Ntendo: Gay relatnships won't be an optn 'Tomodachi Life' vio game

Contents:

• WHY IS THE NTENDO SWCH SO FREAKG QUEER?GAYS JUMPED ON THE NSOLE QUICKER THAN A VISG TOP ON {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}CULTUREBY BOBBY BOXOCTOBER 26, 2020/11:46 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:3042PX;WIDTH:5200PX;}WILLIAM WEST/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGTHIS PHOTO TAKEN ON APRIL 29, 2020 SHOWS ATRALIAN HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER DANTE GABRIELE PLAYG NTENDO'S ANIMAL CROSSG AT HOME MELBOURNE DURG THE UNTRY'S ENFORCED COVID-19 RONAVIS LOCKDOWN. - THE LEISURELY WORLD OF NTENDO'S LATT RELEASE "ANIMAL CROSSG: NEW HORIZONS" HAS STCK A CHORD WH GAMERS AROUND THE WORLD, MANY OF THEM YEARNG FOR A VIRTUAL PE OM THE ONERO RTRICTNS ON MOVEMENT AND SOCIAL ACTIVY BROUGHT ON TO NTA THE FECTN. (PHOTO BY WILLIAM WEST / AFP) / TO GO WITH HEALTH-VIS-GAM-NTENDO-ENTERTAMENT,FOCUS BY SEAN GLEON AND ERWAN LUS (PHOTO BY WILLIAM WEST/AFP VIA GETTY IMAG)BY BOBBY BOXOCTOBER 26, 2020 / 11:46 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"WHY IS THE NTENDO SWCH SO FREAKG QUEER?","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2020-10-26T15:46:56.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2020-10-26T15:46:56.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"BOBBY BOX","KEYWORDS":"GEEK","ARTICLESECTN":"CULTURE"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LAST YEAR, DURG MY REVERY OM A PAFUL SURGERY, MY BOYIEND PURCHASED ME A NTENDO SWCH SO I ULD ENTERTA MYSELF WHILE BEDRIDN ON OXYDONE. BOTH HE AND I CID THE FIRST GAM WE’D PLAY WERE POKéMON SWORD AND POKéMON SHIELD. “I’LL GET SWORD AND YOU GET SHIELD,” HE ADVISED NFINTLY. “THAT’S THE ONE THE BOTTOMS ARE BUYG.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHEN A NEW POKéMON GAME IS RELEASED, THERE ARE TYPILLY TWO SEPARATE TL OF THE SAME GAME, EACH OF WHICH FEATUR A DIFFERENT SET OF POKéMON. THIS TIME AROUND, THE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN TL GOT POLIL: SHIELD WAS SIGNATED FOR BOTTOMS AND SWORD FOR TOPS. THE DISTCTN NOT-SO-CLEVERLY IMPLI THAT SWORDS ARE PHALLIC AND SHIELDS ARE PERATED (NOT TO MENTN, GALARIAN PONYTA, THE QUEEN HERSELF, WAS EXCLIVE TO SHIELD.){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}COMBED WH THE FACT THAT THIS SAME TOP/BOTTOM RHETORIC CIRCULATED WHEN THE NTENDO SWCH BUTED, AND THAT EVERY NON-HETERO PERSON WH AN AFFECTN FOR GAMG I KNOW OWNS A NTENDO SWCH, I WANTED TO KNOW ONCE AND FOR ALL: WHY IS THE NTENDO SWCH SO DAMN QUEER?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AT FIRST GLANCE, THE SWCH IS ATHETILLY DIFFERENT OM S PETORS. WHILE SONY AND MICROSOFT OPT FOR BULKY, BOX-LIKE STCTUR SOLID BLACK OR WHE, THE NTENDO SWCH IS SLIM, PORTABLE, AND HAS MULTI-LORED JOY-CON NTROLLERS EVERY LOR OF THE RABOW. ADD TO THE FACT THAT THE SWCH HAS BEEN EMED THE MOST “VERSATILE HOME NSOLE EVER,” AND GAYS JUMPED ON QUICKER THAN A VISG TOP ON GRDR.GETTY 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...{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“THE FANTASTIC LOR SCHEM AND CTOMIZATN OPTNS ARE FELY MORE ATTRACTIVE THAN THE DRAB XBOX AND PLAYSTATN OPTNS,” BRIAN KUN, CULTURE AND OPERATNS MANAGER AT GAYMERX, A NONPROF ANIZATN THAT SUPPORTS LGBTQ PEOPLE GAMG, TELLS NEWNOWNEXT. “BUT MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT, THE NSOLE IS AFFORDABLE AND NTENDO HAS A REPUTATN FOR SOLID HARDWARE. QUEER FOLKS ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE LIMED MEANS FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, SO WE WANT OUR GAMG HARDWARE TO BE A GOOD VTMENT.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE VIO GAM AVAILABLE ON AND EXCLIVE TO THE SWCH ARE ANOTHER DRAW FOR QUEER PEOPLE. KUN BELIEV MUCH OF THIS IS OWED TO NTENDO’S CISN TO CLU SMALL STUD AND DIE TL THEIR E-SHOP, SCE THE TEND TO SPEAK TO QUEER EXPERIENC MORE OFTEN THAN MASTREAM TL DO (SEE: UNRTALE, GONE HOME, AND DREAM DADDY).{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}UNLIKE PETG NSOL, THE SWCH FAVORS NON-VLENT GAMG EXPERIENC OVER VLENT ON, WHICH OFTEN FEATURE A VERY SEXIST, HETEROSEXIST, AND CISSEXIST FORM OF HYPER-MASCULY (CALL OF DUTY, GEARS OF WAR). “IT’S THE VERY SAME KD OF MASCULY THAT MOST QUEER FOLKS RRECTLY ASSOCIATE WH THE FOLKS WHO HAPPILY MARGILIZE ,” KUN SAYS. “I N UNRSTAND WHY SOME QUEER FOLKS STGGLE TO NNECT WH THE KDS OF GAM.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AVERY IS ONE OF SAID PEOPLE. THE 22-YEAR-OLD GAMER PLAYS ON MULTIPLE NSOL AND FDS THAT THE SWCH HOSTS FEW TOXIC ENVIRONMENTS, WHEREAS ON XBOX AND PLAYSTATN, ’S NOT UNMON TO HEAR MISOGYNISTIC, HOMOPHOBIC, OR RACIST ATTACKS GROUP CHATS. “IT’S A REAL TERRENT FOR MARGALIZED GROUPS TO WANT TO PLAY THOSE GAM,” HE TELLS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BY PARISON, NTENDO’S FAY-IENDLY APPROACH IS SAFER AND THEREFORE MORE QUEER-IENDLY. “THEIR BRAND IS BUILT AROUND NON-VLENT GAMEPLAY, AND THEY ONLY RECENTLY STARTED ADDG MORE FIRST-PERSON SHOOTERS AND OTHER PLAYER VERS PLAYER (PVP) GAM, SO YOU DON’T HAVE THE CHAT ROOMS FULL OF TOXIC MASCULY,” AVERY EXPLAS. “THE GAM BEE MORE VG FOR ME BEE OF THAT.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}KYLE-STEVEN PORTER, SPECIAL EVENTS MANAGER AT GAYMERX, SAYS THIS IS BEE THE TYPIL GAMER IS REGARD AS A WHE, CISGENR MALE THE TEEN OR YOUNG-ADULT MOGRAPHIC. “A LOT OF TIM, CERTA GAM AND ANCHIS ARE MARKETED EXCLIVELY TOWARD THAT DIENCE,” HE TELLS NEWNOWNEXT. “I KNOW A FEW DIVIDUALS WHO FALL TO THAT TEGORY, BUT THE MAJORY OF THE PEOPLE I KNOW ARE NOT CLUD THAT MOGRAPHIC.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}NTENDO IS NOT WHOUT S FLTS. THE BRAND HAS MA SOME POOR CISNS REGARDG QUEER CLN, MOST NOTABLY 2014, WHEN REFED TO CLU SAME-SEX RELATNSHIP OPTNS S REAL-LIFE SIMULATN GAME TOMODACHI LIFE. CONSIRG GAM LIKE THE SIMS HAVE HAD THE OPTNS FOR YEARS, THE BRAND WAS JTIFIABLY SCTIZED, AND THE OMISSN ELICED A HEATED RPONSE OM {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}TO S CRED, NTENDO DO APPEAR TO BE TAKG STEPS THE RIGHT DIRECTN. FOR EXAMPLE, ANIMAL CROSSG: NEW HORIZONS, A NEWER GAME, OFFERS GENRLS OPTNS WHEN CREATG A CHARACTER, WHICH IS A PRETTY SIGNIFINT STEP NSIRG S ORIGAL TLE NFED CERTA STYL OF CLOTHG TO SEPARATE GENRS.WILLIAM WEST/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGTHIS PHOTO TAKEN ON APRIL 29, 2020 SHOWS ATRALIAN HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER DANTE GABRIELE PLAYG NTENDO'S ANIMAL CROSSG AT HOME MELBOURNE DURG THE UNTRY'S ENFORCED COVID-19 RONAVIS LOCKDOWN. - THE LEISURELY WORLD OF NTENDO'S LATT RELEASE "ANIMAL CROSSG: NEW HORIZONS" HAS STCK A CHORD WH GAMERS AROUND THE WORLD, MANY OF THEM YEARNG FOR A VIRTUAL PE OM THE ONERO RTRICTNS ON MOVEMENT AND SOCIAL ACTIVY BROUGHT ON TO NTA THE FECTN. (PHOTO BY WILLIAM WEST / AFP) / TO GO WITH HEALTH-VIS-GAM-NTENDO-ENTERTAMENT,FOCUS BY SEAN GLEON AND ERWAN LUS (PHOTO BY WILLIAM WEST/AFP VIA GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}KUN BELIEV QUEER PEOPLE ARE LLECTIVELY PTIVATED BY NTENDO’S ABILY TO CREATE GAM WHERE THE PROTAGONIST (MAR, LK, POKEMON TRAER) HAS VERY FEW SPOKEN L OR NARRATIV BEYOND WHAT PLAYERS CHOOSE DIALOGUE BOX, WHICH ALLOWS TO TERPRET THE STORY AS WE CHOOSE. “WE AREN’T DISSUAD OM IMAGG A QUEER NARRATIVE WH THE GAM BEE THERE IS ROOM FOR ,” HE EXPLAS. “THE NON FOR OUR STORY IS MORE EASILY WHAT WE WANT TO BE.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THEN, OF URSE, THERE’S THE NOSTALGIA FACTOR. NTENDO GAM ARE OFTEN THE FIRST GAM FAI ALLOW CHILDREN TO PLAY, AND GAM N FUNCTN AS AN ENTRY POT TO A QUEER PERSON IMAGG A DIFFERENT SORT OF WORLD THAN THE ONE THEY ACTUALLY HAB. “I FELY HAVE STRONG EMOTNAL ATTACHMENTS TO POKéMON; I REMEMBER PLAYG MIDDLE SCHOOL AS I WAS STARTG TO FIGURE OUT MY OWN SEXUALY,” KUN SHAR. “NTENDO GAM SUCH AS ORA OF TIME, STARFOX 64, AND METROID PRIME WERE BIG PARTS OF MY STRS RELIEF AND PG SKILLS DURG ADOLCENCE.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ESPECIALLY NOW, WH SO MUCH OF WHAT’S “NORMAL” BEG PUT ON HOLD DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANMIC, MANY OF ARE LOOKG TO FEEL SOME FORT AND SAFETY FAIARY. FOR QUEER FOLKS, THAT N BE ROLLG DOWN RABOW ROAD AND DODGG GREEN SHELLS AS WE CH TOWARD THE FISH {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT’S WORTH MENTNG THAT AN TIMATED ONE 10 GAMERS ARE LGBTQ, SO THE GAMG DTRY REALLY NEEDS TO STEP UP TO BETTER REFLECT S DIVERSE DIENCE. THIS IS PECIALLY IMPORTANT SCE, AS KUN BELIEV, GAMG HAS HELPED SO MANY OF NOT ONLY EXPLORE WHO WE ARE, BUT LOVE THOSE PARTS OF OURSELV WAYS NO OTHER MEDIA {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
• NTENDO: GAY RELATNSHIPS WON'T BE AN OPTN 'TOMODACHI LIFE' VIO GAME

WHY IS THE NTENDO SWCH SO FREAKG QUEER?GAYS JUMPED ON THE NSOLE QUICKER THAN A VISG TOP ON {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}CULTUREBY BOBBY BOXOCTOBER 26, 2020/11:46 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:3042PX;WIDTH:5200PX;}WILLIAM WEST/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGTHIS PHOTO TAKEN ON APRIL 29, 2020 SHOWS ATRALIAN HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER DANTE GABRIELE PLAYG NTENDO'S ANIMAL CROSSG AT HOME MELBOURNE DURG THE UNTRY'S ENFORCED COVID-19 RONAVIS LOCKDOWN. - THE LEISURELY WORLD OF NTENDO'S LATT RELEASE "ANIMAL CROSSG: NEW HORIZONS" HAS STCK A CHORD WH GAMERS AROUND THE WORLD, MANY OF THEM YEARNG FOR A VIRTUAL PE OM THE ONERO RTRICTNS ON MOVEMENT AND SOCIAL ACTIVY BROUGHT ON TO NTA THE FECTN. (PHOTO BY WILLIAM WEST / AFP) / TO GO WITH HEALTH-VIS-GAM-NTENDO-ENTERTAMENT,FOCUS BY SEAN GLEON AND ERWAN LUS (PHOTO BY WILLIAM WEST/AFP VIA GETTY IMAG)BY BOBBY BOXOCTOBER 26, 2020 / 11:46 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"WHY IS THE NTENDO SWCH SO FREAKG QUEER?","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2020-10-26T15:46:56.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2020-10-26T15:46:56.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"BOBBY BOX","KEYWORDS":"GEEK","ARTICLESECTN":"CULTURE"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LAST YEAR, DURG MY REVERY OM A PAFUL SURGERY, MY BOYIEND PURCHASED ME A NTENDO SWCH SO I ULD ENTERTA MYSELF WHILE BEDRIDN ON OXYDONE. BOTH HE AND I CID THE FIRST GAM WE’D PLAY WERE POKéMON SWORD AND POKéMON SHIELD. “I’LL GET SWORD AND YOU GET SHIELD,” HE ADVISED NFINTLY. “THAT’S THE ONE THE BOTTOMS ARE BUYG.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHEN A NEW POKéMON GAME IS RELEASED, THERE ARE TYPILLY TWO SEPARATE TL OF THE SAME GAME, EACH OF WHICH FEATUR A DIFFERENT SET OF POKéMON. THIS TIME AROUND, THE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN TL GOT POLIL: SHIELD WAS SIGNATED FOR BOTTOMS AND SWORD FOR TOPS. THE DISTCTN NOT-SO-CLEVERLY IMPLI THAT SWORDS ARE PHALLIC AND SHIELDS ARE PERATED (NOT TO MENTN, GALARIAN PONYTA, THE QUEEN HERSELF, WAS EXCLIVE TO SHIELD.){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}COMBED WH THE FACT THAT THIS SAME TOP/BOTTOM RHETORIC CIRCULATED WHEN THE NTENDO SWCH BUTED, AND THAT EVERY NON-HETERO PERSON WH AN AFFECTN FOR GAMG I KNOW OWNS A NTENDO SWCH, I WANTED TO KNOW ONCE AND FOR ALL: WHY IS THE NTENDO SWCH SO DAMN QUEER?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AT FIRST GLANCE, THE SWCH IS ATHETILLY DIFFERENT OM S PETORS. WHILE SONY AND MICROSOFT OPT FOR BULKY, BOX-LIKE STCTUR SOLID BLACK OR WHE, THE NTENDO SWCH IS SLIM, PORTABLE, AND HAS MULTI-LORED JOY-CON NTROLLERS EVERY LOR OF THE RABOW. ADD TO THE FACT THAT THE SWCH HAS BEEN EMED THE MOST “VERSATILE HOME NSOLE EVER,” AND GAYS JUMPED ON QUICKER THAN A VISG TOP ON GRDR.GETTY 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...{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“THE FANTASTIC LOR SCHEM AND CTOMIZATN OPTNS ARE FELY MORE ATTRACTIVE THAN THE DRAB XBOX AND PLAYSTATN OPTNS,” BRIAN KUN, CULTURE AND OPERATNS MANAGER AT GAYMERX, A NONPROF ANIZATN THAT SUPPORTS LGBTQ PEOPLE GAMG, TELLS NEWNOWNEXT. “BUT MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT, THE NSOLE IS AFFORDABLE AND NTENDO HAS A REPUTATN FOR SOLID HARDWARE. QUEER FOLKS ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE LIMED MEANS FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, SO WE WANT OUR GAMG HARDWARE TO BE A GOOD VTMENT.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE VIO GAM AVAILABLE ON AND EXCLIVE TO THE SWCH ARE ANOTHER DRAW FOR QUEER PEOPLE. KUN BELIEV MUCH OF THIS IS OWED TO NTENDO’S CISN TO CLU SMALL STUD AND DIE TL THEIR E-SHOP, SCE THE TEND TO SPEAK TO QUEER EXPERIENC MORE OFTEN THAN MASTREAM TL DO (SEE: UNRTALE, GONE HOME, AND DREAM DADDY).{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}UNLIKE PETG NSOL, THE SWCH FAVORS NON-VLENT GAMG EXPERIENC OVER VLENT ON, WHICH OFTEN FEATURE A VERY SEXIST, HETEROSEXIST, AND CISSEXIST FORM OF HYPER-MASCULY (CALL OF DUTY, GEARS OF WAR). “IT’S THE VERY SAME KD OF MASCULY THAT MOST QUEER FOLKS RRECTLY ASSOCIATE WH THE FOLKS WHO HAPPILY MARGILIZE ,” KUN SAYS. “I N UNRSTAND WHY SOME QUEER FOLKS STGGLE TO NNECT WH THE KDS OF GAM.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AVERY IS ONE OF SAID PEOPLE. THE 22-YEAR-OLD GAMER PLAYS ON MULTIPLE NSOL AND FDS THAT THE SWCH HOSTS FEW TOXIC ENVIRONMENTS, WHEREAS ON XBOX AND PLAYSTATN, ’S NOT UNMON TO HEAR MISOGYNISTIC, HOMOPHOBIC, OR RACIST ATTACKS GROUP CHATS. “IT’S A REAL TERRENT FOR MARGALIZED GROUPS TO WANT TO PLAY THOSE GAM,” HE TELLS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BY PARISON, NTENDO’S FAY-IENDLY APPROACH IS SAFER AND THEREFORE MORE QUEER-IENDLY. “THEIR BRAND IS BUILT AROUND NON-VLENT GAMEPLAY, AND THEY ONLY RECENTLY STARTED ADDG MORE FIRST-PERSON SHOOTERS AND OTHER PLAYER VERS PLAYER (PVP) GAM, SO YOU DON’T HAVE THE CHAT ROOMS FULL OF TOXIC MASCULY,” AVERY EXPLAS. “THE GAM BEE MORE VG FOR ME BEE OF THAT.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}KYLE-STEVEN PORTER, SPECIAL EVENTS MANAGER AT GAYMERX, SAYS THIS IS BEE THE TYPIL GAMER IS REGARD AS A WHE, CISGENR MALE THE TEEN OR YOUNG-ADULT MOGRAPHIC. “A LOT OF TIM, CERTA GAM AND ANCHIS ARE MARKETED EXCLIVELY TOWARD THAT DIENCE,” HE TELLS NEWNOWNEXT. “I KNOW A FEW DIVIDUALS WHO FALL TO THAT TEGORY, BUT THE MAJORY OF THE PEOPLE I KNOW ARE NOT CLUD THAT MOGRAPHIC.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}NTENDO IS NOT WHOUT S FLTS. THE BRAND HAS MA SOME POOR CISNS REGARDG QUEER CLN, MOST NOTABLY 2014, WHEN REFED TO CLU SAME-SEX RELATNSHIP OPTNS S REAL-LIFE SIMULATN GAME TOMODACHI LIFE. CONSIRG GAM LIKE THE SIMS HAVE HAD THE OPTNS FOR YEARS, THE BRAND WAS JTIFIABLY SCTIZED, AND THE OMISSN ELICED A HEATED RPONSE OM {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}TO S CRED, NTENDO DO APPEAR TO BE TAKG STEPS THE RIGHT DIRECTN. FOR EXAMPLE, ANIMAL CROSSG: NEW HORIZONS, A NEWER GAME, OFFERS GENRLS OPTNS WHEN CREATG A CHARACTER, WHICH IS A PRETTY SIGNIFINT STEP NSIRG S ORIGAL TLE NFED CERTA STYL OF CLOTHG TO SEPARATE GENRS.WILLIAM WEST/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGTHIS PHOTO TAKEN ON APRIL 29, 2020 SHOWS ATRALIAN HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER DANTE GABRIELE PLAYG NTENDO'S ANIMAL CROSSG AT HOME MELBOURNE DURG THE UNTRY'S ENFORCED COVID-19 RONAVIS LOCKDOWN. - THE LEISURELY WORLD OF NTENDO'S LATT RELEASE "ANIMAL CROSSG: NEW HORIZONS" HAS STCK A CHORD WH GAMERS AROUND THE WORLD, MANY OF THEM YEARNG FOR A VIRTUAL PE OM THE ONERO RTRICTNS ON MOVEMENT AND SOCIAL ACTIVY BROUGHT ON TO NTA THE FECTN. (PHOTO BY WILLIAM WEST / AFP) / TO GO WITH HEALTH-VIS-GAM-NTENDO-ENTERTAMENT,FOCUS BY SEAN GLEON AND ERWAN LUS (PHOTO BY WILLIAM WEST/AFP VIA GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}KUN BELIEV QUEER PEOPLE ARE LLECTIVELY PTIVATED BY NTENDO’S ABILY TO CREATE GAM WHERE THE PROTAGONIST (MAR, LK, POKEMON TRAER) HAS VERY FEW SPOKEN L OR NARRATIV BEYOND WHAT PLAYERS CHOOSE DIALOGUE BOX, WHICH ALLOWS TO TERPRET THE STORY AS WE CHOOSE. “WE AREN’T DISSUAD OM IMAGG A QUEER NARRATIVE WH THE GAM BEE THERE IS ROOM FOR ,” HE EXPLAS. “THE NON FOR OUR STORY IS MORE EASILY WHAT WE WANT TO BE.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THEN, OF URSE, THERE’S THE NOSTALGIA FACTOR. NTENDO GAM ARE OFTEN THE FIRST GAM FAI ALLOW CHILDREN TO PLAY, AND GAM N FUNCTN AS AN ENTRY POT TO A QUEER PERSON IMAGG A DIFFERENT SORT OF WORLD THAN THE ONE THEY ACTUALLY HAB. “I FELY HAVE STRONG EMOTNAL ATTACHMENTS TO POKéMON; I REMEMBER PLAYG MIDDLE SCHOOL AS I WAS STARTG TO FIGURE OUT MY OWN SEXUALY,” KUN SHAR. “NTENDO GAM SUCH AS ORA OF TIME, STARFOX 64, AND METROID PRIME WERE BIG PARTS OF MY STRS RELIEF AND PG SKILLS DURG ADOLCENCE.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ESPECIALLY NOW, WH SO MUCH OF WHAT’S “NORMAL” BEG PUT ON HOLD DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANMIC, MANY OF ARE LOOKG TO FEEL SOME FORT AND SAFETY FAIARY. FOR QUEER FOLKS, THAT N BE ROLLG DOWN RABOW ROAD AND DODGG GREEN SHELLS AS WE CH TOWARD THE FISH {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT’S WORTH MENTNG THAT AN TIMATED ONE 10 GAMERS ARE LGBTQ, SO THE GAMG DTRY REALLY NEEDS TO STEP UP TO BETTER REFLECT S DIVERSE DIENCE. THIS IS PECIALLY IMPORTANT SCE, AS KUN BELIEV, GAMG HAS HELPED SO MANY OF NOT ONLY EXPLORE WHO WE ARE, BUT LOVE THOSE PARTS OF OURSELV WAYS NO OTHER MEDIA {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

Leon, of Fire Emblem Gain and s remake, Shadows of Valentia, was actually wrten as a gay man the remake. Byleth might not speak, but they sure n be gay if that is what your heart sir.

NTENDO: GAY RELATNSHIPS WON'T BE AN OPTN 'TOMODACHI LIFE' VIO GAME

Don't that kd of brg up gay isn't okay but lbians are mentaly? Ntendo me unr fire om fans and gay rights anizatns last week after refg to add same-sex relatnship optns to the game "Tomodachi Life. Already a h Japan, "Tomodachi Life" is set for release June 6 North Ameri and Mari, a 23-year-old gay Ntendo fan om Ma, Arizona, lnched a social media mpaign last month seekg virtual equaly for the game's characters.

"I don't believe they are a homophobic pany at all, " Mari said. "Yet the issue do mark a cultural divi between Japan, where gay marriage is not legal, and North Ameri and Europe, where gay marriage has bee legal some plac.

"While many English-language gam don't feature gay characters, several role-playg seri produced by English-speakg velopers, such as Electronic Arts, "The Sims, " Microsoft Studs' `'Fable" and Bethda Softworks' "The Elr Scrolls, " have allowed players to create characters that n woo others of the same sex, as well as marry and have Ntendo said this past week - rponse to Mari's growg mpaign - that wouldn't add same-sex relatnship optns to "Tomodachi Life, " the publisher of such gamg anchis as "The Legend of Zelda" and "Mar Bros.

" was lled out by fans and anizatns such as the gay advocy group GLAAD. "Ntendo has taken a first step, but if the pany's longtime valu are rooted `fun and entertament for everyone, ' then needs to tch up to peers like Electronic Arts, which has been clive of LGBT (lbian, gay, bisexual and transgenr) gamers for years, " said GLAAD Print and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis a statement.

Add to the fact that the Swch has been emed the most “versatile home nsole ever, ” and gays jumped on quicker than a visg top on Grdr.

“The fantastic lor schem and ctomizatn optns are fely more attractive than the drab Xbox and Playstatn optns, ” Brian Kun, culture and operatns manager at GaymerX, a nonprof anizatn that supports LGBTQ people gamg, tells NewNowNext.

The 22-year-old gamer plays on multiple nsol and fds that the Swch hosts few toxic environments, whereas on Xbox and Playstatn, ’s not unmon to hear misogynistic, homophobic, or racist attacks group chats. ”Kyle-Steven Porter, special events manager at GaymerX, says this is bee the typil gamer is regard as a whe, cisgenr male the teen or young-adult mographic.