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video games

VIDEOGAMES: The Sims 4 to Offer NB Pronouns in 2022

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The Sims 4

A progress update on The Sims 4 and non-binary pronouns has been confirmed for early 2022, leading to fan speculation that pronouns will be added into the game next year. Video game developer Maxis said it will be sharing news about pronouns in January 2022 following a period of research and data collection around non-binary language. This was sparked by a Change.org petition that called for non-binary pronouns to be added into The Sims 4 and garnered more than 20,000 signatures. Full Story from Pink News

VIDEO GAMES: China Plans to ban Games with Queer Content

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Beijing - Pixabay

China will ban video games featuring same-sex relationships, ‘effeminate’ men and moral choices, according to a leaked memo. The internal memo from a recent internal training by the state-backed gaming association was revealed by the South China Morning Post, lays out new restrictions for approving video games in China. According to the publication, the memo said that video games must not be viewed as “pure entertainment”, and should instead convey “a correct set of values”. Games that feature queer relationships or “effeminate males”, the memo states, should not be approved for release in China. “If regulators can’t tell the character’s … Read more

VIDEOGAMES: New Trans Artist Bundle Launched for Game Developers

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Transgender Artists Bundle

A transgender bundle has been launched on itch.io to support trans developers. The Transgender Artists Bundle has been put together by non-binary musician sabrina_tvband, whose music is also part of the bundle. The aim is to support trans games developers, with 21 items available in total. The minimum payment is $10, with a goal to raise $20,000. The bundle value is $56, making a saving of 82%. “This is a bundle consisting entirely of projects created by transgender artists. It has some great and inventive games, as well as four albums of electronic music,” reads the bundle page. “The economic … Read more

REPORT: Future Star Wars Games Will Include Trans Representation

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Star Wars Non-Binary Jedi Terec and Ceret

Future Star Wars games will allow players to create trans characters, it’s been reported, bringing much needed representation to a galaxy far, far away. Sources close to We Got This Covered claim that character creators in future Star Wars games will be more inclusive and allow for trans representation. At present, this remains a rumour and it’s not clear which games this refers to. Of course, trans representation should be standard across the board. Plenty of indie games, like Boyfriend Dungeon and the forthcoming A Long Journey to an Uncertain End, include diverse pronoun options and don’t gender lock visual … Read more

STUDY: Video Games Must Do Better With LGBTQ+ representation

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Video Games - Deposit Photos

A damning new study has highlighted the lack of diversity in video games and how Twitch streamers perpetuate toxic masculinity. The study, titled “The Double-Edged Sword of Online Gaming”, explores how gaming can both help and hinder male gamers, with poor representation countered by community. It comes from The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media and Promundo-US. The study found that male characters outnumber female by four-to-one, and white characters outnumber characters of colour three-to-one. Those white characters are significantly more likely to display violence compared with characters of colour (51.7 per cent of characters compared with 33.6 per cent). Full Story from … Read more

STUDY: Apex Legends is Most Diverse Video Game

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Apex Legends - Seer

Apex Legends is the most diverse game, according to a new study. The study, by gaming company Diamond Lobby, analysed the diversity of video game characters across gender and race. The top finding is that almost 80 per cent of preset characters in games are male, while 54 per cent of main characters are white. The study looked at over 100 games from 2017 – 2021, beginning with the 10 highest selling titles from each year and then adding in major releases from the biggest publishers. Games with fully customisable characters were then removed (such as Animal Crossing: New Horizons) … Read more

VIDEO GAMES: “Halo” Announcer Goes All-In On Trans Rights

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Halo

Jeff Steitzer, the 70-year-old voice announcer for the super popular Halo video game series, was asked to say “trans rights” in a Cameo video. But instead of simply saying two words, Steitzer went well beyond. He gave a full-throated endorsement of transgender civil rights and had an incredibly sweet message for the person who requested the video. Cameo, the site that allows fans to connect with celebrities who make a video for them doing whatever is asked, has been flooded with requests for stars to say “trans rights” or “gay rights.” Full Story From LGBTQ+ Nation

VIDEO GAMES: Why Ace representation Is Important

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ace representation

“I’m not much interested in… physical stuff,” says Parvati. Ed’s face slowly widens into a grin as the realisation hits him. He points at the flag behind him. This is what asexual representation looks like. “When I figured out that [Parvati] was [ace], it was like getting a surprise birthday party for me,” says Twitch streamer CauseImEd. “It felt like there was somebody there that was there specifically for me”. Ed was playing Obsidian’s space RPG The Outer Worlds and while he knew the game included ace representation, he didn’t know how. It wasn’t until the character Parvati revealed it … Read more

VIDEO GAMES: Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers to Offer and Inclusive Future

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Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers

Arcade Spirits is in love with video games. And you might just find love through the game too. The 2019 romantic visual novel is receiving a sequel, The New Challengers, that’s set to continue the first game’s fondness for gaming puns and a very welcome dose of inclusive romance. A demo is now available for the sequel, with the full game arriving next year, so you can experience its future nostalgia for yourself. It’s the year 20XX and arcades are the centre of gaming culture. It’s where the hottest games are, it’s where the top esports teams play, and it’s … Read more

VIDEO GAMES: Petition Launched to Add Pronoun Options to the Sims

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Momo Misfortune / The Sims

A petition has been launched for EA to add pronoun options to The Sims. Twitch streamer Momo Misfortune has been tweeting the publisher for 51 days requesting the addition. Now an official petition has been launched on Change.org that has rapidly gained thousands of signatures within a month. “If we could have the option to choose pronouns for our sim or for the team to switch older game texts to be gender neutral like current pack dialoged [sic] it would be impactful for those of us who are still unable to truly feel represented in the game by having our … Read more