Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s Clumsy, Preachy Political Messaging Does More Harm Than Good

nanoUFO@sh.itjust.worksmod to Games@sh.itjust.works – 78 points – Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s Clumsy, Preachy Political Messaging Does More Harm Than Good
forbes.com

I know this might start war in the comments so please chill people, I don't want to get 20 reports from this single post.

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I just want to voice my opinion that not every article about video games needs to be shared/promoted, particularly gamergate-lite shit like this. "Only" whinging about how non-cis white male characters are included in games is hardly any better than the chuds bombing the game on metacritic.

I'd also argue this violates your own sub's rule (rule 9), not because it's about "political" genders, but for explicitly calling peoples' existence "political messaging".

You didn't read the article did you? Its not about the inclusion of a character, but about how a specific scene with that character is handled. The author claims it is completely jarring, doesn't fit into the games setting and doesn't even use the games existing lore for transgender people but instead uses modern terminology.

I found the article to very informative and not at all "gamergatey".

Its points are:

  • this is the scene
  • it is bad
  • here is exelent trans representation in a fantasy setting
  • "its a BioWare self insert"
  • this is how they could have handled it better
  • the game is great, but now everybody will just talk about woke, so again the game is good

Every time I say the horseshoe theory is stupid I open a forum and am proven wrong...

What does this even mean?

Means someone cited gamergate where it makes no sense at all.

Lol. The admonishment for "misusing" gamergate by citing horseshoe theory as if it's in any way applicable is hilariously on point. Good luck with that "enlightened" centrism.

What centrism? Calling out the bourgeoisie invented themes to distract from the class struggles is the duty of every reasonable person, more so if they are on the left. Human rights are not debatable, you vote for the representative that abides human rights. If none is available, you start a revolution. What you don't do is use a neoliberal dear to proselytise as if you're not part of the problem by perpetuating the system that abuses the people you're soapboxing about. (you, as in, Bioware, not you, this is not meant as a personal attack, I came to lemmy to talk to reasonable people)

May I interpret this as a personal attack anyway, please? I'd like something to get angry about for no reason.

It's ok to be wrong. It's how we grow. Being right all the time is boring and delusional.

Arguing a single point ≠ claiming to be "right all the time". What's your next condescending bit of "advice" that's totally not a poorly disguised character attack?

Its not about the inclusion of a character, but about how a specific scene with that character is handled.

You didn't read my comment, did you? Like the part where I specifically mention that? I don't care if the scene was shot on a camcorder for a student created after-school special on a PTA budget. Acting like that's the problem instead of any of the reactionary bullshit to it is not the viewpoint of someone who truly cares about these populations. Where's the "helpful" article about shitty hetero romance scenes in countless movies/shows/games and how we should do better there? Those don't cause a blip. But this? This is a "problem". Fuck that.

and doesn’t even use the games existing lore for transgender people but instead uses modern terminology.

This reads like those losers that rage about black people in The Witcher because it's "noT hIStoRIcaLlY AccuRAtE". Bemoaning "modern terminology" is so pointless. They're also speaking modern languages through the majority of the game. Gonna write a Forbes "article" about that, too?

Idiot.

I'm pro trans rights and I still see Veilguard as more sabotage than success. Extremely unintelligent messaging.

I mean, it was not-terrible for most of it (not counting the quality of dialogue), just not this exact scene, which was absolutely fucking terrible, and barely even involved the character in question. I really can't imagine how they thought "Other people should talk about their gender!" was a good idea.

I'm sorry but (all other issues with the scene aside) pretending that performative "apologies" are a good thing actually is genuinely problematic. Performative apologies are inherently manipulative by drawing attention away from the thing you're apologising for and by being designed to be an effort that feels bad to reject.

Apologizing? For what?

The article is not about what you think it is about. Try reading it.