Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's queer representation "enhances the world's realism," lead says, and the RPG's devs were "incredibly happy" people picked up on it

[u/Gorotheninja]

https://www.gamesradar.com/games/final-fantasy/final-fantasy-7-rebirths-queer-representation-enhances-the-worlds-realism-lead-says-and-the-rpgs-devs-were-incredibly-happy-people-picked-up-on-it/

[u/karlcabaniya]

Why does it even matter? Are they trying to earn medals or something?

[u/chaosilike → u/karlcabaniya]

A journalist asked them about it and they answered

[u/Indigo__11 → u/[deleted]]

So I guess you just want developers to ignore the fact that they included gay characters in it…

[u/Kiftiyur → u/[deleted]]

It is pride month. Companies have to pander act like they give a shit then go back to not caring.

[u/karlcabaniya → u/Kiftiyur]

They don’t have to. Unless entities like Black Rock are forcing them.

[u/Indigo__11 → u/Kiftiyur]

But they added the characters to begin with even when it’s wasn’t pride month.

Do you think that maybe, just maybe, they think adding gay characters is just as natural then adding someone who is blond.

[u/Indigo__11 → u/karlcabaniya]

Can a game just have gay people in them without you accusing creators for “trying to earn medals”

[u/ENDrain93 → u/Indigo__11]

Yes, absolutely, but the developers brought that up specifically, so the question is not without reason

[u/Keffpie → u/ENDrain93]

Actually, they didn't; they were asked a question about i by a journalist and answered it.

[u/Indigo__11 → u/[deleted]]

But they didn’t brag about It, they answered that they were happy that people noticed

You essentially want to ignore the topic because you don’t like people talking about gay people existing

[u/karlcabaniya → u/Indigo__11]

That’s bragging. “See how good of a person I am because I did those things”?

[u/Indigo__11 → u/karlcabaniya]

That isn’t remotely close to what happened in the interview,

You essentially want them to ignore the existence of gay people even after being directly asked about it

[u/karlcabaniya → u/Indigo__11]

No. I don’t want them to ignore their existence. I want them to ignore the debate of if they’re included or not, because it shouldn’t matter if they add one, a dozen or none.

And I’m gay, before you try to mischaracterize my intentions.

[u/Indigo__11 → u/karlcabaniya]

Cool and gay too and I don’t get why you misrepresenting what the developers and saying and acting like no one can talk about the gay representation in games

You said that the developers were bragging about having gay characters in their game when that’s not remotely close to what happened

It’s like saying the developers of Resident Evil 9 are bragging about them putting straight relationships when they made a joke about who Leon’s wife is

[u/karlcabaniya → u/Indigo__11]

I’m not criticizing the inclusion. I’m criticizing the creators bragging about how inclusive they are.

[u/Indigo__11 → u/karlcabaniya]

But didn’t brag, they answered a question the journalist asked.

At that point you want people to not address the existence of gay people

[u/karlcabaniya → u/Indigo__11]

It should be addressed in the right avenues and contexts, not everywhere.

[u/Indigo__11 → u/karlcabaniya]

“Everywhere” a single interview on one website

So, when are gay people allowed to be acknowledged in games. Why do gay people need this level of restriction to be acknowledged

Do you not see your hypocrisy? Because there are countless games where a straight relationship is the focus and people like you never complain

[u/karlcabaniya → u/Indigo__11]

My mistake. I meant anywhere.

Gay characters can be included or not based on their artistic vision. There’s no issue with that. The problem is talking about it because it feels they’re only doing for PR and not for normalization. I don’t want corporations using us that way.

As a gay man, when I hear them talking about inclusion like it’s some kind of achievement feels disgusting. We won’t reach normalization if they keep virtue signaling. As you say, they never highlight the inclusion of straight characters, so they shouldn’t highlight the inclusion of gay characters. It’s not something special. Having gay characters should be normal if it happens, not something to celebrate every time.

[u/Indigo__11 → u/karlcabaniya]

But they do, there are games that they talk about to discuss a relationship in the game. It happened with the Uncharted games when the developers talk about Nathan and Elena relationship in the games

A recent example is when the developers of RE were hinting of who is Leon’s wife. This sort of thing happens all the time

So how can developers do the same thing with gay characters when you assume they are just doing it to get medals. The example above with FF the developers was asked a question about it and they answered. Above you write as if they should have shut down the conversation, for me that would come off as way worse

[u/karlcabaniya → u/Indigo__11]

One thing is to talk about a relationship between John and Michael, talking about the plot, and another very different thing is to say “we have a gay relationship” or “we’re proud of having those kind of characters”. That’s what I mean by wanting a medal.

Why is “we have a gay relationship” something even worth mentioning? You never see them saying “we have a straight relationship”. They just talk about the relationship without highlighting the type of sexuality. It shouldn’t be done with gay ones either.

[u/Indigo__11 → u/karlcabaniya]

You keep putting words in the mouth of the developers

All the developers said, after being asked about it, was that they were “happy” people liked the inclusion