Vaginas and Morons - Bioware Engages in War of Words with the Internet

[News Portal]

Good job internet, you've really shown the world that sexism is alive and well in the gaming industry. Bioware writer Jennifer Hepler made the simple mistake of joining Twitter on the weekend and quickly found herself the target of hundreds of hate-filled messages branding her a "fat b%&*h", "obese c#%t', and, most damningly, "the cancer that is killing BioWare".

Read full article by Matt Williams

[coatsy22]

Are their games really being destroyed by the writers?

They certainly aren't helping a huge amount. Often their games succeed inspite of the writing rather than being helped by it.

[Lumen Melano]

She didn't deserve any of the hate initially but when she threw in the quote:

"I just figure they're jealous that I get to have both a vagina AND a games industry job, and they can't get either."

Then she really fed the trolls. That was a silly thing to do and allowed people to make comparisions about being in an industry when she didn't even like the gameplay parts of games. She didn't deserve it but she really should've known better.

I think though that Bioware's quality of writing is a bit meh. It is grandiose and flowery. I think where they really shine is creating a real cinematic effect with their cutscenes.

[Wyld]

She certainly did feel the trolls .. but man, I did smile when I read it

#Awesome

[libbaz]

I've never gotten why some people seem to think Bioware are "shoehorning homosexual relationships down gamer's throat". I've always found biowares RPG games are about giving the players choices for story direction. Allowing straight/homosexual/bi relationships are just another way of giving gamers freedom to express themselves (creatively or otherwise).

Being straight has never biased my interpretation of this, so its difficult for me to understand why this is even a 'thing'.

Still, defending peoples rights to be themselves against the hordes of internet homophobes is about as productive as trying to paint a wet wall: nothing sticks.

[DoHo_]

I haven't played any of their games except KotoR, but there is a right and a wrong way to voice criticism and dislikes of certain things you've experienced and, going by this article, she was quite simply harassed - so calling someone a ****ing moron (while perhaps not the best response) is more or less just returning in kind and I see no reason why a company can't call out a childish self-entitled response to ... *ahem* a ****ing moron who can't respectfully voice criticisms. However, I do like her come back AND I agree with her that some games could do with skipping the action and just getting to the story *cough*MassEffect*cough*

[Clovis]

Well, they got one thing right - she is a horrible writer.

They don't hate her for being a woman, though. They just use terms that make it seem that way because they are the easiest to use, I would wager. Pretty sure /v/ was partly behind this, and they've never hated her just for being a woman.

[Markavian]

Loved her response

[Bicketybam]

"I just figure they're jealous that I get to have both a vagina AND a games industry job, and they can't get either."

That's a pretty good zinger though.

[Bek]

Hurr durrs all around really.

[Burty13]

However 'bad' Hepler's writing may be, it should be said that no one deserves the treatment she received and to be slandered for her appearance when it is her writing in question is completely immature and only further sets back this industry.

Meanwhile in the real world.

[TRB]

What is your opinion on Bioware's dialogue recently? Are their games really being destroyed by the writers?

Dragon age 2 [how creative is that title? considering the first one had the name 'origins'] and SWtoR are 2 of 3 games ever that I've bothered to install that I uninstalled before I finished them. [stronghold 3 is the other one, terrible let down from the other stronghold games]

both incredibly boring and the writing had a lot to do with it, particularly the non-story quests in swtor.

I'm hoping they haven't ruined ME3 too since I've already pre-ordered and am playing through 1 and 2 again with all the DLC.
ME2 was a slight disappointment from ME1 but at least the writing there was still acceptable.

[Angeredsoul]

Never a good idea to make nerds angry, she will regret her words, no doubt in my mind.

[hooray4boobies]

My question is, how is the homosexuality being shoved down your throat? The RPG's in question (ME 1&2 & DA2) are laden with direction changing decisions. Don't want to have man on man sex...don't choose to do it lol they are creating a game that's trying to appeal to the masses...homosexuality exists, and while I might not want my character making out with another dude, there are obviously people out there that do :-S

Personally didn't have any problems with either of these games and am looking forward to ME3. And good on her comment, because for 90% of trollers on the net, it's very plausable.

[RSOblivion]

No matter how worthy the comments of bioware, antagonising the masses is just a bad idea before a big release like ME3.

Her openly stating that skipping the action of a game to follow the story says shedloads about where she should be working (Alan Wake?) instead of where she is currently working.

Finally on the question of Bioware's writing, it's been sketchy at best ever since the Neverwinter days and hasn't really improved. TBH they are like B-Movie cult films with better 3D acting than most B-Movies, but I wouldn't say they are mould breaking or at the standard they should be for AAA gaming.

Having said that most studio's writing quality has gone down in the last 5 years, so maybe it's time the industry took note of how valuable a good script writer is...