A Steam curator for games with LGBT characters or themes

I don't see the issue here. Some people like playing games with LGBT characters or themes. This makes it easier to find those games.

If you don't prefer those kinds of games, then...nothing. Nothing happens.

Coco · February 22, 2016, 08:39:37 PM

I only buy games that align with my political beliefs via shoehorning.

eggsalad · February 22, 2016, 09:14:18 PM

>same-sex relationships available for female characters

hmmmmmmm

ΚΑΤΑΝΑΛΩΤΗΣ · February 22, 2016, 10:18:20 PM

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February 22, 2016, 11:08:49 PM

http://store.steampowered.com/curator/6864182-Hella-Yuri/

Assassin 11D7 · February 22, 2016, 11:55:11 PM

Quote from: Velox on February 22, 2016, 02:56:47 PM

Quote from: Pip on February 22, 2016, 02:40:23 PM
I get the point of it but....

The fact that they thought it was needed is sad.
Are you saying I'm sad?

Yes.

velox · February 23, 2016, 06:16:28 AM

Quote from: Coco on February 22, 2016, 08:39:37 PM

I only buy games that align with my political beliefs via shoehorning.

It's not about politics, and neither is it about only buying these games exclusively. It's about providing a simple way to find these games to a demographic that doesn't get much representation in media.

Quote from: Baha on February 22, 2016, 11:08:49 PM

http://store.steampowered.com/curator/6864182-Hella-Yuri/

Anime lesbians =/= all of LGBT.

eggsalad · February 23, 2016, 11:16:06 AM

Quote from: Velox on February 23, 2016, 06:16:28 AM

It's not about politics, and neither is it about only buying these games exclusively. It's about providing a simple way to find these games to a demographic that doesn't get much representation in media.

while it makes sense for life simulators like Sims and shit

dont really see why someone needs to relate to their character on every level of personality to experience the game.

Mad Max · February 23, 2016, 12:43:18 PM

Quote from: eggsalad on February 23, 2016, 11:16:06 AM

Quote from: Velox on February 23, 2016, 06:16:28 AM
It's not about politics, and neither is it about only buying these games exclusively. It's about providing a simple way to find these games to a demographic that doesn't get much representation in media.
while it makes sense for life simulators like Sims and shit

dont really see why someone needs to relate to their character on every level of personality to experience the game.

it doesn't even need to be about mimicking their own lives. Maybe they enjoy stories that deal with LGBT issues.

This is something you have to opt-in to. So if you're not interested, it basically doesn't exist for you.

velox · February 23, 2016, 01:16:20 PM

Quote from: eggsalad on February 23, 2016, 11:16:06 AM

Quote from: Velox on February 23, 2016, 06:16:28 AM
It's not about politics, and neither is it about only buying these games exclusively. It's about providing a simple way to find these games to a demographic that doesn't get much representation in media.
while it makes sense for life simulators like Sims and shit

dont really see why someone needs to relate to their character on every level of personality to experience the game.

I can certainly enjoy games that are about straight characters, or doesn't touch on sexuality at all. But sometimes it's nice to have something that's a little bit more relatable for you personally.

If you're not LGBT, or is and doesn't care, good for you. But then you can just ignore this curator.

eggsalad · February 23, 2016, 01:16:26 PM

Quote from: Mad Max on February 23, 2016, 12:43:18 PM

Quote from: eggsalad on February 23, 2016, 11:16:06 AM
Quote from: Velox on February 23, 2016, 06:16:28 AM
It's not about politics, and neither is it about only buying these games exclusively. It's about providing a simple way to find these games to a demographic that doesn't get much representation in media.
while it makes sense for life simulators like Sims and shit

dont really see why someone needs to relate to their character on every level of personality to experience the game.
it doesn't even need to be about mimicking their own lives. Maybe they enjoy stories that deal with LGBT issues.

This is something you have to opt-in to. So if you're not interested, it basically doesn't exist for you.

I'm not saying it's a problem I'm just saying it's obsessive to feel the desire to have something like your sexuality permeate all the media you consume. Just doesn't seem like something that should be big enough a deal that it that makes you more intrigued with a game.

it's a game stop obsessing about sex and gender reeeeeeee

velox · February 23, 2016, 01:17:52 PM

Quote from: eggsalad on February 23, 2016, 01:16:26 PM

Quote from: Mad Max on February 23, 2016, 12:43:18 PM
Quote from: eggsalad on February 23, 2016, 11:16:06 AM
Quote from: Velox on February 23, 2016, 06:16:28 AM
It's not about politics, and neither is it about only buying these games exclusively. It's about providing a simple way to find these games to a demographic that doesn't get much representation in media.
while it makes sense for life simulators like Sims and shit

dont really see why someone needs to relate to their character on every level of personality to experience the game.
it doesn't even need to be about mimicking their own lives. Maybe they enjoy stories that deal with LGBT issues.

This is something you have to opt-in to. So if you're not interested, it basically doesn't exist for you.
I'm not saying it's a problem I'm just saying it's obsessive to feel the desire to have something like your sexuality permeate all the media you consume. Just doesn't seem like something that should be big enough a deal that it that makes you more intrigued with a game.

it's a game stop obsessing about sex and gender reeeeeeee

Again, wanting it sometimes =/= obsessing over it and only consuming that kind of games

Mad Max · February 23, 2016, 01:18:00 PM

Quote from: eggsalad on February 23, 2016, 01:16:26 PM

Quote from: Mad Max on February 23, 2016, 12:43:18 PM
Quote from: eggsalad on February 23, 2016, 11:16:06 AM
Quote from: Velox on February 23, 2016, 06:16:28 AM
It's not about politics, and neither is it about only buying these games exclusively. It's about providing a simple way to find these games to a demographic that doesn't get much representation in media.
while it makes sense for life simulators like Sims and shit

dont really see why someone needs to relate to their character on every level of personality to experience the game.
it doesn't even need to be about mimicking their own lives. Maybe they enjoy stories that deal with LGBT issues.

This is something you have to opt-in to. So if you're not interested, it basically doesn't exist for you.
I'm not saying it's a problem I'm just saying it's obsessive to feel the desire to have something like your sexuality permeate all the media you consume. Just doesn't seem like something that should be big enough a deal that it that makes you more intrigued with a game.

it's a game stop obsessing about sex and gender reeeeeeee

But I enjoy games that deal with LGBT issues/characters and I'm a straight dude. It's refreshing since most other games don't.

It doesn't mean it's the only thing I play. Having a curator makes it easier to find those games if i want them.

eggsalad · February 23, 2016, 01:31:38 PM

Games with lgbt aspects can hardly be assured to even give meaningful or interesting representations of them, let alone be exciting or fun games themselves, is what I'm saying.

And compromising your standards just for those lgbt situations is what encourages tokenism.

Coco · February 23, 2016, 01:38:52 PM

Quote from: Velox on February 23, 2016, 06:16:28 AM

It's not about politics, and neither is it about only buying these games exclusively. It's about providing a simple way to find these games to a demographic that doesn't get much representation in media.
Anime lesbians =/= all of LGBT.

Including and properly representing these groups in games is a good thing. Throwing them in to make a statement that exists outside the game, to pat yourself on the back, and to draw attention to your product is not. It makes these groups out to be a gimmick.

I just think this is as silly as if Netflix had a "token black guy" section.

velox · February 23, 2016, 01:43:45 PM

Quote from: eggsalad on February 23, 2016, 01:31:38 PM

Games with lgbt aspects can hardly be assured to even give meaningful or interesting representations of them, let alone be exciting or fun games themselves, is what I'm saying.

And compromising your standards just for those lgbt situations is what encourages tokenism.

We (the curator) try to avoid games with tokenism and fetischism.

As for whether it makes the games "exciting" or not:

-Identifiable characters is a good enough positive in itself
-There is no hinder for the games to be somehow lesser mechanically even when you ignore those aspects. The Mass Effect games feature LGBT characters (and are recommended by the curator), and they're some of the most loved games in the industry.

eggsalad · February 23, 2016, 01:51:16 PM

I kind of look at it from a narrative standpoint.
If a character relationship could be replaced with a heterosexual version and it has no effect on the story, there's no significance in it being a homosexual relationship, it's just there because it is. That's not meaningful or exciting.

Do I think that all universes need to have homophobic undertones? No, but if you want to make it anything more than being as generic and boring as any heterosexual relationship would be in its place, then it has to add some dynamic to the way characters interact with each other and the story.

Mad Max · February 23, 2016, 02:03:53 PM

Quote from: eggsalad on February 23, 2016, 01:51:16 PM

I kind of look at it from a narrative standpoint.
If a character relationship could be replaced with a heterosexual version and it has no effect on the story, there's no significance in it being a homosexual relationship, it's just there because it is. That's not meaningful or exciting.

Do I think that all universes need to have homophobic undertones? No, but if you want to make it anything more than being as generic and boring as any heterosexual relationship would be in its place, then it has to add some dynamic to the way characters interact with each other and the story.

I think the opposite. If a hetero relationship can be replaced with a homosexual relationship, that's great and goes to show just how similar they really are. When it comes down to it, homo couples are no different than hetero couples.

February 23, 2016, 02:09:57 PM

Quote from: Pip on February 22, 2016, 02:40:23 PM

I get the point of it but....

The fact that they thought it was needed is sad.

There are literally thousands of steam curators. Do you think they should just be telling people things they already knew from reading the game's tags?

February 23, 2016, 02:12:03 PM

Quote from: Velox on February 23, 2016, 06:16:28 AM

Quote from: Baha on February 22, 2016, 11:08:49 PM
http://store.steampowered.com/curator/6864182-Hella-Yuri/
Anime lesbians =/= all of LGBT.

I'm not suggesting it its, I thought it was an appropriately tongue-in-check response

velox · February 23, 2016, 02:16:30 PM

Quote from: eggsalad on February 23, 2016, 01:51:16 PM

I kind of look at it from a narrative standpoint.
If a character relationship could be replaced with a heterosexual version and it has no effect on the story, there's no significance in it being a homosexual relationship, it's just there because it is. That's not meaningful or exciting.

Do I think that all universes need to have homophobic undertones? No, but if you want to make it anything more than being as generic and boring as any heterosexual relationship would be in its place, then it has to add some dynamic to the way characters interact with each other and the story.

What, same-sex romances can't be believable? Them not working as a straight relationship would make it extremely likely that it actually is tokenism, unless the writing is really good and the creator is trying to make some point through it.

If a fictional relationship would work just as well as a straight or gay relationship, then why is the gay one tokenism? Surely if they're the same there's literally no difference except that the one that matches your own orientation is more easy to identify with.

velox · February 23, 2016, 02:16:50 PM

Quote from: Baha on February 23, 2016, 02:12:03 PM

Quote from: Velox on February 23, 2016, 06:16:28 AM
Quote from: Baha on February 22, 2016, 11:08:49 PM
http://store.steampowered.com/curator/6864182-Hella-Yuri/
Anime lesbians =/= all of LGBT.
I'm not suggesting it its, I thought it was an appropriately tongue-in-check response

Touché

eggsalad · February 23, 2016, 03:48:54 PM

Quote from: Mad Max on February 23, 2016, 02:03:53 PM

Quote from: eggsalad on February 23, 2016, 01:51:16 PM
I kind of look at it from a narrative standpoint.
If a character relationship could be replaced with a heterosexual version and it has no effect on the story, there's no significance in it being a homosexual relationship, it's just there because it is. That's not meaningful or exciting.

Do I think that all universes need to have homophobic undertones? No, but if you want to make it anything more than being as generic and boring as any heterosexual relationship would be in its place, then it has to add some dynamic to the way characters interact with each other and the story.
I think the opposite. If a hetero relationship can be replaced with a homosexual relationship, that's great and goes to show just how similar they really are. When it comes down to it, homo couples are no different than hetero couples.

If they're so similar, why does it matter that they are there? What interesting perspective do they bring if they're functionally identical in a story? Does it come down to wanting to be able to get off voyeuristically?

eggsalad · February 23, 2016, 03:56:38 PM

Quote from: Velox on February 23, 2016, 02:16:30 PM

What, same-sex romances can't be believable? Them not working as a straight relationship would make it extremely likely that it actually is tokenism, unless the writing is really good and the creator is trying to make some point through it.

If the way their relationship works is different than the generic heteronormative shit that usually gets projected onto them then that probably means the author wrote a story with the circumstances in mind and them being homosexual is something that helps govern the story, not something that is tacked on for extra points.

Quote

If a fictional relationship would work just as well as a straight or gay relationship, then why is the gay one tokenism? Surely if they're the same there's literally no difference except that the one that matches your own orientation is more easy to identify with.

Because lazy hetero relationships are an old as dirt, ubiquitous convention. Lazy homo relationships are becoming more of a trend now that you get extra points just for making a homo relationship appear.
IMO

And if the two are so similar, isn't which you identify with basically a matter of fetishization?
You're heterosexual you're aroused by heterosexual acts and enjoy that.
You're homosexual you're aroused by homosexual acts and enjoy that.

I guess people only romanced in ME to fap anyways so uh...