I am no fan of EA’s business practices and, apparently, neither is anyone else.  Until just a little while ago, I thought they were the poster boy for everything that’s wrong with the video game industry: disc-locked content, nickel and diming with regular DLC, and a host of other issues that gamers everywhere could go on and on about.  However, in the spirit of giving credit where credit is due, it was important that I share this with you.  EA made it clear last week in an interview with GameIndustry International that they stand by their choice to include LGBT characters in their games and will not cave to pressure from the very vocal, hateful minority that has nothing better to do that complain about LGBT characters in media.

Over the past few years, EA has come under pressure from socially conservative groups because the Mass Effect games, and some other EA RPGs, allow players to control characters that can pursue same-sex relationships.  These groups cite the usual “but what about the children?!?” argument, which is wrong for a number of reasons.  The most obvious of which is there is nothing wrong with being gay.  Clearly, this game isn’t for children.  It’s rated M for Mature and lists the reasons why it received that rating right on the box.  Moreover, it’s a role playing game, so you decide whether or not the character you create will be gay.  It is not a requirement to beat the game.  In spite of reality, EA receives complaint letters anytime LGBT characters are included in games.  Fortunately for those of us who are not the mindless tools of a culturally regressive movement, EA will not bow to what it describes as “political harassment”.

Good job, EA.  Now about Origin…

EA defends itself against thousands of anti-gay letters | GamesIndustry International