Dear SE, haters gonna hate, let the game speak for itself

[HeavensFall]

I looked at the news on my phone today and saw that somehow the gender-locked races announced for ShadowBringers is causing accusations of sexism and homophobia.

First couple of thoughts, "Okay, I can see lack of representation of a gender in races can be viewed as sexist. Homophobia though? What's going on there?"

So I read the article a bit, but decided that basically this is all just a story about what's going on in the Forums, so I jump on for the first time since like ARR Beta.

I wish it was needless to say, but... I'm very disappointed in the community chat devolving to gender-based insults. Not cool.

Unfortunately, I think we all just forget that we have players of all ages and backgrounds. It's unavoidable that you get some immature and shameless people. Especially because there's a large amount of anonymity here. Ultimately, haters gonna hate, if you will.

Dear SE, if you find yourselves in high-pressure situations about your gender-locked races, I would like to remind you that you have made a glorious, amazing game! I wish more people could see your choices as also actually being great examples of how video games are a wonderful media for exchanging ideas. I want you to know I see what you're doing with the many themes you have in the game from refugees to cultural representation, conflict to religion, etc. And now, the gender binary.

I am a cis-gender male and I consider myself a feminist, so I may not be the best one to say this, BUT... imagining an entire race/civilization of predominantly just woman seems awesome to me. And vice versa. It's gonna be tricky not stepping on some land mines, but I would like to encourage you to bravely start making this game even more imaginative with it's ability to push the boundaries of a different world than our own. Keep making a thought-provoking game! I can't speak for everyone, but THIS is the reason why I play. Yes, the raid mechanics and the lore and glamours are all icing on the cake that have drawn millions, but at the core of it, I think the experience is not about re-creating what we know in the real world. Albeit I am speaking from a perch of privilege and some may not be able to express themselves freely in the real world and making a character here is one of very few avenues they have to show their identity; there is value in gender-locked races. Please embrace this as I hope you were already planning on doing and I think people will be pleasantly surprised. Just remember to be creative.

As for anyone in the community who reads this, thanks for reading. I hope you can agree that this game is great and that you'd like to be a part of making it even better with your ideas, your continued support, and your sense of community. We may be a long way from having real LGBTQ video games, but gender-locked races is actually a start.

[Wynn_Storm]

I agree with some of your points, mainly on the way the community is handling the situation.

If people want to petition for something, they should be mature and not resorting to childish insults and threats (unsubbing).

However i do not think another thread was needed on the issue. We already have tons, we should try and confine these into one big thread so these smaller threads don't get lost in the sea of the threads.

But yes, all and all i agree that the childish accusations of sexism and homophobia is absurd and uncalled for.

And people genuinely lack the knowledge of what it takes to make a game and all the things that go into it.

There is so much unique gear in this game, getting all of them to work for each new race is A LOT of work. Way more than people seem to think.

[Lacan]

I... don't understand. Do you think Viera are a tribe of lesbians or something? There are male viera, they just don't live with the females. They come back to the villages once in awhile to knock the females up and then they come back years later to pick up the males who have come of age and leave again. :v I mean, I guess Hrothgar might be a tribe of big gay lions, we don't know their background yet. I just have trouble believing SE would do something like that considering Japan and all.

[HeavensFall]

I... don't understand. Do you think Viera are a tribe of lesbians or something? There are male viera, they just don't live with the females. They come back to the villages once in awhile to knock the females up and then they come back years later to pick up the males who have come of age and leave again. :v I mean, I guess Hrothgar might be a tribe of big gay lions, we don't know their background yet. I just have trouble believing SE would do something like that considering Japan and all.

No, that's why I said pre-dominantly just woman and vice versa. I did see that in the Return to Ivalice but what if it was like reverse Handmaid's Tale!

Anyway, all I'm saying is that they could make something really interesting and thought-provoking if they're creative.

[Lacan]

No, that's why I said pre-dominantly just woman and vice versa. I did see that in the Return to Ivalice but what if it was like reverse Handmaid's Tale!

Anyway, all I'm saying is that they could make something really interesting and thought-provoking if they're creative.

I'm just more confused now.

[WhiteArchmage]

It's...uhm... I think you're kiiinda confusing the term feminism there. Feminism is about gender equality: so a race of only-women (which even Lore-wise in FFXII they're not) isn't actually feminist. There's a term for it in Spanish but I think in English you guys refer to it as radical feminism (that is, female superiority over men, instead of gender equality)? What's that quote? "You keep using that word, I do not think it means what you think it means..."

And the highest point of contempt is that, the gender-locking of the races brought back very unpleasant and problematic tropes about how women can be elegant, and delicate, and giggly, but men have to be bestial and rough. Had there been both genders of both races (with the male Viera elegant and slim and female Hrothgar equally bestial), there would be no such problem given that the races would be equal amongst themselves while providing these traits between each other. The gender-locking isn't anything new, in fact, since Mithra and Galka were gender-locked in XI and their XIV counterparts Miqo'te and Roegadyn were too in 1.x (along with Highlanders), which changed in 2.0 when Yoshi-P took over.

[HeavensFall]

I'm just more confused now.

How about this pop culture reference instead. Do you know how Wakanda was a big deal because it's an African civilization "untouched" by non-African civilizations? It's kind of cool and imaginative to see how history and culture could look different. The Viera civilization could have some very interesting cultural and historical context to it.

[HeavensFall]

It's...uhm... I think you're kiiinda confusing the term feminism there. Feminism is about gender equality: so a race of only-women (which even Lore-wise in FFXII they're not) isn't actually feminist. There's a term for it in Spanish but I think in English you guys refer to it as radical feminism (that is, female superiority over men, instead of gender equality)? What's that quote? "You keep using that word, I do not think it means what you think it means..."

And the highest point of contempt is that, the gender-locking of the races brought back very unpleasant and problematic tropes about how women can be elegant, and delicate, and giggly, but men have to be bestial and rough. Had there been both genders of both races (with the male Viera elegant and slim and female Hrothgar equally bestial), there would be no such problem given that the races would be equal amongst themselves while providing these traits between each other. The gender-locking isn't anything new, in fact, since Mithra and Galka were gender-locked in XI and their XIV counterparts Miqo'te and Roegadyn were too in 1.x (along with Highlanders), which changed in 2.0 when Yoshi-P took over.

I appreciate your take on feminism but there's lots of perspectives. Yes, some are more radical than others. I did say there would be land mines they should be careful about. We don't know if they make a sect of not-so-trope like Viera.

P.S. Equality doesn't have to come in the form of appearance. There's lots of other ways. And I would say that despite the pressures of Japanese culture, it is fathomable. My evidence of that would be Alisaie and Lyse.

[Deceptus]

There is so much unique gear in this game, getting all of them to work for each new race is A LOT of work. Way more than people seem to think.

I'd have sympathy if it was a small indie company but we literally pay SE millions of dollars (insert your currency) a year. If it's so much work, hire more people.

FFXIV already runs on a small staff to begin with.

[Tsumdere]

I've been reading these threads since the reveal, and I've seen maybe two or three people say it's homophobic. I hate that it's now being shown a reason why people who want male Viera are insane, whiners when it was really only a few idiots throwing around the term. As for the sexism, I won't say that because it's a whole rabbit hole (heh) discussion I would rather not have here, but it is very stereotypical. Having cute women-only race and big, ugly male-only race is such a boring a tired trope seen in almost every single other cheap KMMO. As a woman myself, I find these arbitrary and stereotypical genderlocks demeaning, not empowering. You know what is cool? Races being both genders (or mono gendered), even when they don't conform to norms like the Charr from Guild Wars. That's very cool.

Viera have been watered down from their XII counterparts where they were stoic, powerful, cold, and knowledgeable. What we have seen of them in the preview is demure waifu girls using body language that screams shy and insecure, giggling, and showing off their butt, blowing kisses, and making cute little crying noises. All of this compounded by the fact they all use Fran's outfit instead of generic Viera NPC outfits that would fit much better. It's all fanservice. I get that people asked for Viera "like Fran", but it's because Fran is the most iconic Viera! They act like Au Ra Female 2 : Electric Boogaloo. This of course, can change, but I don't have high hopes for it based on previous races (Au Ra) and the aforementioned fannnnnserrrrvice.

I love this game. I am excited for what ShB has to bring outside of races. The dungeons look amazing, the zones even more so... I'm excited for dancer and gunbreaker and the fact we're going to get more high fantasy content! I respect their work and I respect Yoshi-P, but I just wish they would have made a better decision about the races.