Baldur's Gate #BaldurGate: Siege of Dragonspear

[Torrasque01]

First hitpiece has dropped https://archive.is/5mx6k

Gamers Flood Baldur’s Gate Expansion with Negative Reviews After It Introduces a Transsexual Character
The game's inclusion of a trans character has led to it being targeted.
by Paul Tamburro Apr 4th, 2016
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The GOG and Steam store pages for Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear are littered with negative reviews, with gamers trashing the game largely as a result of an encounter that takes place between the player and a transsexual character.
The new expansion, which is set between the events of the first and second game, features a conversation with a transsexual character in which she explains her transition. Mizhena, a cleric in the game, explains the origins behind her unusual name in a dialogue tree if the player questions her about it. "I created the name myself several years ago," Mizhena says, adding: "My birth name proved unsuitable." When the player asks what was wrong with her old name, she continues: "When I was born, my parents thought me a boy and raised me as such. In time, we all came to understand I was truly a woman. I created my new name from syllables of different languages. All have special meaning to me, it is the truest reflection of who I am."
Many have taken umbrage with this line, littering its GOG, Steam and Metacritic user reviews with low scores, with the majority of these reviews referencing this exchange. A video titled 'Tranny Abuse' in which the player kills Mizhena after she reveals herself to be a transsexual, has also been uploaded to YouTube, attracting over 13,000 views and over 350 likes, with the uploader writing: "It's refreshing to see that nearly everyone, even a lot of neutral folks, consider this a bastardization of a classic game world. Beamdog dug themselves a hole that their company will never recover from now. Any potential Baldur's Gate 3 they develop will fail due to people now knowing how little they care for the license."

A common suggestion made by those posting user reviews of the game was that developer Beamdog's inclusion of the trans character had somehow sullied its reputation, with it being commonly suggested that the dialogue tree with Mizhena had irreparably damaged the reputation of the series. A reference to GamerGate made by the developers, in which a character says "Actually, it's about ethics in heroic adventuring," has also rubbed many up the wrong way.
Though these user reviews also cite other problems with the game, including apparent bugs and an unsatisfactory multiplayer component, the majority of these reviews devolve into panning the game's writing, focusing upon its supposed "social justice agenda." Despite the game's lone review from an actual outlet awarding it 87/100, an influx of user reviews are giving it the lowest possible score available, accompanying these reviews with complaints of the game "forcing gender politics down [their] throats."
The game currently sits at a 3.6 out of 10 on Metacritic's user reviews section and 2 out of 5 on GOG, though has a Mostly Positive rating on Steam. Coincidentally, this is the only one of those three platforms that requires the user to own the game they're reviewing. Take a look at a few of these negative reviews below:








Amber Scott, a writer on the game, responded to these criticisms by saying: "As I've said before (and I won't say much more on this subject other than to get my perspective out there): I'm the writer and creator. I get to make decisions about who I write about and why. I don't like writing about straight/white/cis people all the time. It's not reflective of the real world, it sets up s/w/c as the "normal" baseline from which "other" characters must be added, and it's boring.
"I consciously add as much diversity as I can to my writing and I don't care if people think that's "forced" or fake. I find choosing to write from a straight default just as artificial. I'm happy to be an SJW and I hope to write many Social Justice Games in the future that reach as many different types of people as possible. Everyone should get a chance to see themselves reflected in pop culture."
Beamdog founder Trent Oster also took to the forums in order to encourage those enjoying the game to post positive user reviews online, writing: "I usually spend most of my time lurking here, but I'd like to ask a favour. It appears that having a transgendered cleric and a joke line by Minsc has greatly offended the sensibilities of some people.
"This has spurred these people into action, causing them to decide this is the worst game of all time and give it a zero review score on Steam, GoG and meta critic. Now, I'd like to ask for that favour. If you are playing the game and having a good time, please consider posting a positive review to balance out the loud minority which is currently painting a dark picture for new players."
Our take:
It's odd that in a fantasy game featuring giant ogres and dragons, the appearance of a transsexual character is where so many draw the line in terms of realism. While complaining about the game's writing is one thing, this clear attempt to damage the its success as a result of it including a transsexual NPC is very disappointing and, considering it is being staged by a group that supposedly champions developers' artistic freedom, quite ironic.
Given that Mizhena is a minor NPC in the game and can be completely overlooked, that the exchange between her and the player is what has inspired so many to leave such negative user reviews, strongly suggests that those who are angered only believe in developers' artistic freedom when those developers are creating things that they personally agree with. Also, considering that GamerGate presents itself as a movement fighting against a culture of outrage all too willing to feign offence, it's also curious that the movement cannot take a joke at its own expense.

 

[Xzar]

We have finally arrived at the point where morons are accusing other people of being "edgy" because they don't support their ridiculous crusade against a minor badly written character (and knowing Beamdog that won't be the only badly written character) in what is apparently a 40-hour game. But of course none of them have actually played this thing so it's not like they can complain about anything else.
The ani-LGTB sentiments on the codex always seemed to be in good fun but lately it seems like it has been taken over by a vocal minority of idiots who take crusading against anything even slightly gay as serious as the SJW's flauning around their agenda at every possible moment. Is this place filled with conservative Russians trying to shove their old skool "values" down our collective throates or what? Or are this just basement dwelling nerds who are really this bored and cantankerous?
Beamdog handling this very badly doesn't help either of course but I came here to read some impressions and nearly all I see is bitches whining about what is a minor issue and hijacking this thing with an obvious political agenda.

Haha, some European fags are worrying that tide is not in their favor. You should be worried, because soon there will be no place for feminism and LGBT agenda in mainstream games. There will be, of course, a branch of devs catering to your wishes, sort of like pedo magazines legally existed in 70s and 80s, but they will be secluded and separated in cultural ghettos. Current fight is to determine which devs will be free to sell in open market, and who will be segregated to ghettos. With God-Emperor Trump in office all faggotry will be repealed and replaced with a healthy heterosexual porn.

 

[Metatron]

The ani-LGTB sentiments

What anti-LGBT sentiments? This has to do with shoehorning your specific agenda into games that people loved. I'm not a BG fan at all. I think the games are RTwP trash. But if you're making a continuation of the series, then respect the lore and feel of the series. Keep it intact. It's made even worse by the crappy attempt of writing.
.

Baldurs Gate 1 is riddled with bad writing, monty pyhton esque dumb jokes, easter eggs, pop culture references that were cool in 1998, 4th wall breaking moments and shallow characters that are defined by one single trait. I'd say the tranny fits right into this show of one dimensional caricatures.
It's pretty clear that half of the people whining about this haven't even played the actual base game.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Guess the failed reviews are causing more butthurt at Beamdog than multiple failed anal circumference rolls at F. A. T. A. L.

 

[Ezrite]

"Gamers". Back to the crusade against gamers again I see. Fucking morons these guys.

 

[Maggot]

If anyone bought the EE on Steam or GOG to find out Beamdog broke modding, check out this link.

 

[vonAchdorf]

The choice of these "WOAH DUUUDE MAN WEED YO" dialogue options, coupled with the whole dialogue are insulting...

Some quality work there.
Its also fully voice acted, probably they took some stoned surfer dude from california to do it. Dank yo.

This is a shop and not from the game, right?

 

[Mustawd]

The ani-LGTB sentiments

What anti-LGBT sentiments? This has to do with shoehorning your specific agenda into games that people loved. I'm not a BG fan at all. I think the games are RTwP trash. But if you're making a continuation of the series, then respect the lore and feel of the series. Keep it intact. It's made even worse by the crappy attempt of writing.
.

Baldurs Gate 1 is riddled with bad writing, monty pyhton esque dumb jokes, easter eggs, pop culture references that were cool in 1998, 4th wall breaking moments and shallow characters that are defined by one single trait. I'd say the tranny fits right into this show of one dimensional caricatures.
It's pretty clear that half of the people whining about this haven't even played the actual base game.

Did you see how they inserted it? It's a frigging throwaway pathetic attempt at introducing a character that has no reason to be there besides to tell you they are trans in the first 5 seconds of meeting them. And I did play both BG1 and BG2. And all crappy writing aside, this example was pretty bad.

 

[mastroego]

That's my point Mustawd, it's an online crusade, it's fucking ridiculous. As ridiculous as making a point by putting a tranny in a goddamn video game.

Call it "SJW fatigue".
We've been exposed to this shit for years and now they managed to put it into Baldur's Gate too.

It was an asinine move and it deserves the backlash.
Also, if the resulting perception (right or wrong is irrelevant) is that SJW content made the title crash & burn, maybe suits will want LESS of that shit in games from now on.
That can only be a good thing.

I'd agree with that if they flaunt it in our faces during the whole game a la Dragon Age 2 & 3. The way half the cast was defined by their sexuality and nothing else in those games was atrocious and obviously an attempt to push a certain political agenda in the bluntest of fashions.
If it's just one of two quotes it's misguided but there's no reason to keep whining about it page after page unless you're a rampant homophobe.

Well, I hear there's a Refugee Quest too, plus tons of "strong female" characters, who still are "oppressed" obviously, and tons of idiot male ones who do the oppressing.
It's what I hear, I might be wrong.
But all of these things add up and seem to be consistent with the liberal agenda, more generally speaking.
Which is not something that's easily missed.

 

[pippin]

This is a shop and not from the game, right?

AAAGHH! YEEEAAHH! WHOOOOOA!

 

[Kem0sabe]

Courtesy of /v/:

 

[Stainless Veteran]

In all seriousness though, Beamdog was always a talentless and scummy company. I remember when they released BG:EE it was full of bugs, it was incompatible with many popular mods AND it used both mods and mods' sources (I remember that there were some controversy with that, don't remember exact details though, if someone could refresh my memory I'd be grateful). Their contribution to the game was awful opening cutscene, atrocious fonts, questionable interface changes, dumb fanfiction-level companions, oh, and new bugs, I guess. Given that I've played full moded BG1 not long ago, experience was vastly superior to EE, so I really fail to see even a need for that (GemRB can run on most tablets, so even if you wanted EE just for that you have a superior alternative).

So now they have given us:
1) unneeded changes to fan-favourite (if two-dimensional, like all in BG1) characters - unsexified Safana, Jaheira and poor Minsc sprouting dumb maymay;
2) some of their own characters, most of whom are fanfic-tier, and some are romanceble;
3) shitton of bugs (forced difficulty change on reload, some scripts aren't firing properly, problems with stuck buffs, broken multiplayer);
4) fucked up lore, due to use of IWD boss, justifying it as "IT'S MY STORY, MAN! I CAN DO WHAT I WANT";
5) insults to their fanbase (calling original game sexist and problematic, calling anyone who disagree with them trolls and 'gators, snitching and crying on twitter for femfreq and jez attention; ding-dong-bannu all the way on steam, etc);
6) shitty graphic mode with outline, still shitty fonts and interface;
7) begging for reviews on their forum;
8) wonderful CALL ME MAIWAIFU tranny;
9) stoner humor;
10) dank maymays;
11) librul politics, aside from said tranny (refugees, distribution of wealth, stronk female characters, etc. I'm honestly surprised that they haven't shoehorned Israel VS Palestine into it too);
12) ???????????
13) somehow I don't think that there would be much profit.

True, those who played it for longer time noted a few good points - for example Shadenuat said that AI was improved, some encounters are fun and some of the areas are pretty and decently designed. But I don't think that a few good points outweigh the bad in this occasion.

As I gather, people for some reason harbored a hope for BG3 made by Beamdog, so they wanted to see good in this interquel. It's their prerogative, sure, but I wonder if our few fans (ArchAngel , Gay-Lussac and others) are judging the product on its own merit, and not due to said hopes.

I never had any hopes for a BG3 in general, and especially not made by Beamdog. I want to say to those who liked BG1 and 2 and not replayed it since late 90s - rather try to play it with mods, there is a very simple tool which makes mod installing as simple as double-click, works with GoG. People made some very decent mods, both quests and even stand-alone adventures. Shitton of content, and you won't fund an :incloosive: agenda by playing it if you already have bought originals. If you want shitty gay companions modders got you covered too. I remember that gay kensai, whatwashisname... Beamdog should really hire his author, xir would fit right in with Amber Scott.

 

[pippin]

I still can't get over the fact how terrible the characters look with the outline shit.

 

[Mustawd]

The ani-LGTB sentiments

What anti-LGBT sentiments? This has to do with shoehorning your specific agenda into games that people loved. I'm not a BG fan at all. I think the games are RTwP trash. But if you're making a continuation of the series, then respect the lore and feel of the series. Keep it intact. It's made even worse by the crappy attempt of writing.
.

Baldurs Gate 1 is riddled with bad writing, monty pyhton esque dumb jokes, easter eggs, pop culture references that were cool in 1998, 4th wall breaking moments and shallow characters that are defined by one single trait. I'd say the tranny fits right into this show of one dimensional caricatures.
It's pretty clear that half of the people whining about this haven't even played the actual base game.

Also, did you vote in the "How far would you go with a ladyboy?" poll in GD? I'm not mentioning this for my health you know. Research needs to be done. Seriously, though, please go vote. All of you.

 

[Mustawd]

I still can't get over the fact how terrible the characters look with the outline shit.

That's optional dude. Just unselect it.

 

[Excidium II]

I still can't get over the fact how terrible the characters look with the outline shit.

If you play EEs enough you forget how good and sharp IE grafics were so your eyes adapt better to the outlines.

I still can't get over the fact how terrible the characters look with the outline shit.

That's optional dude. Just unselect it.

Too bad the shitty blurred backgrounds and upscaled sprites ain't.

 

[Metatron]

The ani-LGTB sentiments

What anti-LGBT sentiments? This has to do with shoehorning your specific agenda into games that people loved. I'm not a BG fan at all. I think the games are RTwP trash. But if you're making a continuation of the series, then respect the lore and feel of the series. Keep it intact. It's made even worse by the crappy attempt of writing.
.

Baldurs Gate 1 is riddled with bad writing, monty pyhton esque dumb jokes, easter eggs, pop culture references that were cool in 1998, 4th wall breaking moments and shallow characters that are defined by one single trait. I'd say the tranny fits right into this show of one dimensional caricatures.
It's pretty clear that half of the people whining about this haven't even played the actual base game.

Did you see how they inserted it? It's a frigging throwaway pathetic attempt at introducing a character that has no reason to be there besides to tell you they are trans in the first 5 seconds of meeting them. And I did play both BG1 and BG2. And all crappy writing aside, this example was pretty bad.

Again, BG1 (and I mean the first one specifically, 2 has a very different vibe) is filled with badly written characters that are defined by only one characteristic.
And yes, it's obviously very bad writing. Nobody is denying that but as long as it's a single occurence there is no reason to keep bitching about it. I'm much more interested in knowing if the writing is this bad in the whole game than saying 20 screenshots of the same dialogue by the usual suspect Codexers obsessing over trannies.

 

[Space Insect]

So, I was the one who originally posted Dee's tweet on the Beamdog forums and now I am banned for no reason at all. They also shut down the thread because people were "flaming" Dee.

 

[Mustawd]

The ani-LGTB sentiments

What anti-LGBT sentiments? This has to do with shoehorning your specific agenda into games that people loved. I'm not a BG fan at all. I think the games are RTwP trash. But if you're making a continuation of the series, then respect the lore and feel of the series. Keep it intact. It's made even worse by the crappy attempt of writing.
.

Baldurs Gate 1 is riddled with bad writing, monty pyhton esque dumb jokes, easter eggs, pop culture references that were cool in 1998, 4th wall breaking moments and shallow characters that are defined by one single trait. I'd say the tranny fits right into this show of one dimensional caricatures.
It's pretty clear that half of the people whining about this haven't even played the actual base game.

Did you see how they inserted it? It's a frigging throwaway pathetic attempt at introducing a character that has no reason to be there besides to tell you they are trans in the first 5 seconds of meeting them. And I did play both BG1 and BG2. And all crappy writing aside, this example was pretty bad.

Again, BG1 (and I mean the first one specifically, 2 has a very different vibe) is filled with badly written characters that are defined by only one characteristic.
And yes, it's obviously very bad writing. Nobody is denying that but as long as it's a single occurence there is no reason to keep bitching about it. I'm much more interested in knowing if the writing is this bad in the whole game than saying 20 screenshots of the same dialogue by the usual suspect Codexers obsessing over trannies.

Yes, yes, that's all fine and dandy. But did you vote dammit? The poll is in GD dude. Just go there and vote. For research.

EDIT: Here's the link.

http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/index.php?threads/how-far-would-you-go-with-a-ladyboy.72711/

 

[Trashos]

I'd agree with that if they flaunt it in our faces during the whole game a la Dragon Age 2 & 3. The way half the cast was defined by their sexuality and nothing else in those games was atrocious and obviously an attempt to push a certain political agenda in the bluntest of fashions.
If it's just one of two quotes it's misguided but there's no reason to keep whining about it page after page unless you're a rampant homophobe.

That's not a good argument. If something really terrifying happened at some edge of the map (like, say, have a real-world personality getting raped), would you defend it by saying "it was only for a couple of seconds, folks" or "Don't overreact, you can avoid that region"?

It does not matter at all how long it lasts or how often it occures. If something is in the product, it is fair game to criticize it.

 

[agris]

Pages upon pages of whining about a non-issue, but real problems like the fact that SoD broke mod compatibility doesn't even get mentioned

https://forums.beamdog.com/discussi...ragonspear-breaks-most-of-mod-compatibilities

Codex '16, nuff said.

It's been fixed: https://forums.beamdog.com/discussi...o-something-weidu-nearinfinity-dltcep-can-use

 

[imweasel]

The water in Edmonton must be tainted with something that turns you into an SJW whoring retard... There seems to be no other explanation as to why Bioware and Beamdog consistently refuse to NOT pander to SJWs as well as feminazis and piss off millions of other gamers who don't want to be lectured about this shit.

Also, if the resulting perception (right or wrong is irrelevant) is that SJW content made the title crash & burn, maybe suits will want LESS of that shit in games from now on.
That can only be a good thing.

And remember, it's the "social warriors" who chose to turn the gaming landscape in a battlefield, certainly not us aging (?) gamers.

Maybe Bioware will redeem themselves and stop pandering to SJWs, feminazis, furries as well as lizardmen and sell a million or two more copies of their games in the process....?

Nah.

 

[hexer]

Is Edwin / Edwina from BG2 technically a transgender character... male trapped in a female body?
It was a long time ago but I don't remember anyone gave it a second thought back then.

 

[Ezrite]

Is Edwin / Edwina from BG2 technically a transgender character... male trapped in a female body?
It was a long time ago but I don't remember anyone gave it a second thought back then.

People might have seen it as cheesy, somewhere, someone but overall people dont give a shit and just shrug it off if they dont like it. But when it becomes political, shoe horning and angry feminists like Amber Scott calling people names. Then people get tired.

 

[Excidium II]

Is Edwin / Edwina from BG2 technically a transgender character... male trapped in a female body?
It was a long time ago but I don't remember anyone gave it a second thought back then.

Yeah but he wasn't a real tranny.