Do any of y’all tire of the way games handle relationships? There’s pratically no ethically non-monogamy built into most games and even if there is there’s either no recognition of your relationships or there’s jealousy from the other characters you are involved with.
Mods help a little but there’s usually no recognition or discussions. There are two games that have frustrated me in recent memory.
One is BG3 when I tried to date both Lae’zel and Shadowheart and Shadowheart angrily told me she wasn’t “going to be my sidepiece” when that was far from how I saw her or what I actually wanted.
The other that frustrated me is Coral Island since yes you can date more than one person but the game really pushes marriage for reward, if only for an achievement probably and I find that really disheartening that these games are always built this way, can we please have some thought for those of us that don’t do things the ways developers biases expect and recognition of how meaningful these relationships can still be, even if we were dating the entire village?!
Not allowing multiple partners (or even if they do, not multiple spouses if the game insists on only allowing certain content or rewards for getting married) shows such a monogamous and scarcity mindset from the developers that I find shocking and kind of disgusting, though sadly unsurprising. Let me sit down with the characters and let me explain what I’d like, not just assume I’m using you because I don’t actually like you… please!
I really wish there was more not only ethical nonmonogamy in games but more realistic actual R.A. where we could discuss what we all what. Some might see this as a silly pipe dream or fulfilling a fantasy, but really I think to me at least it’s because representation matters and I want to see myself reflected in these games, not just have to accept monogamy or if the game insists on marriage then only one marriage and then 0 other marraiges, partners or important people to me.
What do y’all think?
I am not gaming that much, but it feels very similar in media I consume which is anime and western series/movies/trash tv. I think in general there is quite a lack of relationship building that really shows consent and communication.
Yeah, I was actually thinking about other media as I wrote this. I do wish there was more heartfelt relationship building where characters worked through their problems and came out better for it, all the while trying their best to focus on boundaries, consent and communication.
I also wish that we could have more representation of mistakes being okay in relationships with a focus on healing and resolving to not do it again and do better, that too would reflect my own life and what I’d hope to see in most relationships I have going forward with folks. Instead of it all being over if a mistake with no intent to harm was made.
Of course, harm and relationships is another interesting thing which could be looked at especially through a restorative and transformative justice lens, sadly though I think many aren’t ready for that yet. However, I don’t think it shouldn’t be tried just because of most not being ready. After all, in order to try more useful things we need to have representation of it.