It is a truth universally acknowledged that to be anything other than a straight, white male in the world of video games will at some point wind up working against you, and as Gamergate continues to rumble on unabated, it would appear that there’s not much chance of things improving any time soon. But while Gamergate has noticeably focused on the misogyny rampant in the gaming community, homophobia and transphobia has a powerful grip too.
The issue with homophobia and transphobia in the video games industry is that it pervades every level of the community. The virulent abuse often hurled across online servers is well documented, and casual homophobia is often used throughout video games to attempt to make cheap laughs, a trend it shares with most television sitcoms. However, the issue goes right to the top of the gaming community with figures such as Mike Krahulik – artist of the popular webcomic Penny Arcade, and a hugely influential figure in the gaming industry – repeatedly making transphobic remarks. Despite this all-pervading cultural bigotry, there are a number of video game studios who have realised not only their social responsibility, but the huge potential video games could have in changing social attitudes.
No studio has done more for the normalisation of the representation of LGBTQ characters than Bioware, creators of hugely successful franchises such as Knights of the Old Republic and Mass Effect. Friendships with other characters, and potential romances has always been a key element of Bioware games and the option to engage in a homosexual relationship has always been present. Last year, Maneev Heir, a developer for Bioware, delivered a talk he called ‘Misogyny, Racism and Homophobia: Where do Video Games Stand?’. He attacked the widespread tendency of games such as Grand Theft Auto V to perpetuate harmful stereotypes of women, non-whites, homosexuals, and transsexuals. He rightfully recognised the social responsibility of the video game industry; it’s an industry that reaches millions of primarily young people every year, influencing their minds and decisions in the real world. To break down these stereotypes at every opportunity is a duty and an obligation. To not only portray, but have players actively engage with social issues through the unprecedented interactivity of the video game medium means video games are a powerful educational tool.
Bioware are obviously committed to creating video games inclusive of people of all backgrounds and identities, but this has never been done with a tick-box attitude; these are complex people not stock characters. The latest Dragon Age game is full of characters of various sexualities, but really this has little impact on the main story of the game. The challenges that may face your companions due to their sexuality can be explored through romantic relationships, or platonic friendships, and these stories are often eye-opening and heart-breaking, but ultimately it is left to the player’s discretion to pursue these stories. A perfect example of this is the transgender character Krem, who identifies as a man. That he was born a woman is not discovered until the player has sunk forty hours into the game, and even then it can be missed. The response of Krem’s companions to his decision to live his life as a man is typical of Bioware’s approach to their LGBTQ characters: Krem’s gender identity is nobody’s business but his own, if he wishes to be a man then he is, besides, what’s it got to do with fighting dragons?
Benjamin Cook