Dragon Age: Inquisition Pre-Release Thread

[Clockwork Knight]

I'm not sure but I don't think a prostitute's skillset is fit for the adventuring life. They can probably cast some healing spells to take care of STDs, but what else? Bards are already in charge of keeping the party's morale up.

 

[eremita]

http://forum.bioware.com/topic/501562-better-representation-of-sex-workers/

This is something I only recently noticed, but now that I have, it really bothers me.

Both main Dragon Age games, and I think at least two games in the Mass Effect series, allow the player to visit a brothel or strip club, and allow the player to solicit the services of a prostitute, or get a private dance. A lot of games do this, actually. Bioware aren't even the worst offenders. But I'm posting here because it seems like they are the most likely to listen to what I'm going to say.

Thing is, I have RL friends who work in the sex industry; prostitutes and strippers who also occasionally perform in live sex shows. But these people are not just sex workers, they are parents, they are students of medecine and law, they volunteer at homeless shelters and animal rescue organisations. Some of them are gamers, and yes, they even play Bioware games.

Because I have the privilege of knowing these individuals, I am privy to first-hand accounts of how exploitative and dangerous the sex industry can be, and I'm also aware of the stigma that surrounds people who try to leave the sex industry and get "legitimate" jobs.

Given the trend so far, I expect Inquisition is going to include a brothel. And maybe it's too late now for any changes to be made, but nevertheless, I am requesting that, going forward, Bioware consider humanising their prostitute and stripper characters (maybe include one as a party member?), and presenting a more nuanced, multifaceted and, above all, accurate view of the sex industry and its workers, rather than using it as an avenue for player titillation and cheap jokes.

ScottishMartialArts

Jesus fuck those losers! If someone gives you crap because you are/were whore/manwhore, take it like a man. "prostitutes and strippers who also occasionally perform in live sex shows. But these people are not just sex workers, they are parents, they are students of medecine and law, they volunteer at homeless shelters and animal rescue organisations." - :D This is the best. "Bioware consider humanising their prostitute and stripper characters (maybe include one as a party member?), and presenting a more nuanced, multifaceted and, above all, accurate view of the sex industry and its workers, rather than using it as an avenue for player titillation and cheap jokes" - Yeah, let's do that! Let's show how deep the whore is when she's not busy sucking dicks.

It doesn't seem like a bad idea to me.

What so special about about that industry? In other words, why should anyone take effort to show, that not all whores are shallow amoral dummies? Not all of them are... And? There are real social issues and then there's good old whining... Sex workers as a result of poor education and poverty? Sure. That's a real issue. I can imagine a character with subplot like that. But that's not really about sex industry now, is it?

But no, let's take a look at this poor law student and hobo helper, who also happens to showing her tits on the internet... She really struggles because some retards are giving her hard time about her nudity. What an unfair society!

 

[eric__s]

What so special about about that industry? In other words, why should anyone take effort to show, that not all whores are shallow amoral dummies? Not all of them are... And?

If you have the capacity to make a character more interesting, you should do it. If a character is exclusively their profession, they're probably not very good.

 

[CrustyBot]

I don't mind the idea, making character more human/interesting and less like cardboard cut outs is a good thing, but here's his rationale:

"Right, but shopkeepers aren't demeaned or belittled in media and real life. Shopkeepers aren't forced into their profession out of sheer desperation, and shopkeepers who leave the shopkeeping industry don't suffer social stigma when they speak out about their shopkeeping experiences.

Basically, the representation of shopkeepers in media doesn't hurt shopkeepers in real life the same way that the representation of sex workers does.

Here's a thought: maybe the life story of a prostitute should be made important to the narrative. Maybe all narratives should consider the impact they might have on the people who read them and society at large."

"Sex workers.

Obviously you don't care, or you would've used more respectful terminology in the first place, but you are talking about a group of people that includes individuals that I know and care about in real life.

So yes, how my friends are represented in Dragon Age, a game that I talked them into purchasing because of how inclusive it is, means a damn sight more to me than... darkspawn designs or whatever stupid bullshit you think needs fixing."

 

[Space Satan]

The very fact that such topic surfaced on BSN is a great example for us all. I al too lazy to read all this biodrone brain juice but does someone mentioned CIS scum and transgender rights already?

 

[Shadenuat]

"How I am and my friends are represented in a game is more important than the game" - BSN in short

 

[Utgard-Loki]

It doesn't seem like a bad idea to me.

i don't know about you, but i will not tolerate a ex prostitute party member.

and before the wcd brofists come in just let me clarify: this is a bioware game, which means its gonna have bioware npcs, which means this "ex" hooker will not put out until you've given her/him/it/xeir at least 5 presents and listen to at least half of her/his/it/xeirs inane dialogue.

edit: good god i fucked up that quote pretty good. time to go to bed.

 

[Xor]

This is something I only recently noticed, but now that I have, it really bothers me.

Both main Dragon Age games, and I think at least two games in the Mass Effect series, allow the player to visit a restaurant or bar, and allow the player to order food or drink from a waiter or barkeep. A lot of games do this, actually. Bioware aren't even the worst offenders. But I'm posting here because it seems like they are the most likely to listen to what I'm going to say.

Thing is, I have RL friends who work in the food services industry; waiters and bartenders who also occasionally clean the restaurant. But these people are not just food service workers, they are parents, they are students of medecine and law, they volunteer at homeless shelters and animal rescue organisations. Some of them are gamers, and yes, they even play Bioware games.

Because I have the privilege of knowing these individuals, I am privy to first-hand accounts of how exploitative and dangerous the food service industry can be, and I'm also aware of the stigma that surrounds people who try to leave the food service industry and get "legitimate" jobs.

Given the trend so far, I expect Inquisition is going to include a bar. And maybe it's too late now for any changes to be made, but nevertheless, I am requesting that, going forward, Bioware consider humanising their barkeeper and waiter characters (maybe include one as a party member?), and presenting a more nuanced, multifaceted and, above all, accurate view of the food services industry and its workers, rather than using it as an avenue for player appetites and cheap drinks.

 

[Commissar Draco]

Exactly what next? RL Kingpins and mafia soldiers complaining how PC in every RPG farms highwaymen, bandits and slums thugs for XP and Gold? Animals rightists defending Dragon rights in Skyrim? ADL banning Arcanum cause gnoms? Those ''people'' if you can use this term to BSNers have no life nor honour.

 

[DalekFlay]

To be fair it would be nice if an RPG represented whores as miserable people hiding behind a salesman's smile, and whore houses as depressing places. That's how I see strip clubs in real life, they feel like massive depression sponges whenever I go in one. Dishonored did this really well I thought, their whore house level portrayed the women as largely miserable and the services as rather disgusting.

 

[Space Satan]

Witcher actually showed whores not as elegant models but as a cheap pieces of haman and elven trash, drinking themselves to death and constantly doing fantasy drugs.
Feminist butthurt was plenty and delicious.

 

[Delterius]

I'm not sure but I don't think a prostitute's skillset is fit for the adventuring life. They can probably cast some healing spells to take care of STDs, but what else? Bards are already in charge of keeping the party's morale up.

And here I always thought the Bard and the party's prostitute were the same thing.

 

[eremita]

I'm not sure but I don't think a prostitute's skillset is fit for the adventuring life. They can probably cast some healing spells to take care of STDs, but what else? Bards are already in charge of keeping the party's morale up.

And here I always thought the Bard and the party's prostitute were the same thing.

BLASPHEMY!

 

[eremita]

Witcher actually showed whores not as elegant models but as a cheap pieces of haman and elven trash, drinking themselves to death and constantly doing fantasy drugs.
Feminist butthurt was plenty and delicious.

Nonsense! They were all parents and medicine students...

 

[Deleted member 7219]

Witcher actually showed whores not as elegant models but as a cheap pieces of haman and elven trash, drinking themselves to death and constantly doing fantasy drugs.
Feminist butthurt was plenty and delicious.

Nonsense! They were all parents and medicine students...

Shani is a good example. If you don't have sex with her, it is implied she has sex with Siegfried instead. She isn't a whore, but she acts like one.

There are sympathetic characters who were whores, though. Carmen, who is in a relationship with Vincent (the captain of the guard) is an example of someone who is a whore but also wants to get out.

BioWare would glorify her and her profession but CDProjekt portrays her as someone who is capable of doing so much more.

 

[Deleted member 7219]

To be fair it would be nice if an RPG represented whores as miserable people hiding behind a salesman's smile, and whore houses as depressing places. That's how I see strip clubs in real life, they feel like massive depression sponges whenever I go in one. Dishonored did this really well I thought, their whore house level portrayed the women as largely miserable and the services as rather disgusting.

Couldn't agree more.

 

[DalekFlay]

I know the realism junkies will disagree but all that graphical power put into making something that looks like it's ten minutes from my house just seems like a waste.

 

[ScottishMartialArts]

http://forum.bioware.com/topic/501562-better-representation-of-sex-workers/

This is something I only recently noticed, but now that I have, it really bothers me.

Both main Dragon Age games, and I think at least two games in the Mass Effect series, allow the player to visit a brothel or strip club, and allow the player to solicit the services of a prostitute, or get a private dance. A lot of games do this, actually. Bioware aren't even the worst offenders. But I'm posting here because it seems like they are the most likely to listen to what I'm going to say.

Thing is, I have RL friends who work in the sex industry; prostitutes and strippers who also occasionally perform in live sex shows. But these people are not just sex workers, they are parents, they are students of medecine and law, they volunteer at homeless shelters and animal rescue organisations. Some of them are gamers, and yes, they even play Bioware games.

Because I have the privilege of knowing these individuals, I am privy to first-hand accounts of how exploitative and dangerous the sex industry can be, and I'm also aware of the stigma that surrounds people who try to leave the sex industry and get "legitimate" jobs.

Given the trend so far, I expect Inquisition is going to include a brothel. And maybe it's too late now for any changes to be made, but nevertheless, I am requesting that, going forward, Bioware consider humanising their prostitute and stripper characters (maybe include one as a party member?), and presenting a more nuanced, multifaceted and, above all, accurate view of the sex industry and its workers, rather than using it as an avenue for player titillation and cheap jokes.

ScottishMartialArts

Meh, Biotards are gonna biotard and Codextards are gonna codextard. /shrug

 

[Delterius]

I know the realism junkies will disagree but all that graphical power put into making something that looks like it's ten minutes from my house just seems like a waste.

Check your priviledge medieval abled scum.

 

[Lhynn]

I've never seen her getting paid for sexual services in all my twenty two playthroughs of DA2.

 

[Morality Games]

I've never seen her getting paid for sexual services in all my twenty two playthroughs of DA2.

Well, maybe its like a tablet game where you play it during your screw around time. Because the combat's so simple.

 

[Lerk]

I'll confess I played DA:O and enjoyed it, first time. DA2...tbh the Arishok's voice acting made labouring through everything kind of worth it to that point. Seriously, the actor elevated the writing, which is no mean feat. I didn't bother finishing it after the whole Qunari thing was wrapped up though, and I don't feel I'm missing out on anything.
As for DA:Inquisition, I have no idea about it. Apparently it's DA meets Skyrim, or something? It'll be interesting to see what Bioware do with it, part of me wants them to pull it off but part of me also wants to see the company buried by another disaster. Hard for me to care beyond those two extremes really.

 

[kris]

I know the realism junkies will disagree but all that graphical power put into making something that looks like it's ten minutes from my house just seems like a waste.

I don't think realism junkies would disagree that creating interesting places is bad.

Personally I just dont get it. I mean it is such cheap and good publiscity to make amazing looking areas (on an artistic/creative side), are the ones working on these games really that much without creative talent. In 5 minutes I would come up with several much more interesting places than they have procured.

 

[DalekFlay]

Personally I just dont get it. I mean it is such cheap and good publiscity to make amazing looking areas (on an artistic/creative side), are the ones working on these games really that much without creative talent. In 5 minutes I would come up with several much more interesting places than they have procured.

I think they think bland and realistic settings sell better for whatever weird reason.

 

[kris]

Personally I just dont get it. I mean it is such cheap and good publiscity to make amazing looking areas (on an artistic/creative side), are the ones working on these games really that much without creative talent. In 5 minutes I would come up with several much more interesting places than they have procured.

I think they think bland and realistic settings sell better for whatever weird reason.

Realism, maybe.
Bland, by any measure no. From Reviews to fans, just having one amazing place might be enough. Even when it came to Skyrim it was praised and liked. not that they did something amazing, but they had a couple of good pieces.