right around the time the newest healer came out I fell off of it. I logged on to check out hammon but think I’m just done with the game.

 

[JareBear: Remastered]

I spend most of my time as Mercy and Dva with a little Phara. But I spent a huge amount of time as Soldier and Reihardt. Not once I have ever said to myself, I wonder what their preference sexually is. Like someone said above in a hero shooter abilities are all that matter. Now as far as getting to know general personalities it’s funny to hear the quips between them and get a general feel for their personality but it really doesn’t matter.

I was bummed to learn of the defense matrix nerf. I like me some Dva too

 

[Ivellios]

The way Overwatch does its fine and it feels natural, like many other games, so i have no problem whatsoever with this.

Things start to getting wrong when they try to shovel diversity in a forced way just to fill a checkbox, latest example of this is Battlefield 5.

 

[Killer751]

Overwatch is quickly becoming one of my all time favorite games.

 

[Vlaphor]

Ehh, I would've preferred Mcree to be gay. Much cuter.

 

[JCK75]

Had it been Lucio I'd get it, maybe Doomfist with a special skin that has a smaller silicon fist attached..
but it just doesn't fit Soldier.

 

[The_Mike]

Ehh, I would've preferred Mcree to be gay. Much cuter.

He probably is, Blizzard just hasn’t announced it yet.

 

[Dthomp]

Had it been Lucio I'd get it, maybe Doomfist with a special skin that has a smaller silicon fist attached..
but it just doesn't fit Soldier.

Everything fits if you force it upon people

 

[bigedole]

Great point. There has been a lot of drama on that issue and what better way to distract people from it.

You're delusional if you think Blizzard did something like this without having it planned for a long while. Personally, I don't see why it would matter, but I'm really excited about the PTR changes, this should kill GOATs and make professional OW fun to watch again

 

[888]

You're delusional if you think Blizzard did something like this without having it planned for a long while. Personally, I don't see why it would matter, but I'm really excited about the PTR changes, this should kill GOATs and make professional OW fun to watch again

Not suggesting they knee jerked made the change. Just timing the release. Probably a coincidence.

I haven’t seen any of the PTR changes. Will have to check them out.

 

[JareBear: Remastered]

You're delusional if you think Blizzard did something like this without having it planned for a long while. Personally, I don't see why it would matter, but I'm really excited about the PTR changes, this should kill GOATs and make professional OW fun to watch again

Yeah this GOATs Era has been my least favorite meta in OW history. Good riddance

 

[Northeastmonk]

The cereal box for Lucio Oh's makes me feel like they're some "sell out". I think this a great thig for the push for equality, but that cereal box. The appeal feels so forced. I'm no way qualified to be an expert on Overwatch. It is the only Battle.net game I don't have purchased/have played. That just hit me hard at the store. I wondered why it was so appealing. It just had "Overwatch" on the box. I wonder if Blizzard ever thinks they're just trying to fit in at some point.

 

[Deleted member 738976]

The cereal box for Lucio Oh's makes me feel like they're some "sell out". I think this a great thig for the push for equality, but that cereal box. The appeal feels so forced. I'm no way qualified to be an expert on Overwatch. It is the only Battle.net game I don't have purchased/have played. That just hit me hard at the store. I wondered why it was so appealing. It just had "Overwatch" on the box. I wonder if Blizzard ever thinks they're just trying to fit in at some point.

That's the least offensive thing they've done. It's an in game joke that most likely got a bunch of request for it to be made in real life.

and surprisingly taste decent enough. Now if you want real cereals that have no business being made then look at some of these
https://www.fye.com/search?q=cereal&lang=default
https://www.fye.com/search?q=funko+cereal&lang=default
$12-13 for a box of cereal?

 

[Northeastmonk]

That's the least offensive thing they've done. It's an in game joke that most likely got a bunch of request for it to be made in real life.

and surprisingly taste decent enough.

Oh ok. I get it now. It caught me off guard at first. Thanks for explaining it.

 

[ipukespiders]

Old and out of touch here. The usage of "main", what's up with that? Did it start with overwatch players?

 

[DunDunDunpachi]

Old and out of touch here. The usage of "main", what's up with that? Did it start with overwatch players?

No, it's more of a fighting game (Street Fighter II) term. Like, "Blanka is my main, but I'm also okay with Chun Li". Your "main" is the character with which you are the best and practice with.

 

[ipukespiders]

No, it's more of a fighting game (Street Fighter II) term. Like, "Blanka is my main, but I'm also okay with Chun Li". Your "main" is the character with which you are the best and practice with.

Ah, gotcha.

 

[yet_another_alt]

Old and out of touch here. The usage of "main", what's up with that? Did it start with overwatch players?

Fighting game term but since there's so many games with multiple unique playable characters now it's spread a lot.

 

[Kamina]

Old and out of touch here. The usage of "main", what's up with that? Did it start with overwatch players?

Nothing to do with overwatch per se. Its much older.

 

[Fake]

Bolsonaro gonna ragequit this game.

 

[Deleted member 77995]

I'm bi and I don't really care but the agenda driven PC and anti-pc circle jerks are equally annoying (not you OP we all know what I'm talking about).

 

[Barakov]

The timing of this seems kinda suspect.

 

[Deleted member 738976]

Force whatever you like Blizzard I'm still gonna make him hump girl characters.

 

[JareBear: Remastered]

The timing of this seems kinda suspect.

They have a pipeline of updates and reveals planned out months and months in advance.

 

[JORMBO]

I don’t really care about representation in games and it is not something I think about. I just like playing games that are fun. I will play as any character as long as it is a good game.

 

[G-Bus]

It doesn't matter to me at all. It's not something I even consider when playing games. For this very reason I also don't care if the character is gay, lesbian, trans or what ever else there is.

If the majority of gamers don't care, and developers want to cater to the minority that does... What's the big deal?

Let's not care about this and everyone can be happy, because at the end of the day that's all that matters.

 

[Sqorin Hammerfarf]

Personally, I find representation to be of paramount importance when I play a game. If I don’t know where a character likes to stick his dick, I’m out. Same way in real life. I’m like, “what’s your name? What do you do? Which hole do you most enjoy ejaculating in?” I have to know if someone is gay so that I can treat them differently.

 

[AgentP]

We don't need the sexual preference of a fictional character when there is no real story and it's not rated M. It's like telling me about Big Birds sexual preferences, I don't care and it's unnecessary.

 

[Dacon]

Kinda funny this is announced shortly after the news broke about Ellie being fake. Seems like a desperate attempt to stay relevant and in peoples faces with a game that's been steadily falling out of the public spotlight.

Really though, why should anyone care? Sexuality isnt relevant to anything happening in the game. It literally doesnt matter, at all. This is why I find it hilarious when people pump up shit like this.

 

[LittleBusters]

I wonder what the sexual/gender identity of Mario & Luigi sprites are. Only blue-haired SJWs could care about this shit.

 

[Barakov]

They have a pipeline of updates and reveals planned out months and months in advance.

Yeah probably. But after the Diablo Immortal debacle, the whole 'Ellie Social Experiment' thing and then to announce that a character is gay just kinda seems like they're deflecting the conversation away from those two disasters to talking about a character's sexual preference. I'm not that's what is happening here but it sure seems that way.

 

[Sqorin Hammerfarf]

I was playing the board game Sorry the other day, and I just couldn’t identify with my player character. Who understands the life experience of being a red pawn? It’s too foreign for me. Took me right out of the game. That’s when I decided the red pawn needed a relatable back story. He’s a half-Argentinian ex-CIA agent who once lost a testicle to a sniper, that now moonlights as a drag queen to pay off the medical bills of his sick niece. And just like that, Sorry no longer oppressed of minorities. Feels good to be on the right side of history. I mean, I lost the game, but when you think about it, really, I won at life.

 

[SlashBringingHasher]

am pretty sure all of them are gay or trans at this point. idc much tho

 

[Spukc]

Tbh i personally don't give a shit what i play as as long as the game is enjoyable.
Some dip shits at corp prolly have this idea to represent everybody.
Just look at any random phone advertisement.
That is where gaming is heading.

Like i said don't care. It doesn't really affects the game i like. And the art direction/style of blizz games are god like. So whatever they release i normally appreciate it.

 

[Xiaoki]

We don't need the sexual preference of a fictional character when there is no real story and it's not rated M. It's like telling me about Big Birds sexual preferences, I don't care and it's unnecessary.

That's why this is only in a comic book and not in the actual game at all.

 

[DeepEnigma]

That's why this is only in a comic book and not in the actual game at all.

 

[AgentP]

That's why this is only in a comic book and not in the actual game at all.

Good things kids won't see a comic book for their favorite game and feel inclined to buy it. It's a FPS, not a David Cage game...

 

[anthraticus]

Not once I have ever said to myself, I wonder what their preference sexually is.

When did people start caring about this shit, in regards to video games ? Seems awful strange, especially in a industry mostly targeted at kids.

 

[CuNi]

I feel like it's just their attempt to somehow get relevant again. Overwatch is filled to the brim with toxicity, scandels and a slowly diminishing player base. People are leaving left and right for newer games or just more balanced games overall. With every new hero that gets released more leave then join. The meta is in a miserable position and it has been like that for ages. Blizzard proves again and again that while they usually nail the first release of a game spot on, they kill it of with subsequent updates and patches. The Symetra rework also felt like them just quitting it with her ult simply being a wall over the entire map. Now they try to at least cater to the LGBTQ community after the whole Elli skandal and make up some good publicity for being inclusive.

 

[Bkdk]

I’m glad blizzard have stopped developing single player campaigns.

 

[JareBear: Remastered]

I feel like it's just their attempt to somehow get relevant again. Overwatch is filled to the brim with toxicity, scandels and a slowly diminishing player base. People are leaving left and right for newer games or just more balanced games overall. With every new hero that gets released more leave then join. The meta is in a miserable position and it has been like that for ages. Blizzard proves again and again that while they usually nail the first release of a game spot on, they kill it of with subsequent updates and patches. The Symetra rework also felt like them just quitting it with her ult simply being a wall over the entire map. Now they try to at least cater to the LGBTQ community after the whole Elli skandal and make up some good publicity for being inclusive.

A lot of what you said here is true, and I agree.

The last line is questionable to me. They didn’t write this comic book after the Ellie thing; at least I don’t think so.

 

[DeepEnigma]

When did people start caring about this shit, in regards to video games ? Seems awful strange, especially in a industry mostly targeted at kids.

When political ideologues posing as gamers infiltrated the industry writing their opeds. When identity politics and fringe social "sciences" are being taught in schools, combined with the years of reality show conditioning and attachment to drama and social media self importance. etc., etc..

 

[quickwhips]

I don’t need to be represented in a video game. It’s a fucking video game. Let me shoot shit and save the day. Make a cool looking box art and I’m in. I mean who the fuck wants to be represented by palom and Porom in final fantasy?

 

[CuNi]

A lot of what you said here is true, and I agree.

The last line is questionable to me. They didn’t write this comic book after the Ellie thing; at least I don’t think so.

I may have made that sound the wrong way. What I meant was that I am pretty sure they had this done prior but chose to release this now to divert somewhat attention from the Elli skandal.