Same Sex Marriage

[Mihana]

Difference there Psion is a great deal of people who are opposed to same-gender marriages in the states also shun video games in general so they wouldn't play it unless it was wholly educational and non-religious to begin with. I can't really speak for Japan on that of course. But look, the entire point of my post was to try offering insight as to likely why they aren't leaping at this chance. Same-sex marriages are a minority and a smaller feature compared to the rest they're focusing on. Besides, correct me if I'm wrong but don't they take things like marriage in online games much more serious than western audiences?

These kind of features exist so two couples in real life can get married in both worlds. I know there have been real instances where people have hosted an online wedding in a video game to say their vows making them legally married in real life, too. So that's even more of a reason for them to be hesitant on it.

The whole point of it is they may add it, they may not. I'm not trying to justify reasons not to introduce it. I'm a male gamer even if I play a Miqo'te and being a RPer too I'd likely have her marry a male character if I so decide. But in the event I do decide otherwise to marry a female character I'd love to have that option available as well so I really do fully support the idea.

[Angelas]

A country that clutches its pearls over same sex marriage but says not a word to channeling the power of the primals (like, say,LEVIATHAN) really has no leg to stand on with their supposed piety. Its just power grubby nonsense of politics.

lol immersion ftw

[GinTama]

Typical western-world people thinking that they are the only culture on earth...

SE has to take all markets into account. To the proponents of the idea, it may be a nifty addition, but to the opponents, it could be a deal-breaker and jeopardize future sales of the entire franchise.

IMO, the safest thing to do is if they just didn't put a marriage system in at all (let's face it, MMO marriages are equal parts cute, creepy, and meaningless).

what he or she said

[Eldwir]

lol immersion ftw

Apparently if you ruin their immersion they will start crying and require a psychiatrist in the following days.
Either way, of course. Miqo'te escorts in the Miner's Guild of Ul'dah, coarse language and bartenders talking about Ale as a very efficient way to have the ladies to show you their "unmentionables" (hinting at Baderon, character arrival at Limsa), that is absolutely welcome with open arms.
But of course, snuggling, caresses or just typed /smiles and mutual affection between characters of the same sex...IMPOSSIBIRU.
Cheers.

[Finchley]

YES PLEASE!!! I dont know who I want to marry yet, but when I find that cute, perfect, sexy Elf man with an amazing Lance I wanna put a ring on it

[shanvhere]

Make it happen SE.

I don't understand why they would even have to consider whether to implement it or not. :/

QFT

Ummmm, religious fanatics that will cause protest and internet mayhem?

[Psion]

I realize subscriptions are important, I really do. But as yoshida himself has said in interviews many times, he's mentioned the 3 pillars of graphics, storyline, and gameplay, with a strong community to top off those 3 pillars. If same-sex marriage isn't allowed, how can we have a strong community when a portion of it is ostracized due to antiquated moral beliefs?

Just look at the unofficial marriage poll thread. 101 likes for it and going up much faster than the 17 likes against it. That's 17% of the people playing who don't want it. Now, consider the fact that rough estimates place homosexuals/bisexuals around 10% of the general population. Then consider the fact that not all of those who dont want it, or likely even the majority of those who don't want it, will ragequit. Now add on top of the fact that gamers in general are younger and tend to be more progressive. Add in another fact that other people who aren't gay are for it because they play the opposite gender on their character. (seriously, my linkshell alone has dozens.) There's also the likelyhood of new market bases being attracted because they support same-sex marriage rights, whether they themselves are gay or not. With all these factors, they would likely make a substantial gain in subscriptions by allowing same-sex marriages, and stick to their commitment to having a strong community as well.

[charlemagne]

If they bring in marriage at all and do not allow gay marriage then they are taking a stance on the issue of gay marriage. A discriminatory stance.
I can't speak for other servers but on Ridill there are a large number of gay players. I believe I saw a statistic once showing that gay people make up a disproportianately large percentage of mmo players. The decision to allow heterosexual but not gay marriage discriminates against and will alienate many players. This decision is morally wrong and SE should be ashamed of itself.

[Roukiz]

Ummmm, religious fanatics that will cause protest and internet mayhem?

And if that's enough to make you censor and concede, it would be nothing more than spineless and recreant.

[Kurohi]

In case this thread is one of the things SE will take into account when making a decission, I'll say I support this kind of marriage.

We should be discussing more important topics instead a thing that should be taken for granted if ES really wanted to treat equally to its base players.