GLAAD and EA hold panel to discuss homophobia in gaming

[WillParkinson]

GLAAD and EA hold panel to discuss homophobia in gaming

(Cali.) The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), Electronic Arts, and several other gaming companies are teaming up to host a panel this Saturday to discuss the presence of bullying and use of homophobic slurs in gaming.

Electronic Arts and the other companies are holding the panel to try and find out ways to create more gay friendly games and put a stop to such behavior.

“These companies aren’t monoliths and are very much committed to providing a safe and fun environment for all their players - they’re just not all there yet,” wrote Justin Cole, the Director of Digital & Online Media for GLAAD and moderator for the event.

http://www.365gay.com/living/glaad-and-ea-hold-panel-to-discuss-homophobia-in-gaming/

[imdjh]

1. I'm too old to sort this out and my contempt for video games seriously prejudices me.

I'm of a generation that found video games a mildly amusing diversion in bars while waiting for real things to happen. I have watched my nephew play that endless magical war game online, and I really don't see the amusement factor. Of course, while he's doing that, I'm posting away on bulletin boards so the world will have the benefit of my wisdom on every subject under the sun.

But what I can't sort out, and wonder how the gaming companies will sort out, is in an age group which features boys/men (and some girls/women) routinely talking "hip hop" and "LOLspeak" with spellings and code which defies dictionary word censors, and routinely calling each other "nigga" regardless of ethnicity, "bitch" regardless of sex, and a host of other pleasantries in amiable conversation- how are they going to sort out the anti-gay stuff?

[Occulus]

2. In voice chat, they have no control, but in text,

they can just **** out the bad words. Websites do this all the time.

You need to go check out games like Burnout: Paradise (racing) or Katamari (roll things up into a ball- it kind of defies description), or perhaps turn-based strategy games like Civilization. One thing I've found is that people who don't like games or have contempt for them simply don't know what sorts of games are out there. Go browse the Steam Store online, or go to the IGN or Gamespot pages. It's way, way more than "World of Warcraft" these days.

[ZombieHorde]

3. Katamari rocks. A new Katamari game is coming out in a couple of months.

It will be called "Katamari Forever".

[Clintonista2]

9. Most online games I've played do **** out the bad words

World of warcraft and final fantasy online do this.

[Hydra]

4. GFL

The gaming culture is funny- most of them are going to end up virgins for life, but they put a HUGE emphasis on one's sexual orientation.

[smiley_glad_hands]

5. Not really following what your saying.

Who is they? And how is the gaming culture funny? Who are these virgins you speak of? Totally false statements by the way.

[Touchdown]

6. Well, I'd buy an X Box if the Adventure hero saves his boyfriend from the evil tyrant

Zelda always gets into trouble, let her. How about Zane? Bad guy: I'm taking your boyfriend and going to hold him hostage... for no apparent reason!

[Occulus]

7. You're talking about Xandir from "Drawn Together"

:D

[WillParkinson]

8. Never heard of it. Went looking...

Now I wanna see it. Thanks a lot! :-)

[Occulus]

10. Xandir's tag line:

"I'm on a never ending quest to SAVE MY GIRLFRIEND!"

He's drawn a bit like Link, no less. That "subterfuge" doesn't last for long, though.

[Touchdown]

11. That's where I got it from!

:D

I saw that a couple of years ago and laughed my ass off.:rofl: