Nonbinary gender in fiction: Difference between revisions
→Video games
imported>TXJ |
imported>TXJ |
||
| Line 489: | Line 489: | ||
''See also [[Video games with nonbinary player character options]].'' | ''See also [[Video games with nonbinary player character options]].'' | ||
*In ''Transistor'', the [[gender marker]] for Bailey Gilande in her character file is 'X', commonly used by, or in regards to, nonbinary people. | *In ''Transistor'', the [[gender marker]] for Bailey Gilande in her character file is 'X', commonly used by, or in regards to, nonbinary people. | ||
*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> | ||
*In the MMORPG ''Runescape'', there is an NPC who can change the player character's avatar from male to female or female to male, as well as change the player's skin color. The NPC also switches their own avatar's "sex" at 10-second intervals. They are officially called "The Makeover Mage", but in a 2006 letter they wrote "My name is Pete, or Peta, depending on my mood", implying they may be [[genderfluid]], [[bigender]], or some other type of nonbinary.<ref>https://runescape.wiki/w/Makeover_Mage</ref> | *In the MMORPG ''Runescape'', there is an NPC who can change the player character's avatar from male to female or female to male, as well as change the player's skin color. The NPC also switches their own avatar's "sex" at 10-second intervals. They are officially called "The Makeover Mage", but in a 2006 letter they wrote "My name is Pete, or Peta, depending on my mood", implying they may be [[genderfluid]], [[bigender]], or some other type of nonbinary.<ref>https://runescape.wiki/w/Makeover_Mage</ref> | ||
* In the visual novel ''Astoria: Fate's Kiss'', the romanceable character Alex Cyprin is nonbinary and uses [[they/them]] pronouns.<ref>[https://lovestruckvoltage.tumblr.com/post/162091662113/pride-month-specials-weve-prepared-a-very-special Pride Month Specials], 21 June 2017</ref> | * In the visual novel ''Astoria: Fate's Kiss'', the romanceable character Alex Cyprin is nonbinary and uses [[they/them]] pronouns.<ref>[https://lovestruckvoltage.tumblr.com/post/162091662113/pride-month-specials-weve-prepared-a-very-special Pride Month Specials], 21 June 2017</ref> | ||
| Line 503: | Line 500: | ||
[[File:Earl Grey gender free pronouns.png|thumb|right|A screenshot of ''My Cup of Coffee: Earl Grey Forever After'' with the "gender liberated" option selected, so the game uses [[English_neutral_pronouns#Ne_.28nem.29|ne/nem/nir]] pronouns.]] | [[File:Earl Grey gender free pronouns.png|thumb|right|A screenshot of ''My Cup of Coffee: Earl Grey Forever After'' with the "gender liberated" option selected, so the game uses [[English_neutral_pronouns#Ne_.28nem.29|ne/nem/nir]] pronouns.]] | ||
*In the indie romance visual novel ''My Cup of Coffee: Earl Grey Forever After'', the protagonist can be male, female, or "[[gender free]]". Choosing gender free results in the game using [[gender neutral language]], [[English_neutral_pronouns#Ne_.28nem.29|ne/nem/nir]] pronouns, and the [[Mx]] title. The player can also choose to "make everyone else gender liberated too", resulting in the protagonist saying things like "Everybody knew about me, the eldest child of the late Gentleperson and Gentleperson Fairfax". | *In the indie romance visual novel ''My Cup of Coffee: Earl Grey Forever After'', the protagonist can be male, female, or "[[gender free]]". Choosing gender free results in the game using [[gender neutral language]], [[English_neutral_pronouns#Ne_.28nem.29|ne/nem/nir]] pronouns, and the [[Mx]] title. The player can also choose to "make everyone else gender liberated too", resulting in the protagonist saying things like "Everybody knew about me, the eldest child of the late Gentleperson and Gentleperson Fairfax". | ||
*In the sci-fi visual novel ''Incompatible Species'', Chris is nonbinary and uses [[she/her]] pronouns, while Pi-zan uses [[they/them]] pronouns.<ref>https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/poxni/incompatible-species-a-hopeful-futuristic-visual-n</ref> | *In the sci-fi visual novel ''Incompatible Species'', Chris is nonbinary and uses [[she/her]] pronouns, while Pi-zan uses [[they/them]] pronouns.<ref>https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/poxni/incompatible-species-a-hopeful-futuristic-visual-n</ref> | ||
*In the visual novel ''Butterfly Soup'', Min-seo is nonbinary.<ref>https://vndb.org/c67408</ref> | *In the visual novel ''Butterfly Soup'', Min-seo is nonbinary.<ref>https://vndb.org/c67408</ref> | ||
| Line 509: | Line 505: | ||
* 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> | ||
* 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> | * 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> | ||
| Line 518: | Line 513: | ||
* In the browser-based RPG ''4thewords'', several NPCs are implied to be nonbinary by way of their pronouns: [[singular they|Singular "they"]] is used for Ordco, Edrie, and Yuri, and [[English_neutral_pronouns#Xe|"xe"]] is used for Liq of Light. | * In the browser-based RPG ''4thewords'', several NPCs are implied to be nonbinary by way of their pronouns: [[singular they|Singular "they"]] is used for Ordco, Edrie, and Yuri, and [[English_neutral_pronouns#Xe|"xe"]] is used for Liq of Light. | ||
* In RPG indie game ''Ikenfell'', half of the main characters within the game are explicitly queer. One character uses ze/zir pronouns. | * In RPG indie game ''Ikenfell'', half of the main characters within the game are explicitly queer. One character uses ze/zir pronouns. | ||
*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> | *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> | ||
*In the interactive novel ''Moonrise'', Rosario de la Cruz is a nonbinary pansexual who uses [[they/them]] pronouns, and Sati is a nonbinary bisexual who uses xe/xer/xem pronouns.<ref name="COG-representme">{{Cite web |title=Choice of Games (developer) |author= |work=Represent Me |date= |access-date=8 September 2021 |url= https://representme.charity/projects/queer/database/title/choice-of-games}}</ref> | *In the interactive novel ''Moonrise'', Rosario de la Cruz is a nonbinary pansexual who uses [[they/them]] pronouns, and Sati is a nonbinary bisexual who uses xe/xer/xem pronouns.<ref name="COG-representme">{{Cite web |title=Choice of Games (developer) |author= |work=Represent Me |date= |access-date=8 September 2021 |url= https://representme.charity/projects/queer/database/title/choice-of-games}}</ref> | ||
====2015==== | |||
*In ''Crypt of the Necrodancer,'' the game's artist Ted Martens stated that the unlockable character Bolt "is [[genderqueer]] and doesn't identify fully as either female or male."<ref>{{cite tweet| user=ted_martens |number=573223156724285440 |date=4 March 2015 |title=@JimDrizzle @fenekosan Bolt is genderqueer and doesn't identify fully as either female or male.}}</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> | |||
====2019==== | ====2019==== | ||
*One of the player characters in the 2019 game ''Borderlands 3'', FL4K, is an emergent AI who uses they/them pronouns and wears a pin with the nonbinary flag. | *One of the player characters in the 2019 game ''Borderlands 3'', FL4K, is an emergent AI who uses they/them pronouns and wears a pin with the nonbinary flag. | ||
*In the fantasy-mystery visual novel ''Catacomb Prince'', one of the romantic options is the nonbinary person Ravi Patel.<ref>https://skeleteam.itch.io/catacombprince</ref> | |||
* 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. | |||
====2020==== | ====2020==== | ||
| Line 538: | Line 538: | ||
** Additionally, the player character creator has no gender selection nor any gender-locked clothes. The official website says that "specifying a gender does not play a role in Pumpkin Days. Simply use our body sliders in character customization to add feminine and/or as masculine features as you want. Any clothes you buy will fit the body you choose."<ref>{{cite web|title=Pumpkin Days Unique Features|url=https://www.pumpkin-days.com/about-game|access-date=29 June 2021}}</ref> | ** Additionally, the player character creator has no gender selection nor any gender-locked clothes. The official website says that "specifying a gender does not play a role in Pumpkin Days. Simply use our body sliders in character customization to add feminine and/or as masculine features as you want. Any clothes you buy will fit the body you choose."<ref>{{cite web|title=Pumpkin Days Unique Features|url=https://www.pumpkin-days.com/about-game|access-date=29 June 2021}}</ref> | ||
* In the first-person shooter ''Battlefield 2042'', a Specialist named Emma "Sundance" Rosier is nonbinary and uses [[they/them]] pronouns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DrLupo stands up for nonbinary people during Battlefield 2042 stream |last=Lopez |first=Jalen |work=Dot Esports |date=12 November 2021 |access-date=13 November 2021 |url= https://dotesports.com/streaming/news/drlupo-stands-up-for-nonbinary-people-during-battlefield-2042-stream}}</ref> | * In the first-person shooter ''Battlefield 2042'', a Specialist named Emma "Sundance" Rosier is nonbinary and uses [[they/them]] pronouns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DrLupo stands up for nonbinary people during Battlefield 2042 stream |last=Lopez |first=Jalen |work=Dot Esports |date=12 November 2021 |access-date=13 November 2021 |url= https://dotesports.com/streaming/news/drlupo-stands-up-for-nonbinary-people-during-battlefield-2042-stream}}</ref> | ||
====Unreleased (currently in development)==== | |||
*The dating sim ''The Office Type'' has equal numbers of male, female, and nonbinary characters for the player to romance. Every character's bio, even the cis ones, lists their pronouns. The nonbinary characters listed so far are Syl ([[demiboy]]), Benny ([[agender]]), Cal ([[demigirl]]), Toni ([[aporagender]]), Ty ([[anogender]]), Addie ([[egogender]]), Bee ([[genderfluid]]), and Mx. Hura Stapleton ([[bigender]]). There are also binary trans women and binary trans men among the cast.<ref>[https://www.heavythoughtstudios.com/projects/ Heavy Thought Studios - Projects]</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> | |||
{{Clear}} | {{Clear}} | ||