A Spotlight On The Queer Perspective

If you think about it, video games have always been queer, and this isn't the first time this has been said. Professor Bo Ruberg writes about this overarching idea that queerness in video games goes beyond representation and should be thought about in terms of their development, players, culture, and the history of gaming. 

Gaming has always been a safe space for outsiders. It’s been home to many who didn’t find a space for themselves in the conventions of daily life. But still, somehow, gaming sometimes struggles to work out how to expand itself to accommodate queerness. If we think of gaming not just as modern entertainment but also as an avenue of art and self-expression, then the possibility of the medium opens up. 

This, in nature, is a queer perspective.

A queer perspective pushes the concept of queerness in games beyond mere representation, exploring how video games can be played, interpreted, and designed queerly, whether or not they include overtly LGBTQ content. This perspective challenges traditional gaming and highlights alternative experiences – fostering inclusivity at all levels of game creation and interaction.

Why is a Queer Perspective Needed?