Breaking down borders in video games.
Dragon Age comic out in March, written by raging homophobe Orson Scott Card
Dragon Age comic book cover; shows three warriors, two men and one woman, standing dramatically on a precepice over an ocean with a castle in the far background.
Via Joystiq comes news that the first issue of the Dragon Age comic that was announced back in October will be out in March 2010. It is being produced by IDW Publishing and, unfortunately, still being written by Orson Scott Card.
For those who haven’t heard yet, Orson Scott Card not only holds radically anti-gay views, he is a board member of the National Organization for Marriage, and has advocated overthrowing any government that legalizes same-sex marriage. This is not a man with whom I and others simply have political disagreements with. This is a man who uses his fame and fortune to fight against the basic human rights of millions of people, based on an aspect of their identity that he doesn’t like.
The last time Orson Scott Card came up in gaming circles, it was around the summer XBLA title Shadow Complex. I’ll give an overview of the incident, since The Border House did not exist back then. OSC wrote the story and dialogue for Shadow Complex (ETA: A reader reminds me it was actually Peter David who wrote the actual story and dialogue, but it was based on a universe created by OSC, and:) his name was used heavily in order to promote the game (which is a Metroidvania-style side-scrolling shooter, with a story that revolves around a man saving his girlfriend from a liberal conspiracy). This caused ripples in the online gaming community, where many people pointed out OSC’s views and acts, some advocating boycotting the game. The arguments against boycotting mostly revolved around the question “Why take it out on an entire studio if one person involved says something homophobic?” First of all, due to the nature of privilege, pretty much all straight people are going to make SOME sort of homophobic statement at some point in their lives; it’s safe to say OSC’s behavior goes well beyond simply making ignorant statements. Secondly, this is not just some guy in the art department shooting his mouth off; the publisher and developer are using his name to promote and profit off the game.
Cover for the first Dragon Age novel, The Stolen Throne by David Gaider. In the foreground are two men, back to back, one with a sword the other with a bow. The faces of two women can be seen in the background.
In addition, why not have a BioWare internal writer write the comic, as they did for the prequel novel? This person would have a deeper knowledge of the Dragon Age lore and a better feel for the tone and atmosphere of the setting and characters than any outside writer possibly could, and also they aren’t Orson Scott Card.
My purpose in bringing all of this up again is that I think it is important to bring up Orson Scott Card’s hateful views and, more importantly, his hateful and dangerous activism whenever his name comes up, so that everyone knows about it, and people can decide for themselves whether it is worth it to support him in order to play a game or read a comic book.
More on Orson Scott Card:
Orson Scott Card, homophobic terrorist, against the orderly pursuit of happiness – Yonmei, Feminist SF blog
Orson Scott Card is a misogynistic homophobic wanker – Yonmei, Feminist SF blog
Orson Scott Card: Criminalize Homosexual Behavior – Austin Cline
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about 7 months ago
If Bioware had a hen house, I’m fairly certain they’d put a fox in charge of its security.
about 7 months ago
I suspect that Card was chosen because publishers think he’s still popular among younger readers. Personally, I never read any of the Ender novels and thought that his writing for Advent Rising was absolutely execrable.
On the canonical relationships and preferences front… oh god, it’s being published by IDW. Brace yourselves for some seriously exploitative crap.
about 7 months ago
Enders Game was every bit as good as Twilight, but without a Mary Sue character. (IE: it serves as Mormon propaganda and is of questionable quality at best)
about 7 months ago
I respectfully disagree in regards to Advent Rising. The biggest problem with that game was the graphics and bugs. The plot of that game was excellent and 10 times better than the plots of most games. The dialogue may not have been Shakespeare, but it was actually intelligent at times. The alien characters, in particular, were very well written.
about 7 months ago
OSC is a very odd choice for a writer given his political views and the nature of the game. I’m actually surprised he would agree to write for the comic series given his opinions of GBLT people.
I suspect Bioware’s decision in choosing him may have something to do with the fact that he is not only a popular SF author, he is a SF author respected in literary circles. In the Science Fiction and Fantasy communities (at least among writers), there is a lot of derision for game-related fiction. The quality is considered lesser, and there are a number of SF/F readers who will turn their nose up at it. You have similar reaction to comic books, although that’s becoming less so with the popularity of full length graphic novels. OSC writing the comic adds a layer of “legitimacy” and might draw readers that otherwise would sniff and look away — and by extension, they might look into the game itself.
I don’t agree with boycotting the game because of the writer they chose for the comics — one writer out of many involved with the production of Dragon Age and its related media. The game itself is not homophobic, and in fact one of the more GBLT friendly games I have played to date. I can say though, that I won’t be buying the comic because I don’t intend to financially support someone so blatantly hateful of who and what I am.
about 7 months ago
Yeah, I certainly don’t agree with boycotting Dragon Age, the game; in my last sentence I was actually referring to Shadow Complex. Of course, the comic is another story.
I want to give BioWare the benefit of the doubt and say this wasn’t their decision, but you have a good point. At this time I can’t be sure whether they had a hand in it or not.
ETA: Thankfully, OSC had absolutely nothing to do with the production of the Dragon Age game, and he doesn’t receive any profits off of it. Sorry if that wasn’t clear.
about 7 months ago
I don’t suppose you (or anyone else) knows contact details for someone at EA or Bioware who I could write to about this? It would be nice to let them know that I love Dragon Age and would likely have bought the comic except for its author.
about 7 months ago
That would be great if someone has the contact info. I would write as well.
about 7 months ago
I just sent an email off to Bioware about this. I’ll report back with any reply they send me. This is the email I sent:
To whom it may concern,
I have been playing Dragon Age: Origins extensively since its release, and count myself as a huge fan of the game. One area of the game that I particularly enjoyed was the lore behind the game, which made Ferelden really come alive. Normally, I’d have been delighted to buy a comic that further explored this rich environment, but I find myself unable to support it due to its authorship by Orson Scott Card.
Card’s homophobic views appear in stark contrast with the attitude taken to homosexuality in the game itself, and they’re also in direct opposition with everything I believe. While I accept his right to his beliefs, I find them extremely distasteful and am not able to financially support someone with such beliefs.
I don’t know how much say Bioware had in choosing Card as the writer for the comic, but I felt I had to write to you to let you know that this choice has alienated me from buying the comic.
Yours sincerely,
Rachel Walmsly
about 7 months ago
Their public contact information is available here. Some BioWare staff members are active on their official forums as well, so it might be worth raising the issue there.
about 7 months ago
I think I hear (forum) raid sirens in the background…
about 7 months ago
First thread died….
about 7 months ago
With respect, Alex, the blog your article links to does a disservice to your article. The first half of it bashes Ender’s Game and Orson Scott Card as a writer. Therefore, my first reaction to your article was “Oh my God, these girls are dissing Ender’s Game! Heads will roll!” I was in the middle of writing a harsh response when I had to take my adorable furball of a dog for a walk. I thought about your article some more, and I realized that I absolutely agree with your view, but the link’s criticism of the Ender series distracted me from the article’s main purpose. But that’s a minor issue. I think your article is eloquent and well written. I’ll discuss your article in my next comment.
about 7 months ago
With that said, on to the article itself. I’m a straight, white, male college student. I’ll be honest, I did not have the emotional response that you all have to Orson Scott Card writing this comic. I guess that’s a function of privelidge (See? I’m learning
). However, I STRONGLY disagree with his views and am shocked to learn that he has those views. I was thinking about picking up one of his books, but I don’t think I will do that anymore.
I am also wondering if his comic will clash with the game’s established lore, particularly about homosexuality. According to the Dragon Age wiki, “The majority of Fereldans consider same-sex relations odd, but not immoral, while Orlesians consider it a quirk of character.” I’m dreading what OSC will do with this.
Personally, I think R.A. Salvatore would be perfect for writing Dragon Age comics or novels.
about 7 months ago
Although I find your OSC fandom hilarious, I must agree about R.A. Salvatore although pretty much ANY established sci-fi/fantasy writer would be better. Even the re-animated corpse of Jordan.
about 7 months ago
I’m not sure what you mean by hilarious. As for my fandom, I have only read Ender’s Game. I really liked it, but I won’t defend his views because I liked one of his books. Having just done some research on him, I am actually appalled at his homophobia. That fits the classic definition of extremism. I respect freedom of speech, but such extremism is hurtful.
about 7 months ago
My reply sounded arrogant. I’m sorry. I mean that I don’t understand the tone of your comment (when you say “hilarious”). I have a hard time determining someone’s tone of voice in writing, especially online. I’m much better at face-to-face interactions.
about 7 months ago
Well, maybe “funny” would be more like it. Have you read Ender’s Game lately? It offers very juvenile solutions to complex problems and works well as an apologist novel about Hitler http://peachfront.diaryland.com/enderhitlte.html actually I don’t really need to critique the novel any more than that essay does.
Yeah so anyways like I said, I just find it funny when anyone comes to the defense of the writings of OSC or that other author of Mormon propaganda: Stephanie Meyer. Of course I understand why their books have done well, many young men understand the plight of Ender and wish they could be Superman and commit genocide while maintaining innocence and many young women wish they were in abusive relationships with magical beings.
about 7 months ago
For some reason I cannot directly reply to your reply, so I’ll do it here. I read Ender’s Game many years ago when I was in Middle School, so I didn’t pick up on the Hitler-apologism. I also have not read Speaker of the Dead. The essay made some valid points, but I disagree with it on two points:
1. Ender did not know he was committing genocide while Hitler knew full well what he was doing and was the mastermind. Ender was deceived by the military because they did not think he would be able to do it.
2. Ender was taken as a child to boot camp/military academy and brainwashed. Any desire to commit genocide against the aliens comes from the military’s training and propaganda.
I always saw Ender’s Game as a critique of military training and propaganda. With that said, I am not a fanboy of Orson Scott Card. If I gave that impression, I am sorry. I just liked Ender’s Game as a novel.
As for your opinion of Stephanie Meyer and the Twilight series, I could not agree more. I have a whole bunch of problems with that series (one of which you mentioned). I love girls who don’t like Twilight
. My respect for you has increased greatly.
about 7 months ago
I just bet someone $20 bucks that the Grey Warden in the comic will be male and won’t hook up with Zevran.
I would love, *love*, to loose $20, but with OSC writing it the chances are asymptotically small.
I wonder if he’ll erase the other, sex-free, gay relationships portrayed in the game. I’d be sad if Wade, for example, either disappears or goes hetro.
about 7 months ago
Good point–I’m only very early on in Dragon Age at the moment, so I didn’t realize there are likely other LGB people in the world that you encounter other than our protagonists, who will likely be erased as well.
about 7 months ago
Yeah talk to wade at great length. (I don’t understand why she wasn’t a romance option…FIX IT!)
about 7 months ago
Looking back, there are actually quite a number, and some with whom you can have trysts. It’s very, very surprising in all.