Male Para Poll Result and LGBTQIA+ Diversity Survey
Hello everyone!
The weekend is here, hope you had a nice week! It went really well on our side and we were super happy to show off the Lighthouse and day/night cycle video!
Recruitment Process Update
We are still in the interview process for the 3 positions we want to fill on the team. We have a few really interesting candidates in the pipeline and we're hoping it will work out so new people can join the team very soon! We will keep you updated on that! There is still time to apply if you are in Montreal, Canada and are interested or know people who are!
LGBTQIA+ Diversity Survey
As you might know, we want to work hard to make sure everyone can recreate themselves in the game and fit right in. That's why we are creating a series of survey to ask for your feedback and ideas on different topics related to diversity and inclusivity. We received many great suggestions from the cultural diversity survey from a few weeks ago, thanks so much for participating! We might do a recap of all the interesting ideas in the future!
Today, we are proposing another survey related to the LGBTQIA+ community. If you consider yourself part of it, we'd love to read your ideas and feedback on how we can represent people from this community in Paralives! We already confirmed that your Para will be able to love anyone (regardless of sex and gender), that you will be able to select your pronouns, customize your body an clothing regardless of the gender and that there won't be homophobia in any form in Paralives. Now, we are looking for more suggestions regarding the LGBTQIA+ representation so please fill this 10 minutes survey if you are part of this community and want to help us! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1HQjIVbK8FWL9jcptFc04KMJBWVegd9oL3J3e2IldWCE/viewform
Poll Results: Extra Details About Sebastian's Life
Thanks everyone for voting, it was really fun to create Sebastian's life from scratch with you all! Last week, we started a Poll to vote for 3 extra details about his life. Here are the results!
His bio: "Sebastian was raised by his grandmother who was a fantastic cook. She taught him everything she knew and dreamed of opening a restaurant with her grandson. Growing up, Sebastian started to rebel. He fell into some bad habits and bad company and he lost contact with his family. During a party with his questionable friends, he met Lucas and they desperately fell in love with each other. So they decided to quit everything and escape from their lives. They started to travel around the world and Sebastian rediscovered his love for food and rare ingredients, collecting herbs and mushrooms everywhere. After a while, they decided to settle down, got married and adopted a child together. They were happy, but Lucas died in a tragic accident. Sebastian is now determined to save his family and to give his child a bright future. He wants to make things right and accomplish his grandma's old dream of opening a restaurant. If you want to know more about him, you will need to gain his trust and maybe he will share you some of his secrets."
Please keep all the info about Sebastian a secret between Patrons for now :)
Take care everyone!
Alex
Comments (116)
I would hope and agree with making all of this optional leaving it up to the player's choice of gameplay rather than restricting the choice of the player. A player should be free to disable or enable behavioral controls in game or at least controls accessible to tune via modding, to accommodate everyone.
i wish this could be made into a short introduction video. Or a movie! lol just kidding about the movie....unless you're gonna do it!
Unrelated to gender and sexual orientation but very much related to attraction and relationships: please allow us to create Paras who are in open relationships and polyamorous relationships. Not all people react with jealous fury when their partner flirts, dates and sleeps with another person! Some people create arrangements with their partners based on trust, honesty and communication that give them the freedom to date others without a relationship-breaking backlash. This is such an important part of my life and I would be so so over the moon to see that represented in a game
I feel like making this optional on a Para by Para basis is important. I think open relationships are okay as long as I can still have some over the top Soap opera the husband fooled around with the maid drama if I want it.
Can't wait till my Para meets Sebastain
Also, cool that you've mentioned adoption - is this something we would get in the game? I'm not sure whether this is the place to mention it but it would be realistic, if, for example, your place was untidy, you lived in a tiny flat with 4 dogs, or you didn't have the necessary stuff for a baby/child or teen, that the adoption agency rejected your application - I think that would create some challenge and add to the realism.
I love it! I love that you're bringing us a character with depth instead of a character with interests but no past like they aren't just waiting to meet our characters xD like I find in one game I play... :P. In real life, you meet people with baggage, exes etc. It's just more realistic - Can't wait to meet Sebastian!
I hope that in the future we will see aliens who inhabit the nearby planet. Imagine these possibilities, sending astronauts to another planet, observing it through a telescope, discovering life forms, completely different plants, collectible elements, a completely different form of life to control like parafolks. I would love such a DLC.
Id love a fantasy pack! we can learn magic mabye turn real small or fly with new para-creatures ... That would be cool.
Hello Alex! l'm a player form china. On one of our video sharing platforms in China, I saw someone share the game trailers about you. Oh ! my ! god! I LOVE IT SO MUCH!! you know, I wanna a design games SO long time, this is my dream game. and I found that there are a lot of people like and forward this game in china, and they crated communication groups on various platforms. Both of us waiting for you. SO, if you can design something about China, I think more Chinese players will come to play the game spontaneously. Thank you for reading this paragraph, looking forward to your game.
Hay Jennifer, If you want him to reply faster you can copy your text and message him. you just scroll up to the dog picture (Alex's profile) and below there is a message box. Hes answered all my Questions. OR you could scroll up to where it says *Posts* and beside it you can ask your Q in *Community* and people can see your Qs and Anna, Lea or the others can answer your Question. :)
I hope the Parafolk personalities can be adjusted on a slider. Unintelligent- intelligent. Could determine how long it takes each Para to adjust and adapt to change. Low intelligence could mean low emotional control = less patience/ negative emotional outbursts/ holds on to negative experiences longer. High intelligence could mean more patience/ focus. Para willing to get over dislikes faster and learn from their mistakes/bad habits.
No i disagree there could be learning difficulties and as someone who has that i think it should be something else. cause im the exact same exempt learning is harder. 😅
TIANA VIBEZZ
she was on my mind while i was reading!! hahahah
I think the game needs sexual orientation. in real life sexual orientation is rooted in you, you can't just (as a male) kiss a lesbian girl and turn her in to a straight girl. I think we should be able to choose the sexual orientation and the townies should have their own sexual orientation. If the gamer is playing with a female character and wants to have something with a gay male then the gamer can edit the character in the world editing (assuming the game is going to have one). This way you show that sexual orientation is not something that you learn or change (which is a dangerous and weird thing to put in a game, I don't know how simmers don't talk about this more often) but is something rooted in who you are, and if you want to change it you would need to change the core of the person and not just trying to flirt with that person (again dangerous thing to portrait). Something like mass effect ou dragon age, where sexual orientation is part of the characters in the world would be way more realistic and educational. (let's also not forget bi people please)
But a game is not a perfect representation of real life and it shouldn't be...
I LOVE Sebastian STORY
Yes I love lgbtq+ gameplays. I'm bisexual myself and I used to be in 2 different clubs for lgbtq+ in high school and college. It was amazing and I felt more like myself. My mom is anti lgbtq+😔
Thank you so much for doing this, it makes me very happy to see the LGBTQIA+ community is finally getting some light. 😊😊😊
I just LOVE what you did here, listening to the people and be so open and kind about divesity! <3 <3 Stay that way! I already love Sebastian ;) And to all that are against that story: this is a simulation, you play your own story! Always look on the bright side of life~ ( especially in a game ;) )
Thank you so much for listening to us queers <3 it means a lot. The lack of non-binary representation always bums me out
I was the one that suggest he shouldn't be straight. idk if anyone else also suggested it, but as a queer woman it really means a lot that you listened ❤✌✌
Yeah I suggested he be a stay at home gay dad to twins haha. I think a lot of the suggestions got combined
The fact that you would openly support us and embrace us as a new company is insane. Once upon a time that would have guaranteed ruin, and even now some people/businesses will shun you. TY devs, love you x PS - This wasn't on the survey BUT I really want to mention it. Some people like the word "queer" and others hate it. It's a tough one, I personally like it because it covers everyone without having to define themselves or even if they're still Questioning. It is/was a hateful slur to some people, and LGBT+ is the safest bet.
I honestly love what you came up with and am looking forward to meeting Sebastian. Also kudos on the form. I just filled it in. I really love how inclusive you are. Thank you so much for all the efforts you put into this already.
Why I hear a Dream Daddy song in my head?)
I love how he turned out! Though, when everyone wanted him to be a single-dad, I instantly assumed he was bisexual and that he might hvae had like a hook up with a women and had a child LOL but im happy with this outcome as well!!
Please don’t have your first LGBT para have a god damn bury your gays plot in their backstory!
Sorry about that, we collected and mixed ideas from the Male Para survey and we did not know it could come across the wrong way
People complaining about this para being gay/bisexual as if he's going to be the only male para that's going to be available to play in the neighborhood....I also don't see why the first male para has to be single either.....Bella Goth is the most iconic sim and she's been part of a family unit since day one. (Sims 1) (Even arguably the "first" sims Bob and Betty Newbie were a couple.
👏👏👏
I would NEVER have thought that making a gay character would create so much resistance, I’m actually quite shocked reading this comments section. It just shows how necessary it still is to actively work for diversity, and that the team is actually quite brave for doing it. Well done, team! Keep up the good work and the good ethics!
This is the result of years and years of Sims games pretending that sexual orientation doesn't exist. is just something that you can change. "oh you have a gay couple in the world, just flirt a couple times with one of them and suddenly he is straight now"...
His grandma teaching him to cook was my suggestion :) I feel all warm and fuzzy that it was the favourite. I love his backstory, it means a lot to see lgbt+ representation <3
I also wrote this suggestion!! Great minds think alike :)
everyone loves deep backstories until it turns out that a pre-made character is *gasp* /gay/. I bet if the option had said 'dead wife' instead of 'dead husband' we wouldn't see half as much complaining about it being forced or whatever.
Luckily it's only been like... Maybe 5 people I've seen with that issue out of the 100+ comments 😋
OK GUYS. LETS HAVE A VOTE!!!! What should playing paralives be called??? #1- Para-Playing / #2- Paraliving / #3- Para-Gaming / #4- Paring? / #5- Other | CHOOSE YOUR VOTE!!! -Lets unite this nation like we've never trumped before.
And if you stream your gameplay that would be called parachuting.
Wow its like some of you forgot bisexual people exist. He can have a husband without being gay....
If he has a husband without being gay, then he would probably be pansexual.
I don’t know if anyone will see this but just to clarify. If I am correct... I THINK Stermatical was more saying. Instead of representing a minority or sexuality, the players should have freedom for anyone to be anything. And for everything to be welcome. I might be wrong, but that’s my take. Not that he/she/they doesn’t like and support LGTBQIA+ it’s more... every single thing should be supported. I’m fine with how they turned out tho. Unless I’m right and one of them is that he’s like bad boy kinda. I hate that. But that’s just my opinion. Bye stay safe. Happy 4th!
Ok if that's what you meant (I'm sorry i still disagree 😅) I still don't think that's a good idea because when you open the world for the first time and there is a world of all-straight-para's it would be boring. The world is mean't to be alive with different paras for good storylines, gossip and tons of different characters to meet. Also one thing: They are NPC's which means its just to help you with your ideas for your world. Also its the same with the personality's its like saying all the personas should be neutral for the players to decide. Then the world would be un lively and not fun. That's what i think. But then again if anyone doesin't like it im sure there should be settings to change it. :)
So you expected a male para more "NORMAL"? You tried it hard, but you were not polite.
He seems like a nice guy, but it’s a bit boring for me haha. None of those were my first pic. However, once I play in the game , I hope my para will meet him. Sounds sweet
I am satisfied with the character of Sebastian and his story, I wish he was called Zach but Sebastian is good too. Can't wait to see what he looks like. I think it's really great that you add so much versatility and diversity, this game will change much and add more to the genre, thank you for your hard work and that we are so involved in things like this polls <3
I like your name Tini :)
obviously I support the inclusion and it is very important to myself, but I can’t help but feel it is a little forced. I hope that not only are you guys listening to your supporters, but you also gain diversity in your team weather that be in ideologies, race or both!
Based
Ok i can go with this one. 😅 Because the Vegan jacket and Graffiti street kid didn't go with my imagination. 😄 But i still hate the name Sabastian.👿👿 #Zachsquadforever!!!!
Me and Sebastian are gonna be best friends!!!
Aww :)
Such an in-depth story! Also a clue we can collect ingredients around the town!
Looking forward to meeting Sebastian (and his son).
I love Sebastian's back-story! However, that bio is very long. In previous Sims games you could have a Sim bio and a family bio. I would consider splitting it up into these. This way the player could discover more about the individual households once they load them up.
I think the information about his love of cooking & grandmother would be much more fitting in a personal bio. While the information about Lucas & their child would fit into the family's general bio.
Sebastian's child is the perfect opportunity to show off how para-kids are going to look like later on :D
Omg I honestly can't wait, Well done Alex and the team Xx
Sebastian sounds really interesting! I definitely wanna get to know him and learn more!
I really appreciate the lgbtqia+ inclusion! As a member of the lgbtqia+ community, it means a lot to me that this game is trying so hard to be inclusive. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 Just makes me look forward to it all the more!
His story sounds amazing!!!
Sorry I wrote such long responses for the survey 😳 I've had a lot of opinions about how to go about LGBT rep (and gender in general) in game design for a long time
Oh man me too! I hope it isn’t overwhelming!!
Omg what a story 💓💓💓
I'm loving the commitment to inclusion! I've always felt there were more lgbtqia people in the life sim community than what's been represented in our games so this is feeling overdue but so satisfying!
I started to fill this out but then felt a little weird about it. I'm still trying to figure out my own stuff (definitely straight, but maybe demi?) but I do know that in TV, movies, and video games the ace and non binary communities are sorely underrepresented and I hope y'all can blend that in Paralives in an inclusive and natural way! 🖤
Sorry to break this to you but demisexuality isn't real :P It was made up as a joke on RP forums.
I don't know but for some reason, Sebastian in my mind is European and his grandmother was his beloved Nonna. That's all.
Aww that sounds super sweet!
Yay! I hope this means that cooking and other food related activities will be really fleshed out in this game! I would love to have cooking/baking as a hobby, be able to enter contests, bake for your neighbours, run restaurants etc.
I had only a little to say. NB inclusion has been a complete nightmare for those of us who become dysphoric at the use of 'They/Them' and I do not expect it will ever get better. the public at large has accept 'They/Them' as the default and I'm going to be haunted by it til the day I die.
What is your preference?
I really love that you do surveys like this to make your game with the most ideas and minds possible.
Please make Sebastian have a daughter
Please name the kid Adam, now that Lucas has made a comeback too. <3
"and that there won't be homophobia in any form in Paralives. " If the game has a trait system similar to the Sims, it might actually add a bit of depth to have a negative trait such as homophobic.
Most people use simulation games as a form of escapism. I don't know any LGBT+ person who wants to be discriminated against in a game as well.
I predicted correctly; most of the options that won were the ones I was the least enthusiastic about, but the bio mixes them all together perfectly and the resulting character is awesome! Can’t wait to see what he looks like :D
I love Sebastian so much!! Can't wait to officially meet him! I also just wanted to say a huge thank you for all the work you are doing to make this game as inclusive as possible. It shows how much you care to represent all of your players and I really appreciate it. <3
So Lucas is going to show up alive right?!?! RIGHT?!?! 😭😭😭😭
this is exactly the storyline i wanted, AHHHHH! so excited!
I love Sebastian already!
Filled out the survey!! I had lots to say haha
I think it would be COOL that with the premade people in the town... and if we have family trees... that we can see their whole FAMILY TREE. That way we can see his grandmother!
Can't wait to meet him!
so in depth! love this back story
Wow this survey means so much to me! Thank you for representing me❤️
Thank you so much for this survey, I really appreciate it! I just hope y'all have proper representation for trans and nonbinary Parafolk and even asexual/aromantic options.
His story sounds so exciting! I love it! ❤️
This is so dramatic! It's great! I can't wait to play with Sebastián.
Can I just say that I love Seb already? I cant wait to help him help his family!
What a great bio! Maybe the reason he rebelled as a teen was because his grandma/family tried to suppress his queerness. When he met Lucas, he felt "seen" and accepted for the first time and was motivated to turn his life around ❤️
Yeeeesss
The second character is lgbtq, and that’s and honestly lovely! I’m excited that we have histories involved in their stories, as they impact much of the decisions they make, as well as their, and their children’s evolving futures, traits, identities, and personalities! I hope to see evolutions as a huge part of this game!
Sebastian sounds absolutely amazing alsndjakabssb also i’m so happy about this poll!!! Thank you Paralives team! 💗
Anw I love his story!🥺💜
Sebastian is going to become a great mainstay character!😁
I love this kind of lore! I already care a lot about Sebastian
he sounds absolutely amazing! i love his character development
Is the child a boy or girl?
Hope there will be a vote ❤️
I'd love to start a little family with Sebastian! 😭 I don't know what his sexual orientation is, but I'll make the perfect guy/gal for them! ❤️
I really wish the "husband died" one hadn't made it... Gay people always die in every media lol
That is true, but it would be interesting to see a single, gay father in the game!
I love it! You put it all together so well
Gosh, I cry alteady with Seb's bio. You van create the series of his life!
Can't wait to vote on details about the kid :)
OMG the story is great!! love you so much guys thanks for this game, really exited for it to come out!!
I’m here for Sebastians storyline!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Yesss!! Cant wait to help him with his dream and to find an amazing partner to heal the hole in his heart 💕
Woohoo! Thankyou Team. We love you 🥳👏🏻❤️ I LOVE Sebastian’s story and how you merged it with the 3! It’s heartbreaking to read but makes his story come to life with how we will play our part! Cannot wait to hear his secrets! 😱Have an amazing weekend as we sure will with these posts you give us! 🌸
Not going to lie .... when we will finally get Paralives, now I will DEFINITELY start my first play as a guy so I will be able to romance with Sebastian, I swear 😍😂
i love Sebs backstory and the LGBTQIA+ inclusion! keep it up!!
omg lol, the name lucas made its comeback. time to name the kid adam
Love love love!!!