Undisclosed gender in fiction: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Fallen_london_screenshot.png|A screenshot of the gender selection options in ''Fallen London''.|thumb]] | [[File:Fallen_london_screenshot.png|A screenshot of the gender selection options in ''Fallen London''.|thumb]] | ||
===1994=== | |||
* In ''Final Fantasy VI'', the optional character Gogo's gender is never revealed. The description given of the character says, "Is this a man? A woman? Or should we ask?" | |||
===2005=== | |||
* In ''Harvest Moon: Magical Melody'', Jamie, your antagonist, is depicted as neither male or female, and the only thing that alludes to their gender is what happens when you marry them. If you play a female character and marry them, they will wear a tuxedo at the ceremony, but if you play a male character and marry them, they will wear a wedding dress. Their pronouns are not stated. | |||
===2009=== | |||
* In ''[http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/ Fallen London]'', you can choose to play as "a lady," "a gentleman," or a character whose gender isn't specified. There are multiple smaller characters that are genderless, including party members (the Irrepressible Cannoneer) as well as regular NPCs (the Alarming Scholar and Isery). This is also true of ''[http://www.failbettergames.com/sunless/ Sunless Sea]'', which is set in the same universe. | |||
===2012=== | |||
* In ''Borderlands 2'', a large part of Zer0's story is the lack of information surrounding him. He uses he/him pronouns, but the information provided alludes to him either being agender or having a non-human/alien gender identity. | * In ''Borderlands 2'', a large part of Zer0's story is the lack of information surrounding him. He uses he/him pronouns, but the information provided alludes to him either being agender or having a non-human/alien gender identity. | ||
===2014=== | |||
*In the action/puzzle/driving game ''Roundabout'', the protagonist Georgio Manos has no specified gender. No pronouns are ever used to refer to Georgio. The name "Georgio" is masculine but Georgio is played by a woman. The developers have stated that they purposely left out any reference to Georgio's gender because they thought it was unimportant to the mechanics of the game.<ref>{{cite web |date=2015 |url=https://steamcommunity.com/app/303430/discussions/0/622954023420998077/ |title=Georgio gay? |quote=The developers, in a recent livestream of the game, have made mention to the fact that Georgio has no gender specified in the game. They have said that this is so because "it's not very important to being a revolving limo driver." I think that this is TOTALLY INCREDIBLE and it leaves the gender up to the interpretation, which is PHENOMENAL. Please enjoy the game and keep an eye on our queer characters!|access-date=28 September 2021}}</ref> Despite this, the game is tagged "Female Protagonist" on the Steam store.<ref>{{cite web|title=Roundabout on Steam |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/303430/Roundabout/|access-date=28 September 2021}}</ref> | |||
* ''[http://crypticstitching.storynexus.com/s Cryptic Stitching]'', an interactive novel by Ursula Vernon about stuffed animals living as hunter-gatherers in a magical Ice Age. When creating one's character, the player can choose to be female, male, or "fuzzy," which isn't any gender in particular, "Given that you're a sentient stuffed animal and all." | * ''[http://crypticstitching.storynexus.com/s Cryptic Stitching]'', an interactive novel by Ursula Vernon about stuffed animals living as hunter-gatherers in a magical Ice Age. When creating one's character, the player can choose to be female, male, or "fuzzy," which isn't any gender in particular, "Given that you're a sentient stuffed animal and all." | ||
===2015=== | |||
* In ''Undertale'', the human protagonist Frisk and the human called Chara are never referred to in binary terms, and are referred to with "they" pronouns. Their gender is never revealed. Some other characters also go by "they" pronouns. | * In ''Undertale'', the human protagonist Frisk and the human called Chara are never referred to in binary terms, and are referred to with "they" pronouns. Their gender is never revealed. Some other characters also go by "they" pronouns. | ||
* In ''Dishonored 2'', a noble named Wyman is mentioned several times, being the lover of main character Emily Kaldwin, and is never referred to with any gendered words. Wyman does not appear in-game but does appear in the novels ''Dishonored: The Corroded Man'' and ''Dishonored: The Return of Daud''. The novels' author, Adam Christopher, stated on Twitter that "Wyman is [[gender neutral|gender-neutral]]."<ref> | ===2016=== | ||
* In ''Dishonored 2'', a noble named Wyman is mentioned several times, being the lover of main character Emily Kaldwin, and is never referred to with any gendered words. Wyman does not appear in-game but does appear in the novels ''Dishonored: The Corroded Man'' and ''Dishonored: The Return of Daud''. The novels' author, Adam Christopher, stated on Twitter that "Wyman is [[gender neutral|gender-neutral]]."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://functionalfutch.tumblr.com/post/150874316591/did-you-see-that-the-he-pronoun-in-regards-to |title=Anonymous said: DID YOU SEE that the "he" pronoun in regards to wyman in that book was a typo!|date=24 September 2016}}</ref> However, that tweet was deleted, and in a Reddit AMA the next month, Adam was more vague, saying "Wyman's gender is purposefully left unsaid, yes. Let your headcanon go wild :)", and also saying that Arkane Studios had the full character details which could not be revealed yet.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/dishonored/comments/56zdra/i_am_adam_christopher_novelist_and_comic_writer/ |title=I am Adam Christopher, novelist and comic writer, and author of the new book DISHONORED: THE CORRODED MAN. Ask me anything! |date=11 October 2016|quote=Arkane came up with the character of Wyman, and there's a backstory there, but they don't like to detail characters or factions until they're ready to do so in game. [...] but Wyman's gender is purposefully left unsaid, yes. Let your headcanon go wild :)}}</ref> | |||
* In ''Pokémon Go'', Blanche - the leader of Team Mystic - is gender-ambiguous in appearance. Yūsuke Kozaki - the game's character designer - has stated on Twitter that Blanche's gender is "whatever impression or feeling you get from the design".<ref>{{cite tweet| user=libbydango |number=762127788891525120 |date=6 August 2016 |title=blanche's gender confirmed as "whatever impression or feeling you get from the design" \o/}}</ref> Third-person pronouns are not used in-game to describe any of the team leaders. In addition, the game does not ask the player about their gender, but instead asks them to "choose your style" when creating a character. | |||
===2018=== | |||
*In the visual novel ''Charade Maniacs'', the character Iochi Mizuki has an [[androgynous]] appearance and their gender is never specified. Mizuki "often teases about whether they're a man or a woman." Mizuki is voiced by a cisgender woman and uses the masculine pronoun "boku" for themself.<ref name="CManiacs">{{Cite web |title=Charade Maniacs – Review / Summary |author=estearisa |work=Otome Adventures |date=13 August 2020 |access-date=19 November 2020 |url= https://yuscake.com/2020/08/13/charade-maniacs-review-summary/}}</ref> | |||
===2020=== | |||
* In ''Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War'', the protagonist character can be customized with a "classified" gender, in which case the game's voiced dialogue will refer to the protagonist with [[singular they]] pronouns.<ref name="BlackOps">{{Cite web |title=Black Ops Cold War character creation will let you craft your own agent and includes gender neutral VO |last=Hurley |first=Leon |work=gamesradar |date=August 2020 |access-date=11 September 2020 |url= https://www.gamesradar.com/black-ops-cold-war-character-creation-gender-neutral/}}</ref> The announcement of this drew criticism from many people.<ref name="Milton">{{Cite web |title=Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War will let users play as a non-binary imperialist war-hungry killer |last=Milton |first=Josh |work=PinkNews |date=31 August 2020 |access-date=11 September 2020 |url= https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/08/31/call-of-duty-black-ops-cold-war-non-binary-gender-neutral-ronald-raegan-twitter/}}</ref> | * In ''Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War'', the protagonist character can be customized with a "classified" gender, in which case the game's voiced dialogue will refer to the protagonist with [[singular they]] pronouns.<ref name="BlackOps">{{Cite web |title=Black Ops Cold War character creation will let you craft your own agent and includes gender neutral VO |last=Hurley |first=Leon |work=gamesradar |date=August 2020 |access-date=11 September 2020 |url= https://www.gamesradar.com/black-ops-cold-war-character-creation-gender-neutral/}}</ref> The announcement of this drew criticism from many people.<ref name="Milton">{{Cite web |title=Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War will let users play as a non-binary imperialist war-hungry killer |last=Milton |first=Josh |work=PinkNews |date=31 August 2020 |access-date=11 September 2020 |url= https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/08/31/call-of-duty-black-ops-cold-war-non-binary-gender-neutral-ronald-raegan-twitter/}}</ref> | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||