Games to have gay options

Games to have gay options

Video game developer BioWare will allow players to choose same-sex relationships as part of romantic plots in all its future games, after adding the option to its latest science fiction title, Mass Effect 3, to be released on March 6.

Mass Effect 3 associate producer Robyn Theberge told the Star Observer the impetus for including same-sex relationships — which the company first did with its Dragon Age series in 2009 — had come from fans.

“It was fans who asked for that option in the first place,” Theberge said.

“In role-playing games you should be able to portray yourself in any way you choose, so it’s definitely something the development team has supported and pursued.”

Mass Effect 3 also sees the return of gamers being able to play as either a male or a female Commander Shepard, meaning both gay and lesbian relationships are possible.

“In previous games, all of the love interests for Shepard were of the opposite sex with the exception of relationships with Liara who is Asari and asexual,” Theberge said.

“But the fans were asking for it so it’s certainly something we’ve encompassed in Mass Effect 3.”

Theberge said the company had not encountered any resistance from console companies to the inclusion of gay and lesbian themes.

“It’s not something that comes up in our meetings,” Theberge said. “They’d ask about sexual encounters but I don’t think they’d ask specifics as to the sex of the people involved in those encounters.”

Theberge said she didn’t think Canada’s legalisation of same-sex marriage in 2005 had been a factor in the Alberta-based company’s inclusion of same-sex themes in its games, but said the company had a diverse staff and fan base.

“All of the BioWare series and franchises are meant to be inclusive of player preferences and choices,” she said.

“We’ve had a lot of feedback and there is a lot we can still do to improve and we acknowledge that, and this is an example of how we allow people to play their own way in everything they do, from the choice of your combat style to how your decisions shape the storyline.”

Theberge said she hoped to see the rest of the gaming industry catch up by including the option of same-sex relationships.

“I think BioWare games are unique in that they are all role-playing games and I think that genre should be opened up for all styles of role-playing.”

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