Florida Family Association
Apparently the whole Religious Right versus same sex-romance-in-Star Wars-video-games dogfight isn't over yet.
Quick rewind: Recently, BioWare, the makers of the massively popular MMO video game Star Wars: The Old Republic, decided that one of your role playing options should be a same sex romance. Diverse, the universe is, hm?
"BioWare originally announced that players and their companions in "Star Wars: The Old Republic" would only be able to experience mixed-gender romantic relationships. After many inquiries from fans asking the developer to explain the decision, earlier this week a new forum post by Stephen Reid, the senior online community manager for the game, showed up on the company's official website announcing that those fans had been heard and same-sex romance will be added to the game."
Right on cue, the usual right-wing watchdogs got their midi-chlorians in a bunch and, just like here on Earth, they are trying to eliminate these rebel alliances.
According to Right Wing Watch, The American Decency Association huffed, "Star Wars video games are for children. An overwhelming percentage of the 1.7 million games sold are being used by children who do not need to be forced to see this propaganda."
The ever reliable Tony Perkins of The Family Research Council said, "In a new Star Wars game, the biggest threat to the empire may be homosexual activists!" (And yes, the exclamation point is his.)
Now, the latest group to weigh in is the hi-larious Florida Family Association who wonders, "Will the makers of Star Wars video games create Darth VaPaula, a (mock) transgender version of Darth Vader - RuPaul, for kids to choose as their action player?" (See the FAA's illustration above. Note to BioWare: make this happen—The Florida Family Association may have stumbled onto a gold mine here.)
The FFA also made this jaw dropping observation:
"There were no LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) characters in any of the Star Wars movies."
Really? What about Obi Wan? Or Jar Jar? Or Yoda? Or Chewbacca? Why does the FFA just assume they're not LGBT? Statistically, several Star Wars characters definitely are. And what about the Ewoks?
Finally, this note from a commenter on the FFA blog,
"Dear FFA, It would be greatly appreciated if you would take your archaic ideas on morality, and your personal opinion on how others should live, off of this planet. You no longer have a place, and we need the oxygen for working brains.
Sincerely,
The Modern World"
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There was near-incest. But that's okay, right? Not nearly as taboo as true love. *sigh*
Of course near-incest isn't taboo! Many overly-loud homophobes are cousin-lovers, so it's just business as usual, just so long as anything incestuous is between one man and one woman.
Oh, and how about C3PO and R2D2?
C3PO - all done up in gold lame..., and R2D2, toolbelt on wheels... yep! they are family! : )
Funny how depicting that there are gay people in the world is 'propaganda' and an 'agenda' but doing the same w/ straight people is somehow a-ok. Additionally doesn't anyone else find the whole 'we're ok w/ relations being displayed in a vidya game as long as there aint no gays doin' it' attitude a little....hilarious?
You know what I had totally forgotten about this gem. Here is the best summary of this outrage via the (sadly) now canceled show Infomania:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS83e65LMp8
Nice point Mouser.
These are copied from the DSM-IV for a type of mental disorder.
Has a sense of entitlement
Selfishly takes advantage of others to achieve his own ends
Believes he is "special" and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)
Lacks empathy
Shows arrogant, haughty, patronizing, or contemptuous behaviors or attitudes
I wonder how far back the possibility for same-sex interactions go in computer games? At least as far back as Ultima VI (1990). In the gypsy camp near Trinsic, there are two members of the band (one male, one female) who will have sex with your character regardless of gender. I don't remember any particular uproar about that at the time.
I don't see what the big deal is, Bioware offered the same romance options in their Dragon Age games, which I am sure will still be an option in Dragon Age 3. If you are not gay or are not interested in pursuing a same-sex romance option for your character, then don't choose those OPTIONS during gameplay. How is this even an issue?
It's an issue because the FFA can make it an issue.
Remember, these folk don't get to go out very much and tend to stay home so their kids don't experience the general public except for church on Sundays. The only thing they have is video games to play because TV isn't any good to watch.
So these games become like family to them and they don't want any gay in their family.
Can I take what you said one step further here? How about applying that philosophy to life... You know? Its true. Its cool if you dont choose those options during life-play but.. leave everyone else alone. Lol.
Bob's right though- Thats what it is. Although, jokes on them bc look hi I grew up. My parents were so far right they slingshot me into liberalism.... eeep
Also, it has been argued that the violence in video games (though not necessarily in Star Wars) is damaging to children's psychological/emotional development. While i don't know if that's true or not, I think that FFA should worry more about those non-Jesusy aspects rather than the love between two human beings.
For some people, having an option for something they find objectionable is the issue.
"An overwhelming percentage of the 1.7 million games sold are being used by children who do not need to be forced to see this propaganda."
So that means that the "percentage" that wasn't counted and need to see that "propaganda" aren't children - which mean equality for all?!? Yea!! And if they don't think that C3PO/Chewbacca and yes Jabba the Hut wasn't "gay", then I've got a bridge for sale - real cheap! :>)
My same sex partner and I --- she is 50 and I will be 50 in June -- play SWTOR with great gusto, as do many of our friends who are all over the age of 25. We would like to play OUR game OUR way....
I was wondering about that statistic because an overwhelming number of games are sold to adults and teens, particularly the role playing and strategy games. Younger kids do not have a long attention span for those kind of games.
@Caroline - so NOT mad at ya - your game, your way....May the force be with you....
You missed the most obviously gay character in Star Wars - C-3PO! He was the drama queen bottom to R2-D2's very dominant top.
Technically I don't think that droids have any gender, in spite of their personalities and voices, although if it was a biological being, I agree with your observation.
On the other hand, it will be interesting to see how this will work in SWTOR. Right now it can be difficult to tell when you can "romance" your companions, other than maybe Nadia Grell for Jedi Consular's, who comes on strong from the beginning. Somehow I don't think that Smugglers and Wookies will make a good match.
"...difficult to tell when you can "romance" your companions,..."
@Craig - Psst, don't say that to the Wookies, you might regret it......
Even more so, Joan Rivers as C3PO in Spaceballs.
Just like here on earth, the empire tries to screw us, but wants us to be celibate unless we are making more worker bees. The rebels will use sharpened vaginal probes if necessary to protect themselves from imperial tyranny. May Chewbacca leave a hairball in your caviar.
It's a video game about Star Wars. I fail to see why relationships need to be included at all. Its stupid either way. I'm pro same sex marriage and equality for all, but I fail to see how this will enrich the game playing experience for people. I want to shoot blasters at Storm Troopers and swing a light saber. If I wanted to worry about relationships I would just stick with the real world.
Craig, you have not played the game. If you had you would not make such a clueless statement. This game is set up to make you feel like you live in the SW uni, and if I live there I wanna have some luv'in!
While The Old Republic is an MMO game, it has a pretty strong single player component as well. The story your character experiences is tailored to the class od character you choose. Over the course of it you will meet 5 different "companions" who will join you on your quest and assist in various ways. Each of those in turn has a backstory and some of them you can romance. Currently you can only do this with companions of the opposite sex as your character, basically once they "like" you enough (by giving them gifts as well as choosing conversation options that they agree with in their presence), they will drop a hint in a conversation. You can then choose to pursue them or turn them down.
All they are going to do is increase these options to also be able to romance characters of the same sex, if it doesn't interest you, no one is forcing you to go that way.
If you are pro same sex marriage, how can you not see that disallowing it is an insult to gay players?
What you should ask for is that the producers remove the heterosex marriage option. Then everything would be equal for all.
well six companions actually, but one is a droid :)
You see, in MMORPGs we have a subset of players called "Role-Players". They put the RP in MMORPG. When I log into World of Warcraft, for instance, I'm interested in killing dragons and demons, and taking their precious, precious loot.
Some people like to create characters with a backstory and a personality that doesn't even necessarily line up with their own. This kind of feature is put in there for those kind of people, and I say good on them for doing it!
I'd imagine that a 15 year old nerd who lives in a small town of right-wing lunatics may get no other way to actually express their homosexual feelings, so something like this really hurts no one, and could potentially be a source of relief for some people who are too afraid to come out of the closet.
Again, I think BioWare is a fantastic company for making this choice, and I'm going to be more likely to try out their games in the future knowing that they aren't a bunch of uptight dicks!
Err, right, because there's nothing about the Star Wars movies -the originals *or* the prequels- having to do about relationships, at all
fear leads to anger,anger leads to hate,hate leads to suffering........yoda
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has the same option. You can even marry someone of a different species! I wonder what these groups would make of that!
Jazz bar. Multiple gender non-specific aliens. Twink (Luke) gathering too much attention. Hello?
We all know that many Ewoks are proud members of the bear community.
chewy was straight. he has a wife, malla and a kid, unfortunately named lumpy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star_Wars_Holiday_Special
c3po is a 'confirmed bachelor'.
Does anyone else find it ironically hysterical that the head of "The Family Research Center" (ie, right wing homophobes) name is Tony Perkins? Everytime I hear his name associated with this group I can't help but giggle inwardly. Anthony, "Tony", Perkins is the name of a very well known, late actor who played Norman Bates in Psycho. It's not just funny because he was the star of "Psycho" but because Tony Perkins, the actor was very much a gay man. I wonder if they see the irony too? Somehow, I doubt it.
They don't see it because it is beyond the end of their noses.
What is Santorum going to say about man on alien sex?
I believe that is how he was created sooo...
OK, this is for fun; but not only is the FFA (and all the religious/far-right organizations) so far out of touch, but they can't draw either. Their illustration of Darth VaPaula, at first glance, appears to be a hottie. Further examination quickly reveals that s/he is completely out of proportion.
Class! "Get out your rulers."
For instance: the distance between most human shoulders to the elbow is roughly double the length of the face from hairline to chin. Any first year art student can tell you that (and note the word 'roughly'). VaPaula's proportions, on the other hand (intended), have that distance as equal; which is why the torso looks funny.
Your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to find other anomolies with the most obvious exception of the genitals. Is s/he pre or post op? FFA won't let us see, so you'll have to take it in your own hands (intended) to make a determinination.
Have fun, all papers due Friday.
But why is her/his neck so off center? Shouldn't it line up with the shiny center stripe of the cowl-neckpiece?
And what was the theological crowd doing amongst this world beyond their gods'? Not showing some imagination or stepping outside the confines of their religious texts. Or worse, letting their children see something to threaten their religious beliefs.
I'm sorry, wasn't this the franchise whose heroes were monks belonging to a completely different religion? Or were the Christians under the impression that the Jedi were followers of Christ?
Is there no foolishness that the Christians will not pass over. Must they take every opportunity to reveal themselves as clowns.
Bioware had better not back down from their original promise to its player base. They had better go through with adding same gender content.
To add to The Mouzer's comment above, depicting a galaxy far, far away as being hetero-only amounts to propaganda our children do not need to see. Reality bites sometimes, Tony Perkins and FFA. Live with it. Hurrah for Bioware.
Don't give Bioware too much credit. The game is still pretty sexist. All too often, my female character would try on a shirt and suddenly two-thirds of the fabric found on the male version would disappear. An armored chest piece becomes a flimsy sports bra, like magic! It's cleavage and abs for females and head-to-toe armor for males.
Of course, that's when players even bother putting armor on their female characters and companions at all. I can stand around on the Fleet and lose count of how many slave girl and dancer string bikini's (and calling it a bikini is generous) run past. All female-only costumes, mind you. I wanted to objectify my male companion with a metal thong, but that's not allowed. The barely-there costumes are restricted to females. Het gamer dudes might be uncomfortable if they were standing at the trade terminal next to.... eek... a nearly naked (virtual) man.
I'd wager lesbian relationships will be allowed, because those have the male-gaze stamp of approval. I don't expect I'll be able to see my male Smuggler make out with the male companion.
I hate to tell you this but the problem with armor suddenly shrinking when you put it on a female is not restricted to Star Wars. I had the exact same problem in WOW with my female fighter.
I'm aware. One of many reasons I don't play WoW. LOTRO didn't have that problem. DAoC didn't have that problem. SWG didn't have that problem.
But the fact that many MMO's do it doesn't make TOR not sexist. Point being, Bioware isn't a progressive developer out fighting the good fight for minorities. They are pandering to het male gamers just like everyone else.
Bunched midi-chlorians.
I had to de-lurk just long enough to say that. Miss y'all...
"An overwhelming percentage of the 1.7 million games sold are being used by children"
factoid helpfully provided by the web site www.I Just Made That Up.com
let's see: the game costs $50 to $60 and it has a monthly subscription fee (I don't play this game, but it's likely in the $150 to $20 range) that reqires a Credit Card. The game is an online MMO RPG, which means it's focued around stats and numbers and is not an action game (This AIN'T Lego Star Wars, folks!) and it is being marketed at ADULTS, not kids.
I don't have the stats (hey, RMS: call Bioware, they should have them), but I would be ASTONISHED if the percentage of players under 18 is above 15 to 20 % (and that's estimating REALLY high)
Actually, jabba is about as transgender as you can get, as the hutts can apparently change gender at will. I do believe they put the trans(cend) in transgender! :D
The Florida @!$%#-up Association and the Family Retard Council. Consider the Force, I mean the source!
For some reason there is a need in Role playing games to 'role play', and Bioware is tending to their clients need in that regard, I think simply as a commercial concept the right wingers should recognize the market value of this opportunity. An this added attention is A bonus for a game that is somewhat struggling right now!... Everyone know that Nerds hate backward thinkging like mix gender romance on there computer! Franky when Porn is 2 clicks away... Most ppl should get their head screw on right theses days!