Regarding the Localization of Haurchefant in the EN/FR/DE Versions of FFXIV

[Chasely]

Differing cultures where it's okay in Japan, but it's filtered out in the U.s. And, you're both missing the bigger picture. He said he's working closely with the Japanese team to ensure no more 'problematic' (gay male) characters are added.

If you think the straight men thinking gay men are creepy thing is a stereotype, just read the majority of the posts here.

[Applesnap]

It's always fascinating to get an insight into how localisation works for such a lore-heavy medium. Sometimes it must seem a thankless job, but you're weaving life into a crafted universe that we as players all partake in. We do appreciate it and that so many people feel strongly enough to comment either way about the situation says a lot about the end results.

Probably doesn't mean much coming from one person, but thank you localisation team. Just keep doing what you do.

[Dualblade]

snip

While this debate on Haurchefant is coming up now due to the interview, the changes were already being made back in the 2.x patch series to bring him more in line with the JP version, and guess what? Gay male characters were added in (or rather pre-existing characters were shown off a bit more), which many of us accepted here (and from what Fenral said they had an even worse stereotype added to them on the JP version, so if anything is going to stop the addition of more its whether they can create gay male characters WITHOUT being complete sterotypes.)

[Arrius]

Differing cultures where it's okay in Japan, but it's filtered out in the U.s. And, you're both missing the bigger picture. He said he's working closely with the Japanese team to ensure no more 'problematic' (gay male) characters are added.

If you think the straight men thinking gay men are creepy thing is a stereotype, just read the majority of the posts here.

I do believe we are tolerable when it comes to people enjoying the company of the same gender here, whenever it is female or male.
In Hauchefant's case however, his romantic approach could have been mostly one-sided and people might have gotten uncomfortable, yet you would have to deal with it in the storyline.

Japan as different (pop-)cultural tastes than us, so I found it clever the team took that in consideration.

[Anselmet]

Differing cultures where it's okay in Japan, but it's filtered out in the U.s. And, you're both missing the bigger picture. He said he's working closely with the Japanese team to ensure no more 'problematic' (gay male) characters are added.

If you think the straight men thinking gay men are creepy thing is a stereotype, just read the majority of the posts here.

Go re-read the article again. He is saying the OPPOSITE thing! He said that in the future they are going to be more faithful in their translation into English, German, and French. So if Japan writes a character that is gay in the future, then English, French, German speaking countries will have the exact same translation, therefor the gay character. Also, might I point out yet again that English is not for only America, but other countries as well. And they decided with the other European languages to change Haurchefant. These nations are more pro-gay rights with a more gay friendly media. So I think it is you who is making the wrong assumption. His character wouldn't have been gay, anyways. He would have been bisexual, but that is the least of his problems when it comes to adapting him to western world audience.

[Chasely]

In final Fantasy 11, there was a major gay character. He was incredibly effeminate, spoke with a lisp and even flirted with your character. there was also a male mithra (Miqot'e); the only catboy you see in the entire game. He took my male character on a date. There were numerous sidequests involving gay characters. One of my favorites was a love triangle between three firends called "three men in the closet." None of those characters were labeled problematic. In fact, the fem gay character was so popular he became a summonable NPC ally later.

In FFXIV 1.x there were people of all sexualities and ethnicities littering the towns and stories. None of them were problematic. Why are they suddenly being labelled so?

Go re-read the article again. He is saying the OPPOSITE thing! He said that in the future they are going to be more faithful in their translation into English, German, and French. So if Japan writes a character that is gay in the future, then English, French, German speaking countries will have the exact same translation, therefor the gay character. Also, might I point out yet again that English is not for only America, but other countries as well. And they decided with the other European languages to change Haurchefant. These nations are more pro-gay rights with a more gay friendly media. So I think it is you who is making the wrong assumption. His character wouldn't have been gay, anyways. He would have been bisexual, but that is the least of his problems when it comes to adapting him to western world audience.

Go read it AGAIN! he said he was going to work closely with the Japanese writing team to ensure no more problematic situations arise, and he's still going to change things he doesn't like. He's just going to get permission, first.

It's also important to note that the more he became like the Japanese version, the more popular he became with the playerbase. So the idea that the EN version was superior is rubbish.

[Emmanellain]

It was both sexism and homophobia. Just because you're gay doesn't mean you speak for all gay people.

The difference being that straight guys think lesbians are hot, so they get to see lesbians. Straight guys think gay men are creepy, so no getting hit on by men. the same can be said for the female cosplay outfits we get with no male equivalent. straight guys like seeing almost naked girls, so they give us lots of almost naked girls. straight guys don't want to see sexy men, so we get bland male outfits.

I'm not, however you are taking a non issue and blowing it out of proportions. You're also going ahead using strong words that do not apply to this situation. He still hits on you in the English, French, and German version.
And we still have the same shirtless men in squatting-purgatory in his office -> and no matter the gender of your character there will always be subtle hints of him being besotted with you. Heck some of the NPC's in Camp Dragonhead are directly telling you that your character is just his type. Had they removed all of this completely because of the underlying bisexual undertones, then yes, we could talk homophobia. However that is not the case here, they merely toned him down slightly so he wouldn't be overwhelming for some English speakers. Again, i would advise you to leave your condemning tone and finger pointing at home and try to approach this in a mature way instead of using strong accusations/words that you (judging by your use of them) may not completely understand. This is not Homophobia, nor is it sexism.

To that second statement of yours.. Try to go to Camp Bronze Lake and take a stroll through all the fanservice in the hotsprings, and try and make yourself a male alt and come back and tell me there's only bland outfits for men. I personally do not dress my Emm here in sexy speedos and the like, but despite going through this game avoiding sexy outfits it's nearly impossible with a male character. With my Melee DPS i end up in a snake-skin leather strap speedo at level 41 with buckles and the like. At 45 there's the coliseum set. If you start a Tank class prepare for cod pieces and more straps and pants so tight your character wind up with a permanent weggie. Oh and if i did want to splurge and get my guy some swimwear for the mist.. Oh dear.. that stuff is more suggestive that the bland standard bikini's for the females.. I find it hilarious and get a nice laugh whenever i see big bulky man Roe's running around freezing.
So I don't see where you're going with this really.

[Arrius]

In final Fantasy 11, there was a major gay character. He was incredibly effeminate, spoke with a lisp and even flirted with your character. there was also a male mithra (Miqot'e); the only catboy you see in the entire game. He took my male character on a date. There were numerous sidequests involving gay characters. One of my favorites was a love triangle between three firends called "three men in the closet." None of those characters were labeled problematic. In fact, the fem gay character was so popular he became a summonable NPC ally later.

So you say that the quests with those characters were optional, and I could've just ignored them if I wouldn't feel like it, right?
In the FFXIV MSQ, however, I would have to 'endure' the musings of JP Hauchefaunt or else I end up stuck in my progress.

It's also important to note that the more he became like the Japanese version, the more popular he became with the playerbase. So the idea that the EN version was superior is rubbish.

No one was accusing that EN HF is superior, he was just made more adequate and acceptable for the western audience. Which worked.

[Savvy]

Thank you for realizing how much Haurchefant means to some of us and how important this was to a lot of us, thank you for taking the time to address it and for your part in writing his character. I love both sides of him and he'll always be special to me..

[Blacksail]

thank you so much for writing Haurchefant, in a way I can hear him speaking through your words.. :'( His death was probably the hardest thing I've ever had to deal with, and whether he is english or japanese.. I will always love him..