GayGamer.net launches, outs 24 game characters
A couple of weeks ago, GayGamer.net launched its site with one helluva playful / funny first feature: Top 20 Gayest Video Game Characters. The list outlines their reasoning for outing 20 of the most eccentric and flamboyant game characters, as well as four honorable mentions submitted by readers (with more likely to come, as the most recent honorable mention was posted today).Don't take this piece too seriously and you'll have a good laugh. The number one choice is a no-brainer, and you'll be happy he gets to wear "the giant bejeweled tiara of The Gayest Character in Video games!"
The GayGamer.net feature has garnered 50,000 page views since its publication. Congratulations to Flynn DeMarco, the site's mastermind, on its success. We wish we had picked up on this sooner, since DeMarco is offering several rounds of free drinks to In Newsweekly and Destructoid for given them early exposure. We always love a good pint (or twelve) when we can.
See Also:
Link gets some lovin' from Out magazine
[Thanks, Juan]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Guy LeDouche @ Jul 31st 2006 1:01PM
That's gay.
Bergasa @ Jul 31st 2006 1:03PM
Link isn't working...
Ross Miller @ Jul 31st 2006 1:07PM
The site has been going up and down lately, so if it gives you the "database unavailable" link, check back later.
SkyCroc @ Jul 31st 2006 1:11PM
-_-;;
I'm gay and I'm so damn ashamed of this. Thanks for feeding the hate, guys.
Jack-off-Thompson @ Jul 31st 2006 1:13PM
what about all the gay/shemale anime characters in a lot of japanese RPG's? why arent they on the list.
K @ Jul 31st 2006 1:14PM
Load times were hell...
Tingle is #1
Tush @ Jul 31st 2006 1:14PM
Freaking hilarious.
Zo K. @ Jul 31st 2006 1:19PM
I don't expect it to be long before the ignorant comments begin.
Chas @ Jul 31st 2006 1:25PM
The list was so based off of conventional stereotypes that plague the gay community. As a gaymer, I'm pretty ashamed that a list like this still exists. What a way to push back social advances of the last 20 years, guys.
Chilly Willy @ Jul 31st 2006 1:37PM
I'm a gaymer to and it's all in good fun. Don't take everything so seriously.
Scooby Doo @ Jul 31st 2006 1:40PM
I don't know, I'm gay and I actually thought a number of the characters and what makes them 'gay' were pretty darn funny.
I've always argued that when mainstream culture makes fun of stereotypes, that's a clear indicator of acceptance. Perhaps that's because I'm the exact opposite of the stereotype, but more importantly, I just think it's important that you be able to laugh at yourself and your 'community'. The world of political-correctness (is that even a word?), has gone way too far and the fear of offending someone has taken precedence over saying what's really on your mind.
I don't think this is really taking a step back. The fact of the matter is the LGBT community now has more rights, freedoms, and governmental and social protections than ever before. I work at a very conservative finance company and not one unkind word has been said to me since I started. (I've been out since the first day on the job.)
I thoroughly believe that social reform can bring about political change. Instead of blasting Joystiq for putting out the article, let's just have a good laugh with our straight gaming friends. (We all know #1 is Link.) There are much more pressing gay issues that require time and attention than gay stereotypes.
GayPeoplearejustplaindumb @ Jul 31st 2006 1:43PM
Gay people are GROSSS. Throwing up now!
Derbeste @ Jul 31st 2006 1:44PM
Oh come on! Lighten up! I'm gay too and I thought it was funny. We criticize conservatives for taking their religion (and its effect on us) too seriously. Why don't we practice what we preach?
Guess what? STEREOTYPES ARE FUNNY! It's like GTA. You can play that game without killing or becoming violant. You can make fun of a stereotype and understand it's fantasy too.
I think this is a great and funny start to a great concept webpage. It gives gaymers exposure too. Rock on!
obo @ Jul 31st 2006 1:45PM
"Gaymer"?
I think I just threw up a little.
Bored @ Jul 31st 2006 1:54PM
I find it funny how many Metal Gear characters were outed in this top 20 list.
Ed @ Jul 31st 2006 1:55PM
I love how straight gamers make fun here... they have no idea that person that gave them a perfectly good kill in their favorite game, that one death that made you cry like the German kid video, might be gay.
CSS, and you are dead. Yeah I am gay, and you are OWN3D! Stereotypes are funnier when they are broken! :D
Fruit Brute @ Jul 31st 2006 2:03PM
sorry about the slow load times..we're logging over 3,000 hits an hour..yikes!
Mike Ray @ Jul 31st 2006 2:12PM
Tingle is seoooow gayer than Link
Gaymer? WTF? @ Jul 31st 2006 2:13PM
ditto on #13
oh, aren't you all SOOO clever...
How is this news? It's lame, pointless, and it's both cannon fodder to mock gays, and one more thing people can point out to condemn gamer culture.
Way to set us all back in the public eye.
Shameful @ Jul 31st 2006 2:16PM
I find it shameful that we have people who care about gay gamers and do not try and change their ways instead of promoting a sinful lifestyle.
Jonathan Harford @ Jul 31st 2006 2:17PM
I'm surprised that Zangief the bear was on there but pretty boy Vega didn't make the cut.
mercatfat @ Jul 31st 2006 2:18PM
This comment series is one of my secret treats in life.
It starts off with non-gay people all "Oh my god, they're making fun of gay people! SHUT THEM DOWN, IT IS AWFUL."
and then gay people come in and say "Hey guys, I thought it was pretty funny."
Replace "gay" with black, jew, etc and you have the majority of such discussions on the internet.
Derbeste @ Jul 31st 2006 2:19PM
"I find it shameful that we have people who care about gay gamers and do not try and change their ways instead of promoting a sinful lifestyle." - Shameful
Thank you, Jack Thompson.
I rest my case about taking yourself too seriously. Please, gaymers. Let's not behave like this. Because this is exactly what you'll look like too.
The3rdNuisance @ Jul 31st 2006 2:23PM
I can't get to the page, but out of curiousity is Jago, the shiny sweaty tight ripped leather clad ninja from Killer Instinct mentioned?
Tush @ Jul 31st 2006 2:28PM
I find it shameful that people can't respect other people's lifestyles. Let them do what they want, they're not hurting you.
I don't eat beef, I wouldn't stop you from eating it.
32_Footsteps @ Jul 31st 2006 2:35PM
Wow... how did Bridget from Guilty Gear get missed until the Honorable Mentions? That's unbelievable.
Actually, given that only Bridget gets mentioned, I'm fairly certain that the author never played Guilty Gear. Just look at Sol - runs around bare-chested, has a strange compulsion to constantly be near his rival Ky (who wears remarkably flowing robes himself), and is another professed Freddie Mercury fan.
Or what about Testament? The bootlick for Justice is obsessed with helping his master, helps raise Dizzy(the daughter Gear), and his fighting stage is the garden he tends when he's not either being a mom or doing the bidding of his master.
Without getting into Ky, Justice, May (always bringing out women to celebrate victory), Anji-Mito (he fights by dancing with fans), or Venom (total drama queen), the Guilty Gear series might actually beat out Metal Gear Solid in its sheer number of possible homosexuals.
Though maybe it's just that I never played Wind Waker, but is Tingle really all that gay? I always took him to be the poster child for arrested development - creepy, but not very homosexual.
Also, if you've ever rolled up both the King and Queen of All Cosmos at the same time in We Love Katamari, you'd know they're really in love and not just in a sham marriage. Let's just put it this way - if the katamari's a-rockin', don't come a-knockin'.
Overall, the article tries a bit much for camp, and I can see that turning off alot of people. But it's not bad - it just needs to focus a bit more.
And I knew I wasn't the only one who raised an eyebrow about Zangief and his "bear wrestling".
Jonathan Harford @ Jul 31st 2006 2:36PM
Tush: "I find it shameful that people can't respect other people's lifestyles. Let them do what they want, they're not hurting you.
I don't eat beef, I wouldn't stop you from eating it."
As a cow, I find your point of view highly offensive.
Tush @ Jul 31st 2006 2:40PM
Whatever Jonathan, at least I have apposable thumbs and only one stomache.
Ray (Confidence) Muccillo @ Jul 31st 2006 2:41PM
my own comment, only pertaining to my own opinion... i enjoyed it. very funny entries and creative ideas. when people understand the value of humor it only makes me appreciate and support them more. i frankly love the gay community and this is fun stuff for them and a good way to help people like me, to whom this appeals, support the people more. bravo.
Derbeste @ Jul 31st 2006 2:42PM
"As a cow, I find your point of view highly offensive."
Oh come on! I'm a cow and I thought it was funny. We cows need to lighten up and not take being eaten so seriously."
Henry @ Jul 31st 2006 3:16PM
If gay people dont like being frowned upon in society, then why to the purposely segregate themselves? Why don't they just use normal gaming websites? Whats the difference when playing games with a different sexuality? You dont see a 'straight gaming website' specially for hetrosexuals do you!
...end of rant.
mykie @ Jul 31st 2006 3:18PM
I'll say it once, I'll say it a million times...
TINGLE IS NOT GAY, he's just CHILDISH!
Really, if you're going to out someone, out Beedle:
mykie @ Jul 31st 2006 3:19PM
Beedle:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/85/Normal_beedle.jpg/150px-Normal_beedle.jpg
Jonathan Harford @ Jul 31st 2006 3:35PM
I'll agree that Tingle is not gay, merely childish. But wouldn't you agree that -- like Richard Simmons -- IF he DID have a sexuality, then he WOULD be gay?
Evan Geesman @ Jul 31st 2006 3:39PM
Anybody who is offended by this is dense. Are you telling me you have never in your life, laughed at a stereotype? Yeah, thats right...its funny, and most stereotypes are true, they have to had been based on some fact. Is it a coincedence that every Nail Salon Ive been to is run by Asians? Is it a coincidence that almost every Black person I know listens to Hip Hop/Rap/RB? I work with a good amount of gay's (Crate and Barrel) and they all watch Will and Grace...okay? So shutup please, I thought you Gays were supposed to be laid back...
Tom Fronczak @ Jul 31st 2006 3:39PM
Thanks for the shout out - we appreciate it!
ilovevideogames @ Jul 31st 2006 3:58PM
im a serious gamer and gay
and im glad joystiq is cool enough to post this on its site. It is based on sterotypes but i think we're supposed to know that.
but to bad some people who read joystiq are stupid
someone actually spent the time to spread their hate by commentin on this
ahem people who are so hateful against gay people def have something hidden in their closet!
dont they get that being so dumb and hateful is a sign that their just repressing something.
anyways birdo i must say
im shocked
FOAMY89 @ Jul 31st 2006 4:18PM
Hello, I'm a gay dude, and I approve of this message:
It's down.
Zo K. @ Jul 31st 2006 4:37PM
"If gay people dont like being frowned upon in society, then why to the purposely segregate themselves?" - Henry
Sorry to say, but you're being pretty dumb.
Number one, you seem to think all people who are gay get their news from gay sources or go to self-proclaimed gay websites. That's an asinine generalization. I, myself, am part of the GLBT community, and for the most part, I couldn't care less for those types of sites. You're generalizing, and THAT'S when people get offended. Though, that might be what you were trying to do.
Number two, the reason you see homosexual-specific groups, clubs, websites, awards, etc... is because it is an opposed and supressed lifestyle. Things have gotten better over the years, but being gay (or lesbian, or bi, or especially transgendered) is still looked down upon in this culture. So groups, and clubs, and websites, and awards that are labeled "gay" (or anything else under the GLBT label) still look to find safe havens to look to when the so-called "majority" doesn't want them around.
Again, I, myself, am not big on GLBT-themed events and sites and such, but that's just me. I don't hide who I am, but I don't flaunt it, either. That's my choice to make. But with the general populous in this country (though, not exclusive to it) being so ignorant and hateful, it's hard not to assume that, hey, maybe them damn gays would like to be somewhere they're wanted, right?
Top Chop @ Jul 31st 2006 4:54PM
Gay people are stupid.
I know this gay person who plays video games and he is really bad. That means all gay people are bad at them, so they should just stop playing.
Vegans are annoying too.
PS: I'm throwing up too.
schtum @ Jul 31st 2006 5:25PM
"You dont see a 'straight gaming website' specially for hetrosexuals do you!"
http://formen.ign.com
K1ller 1nst1nct @ Jul 31st 2006 6:46PM
Flaming Gaymer?
i dont plan on clicking on that link
Leo @ Jul 31st 2006 6:56PM
#39 made a very good point.
Derbeste @ Aug 1st 2006 9:58AM
"#39 made a very good point."
One that deserves at least a star imho.
Tush @ Aug 1st 2006 10:21AM
bah! Twas a good one, number 40.
Tomas @ Aug 1st 2006 1:52PM
Grrrreat. Just what I needed, like Best Buy would say. Another site that stereotypes gay folks as queeny, sissy people.
This creates invisibility for straight-acting, non-effeminate gay people, like Ryu or Ken who I saw hangin' out at the Castro the other day.