by Dave

(Source Joystiq)

Mass Effect might be hating on the man-on-man action, according to the British Board of Film Classification. This has created a slight controversy for BioWare, who may have to address the issue before the release.

The board of film states that, players using female characters can initiate sex scenes between themselves and male humans or female humanoid aliens. Male characters, on the other hand, can only initiate sex between themselves and human women or humanoid female aliens. Okay? When did William Shatner get on the British Board of Film Classification?

But come on BioWare... Why??? I know all I think about when I get a game is who I can have sex with in it. When did every game become like Second Life?

Why limit the interaction. I mean if you're going to go there... Why not go all the way? How come women can only have sex with men and alien women and how come men cannot have sex with other men, human or alien. Not that it's what I'm looking for. Not that there's anything wrong with that.... I would say look at the demo, most are 35 year old straight men who live in their parents basement. Nothing is going to get them off more than taking a break from saving the galaxy to watch a sex scene between two women, one of them green.(A Trekkie's wet dream)

Why people worry about this? I don't know. I figured all protests would be off after they found out that you could play as NYPD Blues' Jimmy Smits. I know it sold me.

Does anyone remember when games were just about killing, racing, and touchdowns? I miss the good ole days.

I just heard this news too. Guess which gender my cahracter will be.

Bow Chicka Bow Wow;);)

I haven't really followed up on this news since I first read it, but from what I understand, in the Mass Effect universe the alien humanoids mentioned do not have a male sex. So... technically, they're asexual. They're not exactly females, but only resemble females.

This sort of dodges the homophobia context... but also raises more questions.

Yeah, I guess they can't be homophobic if they have the lesbian sex in there...

"You can't be anal retentive if you don't have an anus." Is it like that?

I really don't think this is a big issue unless your a soccer mom. Don't get me wrong I personally don't support gay sex but if someone wants to put it in a video game it's fine by me.

What a storm in a teacup. The idea that if you provide a choice you must provide all possible choices or be discriminatory and therefore homophobic is a bit silly.

Although I think it would be good to have all possible homo/hetero/alien combinations in the game. It seems to me that homophobia is a pretty huge force in gaming culture purely from the endless cries of "You ***!" over voice chat in pretty much any game imaginable. Anything in my opinion that takes gamers out of their comfort zone is good in my opinion.

Quite frankly I think it would be great if mainstream gaming character came out of the closet. The total freak out and internet explosion that would ensue would be amazing to behold Can you imagine the reaction of Gordon Freeman or Sam Fischer turned out to be gay. That would be awesome :D

Back to Mass Effect I wasn't really too excited about this game until a couple of days ago when they released some more movies of it. Now I really can't wait to November 20th. It is going to be awesome. No matter which way your character swings ;)

I just heard this news too. Guess which gender my cahracter will be.

Bow Chicka Bow Wow;);)

A guy?

because they realised that the vast majority that are actually playing these games don't really need to have the dude on dude action, have you ever played Gears of War online?

I dare you to count how many times you hear "Gay" and thrown about.

Personally not bothered though, I do think it is weird that the game is about you personally being comander shepard in the way you'd like shepard to be, and you can't decide he should put it into a dude.

pillowfort sez: dudes putting it in dudes in videogames is OK