Nonbinary gender in fiction: Difference between revisions
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*''[https://www.choiceofgames.com/versus-the-lost-ones/ VERSUS: The Lost Ones]'' by Zachary Sergi (published in 2015 by Choice of Games LLC) is a sci-fi interactive novel where it's possible to play a nonbinary character. The player's character, Thomil, comes from a planet where everyone telepathically shares their thoughts and feelings with one another. A couple chapters into the story, the player is asked about their character's gender. They can choose from six options: a cisgender woman, transgender woman, cis man, trans man, intersex, or "I don't subscribe to any gender categories". Choosing the last option sets Thomil's stats to say "Gender: Not Applicable," and brings up these remarks in the narrative: "You are both genders, but you are also neither gender. You believe gender defies categorization, operating on a kind of sliding scale-- one that can change every day. You've come across [foreign planets'] texts about other cultures where such thinking is considered taboo or even sacrilegious, but in a society where everyone can quite literally share their thoughts and experiences, it's fairly impossible not to accept others once you understand who they truly are. Besides, even the most staunchly 'male' or 'female' cisgenders admit that sometimes they feel more 'masculine' or 'feminine' at different times. You just take that kind of thinking to a whole new level." The narration in ''VERSUS'' makes clear that this is not an undisclosed gender or a fantasy sex, but a nonbinary gender identity. Though Thomil comes from a sci-fi setting where where this and other transgender identities are accepted, this is a realistic depiction of a nonbinary person. | *''[https://www.choiceofgames.com/versus-the-lost-ones/ VERSUS: The Lost Ones]'' by Zachary Sergi (published in 2015 by Choice of Games LLC) is a sci-fi interactive novel where it's possible to play a nonbinary character. The player's character, Thomil, comes from a planet where everyone telepathically shares their thoughts and feelings with one another. A couple chapters into the story, the player is asked about their character's gender. They can choose from six options: a cisgender woman, transgender woman, cis man, trans man, intersex, or "I don't subscribe to any gender categories". Choosing the last option sets Thomil's stats to say "Gender: Not Applicable," and brings up these remarks in the narrative: "You are both genders, but you are also neither gender. You believe gender defies categorization, operating on a kind of sliding scale-- one that can change every day. You've come across [foreign planets'] texts about other cultures where such thinking is considered taboo or even sacrilegious, but in a society where everyone can quite literally share their thoughts and experiences, it's fairly impossible not to accept others once you understand who they truly are. Besides, even the most staunchly 'male' or 'female' cisgenders admit that sometimes they feel more 'masculine' or 'feminine' at different times. You just take that kind of thinking to a whole new level." The narration in ''VERSUS'' makes clear that this is not an undisclosed gender or a fantasy sex, but a nonbinary gender identity. Though Thomil comes from a sci-fi setting where where this and other transgender identities are accepted, this is a realistic depiction of a nonbinary person. | ||
[[File:Fallen Hero Rebirth.png|thumb|Gender choice near the beginning of the interactive novel ''Fallen Hero: Rebirth''.]] | [[File:Fallen Hero Rebirth.png|thumb|Gender choice near the beginning of the interactive novel ''Fallen Hero: Rebirth''.]] | ||
* In the interactive novel ''Drag Star!'', you meet multiple characters in the story who describe themselves as nonbinary. Additionally, your character can be nonbinary if you choose so. | |||
* In the interactive novel ''Drag Star!'' | |||
*In ''Read Only Memories'' the character TOMCAT uses they/them pronouns. While it is not directly stated in-game that TOMCAT is nonbinary, artist and director John James has stated in an interview that TOMCAT "is [[gender fluid]]"<ref>{{cite web|first=Jesse|last=Tannous|title=Read Only Memories Director discusses LGBTQ themes in gaming.|date=June 20, 2015|work=The Examiner|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151023215026/http://www.examiner.com/article/read-only-memories-director-discusses-lgbtq-themes-gaming|archive-date=October 23, 2015|url=http://www.examiner.com/article/read-only-memories-director-discusses-lgbtq-themes-gaming}}</ref>.The game also includes other nonbinary characters, including the robot Turing and the protagonist if the player chooses so. [[File: ROM pronouns 1.png|thumb|A screenshot of pronoun selection in ''Read Only Memories''. Selecting 'more options' allows you to choose from 'ze/zir/, 'xe/xir', or your own custom pronouns.]] | *In ''Read Only Memories'' the character TOMCAT uses they/them pronouns. While it is not directly stated in-game that TOMCAT is nonbinary, artist and director John James has stated in an interview that TOMCAT "is [[gender fluid]]"<ref>{{cite web|first=Jesse|last=Tannous|title=Read Only Memories Director discusses LGBTQ themes in gaming.|date=June 20, 2015|work=The Examiner|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151023215026/http://www.examiner.com/article/read-only-memories-director-discusses-lgbtq-themes-gaming|archive-date=October 23, 2015|url=http://www.examiner.com/article/read-only-memories-director-discusses-lgbtq-themes-gaming}}</ref>.The game also includes other nonbinary characters, including the robot Turing and the protagonist if the player chooses so. [[File: ROM pronouns 1.png|thumb|A screenshot of pronoun selection in ''Read Only Memories''. Selecting 'more options' allows you to choose from 'ze/zir/, 'xe/xir', or your own custom pronouns.]] | ||
*In ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nights_into_Dreams... NiGHTS into Dreams]'' the character "NiGHTS is neutral, and therefore has no gender. The impressions of the character with regards to gender are totally up to the player" according to Takashi Iizuka, the lead designer of the game.<ref name="Taylor2007">{{Cite web |title=Interview: Takashi Iizuka Talks NiGHTS |last=Taylor |first=Mike |work=Nintendo Life |date=5 December 2007 |access-date=23 September 2020 |url= https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2007/12/interview_takashi_iizuka_talks_nights}}</ref> | *In ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nights_into_Dreams... NiGHTS into Dreams]'' the character "NiGHTS is neutral, and therefore has no gender. The impressions of the character with regards to gender are totally up to the player" according to Takashi Iizuka, the lead designer of the game.<ref name="Taylor2007">{{Cite web |title=Interview: Takashi Iizuka Talks NiGHTS |last=Taylor |first=Mike |work=Nintendo Life |date=5 December 2007 |access-date=23 September 2020 |url= https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2007/12/interview_takashi_iizuka_talks_nights}}</ref> | ||
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*In the simulation game ''BitLife'', since the June 2020 Pride Update, it is possible for characters to [[come out]] to you as nonbinary<ref>https://www.instagram.com/p/CEwrBGRhFCw/</ref> and in the "Gay Dating App" portion you can select a partner preference from a dropdown list of "Male", "Female", "Genderqueer", "Non-Binary", "Transgender Female", and "Transgender Male".<ref>https://bitlife-life-simulator.fandom.com/wiki/Dating_app</ref> The player themself can also select whether their character is [[cisgender]], genderqueer, nonbinary, transgender female, and transgender male (after the character reaches age 5). Being non-cis may cause the character to experience [[gender dysphoria]] in-game, lowering their Happiness level.<ref name="leve_BitL">{{Cite web |title=BitLife Pride Update Guide: Everything You Need to Know About BitLife Version 1.38, aka the Pride Update |author=Tim |work=Level Winner |date=3 July 2020 |access-date=4 October 2020 |url= https://www.levelwinner.com/bitlife-pride-update-guide-everything-you-need-to-know-about-bitlife-version-1-38-aka-the-pride-update/}}</ref> | *In the simulation game ''BitLife'', since the June 2020 Pride Update, it is possible for characters to [[come out]] to you as nonbinary<ref>https://www.instagram.com/p/CEwrBGRhFCw/</ref> and in the "Gay Dating App" portion you can select a partner preference from a dropdown list of "Male", "Female", "Genderqueer", "Non-Binary", "Transgender Female", and "Transgender Male".<ref>https://bitlife-life-simulator.fandom.com/wiki/Dating_app</ref> The player themself can also select whether their character is [[cisgender]], genderqueer, nonbinary, transgender female, and transgender male (after the character reaches age 5). Being non-cis may cause the character to experience [[gender dysphoria]] in-game, lowering their Happiness level.<ref name="leve_BitL">{{Cite web |title=BitLife Pride Update Guide: Everything You Need to Know About BitLife Version 1.38, aka the Pride Update |author=Tim |work=Level Winner |date=3 July 2020 |access-date=4 October 2020 |url= https://www.levelwinner.com/bitlife-pride-update-guide-everything-you-need-to-know-about-bitlife-version-1-38-aka-the-pride-update/}}</ref> | ||
* In the dating sim ''Repurpose'' (to be released 2021<ref>{{cite tweet|user=CereusGarden|number=1305658944451477507|date=14 September 2020|title=AUDITION UPDATE: All voice actors auditioning for Repurpose MUST be 18 years or older. We apologize for not clarifying this earlier. The team is working diligently on getting the game prepped for it's 2021 release and it was a simple slip of the mind.}}</ref>), Noel Azulite is [[genderfluid]] and [[asexual]], DJ Roadkill is nonbinary and [[pansexual]], Cheri is [[bigender]] and [[omnisexual]], and Fayebael Noct is [[agender]] and "if we must assign a label, pansexual". Additionally, the player can choose their own pronouns from "he", "she", or "they".<ref name="Repurpose">{{Cite web |title=Repurpose (Demo) by Eros |author= |work=itch.io |date=11 June 2020 |access-date=28 October 2020 |url= https://residentrabbit.itch.io/repurpose-demo}}</ref><ref name="kick_Repu">{{Cite web |title=Repurpose |author=Resident Rabbit |work=Kickstarter |date= |access-date=28 October 2020 |url= https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/residentrabbit/repurpose/description}}</ref> | * In the dating sim ''Repurpose'' (to be released 2021<ref>{{cite tweet|user=CereusGarden|number=1305658944451477507|date=14 September 2020|title=AUDITION UPDATE: All voice actors auditioning for Repurpose MUST be 18 years or older. We apologize for not clarifying this earlier. The team is working diligently on getting the game prepped for it's 2021 release and it was a simple slip of the mind.}}</ref>), Noel Azulite is [[genderfluid]] and [[asexual]], DJ Roadkill is nonbinary and [[pansexual]], Cheri is [[bigender]] and [[omnisexual]], and Fayebael Noct is [[agender]] and "if we must assign a label, pansexual". Additionally, the player can choose their own pronouns from "he", "she", or "they".<ref name="Repurpose">{{Cite web |title=Repurpose (Demo) by Eros |author= |work=itch.io |date=11 June 2020 |access-date=28 October 2020 |url= https://residentrabbit.itch.io/repurpose-demo}}</ref><ref name="kick_Repu">{{Cite web |title=Repurpose |author=Resident Rabbit |work=Kickstarter |date= |access-date=28 October 2020 |url= https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/residentrabbit/repurpose/description}}</ref> | ||
*''Genderwrecked'' is a post-apocalyptic horror/gore visual novel about trying to find the meaning of gender. The player can select their pronouns from she/her, they/them, he/him, xe/xir, ze/zir, it/it, or custom pronouns.<ref name="genderwrecked">{{Cite web |title=GENDERWRECKED |author=ryan rose aceae |work=itch.io |date= |access-date=28 October 2020 |url= https://gendervamp.itch.io/genderwrecked}}</ref> | *''Genderwrecked'' is a post-apocalyptic horror/gore visual novel about trying to find the meaning of gender. The player can select their pronouns from she/her, they/them, he/him, xe/xir, ze/zir, it/it, or custom pronouns.<ref name="genderwrecked">{{Cite web |title=GENDERWRECKED |author=ryan rose aceae |work=itch.io |date= |access-date=28 October 2020 |url= https://gendervamp.itch.io/genderwrecked}}</ref> | ||
*In ''ValiDate: Struggling Singles in your Area'', a visual novel to be released in 2022, the character Emhari Abdi is a bigender lesbian. Emhari uses both "he/him" and "she/her" pronouns.<ref>{{cite tweet|date=18 July 2020| user=ValiDateGame| number=1284540692962967553|title=Our first mini interview is with Nasr (@trashyvoid ), the artist of Emhari!}}</ref><ref>[https://validategame.com/#cast ValiDate: Meet The Cast!]</ref> | *In ''ValiDate: Struggling Singles in your Area'', a visual novel to be released in 2022, the character Emhari Abdi is a bigender lesbian. Emhari uses both "he/him" and "she/her" pronouns.<ref>{{cite tweet|date=18 July 2020| user=ValiDateGame| number=1284540692962967553|title=Our first mini interview is with Nasr (@trashyvoid ), the artist of Emhari!}}</ref><ref>[https://validategame.com/#cast ValiDate: Meet The Cast!]</ref> | ||
* In the 2020 game ''Star Wars: Squadrons'', the pilot Keo Venzee is referred to with [[they/them]] pronouns.<ref>https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Keo_Venzee</ref> | * In the 2020 game ''Star Wars: Squadrons'', the pilot Keo Venzee is referred to with [[they/them]] pronouns.<ref>https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Keo_Venzee</ref> | ||
* Bloodhound in ''Apex Legends'' is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns.<ref>{{cite tweet| | * Bloodhound in ''Apex Legends'' is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns.<ref>{{cite tweet|last=Clark|first=Allegra|user=SimplyAllegra |number=1093207979430576128 |title=*Their* voice (Bloodhound is non-binary, uses they/them pronouns), but thank you! I'm so happy that people have enjoyed the performance—Bloodhound means so much to me 😊😊😊😊|date=6 February 2019}}</ref> | ||
* In the 2020 adventure game ''Bugsnax'', scientist Floofty Fizzlebean is nonbinary and uses [[singular they]] pronouns ([[Gender neutral language in Polish|onu/jenu]] in the Polish translation<ref>{{cite tweet|user=neutratywy|number=1329918251560787968|title=ekipa http://zaimki.pl miała zaszczyt i przyjemność pomóc w tłumaczeniu gry Bugsnax @YoungHorses na język polski[.] występującu tam naukowcu, Floofty, jest niebinarnu i używa dukazimów (http://zaimki.pl/onu)|date=20 November 2020}}</ref>). They are voiced by nonbinary actor [[Casey Mongillo]].<ref name="dist_Meet">{{Cite web |title=Meet the Voice Acting Cast Behind 'Bugsnax' |author=Belcher, Sara |work=Distractify |date= |access-date=9 December 2020 |url= https://www.distractify.com/p/bugsnax-cast}}</ref> | * In the 2020 adventure game ''Bugsnax'', scientist Floofty Fizzlebean is nonbinary and uses [[singular they]] pronouns ([[Gender neutral language in Polish|onu/jenu]] in the Polish translation<ref>{{cite tweet|user=neutratywy|number=1329918251560787968|title=ekipa http://zaimki.pl miała zaszczyt i przyjemność pomóc w tłumaczeniu gry Bugsnax @YoungHorses na język polski[.] występującu tam naukowcu, Floofty, jest niebinarnu i używa dukazimów (http://zaimki.pl/onu)|date=20 November 2020}}</ref>). They are voiced by nonbinary actor [[Casey Mongillo]].<ref name="dist_Meet">{{Cite web |title=Meet the Voice Acting Cast Behind 'Bugsnax' |author=Belcher, Sara |work=Distractify |date= |access-date=9 December 2020 |url= https://www.distractify.com/p/bugsnax-cast}}</ref> | ||
* In the visual novel ''Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Heart of the Forest'', the character Kim is nonbinary and referred to using they/them pronouns. Their in-game character description begins by referring to them as "A nonbinary activist from Berlin." | * In the visual novel ''Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Heart of the Forest'', the character Kim is nonbinary and referred to using they/them pronouns. Their in-game character description begins by referring to them as "A nonbinary activist from Berlin." | ||
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* Ashly Burch, the voice actress for Chloe Price in the adventure game ''Life is Strange'', said in a 2015 interview that "I think Chloe is sexually fluid. I don't think she really likes to label herself in any particular way—same with her gender."<ref name="Sloane2015">{{Cite web |title=Hella Talk: An Interview With Ashly Burch on Chloe Price, Queerness, & ‘Life Is Strange’ |author=Sloane |work=FemHype |date=27 October 2015 |access-date=11 July 2021 |url= https://femhype.wordpress.com/2015/10/27/hella-talk-an-interview-with-ashly-burch-on-chloe-price-queerness-life-is-strange/ }}</ref> | * Ashly Burch, the voice actress for Chloe Price in the adventure game ''Life is Strange'', said in a 2015 interview that "I think Chloe is sexually fluid. I don't think she really likes to label herself in any particular way—same with her gender."<ref name="Sloane2015">{{Cite web |title=Hella Talk: An Interview With Ashly Burch on Chloe Price, Queerness, & ‘Life Is Strange’ |author=Sloane |work=FemHype |date=27 October 2015 |access-date=11 July 2021 |url= https://femhype.wordpress.com/2015/10/27/hella-talk-an-interview-with-ashly-burch-on-chloe-price-queerness-life-is-strange/ }}</ref> | ||
*In the visual novel ''A Foretold Affair'', one of the three people you can romance is [[agender]].<ref name="repr_AFor">{{Cite web |title=A Foretold Affair |author= |work=Represent Me |date= |access-date=12 July 2021 |url= https://representme.charity/projects/queer/database/title/a-foretold-affair}}</ref> | *In the visual novel ''A Foretold Affair'', one of the three people you can romance is [[agender]].<ref name="repr_AFor">{{Cite web |title=A Foretold Affair |author= |work=Represent Me |date= |access-date=12 July 2021 |url= https://representme.charity/projects/queer/database/title/a-foretold-affair}}</ref> | ||
*In the ''Dominique Pamplemousse'' series of point-and-click adventure games, the protagonist Dominique Pamplemousse is genderqueer. There are many instances in-game of other characters trying to figure out Dominique's gender.<ref name="squi_Domi">{{Cite web |title=Dominique Pamplemousse and Dominique Pamplemousse in "Combinatorial Explosion!" by Squinky |author= |work=itch.io |date= |access-date=27 July 2021 |url= https://squinky.itch.io/dompam2 |quote=our favourite genderqueer private detective discovers that, through the power of multiple endings from the previous game, they have been cloned! }}</ref><ref name="Chambers-Pamplemousse">{{Cite web |title=Indie Game Dominique Pamplemousse Review |author=Chambers, Becky |work=The Mary Sue |date=28 February 2014 |access-date=27 July 2021 |url= https://www.themarysue.com/dominique-pamplemousse/}}</ref> | |||
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