Mike Morhaime replies to open letter over diversity in Blizzard games.

[Itisamuh]

People are trying to force the writers into catering for their own minority, that is exactly what is happening here.

Don't bother explaining it to them. As he's already pointed out adeptly, it'll just bounce right off anyway...

[Deleted]

HOW THE EFF do you know that none of those characters they wrote are gay?

No, really. Tell me how you can tell. Because as far as I know, said characters don't go around proclaiming their sexuality like it's some sort of ID card in a totalitarian government. It's an information that isn't relevant to gameplay, story or the events unfolding around azeroth, hence, they don't go out of their way to include it.

"We named him DRANOSH. It means heart of Draenor in Orcish. Also, he's gay".

You're forgetting that this isn't the real world. If we don't know any characters are gay then it's because the writer wrote it in such a way that there are no such characters, not because the characters just happened to be keeping quiet about it. I think it's really sad that you can't think of any way to introduce a character's sexuality aside from an obvious and expositional statement.

[Debased]

After 10+ years I think we've expended all of the major lore, I'm probably wrong but in any case I could care less if the narrative of the expansions quests and what not are relevant. I just want a fairly interesting story narrative. Yes there should be more dominant female characters and yes homosexual characters should exist. But like I said who actually cares? These are issues that should be addressed in a more meaningful way in the real world, it is a videogame, for a largely young male audience. Honestly I see the letter as an attempt to stir up a frenzy and to do nothing but provoke a response. Let's talk about the game. Let's work on gameplay and other issues. Issues that matter in a VIDEOGAME. Honestly I think this dribble is borderline pathetic in an alternate fantasy universe. But of course thanks to our modern society we're bound to see changes here, who gives hoot if PvP is still broken after 10 years or the in-game community is now just a bunch of solo carrot on a stick driven players. If this joker wants to actually change something maybe he should go protest in the deep south, show some courage don't rage at a videogame. K thx.

[Deleted]

It's trying to force change under the guise of discrimination. I'm seeing all too many pro-equality arguments labeling the current story as being sexist, when there honestly hasn't been anything overtly discriminatory other than the bad writing that comes as a result of the Superhero nature of the story.

Why does something have to be overtly discriminatory for it to be a problem? The fact that you feel the need to put that word in suggests that you know that there is sexism there under the surface. That's often the more insidious kind, as it goes unnoticed by many whilst it seeds it's influence

For the record I'd don't have any personal problem with the Hearthstone stuff - so long as jokes are made in good faith I don't really have a problem. But I can see why people are upset. It's not as though Blizzard have any done anything to earn people's trusts that a joke is made in good faith.

[Graeham]

I really don't buy into the idea that a female character is suddenly terrible just because they feel the need to prove themselves to another character who just happens to be male. As other posters have pointed out throughout this very thread there's a large number of powerful and influential female characters present in the game's lore. I'd agree that many of them need to be used more often, though.

[Deleted]

I really don't buy into the idea that a female character is suddenly terrible just because they feel the need to prove themselves to another character who just happens to be male. As other posters have pointed out throughout this very thread there's a large number of powerful and influential female characters present in the game's lore. I'd agree that many of them need to be used more often, though.

It's not about the character's supposed influence in the lore. Tyrande is supposedly the leader of one of (if not the) most powerful forces in the Alliance. It doesn't stop her from being terribly written and subservient to Malfurion and Varian in the plot.

[Graeham]

It's not about the character's supposed influence in the lore. Tyrande is supposedly the leader of one of (if not the) most powerful forces in the Alliance. It doesn't stop her from being terribly written and subservient to Malfurion and Varian in the plot.

Yeah, though the exact same thing happens to many male characters who are made to be subservient to the likes of Varian and Malfurion. It's not to do with their gender but rather the obsession the writers have with shoving the likes of Varian into every major event that they can. The side effect of that is many interesting characters being unable to stand on their own two feet.

[Deleted]

Yeah, though the exact same thing happens to many male characters who are made to be subservient to the likes of Varian and Malfurion. It's not to do with their gender but rather the obsession the writers have with shoving the likes of Varian into every major event that they can. The side effect of that is many interesting characters being unable to stand on their own two feet.

And why is it always the male characters which are constantly forced into that spotlight? Additionally I don't remember any of the male leaders being shown so explicitly subservient to Varian. We don't have Varian showing Gelbin what's what. Every major female character is narratively subservient to a male (often plural) character. Jaina and Sylvanas to Arthas, Aggra to Thrall, Tyrande to Malfurion, Jaina and Tyrande again to Varian.

[Thimagryn]

Why does something have to be overtly discriminatory for it to be a problem? The fact that you feel the need to put that word in suggests that you know that there is sexism there under the surface. That's often the more insidious kind, as it goes unnoticed by many whilst it seeds it's influence

Because the dichotomy between Male and Female characters in WoW is not very different. While the argument can be said there are no strong female characters, in the same way there are no strong male characters either. Aside from some gender-specific romance, the male and female characters are generally swappable. Gender isn't an issue as far as the story is concerned, and if you apply the criticisms used against female characters to male characters, you come out with generally the same results.

If this is truly about equality, then what are the examples of male characters who are absolutely dominant and infallible in their role? Even leaders like Varian and Thrall are prone to massive character flaws.

For the record I'd don't have any personal problem with the Hearthstone stuff - so long as jokes are made in good faith I don't really have a problem. But I can see why people are upset. It's not as though Blizzard have any done anything to earn people's trusts that a joke is made in good faith.

I don't play Hearthstone, so tbh I don't understand what this is referring to. The Lady Blameux thing?