Clive Barker interview - We need more gay protagonists in gaming

Clive Barker talks to GamePro about his new game Jericho, how video games are an emerging art form, and how we need more gay protagonists in gaming:

"One of the characters in Jericho is a lesbian. It's very hard in a first-person shooter to do things with the delicate issues of gender and to explore who she is when she puts the gun down. If you put the gun down some monster's going to eat you. One day I want to be part of a team that creates a game with a gay man or woman in the lead role where they are casually sexual, just as heterosexual characters are casually sexual in games, and have the public be perfectly comfortable with it. My belief is that audiences are perfectly comfortable with it already. I think it tends to be people in marketing departments that tend to be most frightened by those types of ideas."

[chasegamez]

hey hey slow your roll

[smturner68]

like Tim Sweeney. He's the guy in charge at Epic games. Now, I've never read anything about it, but he's got to be gay.
I think it's in the Gears of War special edition, where Cliffy B goes and asks Tim to use his Lamborghini...
He goes in and sitting in Tim's room is a big gay rainbow flag AND the gay leatherman flag, or maybe they're kites, not sure...but the leatherman flag is black, white, and blue. That means he's into leather. So, for reference. Go look at the Gears extra videos and then go to
http://images.google.com/im...
You'll see what I mean. He seems to be gay, either that or he just likes gay flags. I think it's cool. Now, it seems that the smart guy behind Unreal Engine 3 is proof that gays are NOT wastes of space.

[ravinash]

I mean, do they sudden stop what their doing and then start doing it in the middle of the game.
Whats the big deal?
Surely if your the one in control of the character, then it is what ever you want it to be.

[Chris_GTR1]

"One of the characters in Jericho is a lesbian... "
yesss! oh wait.. those are nasty as hell also , with their guy cloths,short hair cuts and very overweight..ugghhh

[Sevir04]

...

[trane07]

Not to be mean or anything, but a gay female I can handle, but a playable gay male....um........

[StarsCream]

Why? does it tickle you in places you dont understand?
Or is it that your mind cant handle the real world around you?

Go ahead....pick one....

[joeymp]

Who the hell cares whether or not they are gay, just leave it out of the game, we don't need to know what gender they are attracted to. We just want a freaking fun game, and sexual orientation has nothing to do with a fun game.

[pilotpistolpete]

That's exactly it.

Is it just me, or does making a fuss over issues like these, make it worst?

Case it point: The RE5 video.

When I (as well most people) saw the preview clip, I saw it at face value and thought : Cool, I see our hero is now in Africa (I know it's Haiti, now).

Crazy lady who thinks she must point out racism everywhere: He's killing black people! Racism!

Now between the two, who do you think hurt equality more? Most people never once thought of racism when seeing it, but she made headline out of it. Yeah, nice going bi+ch!

Sorry for the rant, but my point is this: Clive, put your lesbians in your games, but every time you make a fuss and point it out, people are only gonna think of lesbians and gays and not the game itself.

Be subtle, and now you're working for equality!

[StarsCream]

"Who the hell cares whether or not they are gay, just leave it IN the game, we don't need to know what gender they are attracted to. We just want a freaking fun game, and sexual orientation has nothing to do with a fun game."

Noticed I fixed your ignorance for you?

[Kwijiboe]

I guess we can no longer leave things under assumption; there's a few gay video game characters out there. Just they're not overly emphasized, and what I mean is they're not overtly called or described as homosexual in the gaming manual.

When does sexual orientation have anything to do with a games' protagonist?

Earlier in the week, I heard Dumbledore is a homosexual, and now Clive Barker makes this bold (too bold) statement. It's all starting to feel like a publicity stunt.

I'm not sure everyone would like to play as a gay protagonist, but then again, gay people must really be having a hard time playing as straight protagonists for this to have ever become an issue.

Oh wait, Clive Barker is gay? Ok, now I see the hidden agenda. Well then; damnit, I think we need more Mexican protagonists.

[QQcrybaby]

Sexual orientation is such a boring detail. Who cares? I don't want to hear about it in games ffs.

[KeMoBLUE]

this isn't going to sit well with alot of people....including me. i wouldn't feel confortable use a gay MALE character. regardless who actually plays a game thinking "i wonder if the protaganist is gay" NO ONE does. from the time i start a game to when i finish it the main character's sexual orientation never crosses my mind.

[StarsCream]

If you never think about the orientation from start to finish, then why would it make you uncomfortable?

Gotta love you people that talk out the side of your mouth.

[Kleptic]

the biggest game this year has a gay protagonist...guess which one it is...and I am only kidding by the way...

[tplarkin7]

Everyone knows that Richard Simmons is the man under the mask.

[ennon]

Do you guys realize how homophobic you sound? Degrading a culture of people based on idiotic stereotypes? Also the very fact that you use personal appearance as a reason for despising lesbians...its just very shallow. What would be so bad about playing as a gay male? Besides the sexual orientation, there is no needed difference from a straight male. None. The only reason most gamers(of which the most vocal part are male) would be comfortable with a gay female character is due to the sex appeal...

I've always been convinced that the online video gaming community is one of the most openly homophobic communities. Quite sadly, I believe that Clive Barker is incorrect in his assumption gamers are comfortable with gay characters. It is my experience that whenever online, and in an argument, one of the most common insults(why it is an insult is beyond me) is "f*ag". This just reflects very poorly upon the community, of which I have always been a part of.

For those of you who don't know, Clive Barker is gay, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy his games, or his novels, or his movies. Seriously, grow up. If I didn't know better, I would think you were all a bunch of insecure 12 year olds.

[Chris_GTR1]

well what else is next? transexual dragqueens in games? is that what you want? who is making the push for gay people to play video games? i thought they just watched house makeover shows allday.

[ennon]

Once again, you are using stereotypes. The problem I would have with "transexual dragqueens in games" is that it is a stereotypical representation of the gay community. The majority of gays are not open "dragqueens"(not that there is anything wrong with that at all), but are 'normal', although the modern world should be open enough to disregard that standard. You don't seem to understand stereotypes. They don't apply to everyone.

[Texas GMR]

I respect your opinion that you wouldn't mind having a gay person as your character, but you need to respect those of us who don't want one and refuse to play one.

All because people think being gay is discusting, doesn't mean they're homophobic. That's a stupid statement!

[Kleptic]

first off...I have no problem with gay people...I had neighbors growing up that were gay...learned what "gay" was at a pretty young age...and never cared...

with that said...it is every person's right to not have it pushed on them...I don't want to "see" what gay people do...what ever is involved in the privacy of their own home is their business...there are gay people that truely wish to be able to go at it in public, and that it should be ok...it isn't (its not ok for heterosexuals to do it either imo)...

Now the whole feg thing...feg is a funny word...don't let it be offendsive...I have literally heard more gay people use it than straight people...My wife has a gay dude at work that calls overly flamboyant people fegs all the time (some of which are straight)...

my point with feg is only this...most of us when calling someone else a feg is simply calling them less "manly"...not because of sexual orientation...but because of how effeminate certain men are...I have always thought of a feg as a girly man...again not because they are homosexual, but because of certain manuerisms that they use...

Most of us don't care...I know gay dudes that are more grizzled and manly than some of my straight friends...they are not fegs, yet are still gay...I know straight guys with high pitched voices and talk about their feelings all the time when they drink too many cosmo's...they are flaming fegs...I don't care who people chose to love...but if you are a man that acts overly girly I will call you a feg...the main thing is why do people get so upset about words anymore?...who cares what some kid calls you online?...I get called a feg all the time if I don't do something right...and it doesn't bother me...I have been called a ball sucking democrat on Warhawk before...which is probably the funniest thing I have ever been called...I wasn't offended, its all for fun...its a game...

[StarsCream]

WOW, Texas you live up to your redneck name, just be quiet.

[pilotpistolpete]

I don't think we NEED more gay protagonists. Not amymore than we NEED black, brown, blond, transsexual, etc. It a game features a gay guy, thats fine by me, don't don't put him because you felt games needed more homosexuality. That's just not the point of games.

[smturner68]

First off, some of you guys just seem very uneducated. Which is pretty common, so don't feel too bad. However, I can't be bothered with you. Anyway, some say that a homo playable character just doesn't belong in a game because it's not important. Well, to some extent, you are right, I don't think about it a lot. BUT, picture Kratos in God of War, when he beds the two naked chicks. Well, the camera pans away, so all you see are the bottles getting moved around, to infer that he's romping on them. So, what would be cool, is if he, or another badass Viking type(lots of them were homos I think) just took some opposing ememies, and used them as their personal receptacles. Just in a cut scene or something. How brutal. Just like I like it. Homo sex can be pretty violent, just like games. It fits perfectly. It would make sense to me that some of the clueless people in here think that all or most gays are the stereotype 'Jack' type from Will and Grace. That's not the case. There are a lot that are into leather, and bondage, and that's the type of character I'd like. A rapin' pillaging badass. THAT would make my day. Even if he's just bisexual, and would mount anything that he can dominate. The most masculine gay men are FAR more aggressive and manly than just about any straight man. I mean, how hard is it to dominate a woman sexually? A big muscled alpha gay male is about as menacing as you can get.

[Darkiewonder]

Such homophobicness on this site O.o

Yet when it comes to effeminite male characters in an JRPG it's all eyegasm xDDDD or just big knockers on a girl. So if a developer wants to break from the norm let them. You know you would still play the game anyways.....

BRIDGET ftw. xD

[StarsCream]

So very, VERY true.

[Stoned Alone]

no thanks, leave sexuality out of most games. also we dont need a gay hot coffee, no offense, I just don't want to see it. also in the spirit of starting a war, isn't there already a well known gay character in something called Halo 1 - 3.

[ElementX]

I do! Kidding, but I am representing :) YAY GO ME! Hugs anyone?

Don't worry! I only flame as a joke. I'm the "butch" type who likes hunting, fishing, and using power tools and such. :)

[ElementX]

Hmmm. I think that racism, sexism, homophobia, and other "isms" exist. One way to sort of bring all the groups together would be characters in video game form. I mean, if you had a group of a black guy, a gay guy (or a gay black guy), a butch female lesbian, an asian, a jewish person, and a white guy as all members of an elite task force, well, i guess it wouldn't really change anything, however maybe it could help fight the stereotypes. :)

[Stoned Alone]

you think that would lessen stereotypes? i think it would accomplish the exact opposite.

[ElementX]

People would work together and see that well, they can't do things on their own. You know, like squad based or something. I dunno. Quit being negative

[smturner68]

That makes complete sense. The only way that it would accomplish the opposite, is if the writers just made the gay with a feminine voice, and swishy, made the jew have a stereotype accent, and be a money grubber...have the lesbian be butch, etc. If they basically made the sexuality and race, etc. nonissues, but maybe just mention them as backstory, then that would break down stereotypes. What is painfully obvious from some of these hateful comments I've read, is that a lot of the people making these comments probably only have stereotypes to draw from. I am 39 years old, and am gay, and have met MANY adults that have never met a 'real gay person' before me. You know what? About all of them came to realize that we are just like everyone else in about every way. We are human. We are NOT wastes of space, oxygen, etc. because of being gay. There are plenty of straight and gay people who seem to be wastes of space, but because of other character traights...like criminal status, etc. I think I'm pretty important in my job. I have the most experience, am valued, and am smarter than 90% of the people I work with(is that an opinion?) And my boyfriend, he's 48, and a mailman, a farmer, and a butcher(he slaughters cows and pigs part-time). Nobody I've ever met has thought that he seems gay. Nobody. I'm sure I am only making sense to people who already realize that we have worth. To the ones who don't realize that, I hope you meet your 'real gay person' soon. I also hope he/she doesn't happen to be as big of an ass that some of you seem to be. OH, and I guess I was surprised to see SO MANY negative comments, but then again, this website is about the worst I've seen with the 'fanboy' crap. So many on here HATE people just because they like a certain console. I guess hating on gays should come as no surprise. OH, and I have all three consoles. Currently, half-life 2 is in my player. It rocks!!

[Fux4Bux]

There was that one homo in Enchanted Arms that died near the start.... that satisfy your righteous indignation Clive? Who gives a crap. Other than JRPGs there's never a time where sexual orientation would matter at all. And playing as some queen in a shooter for no reason would not be appealing to anyone.

[Ri0tSquad]

theres enough in final fantasy.

joke :/

[Wii60PS3DSPSP]

I don't think that was a joke...

[ReBurn]

Does it really matter what a video game protagonist's sexual preference is?

[likeaboss302]

I'm with the rappers on this one. "no homo"

Sorry but man on man action and women on women is just unnatural. I had a lesbian roomate and love her to death. Just didn't agree on her lifestyle. Don't get me wrong I think some people are born gay but some chose that because it's the "cool" thing to do.

[harv052]

So simple minded...

[ennon]

With the huge amount of discrimination and hatred towards the GLBT community, I sincerely doubt that it is 'cool' to be gay. Saying that just makes you sound ignorant. If there are people who can somehow control their sexual preference(kinda amazing if you ask me...), why would they choose to be hated?

[Machety]

Gay boy and girls aren't people the are gays........

[00]

we need more gay antagonists.

and besides theres already alot of gay protagonists in games.

[gano]

So SEX, remeber SEXUAL meaning who they lay with is important in games now. It's not being quote homophobic which is a fake ass word but that's like me concerning myself with sayin " hey to everyone on n4g, what do u sleep wit" response " non of your business" y cause i should not care. I'm not sleeping with u. Point: People show love in many ways, some more to animals than they do humans, will it be ok if a game hero made love to cows, who wants to see the game heroine fight the world just to get screwed by a dog.....wait... they have porn on that don't they....

[xionpunk]

...awkward

[Kleptic]

seriously...

[kspraydad]

I heard Richard Simmons was the North American spokesperson.

[smturner68]

LOL. Can you imagine? lol! I love it when he's on Letterman. I also laughed uncontrollably when he was on 'Who's Line is it Anyway?' look that one up on youtube. lol.

[xionpunk]

I guess it sounds bad but yeah i would not play a game that had a gay main character. no offense to anyone... anyways in related new please clicky http://www.time.com/time/ar...

[BubblesDAVERAGE]

So people can get mad about killing h0m0s and lezbos..just stray away from it

[senorpaco34]

Why would you want more gay protagonists when less than 10% of the gaming population is gay. All this would do is make it so less people could connect with the characters and the story. Personally if they are homosexuals in games I don't care but why should there be a push to put homosexuals in games. These are freaking video games and they are already trying to make them politically correct. Why would developers make a game that has a chance to only connect to 10% of the audience just to be politically correct.

[ennon]

I don't know where you got that statistic, but consider how taboo, especially among the apparently conservative video game community, it is to admit one's homosexuality. I would think that 10% figure is higher than you think.

[BLACKJACK VII]

WTF ?!?

I enjoyed Fear Effect back in the day (one of the first games to feature a gay lead character), but does this really matter ? Does sexual preference have any MEANING or NEED in a video game ??? HOW does it contribute to the storyline ?

"One day I want to be part of a team that creates a game with a gay man or woman in the lead role where they are casually sexual, just as heterosexual characters are casually sexual in games, and have the public be perfectly comfortable with it" = WHY ???

WHY would you want ANY form of sex in a VIDEOGAME at all ?????

Sorry, I fail to see the point. I have no problem with someone else's personal sexual preference, but I don't see the point of any form of sex in a videogame that children can get their hands on. And don't kid yourself, parents buy their kids games everyday that they have NO BUSINESS playing...

[Malkier]

exactly, look at 90% of games out there and ask 'is the main character to that game gay or not' (not including Duke Nukem). Who would know, there is nothing in the game to point out their preference.

[ennon]

I understand where you are coming from, but it is the issue of equality. There are openly straight characters within video games, so there should also be openly gay characters. I think, in all simplicity, that is what it boils down to. And I completely support that...
But I don't think developers should put gay/lesbian/bi/transgender characters into video games to fulfill some quota or anything of the like... I think they moreso shouldn't have to be afraid to implement a GLBT character for fear of people(apparently many on this site) avoiding the game. The culture, I guess, hasn't progressed far enough to allow that. Its just sad, really... people would avoid a possibly AAA game just because the said game has a gay protagonist.

[BLACKJACK VII]

I can relate to the equality standpoint for sure. And I do think there have been alot of subtle gay characters in many, many games already.

However, I don't think making a lead character of a videogame gay is going to make adults change their views on being homosexual or acceptance thereof.... be it good, bad, or indifferent. I think it does have the potential for sending the wrong message to a child.

I don't agree with AO games or pornographic (straight, gay, lol sheep, whatever) games either. I don't think that's what videogames should be about. The violence is bad enough, language is next, extreme gore thereafter, then porno in any form borders on completely unacceptable.

If you are old enough to watch porn, you know where to find it. You don't want it appearing in a game your 10 year old played at a friend's house last weekend.

I don't think leads in games should really exhibit a sexual preference.

[smturner68]

You seem to think you are openminded. Not that you said that, but you seem to be fine with gay people in general. However, you think that children shouldn't be. I am gay. My nieces and nephews know I'm gay. They know that I'm not a bad man. All they need to know is that I have a boyfriend instead of a girlfriend. That makes me gay. Now, this is how children should see things. So, do they think it's OK to be gay? Of course. It IS ok. Either you are, or you're not. It's a fact of life. Putting a gay character, playable or not, into a game doesn't have to be the Kratos type supercharged sexual character. Those games are rated M for mature. They are not for children. But, if in a game like Harvest Moon or something, there could be a couple that lives together that are both male or both female. The game could even refer to them as a couple, or partners, or whatever. Kids don't care. When they learn from parents at home, that there are some people that love people of the same sex(called gays), then kids just accept it and move on. It doesn't corrupt them, or make them gay. What DOES hurt children, both straight, and especially gay children(cuz we are gay when we're kids too, although we don't fully understand our homo feelings) is when we just let them learn about the FACT that there are gay people from other uneducated kids on the playground at recess! Then it's all about namecalling, misunderstanding, etc. It gives them totally unrealistic views of the reality of gay people. Please realize how simple what I'm saying is. Kids knowing that there are gay people does NOT hurt them. Does it? If so, how? They may wonder about it, but it won't make them think, "let me try that!" Even the gay kids model straight relationship behaviour until they actually get sexual feelings of their own. One thing though. I have to backpedal a bit. MANY kids experiment with sex...both hetero and homo sex, far before their parents would imagine that they do. I think that some of you are thinking back to when you did, when you use the 'protect the kids' argument. I certainly played around with my female babysitters...which was fun, but I still turned out gay. If some of you straight guys tried a bit of homosex as a 12 year old with your buddy, that didn't make you gay either. It's hard to figure it all out, but I'll say one thing. The sex part of their exploration, and education isn't nearly as bad as all of this violence and meanspiritedness.

[akaFullMetal]

i dont agree with people being gay, or lesbians, (now dont start calling me some homophobic a$$hole) but it doesnt mean that i hate them, i just dont agree with their lifestyle, i have friends that are gay, and i find them just as much as a friend who is straight, whatever people do, they can do, just as i dont think people shouldn't smoke, doesnt mean im going to hate them, now this is different level to some who actually hate people like that, or they are of a different color, but all and all, what really matters to me is how
people treat me, if they are a good friend, then i dont care what they are, gay, black,or jewish doesnt matter to me

ps there has been games with gay orientation implemented, how about knight of the old republic, or fable

[dachiefsman]

i am super!

[CaliGamer]

The bashers of gay people are really sad but I read an interesting article about homophobia.
There is a peer reviews study that shows that people who are homophobic tend to be aroused by gay pornography 90% of the time, on the other hand, straight people who have no problem with homosexuality only tend to be aroused by gay pornography about 3 to 5 percent of the time. Something to ponder for those of you who gay bash and outwardly are vocal about your displeasure with gay people.

I wonder how good this game will be, lesbians or not.

[XerockX]

wow can't wait to see kratos pound some spartan man ass in true spartan fashion.(sarcasm)not a hater but I prefer the ladies.

[happygamer]

dont care if the characters are gay or whatever as long as the game is fun for me ill play it.

[Big_Toast]

I think his name is Link.

[jackdoe]

Having a gay protaganist just to have a gay protaganist is just... meh. If it fits into the storyline do it. Just don't try to force it.

[Prismo_Fillusion]

Gay characters, non-gay characters. I don't care. As long as they kick ass and the game is fun. Though I'm not sure games like God of War would work with a gay lead. That sex scene would be unbearable.

[ApocalypseShadow]

i just wouldn't be able to relate to a gay character being a straight person.

guys don't mind playing as guys because everyone wants to be a hero.or a villain for some people.we're "men" relating to "men."

guys don't mind women being the star in games because most female characters look good because they are made by "men." we "want" to look at them.

but a gay man just wouldn't feel right in playing as.i don't want to be a gay hero.it's bad enough that there aren't alot of black heroes and characters i can play as.i didn't even buy fear effect 2.but it wasn't because it had lesbians.it just wasn't any better than fear effect 1(which i own).but the marketing for FE2 pushed it as "look at these lesbians."like i cared.i only care if it's good.

i don't see even buying the games starring gay characters.that would be for gay people.it would have to be an awsome game for me to even consider buying a game starring a gay character.and i mean awsome.but it doesn't mean i hate gays.i just can't "relate" unless it's a "human" issue.

mag lev................

[guerojose]

"My belief is that audiences are perfectly comfortable with it already." Oh Clive, you knucklehead, if only it were so.

The only good thing about articles like this getting posted is reading some of the comments people make. Like those above, for example. "I can't relate to a gay character, as a straight person. I can relate to a character that's a woman, a lesbian, a black person, a mass murderer, a little Italian plumber, a fluffy little bunny, any form of space alien; but a GAY, no way man."

I'm not ragging on you, and not wanting to start a flame war. But try to be honest with yourself at least; and these comments are meant to be more general than you specifically.

"but it doesn't mean i hate gays.i just can't "relate" unless it's a "human" issue."

Of course it's hate - there is no other word for it, regardless of how you justify it. You simply "hate" the idea of playing as a gay character, because it threatens your sense of self in some way, for reasons that you may not even be aware of yourself. You're saying you can't relate to non-human characters, either? - that last bit is confusing. You've never had fun playing as a freakin' awesome space alien? Or you're fine playing as any character imaginable - EXCEPT a gay male?

Barker makes a good point - why can't characters be casually gay, just as there's so much casual heterosexuality in games? It doesn't mean the focus of the game has to be for you to make the beast with one back.

[progx]

No f@ggotry in my games thank you very much.

[paracardium]

As long as gays don't bug me I won't bug them.. I don't believe in Church or God but as the old saying goes.. God made Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve lol.

[BloodySinner]

What I find amusing is that Clive Barker is gay himself. Interesting, isn't it?

[prayforjoejoe]

Sometimes people on here make me sad Im going to be making games in a few years....Sad I am even involved in an industry where its consumers are not open to new ideas and new places. Play the game, even though personally, I didnt think it was that great anyways. This article makes a bad choice though, the author believes that its target audience, mainly males 18-24, most likely heterosexual, are okay with a gay lead character. Im sure most of them will not even notice it, but they are making a stupid assumption to believe that this country(the US) is accepting of gay people. Look they cant even get married, which we all know is bullshit. Im sure most of you don't even know a gay person, I do. Look, most gay people would look at this article and say, "what the hell does it matter?" Think about that while your playing this game everyone, then stop being such presumptuous ass clowns.
Those of you making snide or otherwise rude comments I will report, not only that, you should be ashamed of yourself, and I am sad to say I am not looking forward to making games for you idiots.

[ElementX]

So if you don't want gay people in games, do you think it would be ok to not put black people in games? No matter what you think, you can't choose to be straight any more than people can choose the color of their skin. Some of you homophobes might be black. What if people started hating YOU? Black people have come a long way and you all think it's ok to bash gay people and talk sh!t about them? You haters make me sick, no matter what color you are. No wonder this world's so messed up.

BTW all you "hate-spreading-Christian s" (they're not Christians, Christians don't spread hate. I learned that when I used go to Church) and say you're better than everyone, well listen up BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT! You believe in f'ing miracles, parting the sea, resurrection (lol), and healing people by touch, but you don't believe that people can't choose their sexuality? Go on believing your fairy tales. Christian means "Christ-like" and Christ would never tell someone they should die. HE loved everyone. I'm talking to you, Machety #5.3. Don't use the Lord's name if you're using it to spread hate. Even someone who doesnt' believe in God knows that much.

Below: Whatever. It's the way people are born. Skin color, hair color, race, sexuality, gender, it's all the way you were born. If you don't believe that, then you need help. If you think people can choose sexuality, tell me you can make yourself love a man sexually. You're just an ignorant POS.

EDIT: I meant the Christians who spread hate, not every Christian. I will change it.

[Clinton514]

It's pretty ignorant and disrespectful.

Response to your ignorant bullsht: You sir are an idiot. Not only are you making up a response that I haven't typed, you continuously spew nonsense.

[Texas GMR]

Nice response on your stereotypical hate for Christians.

Your day for judgement will come sooner than you think or wished!

[Clinton514]

Not only are you making a borderline racist comment you're trying to fight hate with hate. Good job.

[The Swordsman]

That's a little too far isn't it? Solving violence with violence. I don't believe in Machiavellian principals. As a man who has moved away from my Theistic, Roman Catholic roots and moved towards Deism, I believe that the Abrahamic religions are bigoted ad corrupt. But that is no reason to justify what you just said. Using the same attitude of the bigots you loathe!

[Texas GMR]

"If there is a god.."

There is a God! Have you ever picked up the Bible and read it? That's God trying to communicate with you. Whether you want to hear it or not is up to you.

Your liberal beliefs have warped your mind into thinking God should except everyone no matter how vile they are! That's stupid!

God is just! Justice will be served to everyone! No exceptions.. ..NONE!

Your way of thinking is the reason the world is where it's at, not the christians you claim to hate.

By the way, not everyone is born with a silver spoon in his mouth and with no bind with which to get out of. People will pay for others' sins. It's sad, but true.

Molested children are more apt to molest when they are older. It's been proven time and time again. Something that traumatizing at an early age "crosses" wires in the childs mind into thinking a little different than a non-molested child. Are you trying to tell me he was born a child molester? No, not at all. It's your responsibility to try and correct the past no matter how hard it is. Some people are born better off than others in life in all aspects of it.

Sometimes, "life isn't fair", is the truth.

[CLOUDJU]

I can only see something like sexuality coming into play for a lead character(or any other character for that matter) if it was some how highly important to the storyline/character building. Otherwise, I don't find any relevance to why sexuality of a character is important. Looks like Mr.Barker is using the "shock value" method to get press for his game.

This all coming from someone who is bisexual.

[FunAndGun]

its sad how simple minded a lot of you guys are....although im sure most of you fall in the under 21 catagory, and your comments represent your age and immaturity. its not a choice to be gay and its not "cool" to be gay. anybody who is gay would tell you that it is not an easy life to live if you are an out individual. why would a person choose to live a lifestyle that is not accepted and looked down uppon in mainstream society? people are born gay, its not a choice. if you dont believe that, then maybe you know by experience that being gay is something you can overcome. if you are not gay, then how the hell would you know that it is just a choice? thats like saying it doesn't affect a black man if you call him the N-word when you are not black. you have no idea what that would feel like until your in that persons shoes.

sterotypes are another issue. not all lesbians are butch bull dikes, not all gay men dress in drag or speak effeminately. they are called stereotypes for a reason, they are oversimplified conceptions. when you generalize a group of people it only makes you look uneducated about the world around you. if sterotypes are true, then all of us gamers are geeks, have no lifes, live in our parents basement, have bad cases of acne, and will all be 40 year old virgins. i know that is not the case, but when you generalize about a group of people, then you obviously must fall into the sterotype of what a gamer is to mainstream society.

when it comes to orientation of a character in a game, of course it is relevent. i guess the attention to the Kratos mini sex game and the GTA hidden sex scene didnt show that. the point he is making is that video games mirror real people and there just happens to be plenty of gay guys and gals that play video games....way more than most want to believe. i am one of them.

texas GMR - what makes the gay lifestyle wrong may i ask. is it because it affects YOUR lifestyle so much or because god says so? i guess god didnt make me and millions of others.
yes you are simple minded to be so against something that doesnt even affect your life one bit, unless of course you have hidden desires that you are trying to mask. how am i simple minded?

Clinton514 - im not attacking his religion at all.....im just asking why he thinks its wrong. i brought up religion because that is the most frequent reason why people believe it is wrong. im just asking.

PanZeR - how do you know people are not born gay? were you once gay and had the ability to overcome your gayness? please point me to your research that shows its a choice. research leans to fact that it is something you are born with and comes from your mothers side. i know it is not a choice because i have the "gay gene" as you put it. if you actually TALK to any other gay person, they would tell you it is not a choice. please, why would someone WANT to be gay. you are what you are. if you know of the cure, please enlighten me, since its obviously an agenda.......what is the agenda again????

[Texas GMR]

We both have our own opinions. Who are you to say yours is any more right than mine? Simple minded, give me a break! I could say the same thing about you.

[Clinton514]

Come on now, you see that's the danger with people not accepting and moving on in regards to the opinions of others.

How the hell are you going to attack the man's opinion with a religion he didn't even proclaim to you yet?

That's just terrible.

ps.Not entirely directed at you: Where do people get off accusing others of "hating" and having a "phobia" simply because they disagree with a lifestyle or a certain sexual behavior? :\

[progx]

People are not born gay, don't push your politically correct science on us. I suppose you believe theres a "gay gene" and all that nonsense. Heed your own advice and OPEN YOUR EYES.

[ArmrdChaos]

We have Jack Thompson...what more do we need?

[WilliamRLBaker]

Last I checked every other villian or protaganist in japanese games was an homosexual blonde emo!

[chrno]

Just because the characters look metrosexual, it does not mean they are gay dumbass. I don't know how you look, but I bet there are tons of people like you who look like a guy and are gays to the core.

[WilliamRLBaker]

if it looks gay, acts gay, talks gay, walks gay...then its usually gay.

They aren't metrosexual they are homosexual emo lil whiney *****s and thats a fact.
Every other villian or protagonist in japanese games is a blonde emo, homosexual, and thats a fact.

[chrno]

Then it's pretty obvious that you hate jrpg and haven't played much of them. Most characters in jrpg don't act gay or homosexual, and they look metrosexual only because they are drawn in anime style. And how about masterchief?? He surely looks kinda gay in the green armor, and has he even slept with a woman before??

[guerojose]

It's hard to tell if you're kidding, or are really that far gone:

"Don't get me wrong I think some people are born gay but some chose that because it's the "cool" thing to do."

Yeah, it's all about being cool. Remember when all of those people were into choosing to be left handed? Then it was all about choosing to be black. But that wore out when all the cool kids at school decided they wanted to have blue eyes. Yeah, I know it's a pointless exercise to even comment on crap like this, but the ignorance is truly mind-boggling.

I want you to produce one single person who decided to be gay just to be cool. Certainly they wouldn't have any problem admitting it - after all, they're doing it to be cool, so have nothing to hide. Anyone? I want proof that a single such person exists, as you seem to accept as a given that there are many of them. If you're accepting such a thing as fact, without any evidence or reason to support it whatsoever, then isn't that the very definition of ignorance?

[Whoooop]

I think Machety got raped by a 6'5" 250 pounds pimp...

Hey let Element X have a game where he can relate... :)

PS: I could care less if for example: Nathan Drake gets gangbanged by 3 pirates in every cut scene, if the gameplay rocks thennnnn Bring it on.... I'll just watch some lesbian porn while the cut scenes end.. :)

[ParaDise_LosT]

Awwwwwwwwwwwkwaaaaaaaaaaard

Seriously tho, This topic should be placed in the catagory of
'Who gives a F*ck'
I don't care if the protagonist is gay black mexican or a tranny for that matter, if it somehow messes with the games story making it terible (you know making the games protagonist go through moral dilemmas gays go through everyday )
then Please spare us the torture....

anyway...I had fun playing as Raiden in MGS2...so I dont see why more
could hurt the industry :)

[SlaughterMeister]

Hollywood knows this, the music industry knows this, the publication industry knows this, the media knows this.

The fact is, homosexuality is not widely acceptable. The majority of people do not feel comfortable around homosexuals, whether they be male or female.

This is more effort by the "powers that be" to maintain an illusion that homosexuality is a perfectly normal and natural occurance. To try and pretend that everyone is OK with homosexuals and homosexuality, in order to try and trick the general public into accepting it. It's kind of a forced mob mentality.

The argument that homosexuality occurs in nature, and therefore it is perfectly fine for people to do it. Being nothing more than a race of apes gone psychotic, after all. Dolphins do it, chimps do it, animals of all types do it.

A dog eats it's own feces. Does that make it OK for me to reach into the toilet bowl whenever I feel a little hunger pang?

Bottom line, mention homosexuality and people pay attention. Suddenly everyone's ears perk, and they all turn and look. In the case of magazines, newspapers, websites, books, movies, television, music, this leads to sales, viewers, listeners, etc.

Homosexuality = Money

[Jo0j]

+bubbles for you.

[SlaughterMeister]

Are you people blind?

How many of you have seen "The Hours"? It has Nicole Kidman in it, and Ed Harris, Julianne Moore, a few other people.

Anyway, it's all about homosexuality. The 'normality' of homosexuality, actually.

This movie was terrible. It had one of the most boring and convoluted scripts I have ever seen, it was poorly directed, just an all-around bad movie. The acting was good, though.

I won't go into how this movie that was supposed to bring homosexuality into the eyes of the public, and make it seem normal and acceptable actually did exactly the opposite for me. That's not my point.

My point is, this movie SUCKED! For lack of a better word.

This movie was nominated for pretty much every Oscar you can think of. The actors may have deserved awards, not for this film, but they are generally good actors.

Brokeback Mountain is another good example of this;

THIS COMMENT SECTION is another good example of this;

If you make something about homosexuality, people pay attention.

How do you not see this? Are you so blinded by the propaganda and political correct-ness of our society that you can't see what is right in front of your eyes?

You are fed lies, and you lap them up like a kitten at a saucer of cream.

Now, before I go any further, I do not hate gay people. I am indifferent to them, just as I am to every single other person on the planet I don't know.

But I will make one more point:

From a biological standpoint, strictly scientifically speaking, sex is for procreation. Your DNA does not care why you have sex, as long as you do it, to propogate the species.

Procreation CANNOT take place by way of homosexual acts. Therefore, if a person is born gay, there is something wrong with them. Unnatural.

If all these people are born gay, then one of two things is happening. Either 1), the human race is evolving into a mono-gendered species, or 2), there is something wrong with them.

I use the word 'wrong' loosely here, I realize gay people are pretty much just like everyone else. I mean something wrong with them, like predisposed to cancer, or born autistic or something like that. A genetic defect, that has caused a mental illness resulting in a person believing they are either of one gender, and trapped in the body of the opposite gender, or simply making them attracted to the same sex.

All I'm saying now, is this: Gay people need to stop being so d*amned cowardly. If you have made a life decision to be gay, so be it. It is YOUR LIFE! How dare anyone tell you how to live your life? I wouldn't put up with it, why the h*ll do you? My life is my decision, my choice, my life, MINE! I will live it as I please, as long as I hurt no one else.

Stop hiding behind lies and bullsh*t. You have nothing to prove to anyone. If you really have pride in how you conduct yourself, why do you constantly seek approval from the rest of us?

Long story short, all I wanted to say in the first place was this:

The only reason why Clive Barker even made any mention of this, was to get attention. Maybe to test the waters, see if people are ready for this kind of thing.

(by the way, it's 3am here, so if something didn't make sense, or I said something twice, it's because I'm tired.)

[progx]

+ bubble

[Lordimus]

I honestly don't care so long as the story is intact. I personally am straight and would prefer a straight character because it helps with the empathy if we share the same tastes *even if he's an alien*.
In a game like Mass Effect one can decide orientation and outcomes of sexual situations. It's a game based on choice.

SO, in a game such as that I don't care if they CAN be gay. I care that there is a choice. If clive Barker wants a gay protagonist then he should make the player have the choice to be gay in the beginning and not force it simply because he wants to.

If someone is trying to survive the demons of hell in a shooter I highly doubt he's going to run into a gay orgy or gay demons wandering around and even if he did i don't think the character should be focused on that. I would assume surviving would be at the top of his list whether he is gay or straight.
CHOICE is the key to this debate.

[Bebedora]

people wouldn't necessary be forced to have a gltb lead char. S-E do you listen?

To put it in a story I can see that, or in "The Sims" but no brokeback mountain games will fill my shelf.

[Machiave11i]

Gay protagonists would work only if it had some sort of tie-in with the plot or central theme. To make a game with a gay lead just to do it is silly but it could be very interesting and make for a dramatic story if properly introduced. However, given the maturity (or lack thereof) of a good percentage of the people who have made comments in response to this article, I don't think it would gain much acceptance.

I would play a gay or lesbian character but then again I'm very content and secure with my sexuality.

[Bebedora]

There can be no other reason for not wanting to play a non-straight character, but the insecurity in their sexuality? So stereotypical.

[allforcalisto]

Not to dampen anyone's spirits but looking at the ugly asinine demographic many of us fall into, a character in a game who was gay would probably not come into existence, until market research indicated there was a large gay population amongst us; anyone with sense knows the latter actually is true. Of couse there is a large population amongst us.

Thinking from a very capitalist perspective it doesn't really make sense; just like with hollywood films these producers/publishers like pretty much 80% of what makes it out there to be Straight and White. With gaming they appeal to different demographics but usually just by age and sex, rarely do they exploit race and sexuality.

It baffles me it really does, because they could make a lot of money exploiting the tribal loyalty of some out there. more games with gangbangers and hip hop rises to stardom(for which race i wonder?), or some coming out story where we see a gay characters oversexed, fabulous exploits in the gay scene sigh.
Btw i wouldnt want this soulless design mentality, i'd prefer a diverse range of chracters (y'know like real life) who realistically reflect what we experience in life.

Obviously there'd be logical exceptions, i.e. a costume drama that focused on white high society in the 1800's, or some family drama about north koreans trying to escape to the south.
It wouldn't make sense for some of these stories to have the amount of diversity as something like GTA has, tbh this is only in terms of race; logically there'd be no reason why a gay character should be omitted.

contrary to what your neo-con bill o'reilly's out there tell you, diversity is NOT a bad thing, without diversity we'd all be inbred freaks, and life would be very boring.

Sadly if there was a gay character in a game he/she would probably be a ridiculous stereotype, and it'd cater to a stereotypical audience; Kinda like the US Queers as folk, and a lot of other gay television out there. But then...considering how many latent homsexuals, like i dunno posting inane comments to this topic, out there aren't aware of the irony their own homophobia, kinda begs the question: would they secretly buy this game and hide it from their beer swigging friends. I reckon a ton of homophobic dudes out there bought the brokeback dvd, then beat themselves up or something.

P.s. to some of the posters, being gay isn't a choice. why would someone choose to be gay in iran where the price is execution?
But i also don't think people are born gay, neither do i think people are born straight. Different environmental factors mould us in different ways.
I think it was kinsey's scale that pointed out that most of us are bisexual but a few of us are 1 which is straight, and 6 which is exclusively homosexual.

to the die-hard christians who think "gayness is a choice" type in
Ted Haggard into wikipedia, and do some reading.

[kss]

homos piss me off i mean i know that they are born that way and they have the same rights as us human beings but they piss me off because they have to let everybody know that they are i mean keep it to yourself queers

[Opi4t3]

We do, Master Chief. I bet all the frat boys are going to question themselves now.

[myabsolution]

i did NOT choose to be gay, in fact I tried to be straight... i dated chicks and tried to like them, but it didnt happen. I couldnt lie to myself, it destroyed me emotionally.

no one in there right mind chooses to be gay, thats complete b.s...

who would choose a life where you're ridiculed and made fun of..? who chooses a life where you're the butt end of every joke? does that make any sense?!

i may be gay, but i act "normal" or very "heterosexual"... I like video games, rap, hockey, biking. Im not some effeminate stereotype that is on Will&Grace that you laugh at @ 7pm on the TV. Gay people are everywhere, and act casual and blend right in.

Having a gay protoganist that is casual as well, would help show people that gays arent all happy go lucky, lisp speaking, girly fairies. The stereotypes are ridiculous.

This community sure shows it's maturity. pathetic.

EDIT: And ill never publically push gay "lifestyle" (not fond of that term) onto others. I would never force that on anyone just like i wouldnt want it done to me.

[VirusE]

But you are pushing the gay lifestyle by saying "would help show people that gays". People dont need help making up their minds. Usually when you try to make peoples minds up for them they will lash out against you and the gay community needs to start understanding this. You are not going to convince people to like you unless you stop trying to MAKE them like you.

[FunAndGun]

we are not trying to "push" the gay lifestyle, we are just trying to be accepted is all. there are gay people in this world you know. why is having a character being gay "pushing" the lifestyle? its not telling you "HEY, you over there, you must become gay!" its just showing the diversity of people. YOU are the one who is taking it the wrong way

[VirusE]

"we are not trying to "push" the gay lifestyle, we are just trying to be accepted is all."

You just agreed with me and you don’t even see it. You are pushing because you want to be accepted. People don’t have to accept you it is their right. You don’t want them to take your rights away so why would you want to take theirs rights away? If you are Christian (I am not) it is clearly stated that it is wrong. You can’t be accepted by these people so stop trying. To them your choice is wrong plain and simply and you just have to live with that. You don’t want them trying to convert your beliefs so don’t try and convert their beliefs. Its okay for you to hate the fact that they hate you but they cant have hate for your choice that there god tells them is wrong? So only gays can push hate now? You want them to risk going to hell for your ideas how is that fair to them? Again I am not Christian and while I think they have some messed up views I believe that I should respect those views as theirs and not try to change them because I do support “do unto others as you would have done unto you”. Stating your opinion is one thing but trying to force a whole group of people to accept you when it is from there view a sin to do so is why this world is such an effed up place. What is next; are the Satanist going to ask the Christians to be accepted? Why don’t you just “accept” the Christian beliefs and stop trying to change what is written in stone for them?

"HEY, you over there, you must become gay!"

I agree and I don’t think that is what the gay community is trying to do. They are as you said trying to be accepted. The thing you keep missing is that you can’t force people to accept you; it will only further push them away.

"Its just showing the diversity of people."

You are assuming that they want to know the diversity of people and if the don’t want to know then you brand them as idiots or wrong.

"YOU are the one who is taking it the wrong way"

No I am playing the devils advocate because there is no black or white on this subject like you make it out to be. We live in a free country and as such people have a right to believe in religions that condemn your way of living. You condemn their way of living so it is only human nature for them to polarize against you.

I support gay rights 100% but I don’t support the way some gays going about trying to achieve them. For every choice there is a wrong way and a right way to make the choice. The wrong way is the easy path or the path of least resistance. The right way is the path of suffering and perseverance. It’s easy to tell people they should change but very difficult to make them change through your kind actions and compassionate ideals. Which path are you on?

[sfinXters]

Barker is a gay man who's trying to push gay agenda. Nothing surprising, move along.

[FunAndGun]

what is the gay agenda trying to accomplish again?

[allforcalisto]

i admire your honesty dude.
I suppose it's a good thing that these debates take place, cause you get to see the ugly and good side of the gaming community.

[TuxinTosh]

ill just say like the guy in the old film Trainspotting in the future there wont be any boys girls were all just gonna be a bunch of wankers

[Bebedora]

Need some humor in here. :)

I've experienced gay people coming on to me. You can just imagine how surreal that was. Some really cannot take a no for an answer. I guess a lot of gays put on a happy face to take the day? Like the "bring in the clowns" song. I think it's a suffering life. Easier today than in a long time for them living in a western society.

But I don't want to play them. Give me that option, be tolerant to that kind of people too.

[dfcm2003]

I really don't think This "Gay" Issue needs to be in any game. why does it seem that the "Gay" community, needs to always push their lifestyle? Just because YOU think its OK, doesn't mean that it is. I am not wanting to get into a debate about this, but If you want to live this way fine. Just stop pushing it down everyone throat ( no pun intended.) Why always try and add this stuff to everything.

[VirusE]

"women, black, plumbers, pacmans and aliens" Notice how none of the things you listed have to do with sexual choice? Mario doesn’t get it on with the princess and straight girls are okay with kissing gay guys so it is never implied that he is straight, why can’t that be good enough? The two guys from contra could be gay, I never saw them talking about chicks or wearing a I hump chicks flag. Ryu spent a lot of time with ken and has never shown a need for a woman so maybe he is gay. I am trying to think of games where it is made 100% clear what your sexuality is and not many come to mind. Double dragon is the only one that comes to mind because they say the girl is your girl. Most games you are saving the galaxy or a princess that is never implied to be yours. You assume that every game hero is straight but 98% of games never say one way or the other.

How would you feel if we made an anti-gay hero? That wouldn’t be right would it? Well what about all the people who are anti-gay? You can have your cake and eat it too yet they can not? What about child molesters? They want a hero in a game too; it is there sexuality after all. If the bible didnt say it was wrong we would be doing that too right? It has been proven that child molesters are unable to fight the urge to have sex with children just like gays say they can’t fight the urge to be gay so why don’t they get a character in a game? Ohh you don’t agree with them right? Well people don’t agree with you so why do you get your way but they don’t get their way? A line has to be drawn and I say draw the line by keeping sexuality out of games that have nothing to do with sex.

Gays are saying they don’t want to be stereo typed yet you do want to be stereo typed in games so we KNOW the hero is gay. Sad, so sad that you are just to blind to see the difference here. Sex has nothing to do with video games so get over it.

[VirusE]

"If everyone stopped hating on gays, the problem would be solved."

Hate is so ubiquitous today that people hating gays has zero relevance. That may sound rude but let me finish my point. If they didn’t hate you because you where gay they would hate you because of which video game system you owned or which car you drove or what kind of music you listen too or how you dressed or where you worked. The point I am trying to make is that people are just hateful and they are looking for a reason to justify the hate they have for you. People hate/fear anything we don’t understand and we are ALL guilty of it at some point.

[Bazookajoe_83]

But i guess it would be hard to have a kinda gears of war whith a badass character that is gay, but gay´s arent the only ones. A muslim or jew is also something we rally don´t see in the gaming world head character´s. Now i hate all religions because of all the suffering it has cost mankind. But that doesnt mean that games should only choose the mainstream here in life, like straight people, christianity and certain nationality´s.

[Bebedora]

Way less of all this rubbish. And since it's made of a independent developer they can do just about anything they like with it. One is to not be politically correct (in a forced way - bad way).

[VirusE]

Someone please explain how sex has anything to do with a game that isn’t about sex? When I am playing halo 3 the chief never talks about how he boned some babe last night. I just don’t see how bring sexual preference into a game would add anything to the game. The chief also never talks about religion, politics or any other BS that only brings about fights and that is why I like him. If he broke down and started talking about how he misses getting it on with his BF Jeff 119 it would totally destroy the experience because when you are fighting aliens that last thing you are thinking about is getting laid. I could give a rats a$$ what the hero of my game does in his bedroom as long as I don’t have to hear about it. Sex is a personal matter; keep in that way. This insecure I need to broadcast my sexuality BS is getting really sad. I don’t have a flag on the back of my car saying I have sex with girls because that is crude and unneeded; what I do in my bed is my business and I wish other could have that same level of respect. When I meet people I don’t point out to them “hey I bone chicks”. I have no problems with the gay community but I hate how they need to constantly point out to everyone that they are in fact gay. If you are a cool person I don’t care what you have sex with as long as it is consensual and not with a minor.

If I have kids I don’t want to have to explain to them why all these people have rainbows on there cars when he is 5. The Nazis used to use symbols to label people and it was bad yet here we have people segregating themselves with symbols. HEY LOOK AT ME PLLLLLLEEEEAAAAAASSSSSEEEE LOOK AT ME.

Keep you business in your bed and you can bone a whole barn yard of animals for all I care.

[guerojose]

Let's pretend for a moment that you're not just another hate-filled idiot, and answer some of your points as if you're just a rational human being with some misunderstandings.

"Someone please explain how sex has anything to do with a game that isn’t about sex?" Ok. If you can't come up with examples of implicit, casual references to sexuality - which is what Barker was talking about - then you're not trying very hard. GTA? Dead or Alive Beach Volleyball? I'm sure we could create quite a list without even trying.

"This insecure I need to broadcast my sexuality BS is getting really sad". How is minority group ever going to be able to achieve recognition of the human rights it is being denied? By remaining silent and sparing you from having to ever address the issue with your child (who may be growing up gay, by the way, whether you want to admit that possibility or not, with such a parent as you)? Would black americans ever have made the advances they have (still far short of equality) if there had not been a civil rights movement? I don't know why people like you conclude that it's out of a sense of insecurity, unless it helps you justify your underlying hate.

"Keep you business in your bed and you can bone a whole barn yard of animals for all I care." Yep, true to form, we always have to drag in the comparisons to bestiality, pedophilia, procreation, and all the other crap seen in some of these posts.

"You are not going to convince people to like you unless you stop trying to MAKE them like you." You're so simple-minded that you actually think this is about people wanting you to LIKE them? Let's make this simple: give homosexuals equal rights, then you won't have to see so many stickers, or hear about so many protests, and you can go on disliking them if you wish. True equality, that is: rights to marry, to inherit, to make medical decisions, to raise a family, to not have their loved one deported, to be able to donate blood just as easily as the heterosexual can who has STDs and sleeps with a different hooker every night. Or all the other sh1t that you don't have to consider because, hey "It doesn't affect me".

[VirusE]

"Let's pretend for a moment that you're not just another hate-filled idiot, and answer some of your points as if you're just a rational human being with some misunderstandings." Explain how what you just said is not filled with hate.

1. "hate-filled idiot" Only an idiot would assume that some who does in fact have hate is an idiot. Being hateful has nothing to do with intelligence.

2. Please explain how what I said is hateful? I stated my opinion in a non hateful manner.

"GTA? Dead or Alive Beach Volleyball? I'm sure we could create quite a list without even trying. "

Gta i 100% give you. You are 100% straight in the game.

DOA could also be enjoyed by gay females so you can toss that out.

"How is minority group ever going to be able to achieve recognition of the human rights it is being denied?"

I agree that gays do deserve more rights in regards to marriage but forcing people to be okay with being gay will not get those rights. It is no different then trying to force racist people to not be racist. They have a right to be racist; we live in a free country for better or worse.

"why people like you conclude"

People like me? So you are stereo typing me because i don’t agree with your points? Are you to blind to see that you are the hateful one here? You know nothing about me but you sum me up because I put out a rational yet neutral argument? You don’t see that by shutting down my "opinion" you are doing the same thing that people do to the gay community. You want your cake but you want to eat it too. You get to tell others what is wrong or right but they can not do the same to you.

"Yep, true to form, we always have to drag in the comparisons to bestiality, pedophilia, procreation, and all the other crap seen in some of these posts."
You seem to miss that people who are into these forms of sex use the exact same arguments. Do some research on pedophilia and you will find that they only enjoy sex with kids how is this different than men only enjoy sex with men? Morality is the only difference because at the end of the day it is simply sexual preference. This is an argument about who you prefer to have sex with and nothing else. I don’t care who the hero of a game prefers to have sex with if it has no relevance other than pushing an agenda.

"True equality, that is: rights to marry, to inherit, to make medical decisions, to raise a family, to not have their loved one deported, to be able to donate blood just as easily as the heterosexual can who has STDs and sleeps with a different hooker every night."

This is where you make all of my points and show the bigot that you truly are. See the thing is i 100% agree with that statement but what you said and did to me leading up to that statement is why gays polarize people. You are with or against us there is no gray area. I agree with some of the issues but i don’t agree with the methods that gays use to push the agenda.

You make 1000 assumptions about me simply because i do not agree with everything you are saying, you are no different than the people who hate gays for no reason. You hate me because i will not let you have your cake and eat it too. Life is a compromise and maybe once gays start to try and compromise they will make gains for their cause.

"It doesn't affect me"

Way to put words in my mouth. You ability to assume is amazing. Try thinking for once rather than assuming.

[RadientFlux]

I'm a big fan of Clive Barker work (more of his writing then his movies) and I honesty don't really care if a character is gay or not.

In most games a characters sexuality is unimportant. Only in more storyline based videos games I could see the point of even bring up a characters sexuality.

The only issue I have with gay characters is when they are used as shock value and have no important baring on the storyline itself.

[Bullseye]

Clive, i've played the Jericho demo and to be honest, the characters sexual preferences are the least of your problems! Stick to what's really important.First and foremost produce a decent game.

[Coke-a-Cola]

if i discovered that Uncharted's DRAKE was into sheep it would really spice THINGS UP.

[stuntman_mike]

i think the thing they need to sort out more than gay characters is the relationships between a man and a woman in games, at the moment they are handle with all the subtlety of a school child.
so before they go jumping on the gay bandwagon sort out the hetro relationships first.

[Chris_GTR1]

in the end gamers speak with their wallets. if people wanted to watch gay tv shows like those house makeover ones they would watch them. just the same thing goes for gamers, if they wana play gay games they would buy em.

[tk]

I will not buy games with overtly gay characters. If they want to push agendas - don't do it in my entertainment. I buy the games in my house - and my kids will not be exposed to that type of crap. End of story.

So go ahead - make a gay lead title - and if it flops because you try to push the gay agenda in my kids face then you will maybe learn to shove it where the sun does not shine. Take your liberalism agenda and take a hike.

[guerojose]

I'm not buying for a second this "I'm so hurt that you put words in my mouth" cop-out. And the whole "I know you are but what am I?" rhetorical tactic is obvious: keep changing the subject rather than having to defend your statements.

"Only an idiot would assume..." If you read what I wrote, I was giving you the benefit of the doubt, that you might be misled but "rational". This, in spite of your statements like:
"The right way is the path of suffering and perseverance."
"What about child molesters? They want a hero in a game too; it is there sexuality after all."
"It has been proven that child molesters are unable to fight the urge to have sex with children just like gays say they can’t fight the urge to be gay so why don’t they get a character in a game?"
"If I have kids I don’t want to have to explain to them why all these people have rainbows on there cars when he is 5."

Suffering and perseverance? Gee, thanks for the pep talk. "Umm, why don't you just go ahead and keep suffering discrimination... yeah, that'd be great. And hang in there."

And I'm sorry, but the comparisons to pedophilia and bestiality are as (deliberately) insulting as they are, yes, IDIOTIC. If you honestly can't see a difference between consensual sex/love, and forced sex upon someone or some creature that is not in a position to consent via free will, then perhaps you need to go away somewhere and think long and hard about some of your attitudes, and how you acquired them.

I fear for your child if you do indeed end up having one that grows up gay.

[VirusE]

Way to address the points i made.

Here you go again with this if you are not 100% with us you are against us BS.

"I'm not buying for a second this "I'm so hurt that you put words in my mouth" cop-out. And the whole "I know you are but what am I?" rhetorical tactic is obvious: keep changing the subject rather than having to defend your statements. "

Cognitive dissonance at it's finest. Rather than address any of the points that i made you just invalidate everything with one stupid statement. You suck at arguing.

AGAIN SINCE READING IS AN ISSUE FOR YOU! I AM 100% FOR GAY RIGHTS I JUST DONT AGREE WITH THE MEANS TO WHICH YOU SEEK AN END. GETTING OTHERS TO SUBMIT THEIR BELIEFS FOR YOU IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN YOU BRAIN DEAD RETARD. RESPECT AND YOU WILL BE RESPECTED.

QUIT TRYING TO HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TO. CHRISTIANS WILL NOT ACCEPT GAYS DUE TO THE BIBLE AND THAT IS THEIR RIGHT.