220°

Dragon Age 2 Lead Writer Blasts Homophobic Fan

A disgruntled BioWare fan, who accused the studio of neglecting the "straight, male gamer" with the romance options in Dragon Age 2, has received a dressing down from the game's lead writer, David Gaider, who says that while straight, male gamers might be the majority, raw numbers don't give them any right to expect special treatment.

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Warprincess1164815d ago

Ugh i can't stand men who act like this. It disgusting and i wish they never been born. I applaud blizzard for doing something different and having your character have interest in the opposite sex. I think more game developers need to start being like bioware.

Sharingan_no_Kakashi4814d ago

I dont. Sorry I just cant be bothered with worrying that everything I say to a male character in a game could result in a homosexual relationship. Never been a fan of forming sexual relationships in games at all actually.

hazelamy4814d ago

you are aware right that any romance option, male or female, gay or straight is entirely optional, you can be nice to them all the time even give them gifts at every opportunity till you get their friendship level at max and still say no to any romance.

i can't recall a time when you couldn't reject any romance options, though i did have a quick playthrough, about 24 hours and didn't even meet a couple of the characters, isabela and fenris.

Baka-akaB4814d ago

my issue isnt the option being there its actually great .

But i find it weird , or rather badly written , that the very first dialogue with the involved guys , can lead to an heart shaped line , wich open look like a rather normal positive comment or compliment .

I dont remember even Isabella leading to that dialogue option so easily and out of the blue .

Now of course , with the icon system you can easily avoid it , and even if you pursued said first line , you can shoot the poor guy down very quickly too .

danielle0074814d ago

"Sorry I just cant be bothered with worrying that everything I say to a male character in a game could result in a homosexual relationship."

BUT IT CAN'T. IT'S OPTIONAL. TURN HIM DOWN. MOVE ON. HIT ON CHICKS. OR HIT ON NO ONE AND BE A LONELY BASTARD IN THE WORLD OF DRAGON AGE.

JsonHenry4814d ago

I can't stand romance/sex in games period. Let alone gay sex. And I think it is so funny everyone screams that we should be "tolerant" towards gays but us simply mentioning the fact that homosexuality is gross to us and you say things like "I wish you had never been born".

Who is the intolerant one, Warprincess?

HenryFord4814d ago

Well - to say homosexuality is gross is quite intolerant and offensive.

And you know...to watch two men kissing and getting disgusted by it, is fine with me. But keep it to yourself - otherwise it is intolerant. Why that might be? Because you simply shouldn't care, get over it and move on. The problem is people like you, running around and telling the whole world how gross and disgusting and wrong homosexuality is - is it even of your buisness? Just let them do what they do - what is your freaking problem?

whydoyouask4814d ago (Edited 4814d ago )

@HenryFord

A straight male saying that a homosexual relationship is gross isn't intolerant, it's simply a straight male expressing the off-putting nature of two males kissing to a straight male. He's not saying they're gross BECAUSE they're gay, but because the act of sexuality between males is extremely hard to understand if you AREN'T gay, which gay people seem to forget.

It's kind of like when you talk about lesbians to a straight girl and they go "Oh, that's gross." They say it because it IS gross to them.

But you saying that we just shouldn't care is correct, we really shouldn't, but then you come here and make a big deal out of a guy voicing his opinion. One that isn't even homophobic in the least; it simply says that if we say anything that might SEEM homophobic, PC people would swoop down to pass judgment.

Of course though, there are homophobic people, whom probably are the ones who brought up this up in the first place.

Me, personally, i could care less about the gay relationships in DA2, they are completely optional. I just don't like that some of the romantic dialog options for the males seem to be things that would be completely normal to say to a friend; I blame it on bad writing.

HenryFord4814d ago

Ah - yes, I kinda get that point, so I maybe got the first post wrong. To say that the sheer act of the homosexuality is gross to you, is okay (as I pointed out before) - but it is another thing if you say "homosexuality is gross", because you are very well implying that every single homosexual being is gross because of being homosexual. This makes no sense in my head - thus I reacted this way.

One way or another: It is a fact that the homosexual community is facing a huge wall of prejudices and harassment which isn't easy to handle - so naturally they will respond on even the slightest 'off-road' comment accordingly. It is not so much a fact that "homosexuality is gross to us" (us = heterosexual humans), that is an opinion. I for one have nothing against it at all, it is not gross to me - I just don't care what they are doing.

krazykombatant4814d ago

LOL blizzard??? You mean bioware correct?

PooEgg4813d ago

Warprincess: I also think that bioware made a great choice in being different. I hope to see more companies take these types of chances with their games.

I personally cannot stand homophobic jerks, who are often the same guys who think it is just fine to watch two girls hook up. So closeminded and childish in my opionion, and just because they are 'sadly' the majority in gaming, they think they have the right to bitch about it. Perhaps they would not be the majority anymore if gaming companies stop feeding their shallowminded, selfish, immaturity and start opening up their games to attact all types of gamers, and not just the big overgrown closeminded babies.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4813d ago
DangerTick4815d ago

I still haven't bothered playing Dragon Effect 2. I'd rather have Dragon Age: Origins 2 where only the choices I've made from Dragon Age: Origins would carry over. None of that medieval Mass Effect garbage.

koehler834814d ago

Don't criticize games you haven't played. You just make yourself look petty.

PooEgg4813d ago

Ya know, when I first picked DA2 up and started playing it I was also put off by the changes. I stayed that way through the first part of the game, but I have to say that by the 2nd act my mind started to change.

I think that the game is actually very enjoyable, but first you have to allow yourself to move past your love for Origins. It was very hard for me to do that, and I fought it and was very pissed at Bioware at first, but in the past few days of really playing the game I have changed my mind. I wouldn't give it a ten, for various reasons, but I do think it is a must play game for fans of DA. It is fine to wait for the price to go down if you are skeptical, but you shouldn't pass the game by so easily, because you will be denying yourself a pretty fun experience.

I still have issues with the whole DLC content thing, and hope that companies like Bioware re-think the practice of day-one & early pre-order content. I just want them to start thinking about getting a full game on the table and out the door before starting work on DLC. Otherwise I feel they will decide to cut things that should really be included in the game in order to push their DLC, and that simply is not fair to the gamer.

Hudahudahuda4815d ago

Oh how the mighty have fallen, from baldurs gate to mindless dungeon slasher with gay date sim, lol.

whydoyouask4814d ago

Gay dating sims? Have you even played the game? Wait...let me answer that for you; No.

Kran4815d ago

Am I the only one who knows having a male romance is optional? Im pretty sure they have it clear as day in the selections whether you have feelings for Anders or not if you're a male character.

If you don't want to have a gay relationship, MOVE AWAY FROM THE OPTION FOR CRYING OUT LOUD.

Pozzle4814d ago (Edited 4814d ago )

The same thing was said about Dragon Age: Origins. Many people on the forums complained that "TEH GAAYYY" was being forced upon them, even though male romances were entirely optional in that game too.

TronEOL4814d ago

Ha! Exactly what I was going to say. Why cry about something that is absolutely optional? Also, it's not unknown that sometimes Bi-Sexual/Gay people (Men or Women) will sometimes attempt to hit on Straight people.

Especially since I'm pretty sure there weren't standards back then that we have now when it comes to who can sleep with who.

PooEgg4813d ago

These guys who are making a fuss probably intentionally went the gay romance route and now they feel guiity facing their mommies and are making a fuss to prove they are not 'really' gay themselves.

Grown Folks Talk4814d ago

I got the elf to move in with me. I lead Anders on for a while, only to crush his hopes later on. IMO, it's like a video on youtube. If you don't like a particular artist, why do you intentionally type in their name & look at their videos?

Until the developer shows up at your house while you are playing, holds a gun to your head & demands you choose a gay relationship, I don't see an issue.

PooEgg4813d ago

How did you do that? He left me high and dry the morning after... a bit heartbroken actually... "I like following you around?" Yeah, sure you do Fenris.

Grown Folks Talk4805d ago

I meant Merril, not Fenris. Sorry I wasn't specific.

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100°

Former Dragon Age lead writer David Gaider pours scorn on EA's AI dreams.

"They want you to believe the devs under them are super stoked to work generative AI into their processes," continued Gaider, "but I assure you what they took as excitement was really a veiled wail of despair not unlike the time that team was informed of their new 'really cool' live service mandate.".

LordoftheCritics19d ago

Publishers see gaming as another stock market.

isarai19d ago

I think anyone with some common sense knew this, im glad i don't support their games anymore, what a sh!t company.

Psychonaut8518d ago

Friends don’t let friends buy EA or Ubisoft.

Chocoburger18d ago

I said this yesterday. AI isn't what we want when it comes to crafting artistry. Alas, these soulless corporate morons don't care about their work, only about cutting corners as much as possible.

180°

If working overtime on AAA games is the only way to succeed, 'then the industry deserves to die'

Summerfall Studios co-founder David Gaider speaks in favor of industry unionization and his studio's four day work week.

Dwarf Fortress co-creator Tarn Adams blasted execs behind layoffs as "greedy, greedy people."

H966d ago

Well with people it depends on which studio are we talking about, Rockstar can hold a live execution and someone will say "I also got executed in my job it's alright"

thorstein66d ago

I can't stand that excuse. Greed is greed. It earns hundreds of billions in revenue.

Eonjay65d ago

This whole tantrum the writer seems to be on is pointless. It mean Helldivers 2 is pushing 10 million sold. Its not some huge AAA production and yet... it is very successful. Same can be said for a game like Palworld. We have lot of example of non AAA games moving a lot of copies and getting interest. Like look at the Survivors games.

So you don't even need to be AAA to be a success in the first place. So the worthiness of the industry was never in the hands of the AAA to begin with. Sure we can all agree that forced overtime is not a good thing. But that isn't good in any industry. Like look at the health industry....

thorstein65d ago

@Eonjay

He's quoting people in the industry. There may be some ranting near the end but it mirrors the sentiments of those people making great games.

And I think that's the point. The big boys need to die off. At one point EA could fit in one room. Same with Activision.

The essential idea is that greed is what is costing people their jobs, not work ethic, not any buzz words, just greed.

But you're right about AAA. There are great games out now.

GhostScholar65d ago

Yeah we should all just get part time jobs with no insurance or benefits……that’ll teach the man to stop demanding and expecting hard work from its employees

DarXyde65d ago

Don't think anyone is not expecting hard work from employees. But things like mandatory overtime are absolutely ridiculous.

Also, I don't know why you say "insurance or benefits" because insurance is a type of benefit, but ok. Either way, tethering insurance (typically health/vision/dental) to employment is asinine. Very recent history where workers on strike lost health coverage for their families during a strike.

senorfartcushion65d ago (Edited 65d ago )

It's weak men who try to help enforce old rules

sushimama66d ago

Sometimes developers want to work overtime because they are passionate about what they're creating. No one should be forced to do it, but it shouldn't be frowned upon. Keep crunch going for those that want to do it, but don't ostrasize others in the dev team for choosing not to.

GhostScholar65d ago (Edited 65d ago )

I’m so tired of this argument. I hate to break it to you people who still live in your parents house, but in the real world people work overtime. I’m a coatings technician and I work 70 hours a week to take care of my family. I’m so sick of companies getting ridiculed for expecting hard work from their employees. When I hired in to my company they made it clear there would be overtime and I agreed to it so it is what it is. The attitudes of people born in the last 25 years is everything that is wrong with our country. How about instead of getting paid nothing to be an advocate for laziness and government support of everyone who has “depression” you actually do something productive.

PS

If you’re so appalled at these companies then stop buying their games.

andy8565d ago

True it's your choice but you shouldn't have to. Back in the day you could work a 40 hour week and provide for your family. Now a lot of the time both people are having to work and still struggling. 70 hours working, commuting and then sleeping, people must hardly see the family they're providing for. Work to live not live to work. It doesn't sound much of a life.

thorstein65d ago

Your company is exploiting you. You're missing 30 hours from your family. They'd rather see you than what you earn.

Your company should be paying you more. I've got bad news, they won't, not when you'll do the job of two people for the price of one.

You're also ignoring all the people who do work hard but don't get compensated fairly for it. You're also ignoring how corporate profits have soared since the 1970s but salaries have stayed flat whilst pensions, Christmas bonuses, hour long paid lunch, two weeks+ paid vacation have all disappeared. You work longer for less.

It's not laziness. If a company wants to pay the minimum, then they get the minimum.

You just don't know what you're worth.

solideagle65d ago

if you are getting paid for that overtime, sure but free overtime is just Evil. I can do 1 hour of free overtime but 40 hours vs 70 hours is bit too much!

senorfartcushion65d ago

I work far less hours in order to take care of mine. Are you sure you're not doing something wrong?

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 65d ago
Profchaos65d ago (Edited 65d ago )

The entire industry just seems like a problem is been eating itself since lockdown ended globally thinking that this infinite growth was forever and making investments on the back of that.

Now everyone's back to their normal lives games are still popular but since people can get outside they still obviously decline.

During lockdown globally people were playing live service titles constantly as a form of socialising now that's not as needed and despite still being popular they are declining yet every publisher is banking heavily on them. I don't play live service games much but during lockdown like everyone else I played warzone with friends every weekend for hours on end as a social activity

I'll be honest this last few months I've spent far more time playing earthbound on NSO for the first time than my ps5 which I haven't really touched since Spiderman 2 and re4 VR late last year. To me this generation feels like an everlasting dry spell broken by the occasional good game but followed by another long stretch of nothing.

Point is these live service games seemingly take more resources and manpower to develop they rely on crunch and exhausting employees to breaking point with a traditional game that ends or slows down at launch but a live service game that's where it only ramps Up

CrimsonWing6965d ago

Wake up. Lots of businesses and corporate jobs deal with overtime especially when it comes to deadlines. Shut up with this bullsh*t.

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80°

Dragon Age Writer Dismisses AI-Generated Storytelling as 'Lackluster' and 'Soulless'

Dragon Age creator David Gaider has described AI-generated storytelling as “laacklustre” and “soulless”, while sending a warning to developers who may use the technology in their future games.

NovusTerminus365d ago

Basically exactly what Bioware has been for a while now...

-Foxtrot365d ago

I was going to say the same, that's not me defending AI, just saying without it they've turned into the very same thing anyway

Nitrowolf2365d ago

Not to defend it either, but I wouldn't be surprised if it gets to the point where most people can't tell if a AI wrote it or not. I mean, tons of games have horrible writing, whos to say that wasn't AI or a real person.

anast364d ago

This is the correct way of looking at it.

CrimsonWing69364d ago

That’s funny because I feel the same way about some writing in games, already 🤷‍♂️

jambola364d ago

They work for ea
So if anyone knows lackluster and soulless

anast364d ago (Edited 364d ago )

Almost every game could be written by AI and "no one" would be to tell the difference. They failed to be more selective and aware of this part of gaming and now that AI can also fail to be aware, they are complaining. To be honest, most game writers should not have gotten paid for the color by numbers stuff they have been putting out for decades.

364d ago
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