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[Dacon]

Yes, they did. Shoehorning identity politics and scoring political points with the activist crowd.

If you think that was their primary objective you haven't been paying attention, or are too far removed from the situation to know better. If you want real shoehorning of identity politics into something, read marvel comics.

 

[betrayal]

Women have no issue playing as a dude. Same with gay guys playing straight guys. We are used to it.

It's only when opposite happens that people start to rant about agendaaaaa and forceeeeeed.

I'm a straight guy. I have no issues playing as a female. I have no issues playing a gay guy.

Stop your generalizations and mocking people with your crap. You are no more tolerant than 99% of people on this forum just because you are gay. You are just easily offended. Step up and don't be such pussy. You can do better.

Here is the thing. I can relate to male, female or gay character as long as the characterization is good. This why I like Kat in Gravity Rush so much, to me she is the most grounded and relatable character I ever played.

Most people can relate to male, female or gay characters. But like i said that doesn't change the well-known fact, that males often pick male characters and females often pick female characters. (i.e. World of Warcraft, US servers, ~26% are female gamers (https://kotaku.com/study-shows-which-video-game-genres-women-play-most-1791435415) -> https://realmpop.com/us.html).

 

[No Word Count]

If you think that was their primary objective you haven't been paying attention, or are too far removed from the situation to know better. If you want real shoehorning of identity politics into something, read marvel comics.

Practically every single marketing move by any major business this large is glorified advertising. This was 100% deliberately planned to attract the attention of a specific kind of consumer.

If it suddenly became trendy and popular again tomorrow to portray women oversexualised and men as generic balding buff boys, Blizzard (and 99% of business riding the diversity train) would follow that path immediately.

It's all business. There are literally training courses on how to attract customers using these method. They do not give a flying fuck about us. They are not interested in our plights or problems. We are a marketing gimmick.

They are not doing this out of the goodness of their heart, and anyone who actually believes they are may as well be worshipping a bearded man who lives in the clouds, because it's just as fictitious and cultish in design.

Just because they claim it's something that came naturally and wasn't shoehorned in on purpose doesn't mean it wasn't. Otherwise, they wouldn't keep going on about it.

 

[silentstorm]

I mean, what's the problem?

Even if it's done as a response to the Ellie Fiasco i don't really get what's the point or why anyone would care?

And it's expanded universe stuff, some people just really like learning more about a setting or characters, you know, like Star Wars and many other franchises have, it's just some extra information about the setting and one character.

And even if it wasn't...it's their game, they are the ones who designed everything from the start, if they want Soldier:76 to be gay...well, they can, it doesn't seem like it even contradicts anything revealed before on short stories, comics, small movies and etc that Blizzard has done before.

I'm sorry, i just really don't get what's the problem, i genuinely don't, even the idea of this being a response to the Ellie Fiasco doesn't make me feel anything different, it's just one character being gay, something a lot of people won't know or care about.

 

[Dacon]

Literally every single marketing move by any major business is glorified advertising. This was 100% deliberately plan to attract the attention of a specific kind of consumer.

This is pretty much what I posted earlier. It's shocking how so many people can't see the pandering here. This isnt identity politics, this is business.

 

[No Word Count]

Even if it's done as a response to the Ellie Fiasco i don't really get what's the point or why anyone would care?

Because many of us are tired of being the "token black guy". You are not normalising us by drawing attention to us at every single turn. Filling your content to the brim with an endless checklist of diversity quotas is not realistic or true to anyone's life.

This kind of marketing is no different the blacksploitation craze of the 70s. It's certainly not the most blatant or offensive examples of this (see comics like Border Town for that), but that doesn't make it any less insulting to our intelligence.

Businesses trying to make people believe that they "care" about them is the dumbest shit I've seen in years.

 

[betrayal]

This is pretty much what I posted earlier. It's shocking how so many people can't see the pandering here. This isnt identity politics, this is business.

It's business which is unfortunately linked to identity politics thanks to the internet trolls. I know some gays and the only reaction what things like this create is irritated eye rolling.

Besides the always present Twitter, Instagram or general loud online gays the majority of the gay community does not care about shit like that. They don't want any special treatment because it suggests that they are different compared to other people, which is bullshit. Just because there a handful of gay people who are very vocal, mostly online, doesn't mean that they represent the majority of gay people in the real world.



EDIT:

Because many of us are tired of being the "token black guy". You are not normalising us by drawing attention to us at every single turn. Filling your content to the brim with an endless checklist of diversity quotas is not realistic or true to anyone's life.

This kind of marketing is no different the blacksploitation craze of the 70s. It's certainly not the most blatant or offensive examples of this (see comics like Border Town for that), but that doesn't make it any less insulting to our intelligence.

Businesses trying to make people believe that they "care" about them is the dumbest shit I've seen in years.

I did not see your post while i wrote mine. Thank you for instantly giving another great example of reality.

 

[DynamiteCop!]

Because many of us are tired of being the "token black guy". You are not normalising us by drawing attention to us at every single turn. Filling your content to the brim with an endless checklist of diversity quotas is not realistic or true to anyone's life.

This kind of marketing is no different the blacksploitation craze of the 70s. It's certainly not the most blatant or offensive examples of this (see comics like Border Town for that), but that doesn't make it any less insulting to our intelligence.

Businesses trying to make people believe that they "care" about them is the dumbest shit I've seen in years.

You've been turned into a virtue signalling totem and go to for progressivism agenda.

 

[Shmunter]

Don’t care, and it can give a story depth. But I thought this is just an arena multiplayer shooter which makes me think it’s nothing more then intersectional identity politics at play. Never a sign of smart business pandering to bullies hiding behind virtue.

Looking forward to playing a gay female in Last Of Us 2 however.

 

[No Word Count]

You've been turned into a virtue signalling totem and go to for progressivism agenda.

You're overthinking it.

The big business promoting this stuff aren't doing so because they actually believe their whack ideologies. They're doing it because it gets page hits and creates exposure. It's fashionable and trendy with the younger generation. When that generation eventually goes out of vogue, so will this style of advertising.

Diversity in itself isn't a bad thing, and it often adds depth and character to a story or world, when it's central to the narrative or setting. There are interesting and unique stories that can be told within those templates.

When it's just there for the sake of being there though, it's pandering. And when you pander, the people you are pandering too can usually smell it a mile off.

 

[DynamiteCop!]

You're overthinking it.

The big business promoting this stuff aren't doing so because they actually believe their ideologies. They're doing it because it gets page hits and creates exposure. It's fashionable and trendy with the younger generation. When that generation goes out of vogue, so will this style of advertising.

Diversity in itself isn't a bad thing, and it often adds depth to a story or world, when it's central to the narrative or setting of the world. There are interesting and unique stories that can be told in those templates.

When it's just there for the sake of being there though, it's pandering. And when you pander, the people you are pandering too can usually smell it a mile off.

The thing I don't get is why are these companies pandering to gross minorities? Not like you know a 40/60 split minority but like a 4/96 split minority.

I don't know how they think these are smart moves.. I mean look at Battlefield V...

 

[Orange_Man_Good]

The thing I don't get is why are these companies pandering to gross minorities?

They are not pandering to homophobes, so what gross minorities?

Because many of us are tired of being the "token black guy". You are not normalising us by drawing attention to us at every single turn. Filling your content to the brim with an endless checklist of diversity quotas is not realistic or true to anyone's life.

Many of us are happy that are finally gay heroes. Especially gay men, since they tend to be more risky. Gay guys trying to please right wings are super minority and honestly irrilevant due the lack of real talking points.

 

[Shin]

I wonder if these topics/threads aren't aren't more suited for Off-Topic as it's never about the gaming but LGBTQ itself of streamer mistreats wife and so forth.
The gaming part if nihil and pretty much every comment is about anything but gaming itself.

 

[silentstorm]

I guess i just thought they were talking more about a character and his sexuality just came up in a short story?

I do know that Blizzard has been making short stories, comics, animated videos and just plain talking about the setting in a mini Star Wars EU kind of thing so that fanfic writers...i mean, fans, have something to talk about other than the game because some people just really care about stuff like that.

But yeah, it does feel like pandering, otherwise every site wouldn't be talking about it, seriously, going to some game news stories and they mention this like it's a huge deal when i...honestly would rather learn more about upcoming games or some announcements since i don't read any Overwatch Expanded Universe stuff and by the nature of Overwatch, this really just serves to give something to a character...in a game that is all about shooting and thus it's pointless except for fan fiction.

I mean, unless Blizzard reveals a dating sim set in the Overwatch universe or has a new event or mode based on pairing characters with each other, it really adds nothing to the game and it's literally just expanded universe stuff.

 

[DynamiteCop!]

They are not pandering to homophobes, so what gross minorities?

The LGBTQ community is a gross minority.

 

[Winter's End]

The LGBTQ community is a gross minority.

Damn this is heavy even for this place lately...

 

[Orange_Man_Good]

The LGBTQ community is a gross minority.

I'm not gross. Reported.

 

[DynamiteCop!]

Damn this is heavy even for this place lately...

I'm not gross. Reported.

Holy crap you guys need an English lesson...

Not gross as in disgusting, gross as in extreme...

 

[Orange_Man_Good]

Holy crap you guys need an English lesson...

Not gross as in disgusting, gross as in extreme...

I think it's you who needs a lesson in english, as well a reality check.

 

[DynamiteCop!]

I think it's you who needs a lesson in english, as well a reality check.

Why? Because you can't read?

 

[Orange_Man_Good]

Why? Because you can't read?

Na, you clearly shows a lack of understanding and compression:

The thing I don't get is why are these companies pandering to gross minorities?

>W-WHY THERE IS MORE THAN ONE GAY CHARACTER! ME CANNOT UNDERSTAND!

 

[DynamiteCop!]

Na, you clearly shows a lack of understanding and compression:



>W-WHY THERE IS MORE THAN ONE GAY CHARACTER! ME CANNOT UNDERSTAND!

I think you meant to say "comprehension", or "compassion". I haven't worked out which yet.

 

[Dacon]

Can someone put these two in a time out? This getting beyond juvenile and isn't conducive to a healthy conversation.

 

[DynamiteCop!]

Can someone put these two in a time out? This getting beyond juvenile and isn't conducive to a healthy conversation.

I'll bounce, this is done anyway.

 

[No Word Count]

The thing I don't get is why are these companies pandering to gross minorities? Not like you know a 40/60 split minority but like a 4/96 split minority.

I don't know how they think these are smart moves.. I mean look at Battlefield V...

There is some logic to it.

If you cast a wider net, you can draw in a wider audience. They have already cornered the marketed for old, fat, balding white men. They're trying to draw more people in beyond that demographic.

Diversity does work when it's actually done right. The recent Spider-Verse is a good example. Miles Morales has his own style and life that is influenced by his upbringing in black communities. It adds character to the setting, but it never dictates the story or overshadows it.

The problem is when you do it like they did in Battlefield 5. When you add it just for the sake of adding it. That kind of shit is patronising, and nobody can connect to or relate to that. There is no audience our there looking for "Female World War 2 veterans", because there were almost none of them to begin with. It has no emotional draw for anyone.

Going back to Overwatch, creating a gay character who is "just gay" is fucking dumb. That is completely unrelatable to 99% of LGBT+ people. We do have unique experiences of our own (both positive and negative) and completely glancing over them is insulting. If you're going to include a character like that, you need to actually commit to it. Otherwise it's just another "token black guy".

 

[Orange_Man_Good]

I think you meant to say "comprehension", or "compassion". I haven't worked out which yet.

 

[Orange_Man_Good]

Going back to Overwatch, creating a gay character who is "just gay" is fucking dumb. That is completely unrelatable to 99% of LGBT+ people. We do have unique experiences of our own (both positive and negative) and completely glancing over them is insulting. If you're going to include a character like that, you need to actually commit to it. Otherwise it's just another "token black guy".

None of this happened. They just revealed an estabilished character had a same-sex lover (aka he's gay) in a comic. Comics that exist to expand the characters.

If this comic had revealed he had a girlfriend, no one would care. If this comic had revealed Mercy and Genji are dating, no one would care (Except the shippers). But when it comes to homosexuality? MUH AGENDA, MUH FORCED DIVERSITY. It's like a broken

Spoiler

NPC.

 

[No Word Count]

The LGBTQ community is a gross minority.

Not cool, bud.

Many of us are happy that are finally gay heroes. Especially gay men, since they tend to be more risky. Gay guys trying to please right wings are super minority and honestly irrilevant due the lack of real talking points.

I am not right wing. I am a very left leaning liberal democrat, and have been my entire life.

Dismissing things you disagree with by undermining the people saying them is a logical fallacy referred to as an "ad hominem". Please argue the points being made instead of insulting the people making them, especially when those accusations are false.

The problem isn't that there are gay male heroes... which, for the record, is not a new thing. The problem is with how lazily these labels are applied to characters. It isn't just a badge you stamp on people. If you're not going to commit to actually representing the character's experiences as a gay man, It's just lazy.

 

[DynamiteCop!]

Not cool, bud.

Holy crap you guys need an English lesson...

Not gross as in disgusting, gross as in extreme...

 

[betrayal]

Many of us are happy that are finally gay heroes. Especially gay men, since they tend to be more risky. Gay guys trying to please right wings are super minority and honestly irrilevant due the lack of real talking points.

I strongly oppose this. I don't know a single gay person who is not irritated by things like this. Most gays find it annoying nowadays, because they don't want other people to pander to their sexual preferences and make them look like they are not normal.

You may not be able to help it, but people like you should stop living in the parallel universe called the internet. Gays on Twitter and internet forums don't represent the real world. They are they loudest for sure, but they are not the majority of gay people.

For the very large majority on this forum and in the real world gay people are just normal people. Nothing more and nothing less. Period.
There is no need for people like you, and some others of course, to always come up with this minority bullshit and act like you represent the majority, which just is not the case.

 

[Orange_Man_Good]

Do you actually have an argument? Or are you going to re-post "agenda" and "Liberals" over and over? I already told you, we are not on Voat, you can't win an argument by repeating it over and over.

 

[Winter's End]

I think it's you who needs a lesson in english, as well a reality check.

No shit i checked every Dictionary and i can't even find this definition.

 

[Javthusiast]

Is it really genuine from them if they are announcing this years after games release and with no previous hints?

 

[DynamiteCop!]

No shit i checked every Dictionary and i can't even find this definition.

You didn't look very hard then. You've never heard people say that something is "gross exaggeration" or a "gross simplification"?

Gross as a means of relating size is normal English terminology used all the time. What are they teaching you people in school?

 

[Orange_Man_Good]

I strongly oppose this. I don't know a single gay person who is not irritated by things like this.

Irritated by what? Gay people existing? Because that's all there is to this "News". I don't know a signle gay person offended by the fact they mentioned a character is gay in a comic. A lot of people are happy there is a non-stereotyped gay male character in an AAA game.

Most gays find it annoying nowadays

<citation needed>

because they don't want other people to pander to their sexual preferences and make them look like they are not normal.

Pandering to sexual preferences is perfectly normal. Most games nowadays pander to straight dudes, followed by straight women.

For the very large majority on this forum and in the real world gay people are just normal people. Nothing more and nothing less. Period.

No, they are not. Hence there are threads like "The Naughty dog agenda" and "OMG Leftist agenda in Overwatch" and posters like DynamiteCop!

 

[No Word Count]

Most games nowadays pander to straight dudes, followed by straight women.

This is about as far removed from reality as you can get.

 

[Orange_Man_Good]

This I'd about as far rover from reality as you could get.

Most games nowadays pander to gay dudes, followed by lesbian women?

 

[DynamiteCop!]

Most games nowadays pander to gay dudes, followed by lesbian women?

Most games don't pander, period.

 

[betrayal]

Irritated by what? Gay people existing? Because that's all there is to this "News". I don't know a signle gay person offended by the fact they mentioned a character is gay in a comic. A lot of people are happy there is a non-stereotyped gay male character in an AAA game.


<citation needed>


Pandering to sexual preferences is perfectly normal. Most games nowadays pander to straight dudes, followed by straight women.



No, they are not. Hence there are threads like "The Naughty dog agenda" and "OMG Leftist agenda in Overwatch" and posters like DynamiteCop!

What kind of travesty is this? Are you ok? Please let me know, i'm serious.

You answered every single statement without any context and by playing dumb. That's a new low, even for you.

It's not even worth it answering to you anymore, because you obviously cannot comprehend what people are saying. Maybe get some fresh air, take a deep breath and then come back again.

 

[JCK75]

Why are we only representing Gays and Lesbians? how about people with a bit more questionable sexual preferences?
When we will get McCree rubbing peanut butter on his genitals to lure Winston into a trap? I thought we were being inclusive.

 

[DynamiteCop!]

What kind of travesty is this? Are you ok? Please let me know, i'm serious.

You answered every single statement without any context and by playing dumb. That's a new low, even for you.

It's not even worth it answering to you anymore, because you obviously cannot comprehend what people are saying.

This guy has to be here just to troll, I mean look at his name for crying out loud.

 

[InterMusketeer]

Oh hey, Blizzard published another dumb backstory thing that has nothing to do with the game itself.
Blizzard has been extremely lazy with OW in pretty much every way thinkable, and this is just another example.

"Remember this character we introduced nearly three years ago with a very limited backstory related to his career? HE'S GAY, GUYS! REALLY!"

 

[Orange_Man_Good]

Most games don't pander, period.

Of course they do. CoD pander to people who want to play war games. A lot of JRPG feature sexual pandering. Superhero games are often based on self-empowering.

Do you think this character isn't "pandering"?



Do you think the ability to date 11 girls isn't pandering?

Pandering is pretty normal. For some reason you think "pandering" only means "Inserting gay characters in videogames."

This guy has to be here just to troll, I mean look at his name for crying out loud.

It's more like you can't deal with other's opinions. Happens when you are so used to echo-chambers.

 

[TeamGhobad]

still waiting for a transgendered muslim vegan body-positive wheelchaired giraffe with ptsd and ginger hair as a playable character in a videogame.

 

[Winter's End]

You didn't look very hard then. You've never heard people say that something is "gross exaggeration" or a "gross simplification"?

Gross as a means of relating size is normal English terminology used all the time. What are they teaching you people in school?

Well context obviously matters here but ok.

 

[DreamsiclesPlz]

After all of Blizzards fuckups lately, this just seems like an attempt to garner goodwill with the playerbase.

Maybe fix your games instead?

 

[DynamiteCop!]

Well context obviously matters here but ok.

Well don't infer context then, ask. If you're not sure about something don't overreact, ask.

 

[No Word Count]

Most games nowadays pander to gay dudes, followed by lesbian women?

Most games aren't pandering to anyone. They're designed to appeal to a wide range of individuals from all walks of life.

The last game I played revolved around a space faring female soldier in a dystopian universe. Before that? A series of games by one developer with many gay characters central to its narrative. Before that? A badass witch with no defined sexuality but plenty of sexual agency. Just before that was a game whose lead is canocially bisexual (though this has no bearing on the plot of that particular game).

Gaming is not even remotely lacking in diversity, and is all the better for it.

By the way, you conveniently glanced over my earlier post.

 

[Orange_Man_Good]

Most games aren't pandering to anyone.

Who do you think RDR2 (No name the last AAA game that came out) is aimed to?

The last game I played revolved around a space faring female soldier in a dystopian universe. Before that? A series of games by one developer with many gay characters central to its narrative.

None of this tell us anything about the audience of the game. Unless you think Fear Effect 2 was aimed at lesbian gamers.

Also you seem to think that "pandering" and "aimed at" are bad things. They are not. It's normal to have a target audience.

 

[DynamiteCop!]

Who do you think RDR2 (No name the last AAA game that came out) is aimed to?

Humans? People who enjoy stories? People who enjoy good gameplay? People who enjoy Westerns?