Dragon Age 2 sweeps the Borderhouse Awards

[amhran_comhrac]

I know Borderhouse has been linked here before, and with good reason since they're awesome. So here they are again, with their 2011 game awards.

We spend a lot of time at The Border House discussing problematic advertising, quests, themes, character depictions and representations within games. It is wonderful when we can laud the things that games do well. Several authors have gotten together and picked some of our favorite games from 2011. These are games that did specific things well. The fact that they exist on this list does not mean that they are free from any criticism but that they have positive aspects we want to recognize and applaud. With that disclosure, let’s grant some praise for the gaming industry!

 

Dragon Age 2 placed in quite a few categories... well, to be specific, Dragon Age 2 placed in almost every category.

Check it out, it's worth a look, even if only to enjoy a list that goes beyond "best RPG," "best MMO," etc.

Comments

[darkrose]

Some interesting stuff, especially the discussion in comments about what constitutes diversity with regards to DA2 getting voted "most diverse".

[amhran_comhrac]

I agree completely. I'm not entirely sure I would consider Dragon Age to be particularly diverse, at least in terms of race. Even Isabella... I suppose a case could be made for her being a person of color, although it is highly debatable. Really, she is no more obviously minority than anyone on the Italian side of my family. (and even then, modders... grrrr)

Perhaps DA2 being named most diverse says more about the industry in general, though. I mean, how many games are even remotely qualified to be called diverse? I suppose you have Skyrim... you have a few flavors of fantasy European people, fantasy African people... and then the usual elves and orks. Although Skyrim really missed a lot of chances to actually TALK about race and prejudice. I mean, the whole Stormcloak rebellion, the Skyrim for the nords thing, that was a perfect way to bring up ethnocentrism. But they barely touched on it. And, that's about where the diversity ends in the game crop of 2011. (although they do admit no one played The Witcher, and I found the Scoia'tael plot to be absolutely amazing)


In terms of sexuality... hm. The "everyone is bi" thing does, in some ways, weaken the way sexuality was handled as with Zevran in Origins. Although the fact that it IS addressed, such as with Anders and Karl, and presented as a valid and normal way to live, is awesome and refreshing. I suppose that they dealt with it so openly and made it part of the plot was remarkable.