Runes of Magic to Recognize Gay Marriage

In an upcoming expansion, Runes of Magic publisher Frogster will support same-sex marriage for players

Runes of Magic publisher Frogster recently announced that it will support same-sex marriages in its upcoming expansion, Chapter III: The Elder Kingdoms. [via VideoGamer.com] The news might seem surprising to many video game fans, considering the MMO industry's awkward past with the LGBT community and previous issues regarding same-sex relationships in-game. As VideoGamer.com mentions in its article, Runes of Magic is developed by Runewalker, a Taiwanese studio. Taiwan's governing body is the Republic of China, which doesn't recognize same-sex marriages...nor does the People's Republic of China, in which case a mainland Chinese development studio probably wouldn't have been able or willing to incorporate similar gameplay mechanics. The Beijing-based Perfect World Entertainment, for example, has received criticism of sexism and discrimination for related reasons (to read PWE's response to this issue, see our Rising Tide Q&A from last year).

The in-game marriage system is a new feature that will be introduced in Runes of Magic's upcoming expansion, which will also provide character bonuses, according to the VideoGamer.com article. "Of course you can only be married with one person at the same time," Frogster's Philipp Senkbeil told the Web site. "It's even possible to have gay couples, so no need to just have a male and female character. Two male characters and two female characters can marry each other." The upcoming MMO feature has drawn the attention of many LGBT video game communities, such as GayGamer.net, which praised Runewalker for "taking a step that many Western developers have been to scared to tackle." Considering that some of the most-successful and seemingly-liberal U.S.-based publishers have "looked the other way" in previous circumstances, many MMO fans might be inclined to agree.

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Runes of Magic is pure win!
# Jul 15 2010 at 4:32 PM Rating: Decent
Honestly, everyone can discuss the issue all they want, but WoW just lost a subscription while Runes of Magic gained a few dollars in mounts and purchasing items.

This sounds like insane amounts of FUN.

Who wants to marry my lvl 1 character? :D
I'll do les or gay couples, but straight bores me to death.

Edited, Jul 15th 2010 6:34pm by Ralaj
Gay Marriage in an MMO as far back as EQ1
# Apr 21 2010 at 10:12 AM Rating: Decent
I remember the first "gay" marriage on the Povar server in EQ1. This would have been in 2001 or 2. They were a couple, straight, in my guild and they married their female toons. I remember they used to RP it, a lot, and it was a hoot watching the reactions of young male gamers who saw it. We all had a lot of fun with it, yelling out "Sheesh! get a room!" and such. Personally, I would have not been put out at all if they had been 2 guys or 2 girls.

A large part of Fantasy RPG's, to me, is just that... Fantasy. Most of my toons are male but I do have several female toons and I am often amused by the reaction of male gamers to a female toon. It teaches me a lot about the ways that I react around RL women and I think it has made me a better man. At the very least it has made me more aware of it when I behave like that. :)

Back to the topic, I remember that the GM's were very calm about it, and had nothing negative to say. One showed up at the appointed time and performed the ceremony. I think he was as amused as we all were that anyone would say anything about it.

On the other hand, as long as there have been games online there have been uncouth children blathering on and on in strongly homophobic language. I have learned that this is actually normal. It is the way young male humans who have little to no real-life experience think they have to act so others do not think they are "different". It is all just noise and posturing to make themselves more comfortable. Grown men rarely have need of such juvenile blather.

As a late-40's man who is very comfortable with his sexuality, I can just smile and /ignore them. Now if only real life had a /ignore option. Hopefully RL society will catch up some day and recognize that Gay is not a "lifestyle" or a "choice". It is and always has been primarily genetic with an element of environmental factors. Let's all grow up, stop letting others do our thinking for us, and admit they have as much right to their happiness as we do.
#REDACTED, Posted: Apr 17 2010 at 4:12 PM, Rating: Sub-Default, (Expand Post) "The upcoming MMO feature has drawn the attention of many LGBT video game communities, such as GayGamer.net, which praised Runewalker for "taking a step that many Western developers have been to scared to tackle." Considering that some of the most-successful and seemingly-liberal U.S.-based publishers have "looked the other way" in previous circumstances, many MMO fans might be inclined to agree."
My input
# Apr 17 2010 at 4:35 PM Rating: Excellent
darkpoetinc wrote:
You can't expect things made fun of since Ancient Greece to suddenly be accepted by EVERYONE in the world at once. Its not "IGNORANCE" it what people consider the norm. Once again I post,


you might want to check your facts on this one. homosexuality wasn't made fun of in ancient greece, and it was in fact a norm at that time. before you use facts to justify things, you might want to check them out.

some of the most comfortable people i know with regards to gay men, are those who are straight, know they are straight and are completely comfortable with who they are. they know themselves inside and out, and thus don't have any fear or confusion in regards to their own sexuality. you might want to look into that to.
homosexuality normal
# Apr 15 2010 at 7:02 PM Rating: Excellent
The American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and the National Association of Social Workers state:

"There is no scientific basis for distinguishing between same-sex couples and heterosexual couples with respect to the legal rights, obligations, benefits, and burdens conferred by civil marriage."

http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/supreme/highprofile/documents/Amer_Psychological_Assn_Amicus_Curiae_Brief.pdf

Thus, mental health professionals and researchers have long recognized that being homosexual poses no inherent obstacle to leading a happy, healthy, and productive life, and that the vast majority of gay and lesbian people function well in the full array of social institutions and interpersonal relationships.

http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/supreme/highprofile/documents/Amer_Psychological_Assn_Amicus_Curiae_Brief.pdf

The research and clinical literature demonstrate that same-sex sexual and romantic attractions, feelings, and behaviors are normal and positive variations of human sexuality.

http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/therapeutic-response.p df

The longstanding consensus of the behavioral and social sciences and the health and mental health professions is that homosexuality per se is a normal and positive variation of human sexual orientation.

http://www.apa.org/about/governance/council/policy/sexual-o rientation.aspx
violence against gays
# Apr 15 2010 at 7:02 PM Rating: Good
Violence against a minority group

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violence_against_LGBT_people

Gays are being beaten, shot at, sent to the hospital, killed. In the Middle East, they are killing gays among other groups out of hatred. Is this what we want America to become? Do we want America to revert back to the 1960's when groups were killed and segregated against for simply no good reason? Do we want to follow the ways of the Middle East and Al Queda? Let's push forward, it's time to end bigotry, discrimination, hate, and ignorance. This is modern America, not the Dark Ages.

http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cid/civilrights/hate.htm
violence against gays
# Apr 17 2010 at 3:50 PM Rating: Default
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1,882 posts
So are Jews, Christians, and even other Arabs...your point?
why needs to be legalized
# Apr 15 2010 at 7:01 PM Rating: Good
This was taken from another poster that shows why we need to legalize gay marriage. If you don't feel for this person after reading it, you simply aren't human.

"I am not sure what our President thinks of this dicission but coming from a poor family and knowing what discrimination is all about I would assume he would not care if "Gays" have equal rights. The whole reason why they are asking for rights to be considered married is from the same reason why I would be for it. My own life partner commited suicide in our home with a gun to his heart. After a 28 year union I was deprived to even go his funeral. We had two plots next to each other. But because we did not have a marriage cirtificate "(Legal Document)" of our union his mother had him cremated and his ashes taken back to Missouri where we came from. That is only one example how painful it is. His suicide tramatized me so much and her disregard for my feelings only added to my heartach. That happened on March 21 of 2007 and I still cannot type this without crying for the trauma I have to endure each day. Oh did I mention I am in an electric wheelchair for life? Yes I am and it is very diffacult to find another mate when you are 58 and in a wheelchair. "
Medical field confirms homosexuality birth
# Apr 15 2010 at 7:01 PM Rating: Good
The National Library of Medicine pubs confirm that sexual orientation is natural, biologically induced in the first trimester of pregnancy, morally neutral, immutable, neither contagious nor learned, bearing no relation to an individuals ability to form deep and lasting relationships, to parent children, to work or to contribute to society.

From the American Psychological Association: homosexuality is normal; homosexual relationships are normal.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Psychological Asociation and American Psychiatric Asociation have endorsed civil marriage for same-sex couples because marriage strengthens mental and physical health and longevity of couples, and provides greater legal and financial security for children, parents and seniors.

America's premier child/mental health associations endorse marriage equality.
homosexuality is not a choice
# Apr 15 2010 at 7:00 PM Rating: Decent
For those of you claiming homosexuality is a "lifestyle", that is a false and ignorant statement. Homosexuality is not a choice. Just like you don't choose the color of your skin, you cannot choose whom you are sexually attracted to. If you can, sorry, but you are not heterosexual, you are bi-sexual. Virtually all major psychological and medical experts agree that sexual orientation is NOT a choice. Most gay people will tell you its not a choice. Common sense will tell you its not a choice. While science is relatively new to studying homosexuality, studies tend to indicate that its biological.

http://www-news.uchicago.edu/releases/03/differential-brain-activation.pdf
http://www.newscientist.com/channel/sex/dn14146-gay-brains-structured-like-those-of-the-opposite-sex.html
Gay, Straight Men's Brain Responses Differ
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,155990,00.html
http://www.livescience.com/health/060224_gay_genes.html
http://www.springerlink.com/content/w27453600k586276/
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/06/16/172/

There is overwhelming scientific evidence that homosexuality is not a choice. Sexual orientation is generally a biological trait that is determined pre-natally, although there is no one certain thing that explains all of the cases. "Nurture" may have some effect, but for the most part it is biological.


And it should also be noted that:
"It is worth noting that many medical and scientific organizations do believe it is impossible to change a person's sexual orientation and this is displayed in a statement by American Academy of Pediatrics, American Counseling Association, American Association of School Administrators, American Federation of Teachers, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, American School Health Association, Interfaith Alliance Foundation, National Association of School Psychologists, National Association of Social Workers, and National Education Association."
homosexuality is not a choice
# Apr 17 2010 at 3:51 PM Rating: Default
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1,882 posts
Pedophiles don't choose to be that way either...
homosexuality is not a sin
# Apr 15 2010 at 7:00 PM Rating: Good
To those of you using the Bible as a weapon against homosexuality, you are wrong. Homosexuality is not a sin. The Bible is constantly being taken out of context to support anti-gay views. Scholars who have studied the Bible in context of the times and in relation to other passages have shown those passages (Leviticus, Corinthians, Romans, etc) have nothing to do with homosexuality. These passages often cherry-picked while ignoring the rest of the Bible. The sins theses passages are referring to are idolatry, Greek temple sex worship, prostitution, pederasty with teen boys, and rape, not homosexuality or two loving consenting adults.


http://www.soulfoodministry.org/docs/English/NotASin.htm
http://www.jesus21.com/content/sex/bible_homosexuality_print.html
http://www.christchapel.com/reclaiming.html
http://www.stjohnsmcc.org/new/BibleAbuse/BiblicalReferences.php
http://www.gaychristian101.com/

Thats why Jesus never mentions it as well. There is nothing immoral, wrong, or sinful about being gay. Jesus, however, clearly states he HATES hypocrites. If you preach goodness, then promote hate and twist the words of the Bible, you are a hypocrite, and will be judged and sent to hell. Homosexuals will not go to hell, hypocrites will.

This is very similar to the religious bigots of the past, where they took Bible passages to condone slavery, keep women down, and used Bible passages to claim blacks as curses who should be enslaved by the white man. People used God to claim that blacks marrying whites was unnatural, and not of God's will.
fear of same sex marriage
# Apr 15 2010 at 10:32 AM Rating: Excellent
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799 posts
because , of course, the only reason gays want the right to marry is so they can "flaunt" their "preference".
it has absolutely nothing to do with equality before the law: like the right to spousal benefits, inheritance benefits, pension benefits, uncontestable medical/legal guardianship, benefits of filing joint income tax returns, etc...

PS:
it has nothing with being "proud to be gay". It has to do with equality under the law.

sort of like those uppity negroes who wanted the right to sit in the front of the bus, or drink at the same water fountains, or marry white women. Damn, how that just ruined America.

PPS:
and it's not a preference. in exactly the same way that you didn't come to a crossroads one day and need to choose between being straight and being gay. you just were straight. no gay person ever "chooses" to be gay, "hey, I think I'll go gay instead!".
#REDACTED, Posted: Apr 15 2010 at 3:29 PM, Rating: Sub-Default, (Expand Post) If that's directed towards mine, then...
fear of same sex marriage
# Apr 17 2010 at 10:36 AM Rating: Good
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799 posts
Dyner wrote:
If that's directed towards mine, then...

I have no issue with the whole marriage thing; well...'cept for the fact it's just a legal contract with the BS attachment that "it proves you love someone". But that's another topic.

I full agree that it doesn't matter what the situation is...'you' should have the same marital rights as straight couples.


except gay people don't.
and don't assume because I'm pro-gay rights that I am gay.

Dyner wrote:
@PS:
And that ended up going to extreme. But I'm not commented fully on that as to stay on topic


I think someone else answered your comment rather well.
you'd do well to learn from it.


Dyner wrote:
@PPS:
'preference' is the politically correct term used...especially in organizations that have to be "diverse".

I suppose I'm more irked that a simple solution of..make a female character and your partner makes a male (or vice versa) isn't used. Instead, 'they' have to go on a crusade to force Game Companies to allow male-male/female-female marriages. I would akin it to African Americans demanding that Rogues not be allowed to be "black" because it's offensive that a Black Rogue perpetuates the stereotype that all 'blacks' are theives. Most would go "omg.../facepalm".


And why should two gay gamers have to make toons that they don't identify with if they want to participate in in-game RP like the idea of marriage?

Dyner wrote:
My own PS:
Find it funny how homosexuals don't like 'our' believes forced upon them, but have no trouble forcing 'their' believes upon heterosexuals. Stop with the double standards people!


"your" beliefs are saying that someone else should be denied rights.
gays are only asking for equality.
there's no double standard.
no one is forcing "gay beliefs" on anyone.
if you don't "agree" with homosexuality, then fine. don't be gay.
what you're saying is exactly akin to saying that blacks shouldn't have rights and if blacks complain about it, well, they're forcing their beliefs on everyone else.

equality is equality.
you're allowed to be a bigot all you want.
but your bigotry shouldn't have sway over the law, governmental process, and legal rights.

Dyner wrote:
PSS:
I was also annoyed at those automatic title changers that would change player titles ever two seconds (literally); and I had most of the titles they were cycling through. So go figure, some stuff bothers me other stuff doesn't; and I can't fully explain it.


and I have NO idea what you're going on about with that last part.
meh
# Apr 15 2010 at 10:00 AM Rating: Default
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4,445 posts
Guess its no different then those Sim games that let you be gay. Does not seem like a needed change and I would imagine it will agitate more customers then anything.
____________________________
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same sex marriage
# Apr 15 2010 at 8:11 AM Rating: Default
well it seems nothing is sacred anymore we continualy are surrouned by goverment and in game issues that are driven by money and not doing whats right. we live in a whatever society that do not care about whats right only what feels good and greed, hmm i suppose if you have a bunch of gays crying then you might lose customers. anyways my moto is always do the right thing and if its not right dont do it if more people followed this rule the U.S.A. would be a much better place
/facepalm
# Apr 15 2010 at 7:53 AM Rating: Default
Why is it the homosexuals seem to deliberately go out of their way to stir up trouble surrounding their 'preference'. We all know that anyone on the internet who even hints that they might be gay is immediately ridiculed and harassed and then 'you' cry foul that "we're being mistreated"; STOP FLAUNTING, NO ONE LIKES FLAUNTERS.

And that's specifically why I hope Western Devs never adopt the policy that RoM just did; it's nothing but trouble. And in the Land of Lawsuits (aka USA) no smart company would ever dare to try this.

PS:
You're proud to be gay; awesome! I'm proud to be straight, but you don't see me wearing a T-Shirt advertising it

<inb4flaming, because most people are to weak to take a little critism>
/facepalm
# Apr 15 2010 at 7:16 PM Rating: Excellent
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710 posts
Quote:
PS:
You're proud to be gay; awesome! I'm proud to be straight, but you don't see me wearing a T-Shirt advertising it


Ways heterosexuals flaunt how straight they are:
* holding hands in public
* kissing in public
* pictures on their desk of them and their opposite sex partner
* wearing their wedding ring
* little stick figures on the back of their car showing off their family
* Any guy wearing something on his shirt regarding the kinds of girls he likes
* those truck mud flaps that have the woman sitting down nude
* cat whistles guys do to women walking by
* Every time anyone says "My BF/GF/Husband/Wife/etc"

list goes on.
/facepalm
# Apr 15 2010 at 5:59 PM Rating: Good
Quote:
Why is it the homosexuals seem to deliberately go out of their way to stir up trouble surrounding their 'preference'. We all know that anyone on the internet who even hints that they might be gay is immediately ridiculed and harassed and then 'you' cry foul that "we're being mistreated"; STOP FLAUNTING, NO ONE LIKES FLAUNTERS.


This has to be one of the stupidest rants I've ever read. If "anyone on the internet who even hints that they might be gay is immediately ridiculed and harassed", why in the hell would they "flaunt" it? Do you honestly believe that gay people go around "flaunting" the fact, just so they can complain about being mistreated? Seems to me that you're just a little too butt-hurt about an issue that shouldn't affect you in any way, shape, or form. (Yes, I went there. It had to be said.)

/facepalm
# Apr 15 2010 at 11:18 AM Rating: Good
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187 posts
Quote:
"Eagles may soar, but rats don't get sucked into jet engines."


I had to add: I've seen field mice that for whatever reason (we assumed they were freaked out and/or disorientated by jet noise), run from the grass and onto the flight line and sucked into engines. I've also seen a squirrel do the same thing; not a rat but a rodent none-the-less.

It would be better to say: "Eagles may soar, but elephants don't get sucked into jet engines" LOL :)
/facepalm
# Apr 15 2010 at 11:01 AM Rating: Excellent
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187 posts
Quote:
PS:
You're proud to be gay; awesome! I'm proud to be straight, but you don't see me wearing a T-Shirt advertising it



Most gay folks don't wear t-shrits saying they are gay. I know there's some pretty flamboyant folks out there (no pun intended), but they certainly don't make up the majority of gays. I'm willing to bet most of us know some gay folks and we don't even know it.

Most gays won't even walk down the street holding hands, kissing or showing affection. They have long learned that simply doing that immediately causes looks, disdain and even insults. Some have even been taught that it is wrong growing up, so they won't do it. Some are closet gays and some cannot accept it, fearful to come out, fearful of what other people will say; mainly friends and family. I live in a very very conservative area of the US. There are people here that would beat up a gay couple walking down the road holding hands. And sadly, many other people would look the other way and silently condone that course of action. I have never seen a gay male couple walking through the mall here, that were clearly gay (holding hands kissing) and I never will.

Your whole posts main point is that gays shouldn't flaunt it! So gays shouldn't walk down the street holding hands? As heterosexual couples do? Gays shouldn't kiss in public? As heterosexual couples do? Being gay doesn't mean you will wear a rainbow shirt saying "I'm *****", but it does mean you should be able to walk down the street not fearful of what may happen, or what may be said.

So what, gays can get married in a video game. This is not shocking, nor is it flaunting, nor is it anything that anyone else should be worried about. Now if they took out heterosexual marriages then there could be problems.

Edit: To clearify a point and typo.


Edited, Apr 15th 2010 1:07pm by Seculartwo

Edited, Apr 15th 2010 1:08pm by Seculartwo
/facepalm
# Apr 15 2010 at 10:24 AM Rating: Excellent
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799 posts
/facepalm
/facepalm
# Apr 15 2010 at 11:18 AM Rating: Excellent
It should have been in there in the first place. I fail to see why some people are making such a big deal out of it.
/facepalm
# Apr 15 2010 at 11:23 AM Rating: Good
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187 posts
Quote:
It should have been in there in the first place. I fail to see why some people are making such a big deal out of it.


Because for many people, things that they fail to understand are intimidating and causes a defensive approach. And for others, their way is the only "right" way. This is true with religion, politics, sexuality, music, and the list goes on and on.

People love to say "live and let live" or follow "the golden rule", and I've learned most of them are nothing more than hypocrites.
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