Mass Effect: Ready for a Transgender Protagonist

As BioWare’s fourth installment lies on the horizon, the team’s writers seems more than capable of creating a strong transgender player character for the series.

[CaptainPunch]

This will cause a lot of controversy if BioWare ever decided to create a trans protagonist , just wait for the countless of articles about this.

[Anthotis]

I don't see how the series will improve by introducing a character that suffers from gender identity disorder, as well as potentially having a desire to commit genital self mutilation and overdose on hormones.

It would be better if developers took a stand against the SJWs, rather than allowing their bizarre and mentally disturbed ideas to pollute an excellent franchise in Mass Effect.

I hope that even devout fans of Mass Effect have enough integrity to boycott the game and company if they go through with this.

[nosferatuzodd]

Im with you on this one I dont see any improvement an anything by doing
This

[HammadTheBeast]

Yeah here's my problem with the whole thing. The whole SJW community doesn't want equal representation or new games being made with their own distinct characters. They want existing games to be changed to fit their certain appeals. Do we need a gay Batman or a bisexual Mario? No. And as far as the devs decisions go, that's their creative choice. If devs want to make a character that is gay/bi/lesbian etc, all the power to them, if it's what the game works with, go for it.

But would Mass Effect REALLY become a better game with a transgender protagonist? Would the majority audience (which I'm assuming the devs are aiming for) connect with the character more and appreciate it? No of course not, and is that a bad thing? No, that's just what the devs want to do with their game.

[Christopher]

I don't see how it would improve by not having one.

You say they should take a stand against SJWs, but perhaps what you should realize is that BioWare has a long history of including a wide variety of gender types and sexual orientation types. Regardless of what you think SJWs do or don't, BioWare has been doing it for longer and do it because they want to do it.

So, attack SJWs all you want, you're doing it out of ignorance. This is usual for BioWare. All you're truly attacking is their creative right to include what they want in a game.

This has nothing to do with SJWs.

[AndrewLB]

For only being around 1% of the population, the Velvet Mafia sure has managed to amass a lot of political power under the current regime. I'm getting a little sick and tired of them, as are most people I know including my gay friends. They've now gone from "i just want to be equal" to "you'd better be in favor for every single sick, depraved, and unnatural act I can think of or else we'll destroy your business, ruin you with frivilous lawsuits, then take your son for a weekend camping with the boy scouts".

[Mithan]

Agreed. It adds nothing.

I want a good game and great story, not some "checklist" that has to be filled in order to not offend people or something stupid like that.

Seriously, I don't care about transgender people, or homosexual, hetro or whatever. I don't need it in my game, and if it is in my game, you don't have to "focus" on it.

[himdeel]

Why is a transgender protagonists necessary? I already played my woman Sheppard avoided relationships with everyone and saved the universe.

Now being anatomically confused is the next order of business?! Why? These agenda have no place in my games.

This is why I don't care if games add more giggle physics to boobs or listen to those white knight socially correct yahoos. Bring on the titties and plain old good games!

[Sidewinder-]

Edgy "Debate" article.

Emphasis on 'bait'.

[FullmetalRoyale]

Oh!

Debait. Well put.

[3-4-5]

* To appease the .004% of the fan base that are transgender your going to force the 99+% of people to play as a transgender ?

* Why not just give the option.

Sex - Choose Male, Female, other/Transgender

But then also create the look how you want.

So if people wanted to create a man that looked like a women they could....or if they wanted to create a women that looked like a man they could.

* There are only so many options for which sex you are, and shouldn't be difficult to include but FORCING that upon people is going to kill sales.

Sure the MSM will love it...for a week...before they start bashing it.

[00]

On that note I remember saint row 2 letting one create a male that has a female voice and vice versa and those people still managed to bitch about it.

[DallasTrout]

People would complain even if it was an option. Just like the gay romance options in Dragon Age Inquisition, completely optional but people complained like it was forced upon them.

[Ultraplayerxp]

That makes sense. Too bad it makes TOO much sense.

[rainslacker]

How is it forcing is they give the option?

Serious question.

Don't get me wrong, I feel this is not really needed, but don't really care if it's an option, or even care if it was the only option outside of I like my femShep, but that won't matter much for this game.

I do think it will cause a lot of needless controversy. Gamers will be called homophobic by the media, and it'll just be more ammo for the SJW for a game that usually offered these options before these things were even big talking points.

[JsonHenry]

How about we just play a game without the romance crap thrown in regardless of sexual/gender orientation and let people play without that mess added in just so that Bioware can get a pat on the back from the gub'ment?

Never forget part of gamer-gate was the U.S. Government was pushing for game devs to make more homosexual/pansexual/transgend er/female heroes in games.

And they wonder why the Souls games do so well. Because it focuses on game and gameplay!

[rainslacker]

Doubt they could remove the romance options at this point. Bioware games are just like that. If they did so people would raise holy hell more than giving the choice of a transgendered character.

[Dee_91]

why stop at transgender? make a fat mexican bi transgendered depressed, oppressed, religious, atheist, mentally and physically disabled self proclaimed flying swamp monster. Hit on all the political sjw subjects with one character.Take the progressiveness to the next level bioware.. the state of our society depends on your vidya game... no pressure tho

[PSVita]

Can't wait to make my Down syndrome Shepard who's paralayed, deaf and suffers from PTSD😁

And I'm totally gonna preorder the game to get the Cancer/AID DLC pack which inculdes a gameplay time limit as soon as you start your game

Keep innovating Bioware!

[crazychris4124]

Dont really care its not going to stop me or push me into getting the game. Just want the next game to be fun to play with many meaningful choices in dialogue and gameplay. For example, do you save a noteworthy crew member or let them die in order to complete the mission? Also needs great story, interesting characters, beautiful environments and satisfying endings.

Last thing I'm going to worry about is if I can create a transgendered character, if it bothers you then dont create one.

[annoyedgamer]

Annnnd here we go...

[jackanderson1985]

I'd be fine with any dev doing whatever. But don't (and do correct me if I'm wrong) transgenders prefer to recognise themselves as their actual sex (be that male or female) rather than go "eh I'm neither sex I'm transgendered"

[jc48573]

futa.....

[rainslacker]

It's hard to keep track of what's what, but according to Wikipedia, they know they're one sex, but think of themselves as a different sex. I guess they think they were born the wrong sex.

It can get pretty confusing if you don't keep up, and most people dont' care to really keep up because they just don't care what other people think of themselves.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

[CaspuR]

I really dont get why a transgender person has to be in the game? Like how does that effect anything? I have no probs with transgendered people im just saying there kinda pointless in games thats all.

[rainslacker]

To be represented I guess. Unfortunately, Biowares representations of anything are rather cursory at best, and rarely matter other than to give the player the option to represent their own interests. There is no great philosophical or meaningful content that comes out of any of these choices, whether they're controversial or mundane.

Personally, I stopped bothering trying to have a romance with my main character play throughs because they weren't all that interesting and seemed more like a way to get some fan service than to have any sort of meaningful connection with the other characters.

[Roccetarius]

I wouldn't be surprised if Bioware decided to step up their correctness to the next level. It's not like it has stopped them pushing for it previously.

[Software_Lover]

............... What. Please don't put this to the forefront of the game just to try and sell more copies. Just make a great game (RPG) please.

[Ogygian]

Wow. I thought this was satire at first.

Yes, I think we are "ready" for a protagonist with a condition which affects 0.01% of the population. Perhaps we need a Down's Syndrome protagonist next? And then one with dwarfism. /s

And here was me thinking that video games were both entertainment and art, and not just vehicles to promote causes.

To be honest, there are more absolute morons in the world who write articles like this than there are LGBTQIA+ (enough letters?) people, so maybe it's time we played as one of them? Oh wait, that wouldn't be fun, as we'd probably end up cowering in a corner and apologising to the main baddie if we don't get shot within the first few moments for pointing the gun the wrong way around.

[WeAreLegion]

Not opposed to a protagonist with downs. Sounds awesome.

[Qrphe]

Soon you will

http://bit.ly/1CteZBV

[sugawalls]

Tranny = No buy.

Call me a transphobe or whatever you Sjw have in mind but this is going too far. Keep your little political movement out of our games.

[kevnb]

Why does it have to do with politics? I think sexual preference/gender should have absolutely nothing to do with politics.

[00]

it's actually called Identity politics, a bunch of people carrying it around as an accessory.

[Rik_Mayall]

But you're fine with a game with allows you to have sex with aliens whether or not the same gender.

Seems legit, what political movement does that support?

Not that I really care for or am I against a game with a chick with a P or a Man with a V.

Its just your case doesn't really hold water.

[FullmetalRoyale]

You keep your P's and V's to yourself, buddy.

I just want a Bioware game, without all this nonsense being the thing that people talk about, instead of THE GAME!

[wakeNbake]

LiberalWARE up to their shenanigans once again. Its fine if they do it but why? Will a transgender make the story or gameplay any better? If I wanted socialist propaganda I would watch MSNBC, I play games for fun.

[Tex117]

I mean, my question is really...why?

Is something to be gained by doing this? Not that it is or isn't, I just don't see the point until someone can explain it to me.

[Psychotica]

It creates controversy and helps push someones agenda..

[kevnb]

You can already make a character that looks that way can't you? Or do you want the story to actually revolve around how you are transgender?

[TotalSynthesisX]

Exactly what I was thinking. [If you think you're a guy, select male. If you think you're a girl, select female. Making the whole damn story revolve around your trans-ness is unnecessary and a bit selfish. Like it or not, 99% of people aren't trans. There's no need to cater to every small group/community on planet Earth just because you feel left out. I'm pretty sure there are people out there that make art sculptures out of tin cans and plastic bottles but I don't hear them complaining about not being represented.] (That was a poor example but I think I made my point.)

[] = directed at transfolk/SJWs

[curtis92]

Wouldn't a man who has become a woman just... play as a woman in the game? They wouldn't play as a man who was posing as a woman.

[Psychotica]

How about a midget protagonist?
How about a morbidly obese protagonist?
How about an elderly protagonist?
How about someone with a stuttering problem?

Why don't we get through the list of regular folks before we get to list of "different" folks..

[spicelicka]

Yea how about a 9-5 office worker protagonist?

[rainslacker]

A day will come when the white heterosexual male or female will be woefully under-represented in games, and we might have to start complaining. Wonder if anyone will listen.

I jest of course, that'll never actually happen, but it does seem that if you have to try so hard at being diverse, and make a big deal about it, for whatever reason, then you're just doing it wrong.

[Pandamobile]

N4G really shows its true colours on articles like these. These kinds of toxic attitudes are why gaming is probably in need of a transgendered protagonist.

[00]

if they're transgender how would you know? isn't the whole point to pass of as the other gender, unless the game is going to hammer on the point that their transgender that seems to completely defeat the purpose.

[Pandamobile]

Because who knows how the tale will actually be spun in Mass Effect 4?

Bioware have a good team of writers, which means the whole issue wouldn't be about selecting male, female or transgendered at the beginning of the game, it'd probably be more about the emotional journey that someone goes through in their lifetime.

This knee jerk reaction implying anything involving transgendered people in games just liberal propaganda or agenda pushing is just insane.

Why don't you guys try looking at shit from a fresh perspective for once?

[voodoochild346]

@Pandamobile

People don't want to deal with that politically correct bs in their games. Yeah, let's make a character transgender just to appease an extremely small percentage of the population to prove how edgy and freethinking we are.

That's why I can never be liberal, conservative, democrat or Republican. Every group has this dumb crap you are expected to adhere to if you want to be accepted. There's no way I can have the same kind of acceptance and understanding for someone who chooses a path that draws the ire of other people, as someone has no choice.

What's even worse is the fact that most transgender people don't even tell potential mates that they are transgender until after a relationship has begun makes things worse. Just because you made a conscience decision doesn't mean you have the right to take away that option from another person involved.

[Pandamobile]

"People don't want to deal with that politically correct bs in their games"

YOU don't want to deal with it in your games.

It might actually be fresh and interesting to the rest us humans that can just accept a story for what it is.

[voodoochild346]

@Pandamobile

"People". As in more than just me. In the outside world and in this comment section, you're in the minority...

[Gh05t]

"YOU don't want to deal with it in your games."

-he says while complaining about the large number of people who also think like this.

[Pandamobile]

On N4G I might be among the minority, but in the real world I like to believe that N4G is not remotely indicative of gaming culture as a whole.

If it was I don't think I'd want to call myself a gamer either.

[SilentNegotiator]

If you can hear me from all the way atop that high horse, are you also reluctant to call yourself a "movie watcher" or "air breather" if the majority of the persons in those groups disagree with you on something?

[Pandamobile]

It's not being disagreed with that gets me. I'm plenty used to that. It's just the whole attitude problem that 95% of N4G seems to share.

I guess it sort of harkens back to the whole GamerGate debate of who is trying to represent the "gamer". Gaming is one of the most diverse mediums in existence because it is so universally appealing to so many people. Where movies only require passive observation, games require active participation from players which can have a far greater impact on players because their experience of playing the game is more unique and personal.

My problem with people here is that there is this staunchly conservative attitude towards progressive ideas in games. When the slightest notion of social progress starts to manifest itself into video games, these people cry "the SJWs" and immediately dismiss whatever controversial topic the developers of the game might be trying to touch on out of fear that it's somehow going to corrupt their gaming experience. Or that the developers are simply trying to cash in on a marginalized subset of people.

Maybe it's just because I've lived in a socially liberal country for my whole life that I can relate a bit better than other people here, but this is also the same country that happens to be making Mass Effect 4.

Obviously Mass Effect 4 isn't actually going to be about transgenderism, but if was and you're the type of person that's going to boycott a game because it has progressive ideas, it's best to start your boycotts now, because this game is being made in one of the most socially liberal cities on the face of the Earth by a team of socially liberal artists and writers.

[00]

I personally don't care but Bioware new writers don't know what subtly is, and chances are it's not going to well written like that gay only romance in ME3.

[Qrphe]

Yup, but you also have to take into account that a huge percentage of N4G is uneducated primarily due to age.

I'm no fan of Sarkeesian's rhetoric (specifically hers) but seeing reactions like these make up a majority of the vocal community makes me sick to my stomach.

[JasonKCK]

This conversation :D

[rainslacker]

Outside of some flirty dialogue here or there, and one's available options for romance, what difference did Shepard's gender ever make? The game danced around the gender subject just to keep dialogue mostly consistent between the genders, that it seems rather pointless to add a trans-gendered character unless they are going to actually address trans-gendered topics within the dialogue.

If they do plan on addressing it, I ask, why? Why would gamers want this addressed in their sci-fi epic game? What's the point?

In the last game they didn't even really address homosexual topics despite giving the option. It was just there, and it was pretty lame with a couple of the most uninteresting characters to ever grace the series.

It makes no sense to represent the multitudes of gender identities if it's not going to be addressed other than to stir up controversy, which to me, is counter-productive to creating compelling characters which actually represent those things without even trying.

[Pandamobile]

"Why would gamers want this addressed in their sci-fi epic game? What's the point?"

Because art is supposed to transcend its medium's limitations and force you to learn something about something that you might not have been truly aware of.

Gaming is going through some growing pains as a medium right now. Issues like this specifically highlight that there is still this large swath of people who can't truly appreciate a game beyond its "fun factor".

[rainslacker]

I can agree with that somewhat, but at the same time, the player, reader, whatever, should know what the subject matter is to transcend to in order to actually sell the art to them. If you just throw it in there for the sake of being edgy, even with fair warning, it's forcing the topic, and in my opinion, takes away from the art form, particularly when the art form isn't about that stuff in the first place.

Art does not have to force you to learn anything. It should cause you to think, but it is not it's only purpose. Art should always make you feel though. And what I feel from Biowares games is that their portrayal of these kinds of topics is so mundane and unnoteworthy that they are not forcing us to think on the topic, but to think, "What's the point?".

And that's my point. Inclusion does not automatically mean people will come to appreciate or accept something, or change their viewpoint on the topic in the slightest.

In the case of Bioware, I feel they handle these issues so poorly that it just makes people think that this stuff doesn't matter except to stir the pot, which just turns people away from caring about learning anything at all.

In contrast, you have games like TLOU, with two gay characters portrayed as realistic people(albeit one after the main game), and when you see the discussions for it, and they are much more civil, very little volatility against sexual identity, and a real sense that people understand that the creators were just trying to make them human, and not something special whose lifestyles needed to be taught, because we already understood them as people, and not homosexuals.

Given the two cases presented, which one is a better teaching tool? The one that forces you to learn, or the one that you learn without realizing it?

[Pandamobile]

"Art does not have to force you to learn anything. It should cause you to think"

That's what I mean :)

You're supposed to learn and feel something about yourself by experiencing art.

Granted Bioware is not known for their subtly when it comes to how they deliver their messages, but that can be the problem with games. Play testing ALWAYS dictates that a game must cater to the lowest common denominator. That can force development teams to essentially serve the writers' message to you on a silver platter.

I'm hoping that gaming has grown up enough by now to support big budget, mass appeal games that can deliver meaningful messages to players if they're introspective enough to figure it out themselves.

Left Behind was a great story that was masterfully delivered. But that's what Naughty Dog does.

Bioware's approach has to be a bit more dynamic because it's a role-playing game. The whole point of an RPG is to play as the character that you want to be.

An interesting spin on Mass Effect could be starting off as genderless clean slate of a person, where instead of choosing who you are at the start of the game, you slowly figure out who and what your character is throughout the game based on your choices and actions as a player. This to me feels like a much more realistic of an option than simply selecting from Male/Female/Trans at the beginning of the game.

To me, it'd be so much more interesting and though provoking to look at my character at the end of their space epic and figure out how it is that they got here, rather than try to dictate that from the beginning when I haven't the slightest inclination of who I want my character to be yet.

[Adrian_v01]

Most of these gamers here are old school, raised in the times where a different sexuality was something to diss and HIV was created by god for homosexuals.

I do hope that the newer generations will have better points of view. I'm fairly young so I expect to play some diverse games through my life. It's funny though, a few decades ago they would react the same way if a black male/female were the protagonist, nowadays everyone's for equality in races. It's funny how society does change indeed, and if they're not able to accept that they'll have a rather frustrating future.

On the representation of different sexualities - what's the problem? If you're all so secure about your masculinity and sexuality why be so defensive? It can't turn you in any of the LGBTQ letters, you can only learn a lesson about mutual understanding and empathy if the story is well written.

[NeonEnigma]

As long as they make a character who happens to be transgender, not a transgender character. I personally am hoping that the character creator allows me to choose b/t different races... Turian, Asari, Krogan, Drell!?

[N0TaB0T]

All I care about is a good game. Whether or not this is implemented, doesn't make a difference or make it any less/more interesting...

[N0TaB0T]

I just want a good game, is that so much to ask for without making a fret about society?

[InTheZoneAC]

the hell is wrong with this world to even bring this stupid idea up?

[comebackkid9891]

Perhaps a transexual male lesbian (woman trapped in a man's body who dresses like a man and likes girls)?

[WizzroSupreme]

Why oppose more options when they're, by definition, optional? Why are people offended by transgender gamers enjoying creating a character they identify with more? As it so happens, they're just are transgender players in the world. Same way they're are black, Asian, Latino, and white gamers out there. Mass Effect lets you customize those options too if you want.

The series did a great job letting players choose their own story rather than making it about any particular demographic. People are afraid of a "transgender" agenda ruining the game. Why are minorities guilty of agendas and majorities aren't? Why should we reinforce that straight characters are the only non-controversial protagonists we can have in games simply because they've been around longer?

If controversy is inevitable no matter what game you make, I'd rather be on the side of giving gamers more options. If we can unbundle the Kinect from the Xbox One, can we even tolerate the existence of a potential transgender lead in a game? I don't know anymore, but I'd like to think so.

[DougLord]

Don't shove this down our throats. I have no problem with LBGT people, but I don't want this forced on me. If you make it the main character or the villian, I just won't be able to relate. If it's some optional NPC or Easter Egg for that community - fine.

[FunAndGun]

Oh lord, really? You can't enjoy a game unless you can relate to all the characters??

[Summons75]

Oh Bioware, why don't you just focus on making a good game instead of trying to cause controversy and grab headlines. Yes we get it, there is nothing wrong with gay characters and there is nothing wrong with guy or girl wanting to be the opposite sex and you can be so bad that you can punch a reporter in the face... but stop shoving it down our throats.

[spicelicka]

I think we need to understand that this particular case has nothing to do with Bioware!! This is an article someone wrote speculating on the possibility. Regardless of what Bioware has done in the past, we can't be calling them out on something they literally have nothing to do with.

[GundalfDeGrej]

I think you'd have to make a game that completely revolves around the subject for it to not to feel tacked on. I wouldn't want to play Mass Effect as a way to better understand transgenderism. It would only do everyone a disservice.

[urwifeminder]

No that's is pretty cool .

[assdan]

I am pro-lgbt, but I have to ask what anyone would gain from this.

[blakstarz]

Who cares....you have Japanese Anime games where some of the male characters looks almost like females some times...I have no problems with it, just make sure the gameplay is good!

I know this country has its hang up on this subject, but its here and not going anywhere apparently. Look at the GTAIV episode of Ballad of Gay Tony, the game has undertones of the LGBT world of Studio 54 for the old club/disco heads in NYC.

If that's your thing....that's your thing.

[linkenski]

One word: "Ugh"

I don't have too much against transgenderism. Go ahead by all means, but how silly would it be to have an action hero who crossdresses? I don't think those choice of style ideals come first when there is real conflict and life and death situations in a serious space drama, just saying. It would be stupid.

[N8]

Transgenders wouldn't want to play as a transgender. What would be the point of this.

[KakashiHotake]

They may be able to pull it off as a kind of species from an alien planet but even so why take a gamble like that in the 1st place.

[TenorCleft1]

Never read the comments.

Never ever read the comments.

[animegamingnerd]

if anything should be changed for the protagonist for the next Mass Effect is playing as a race that aint human like a Turian or Krogan.

[Knightofelemia]

Isnt the transgender where I decide if Commander Shepard is a woman or a man?

[gamer7804]

Lets keep it traditional, pick a Male, Female, or better yet, a Volus! Then the game can be twice as long due to the increased conversation time :)

[claud3]

Is it a skirt or a beard. Nope it's the i don't give a balloon spit

As long as the game is amazing too play

[Pastorfuzz]

We don't need this! If someone want's to make a game about gays, Lesbians or whatever, go ahead and make one. I'm sure some people will buy it. But don't do this for the Mass Effect franchise. I plan on buying Mass Effect when it comes out, but if I have some homo, trans or whatever NPC flirting with me in the game, I will be pissed!

[Tctczach]

I'm not hating but I wouldn't want to play as that. Just my preference.

[MilkMan]

So, this is what ME has boiled down to: what type of person you'll romance?
Not gameplay, not game mechanics, not story, but who you're boning?
Interesting.

[j0ncap125]

How about we get a game where we play as the bad guy... Think about the bad guys for once! Bigots...