What are your expectations of Romances and differences in sexualities in Mass Effect: Andromeda? - R

Hahaha... another poor kid duped into believing "social studies" is actually a valid scientific field... spoiler alert: It isn't.

...and it's COMMANDER Sheppard, college boy.

Oh, yes, genetic programming of women and such... 

I'm a bit of a biothruther, so what? Shoot me.

...and it's not "genetic programming of women", it's biochemical evolution of the human brain, which is of course carried on by the genes.

I never said there isn't a social/cultural component, but it's not the only governing factor, if anything, it's a thin veneer of civilization and socialization that keeps us from ripping each other to shreds... but who am I kidding, the social sciences have convinced a whole generation of academics that everything about the human condition can be changed if you just WANT it hard enough, so why bother arguing?

Still, I have to say, going to a video game forum to do some "research" seams right in line with what passes for scientific work in today's universities' soft science departments... GG

Thanks domi, 

some interesting points here, thank you. Its more about DA and ME, but context for what came before is still useful, so thanks again (third time haha)!

All right then. Let's see....in terms of sexuality, I'd say Bioware's improved over the years with their inclusion of lesbian and gay romances, as a bisexual myself it definitely adds variety to the play through. That said, it took them a while to get from bisexual characters to simply gay characters. I suppose this was because they were afraid of backlash from the fans, which I can fully understand. Still, they've definitely got room for improvement on that sector. I wish they would make every sexuality have an equal amount of love interests rather than having one group ( straight males in Mass Effect 3 and straight females in Dragon Age Inquisition) have more romance options than others. Sure it sounds unrealistic to have everyone having the same number of romance options but, who cares? It's a game, some fantasy won't hurt. 

As for their approach to romances, again Bioware has really gone through the improvement sector. I still remember back in ME1 how you had three conversations, and before the last mission a random sex scene occurs. Cute then, but we need more than sex. And Bioware's really delivered on that front. Their romance options in DA : I felt more natural and were really well done. I'm optimistic on this front about Andromeda's romance options. It sounds like we'll be getting proper relationships like in DA:I rather than talk, talk, bang. Characters feel more alive, and it does feel like they have a say in the relationship too, like whether they are interested in you in the first place. What would be nice is to have some romance options in Andromeda do the pursuing towards the PC rather than us always taking the initiative.

Aaaand, that's it really. Hope that helps

Would also like to add that I enjoyed Miranda, Garrus, Morrigan, Cassandra and Blackwall's romances from previous games. It was nice to romance matured characters like Cassandra and Blackwall rather than Teenager-esqued characters (Tali, Josie, Leliana from DA:O). I feel that when it comes to male love interests, Bioware always tends to add that one extremely young female that seems head over heels over the protagonist like it's some teenage soap drama. I wish they would add older, more matured romances in both emotional and sexual terms. Those are always more believable.

Also, in terms of believability, I would tone down the bi/homo/pansexual options. I know (over)representation and tokenism are a thing in media these days, but I doubt that the population of non straight people would go from roughly 10% to over 30% in just under 200 years. Also: They should integrate sexuality and forms of gender expression more naturally, not literally sit the player down to educate them about it, as they did in Inquisition... it's a game, not a questioner on, say transgenderism.

All in all, if your really plan on looking to BioWare games for representative material, I would tell you to reconsider... the have no good track record when dealing with mature themes in general, and sexuality in particular. Then again, we are talking about social "sciences" here, so maybe it fits just fine.

Also, in terms of believability, I would tone down the bi/homo/pansexual options. I know (over)representation and tokenism are a thing in media these days, but I doubt that the population of non straight people would go from roughly 10% to over 30% in just under 200 years. Also: They should integrate sexuality and forms of gender expression more naturally, not literally sit the player down to educate them about it, as they did in Inquisition... it's a game, not a questioner on, say transgenderism.

All in all, if your really plan on looking to BioWare games for representative material, I would tell you to reconsider... the have no good track record when dealing with mature themes in general, and sexuality in particular. Then again, we are talking about social "sciences" here, so maybe it fits just fine.

I don't think the romantic options are due to representation of tokenism, but more of providing at least options for everyone. Which means at least two. They don't have unlimited resources, which is why you have compromise as in DA2 where you go with the all bisexual/player sexual options and DAI with the original 2/2/2 approach.
It is pretty clear that this is about compromise because even in those games, when they had more resources to spend on romance content, they didn't create bisexual options, but straight options. If their goal was to give everyone the same aumont of choices, they'd have created two bisexual options in DAI with the added time. Instead they went for two straight, which were race gated as well.