Straight-Locking
Derived from the term ''Gender-Locking'' known in some videogames, where in full character customization is blocked behind a gender-lock. A simplified primary example is locking classes or races behind a gender for lore reasons.
Straight-Locking can be found in videogames where your character customization is suddenly limited when in the game itself you cannot express your character's sexuality or romantic preferences in dialogue or settings.
Straight-locking only truly visibly occurs when a game with character-customization forces the player to partake in heterosexual romance which is either not optional, or the only romantic options given.
A videogame with a pre-written character that has already established lore about their gender identity and sexuality with romantic options isn't ''straight-locking'' as it is not offering character customization, only a pre-written narrative and character design. (Examples; Geralt of Rivia, Kratos, etc.)
Straight-Locking can be found in videogames where your character customization is suddenly limited when in the game itself you cannot express your character's sexuality or romantic preferences in dialogue or settings.
Straight-locking only truly visibly occurs when a game with character-customization forces the player to partake in heterosexual romance which is either not optional, or the only romantic options given.
A videogame with a pre-written character that has already established lore about their gender identity and sexuality with romantic options isn't ''straight-locking'' as it is not offering character customization, only a pre-written narrative and character design. (Examples; Geralt of Rivia, Kratos, etc.)
''I downloaded this quest mod in Skyrim which also adds a few npcs that flirt with the player character, however I feel uncomfortable at the straight-locking dialogue, as I cannot make my character tell the female npcs that he's gay, to make them stop flirting.''
''I was really excited for this videogame, but feel a bit disappointed that my only romance options are straight-locked, Either I flirt with a girl, or my character is asexual.''
''Tomodachi is great! But it got straight-locking in it, the only romances that can happen are male x female.''
''I was really excited for this videogame, but feel a bit disappointed that my only romance options are straight-locked, Either I flirt with a girl, or my character is asexual.''
''Tomodachi is great! But it got straight-locking in it, the only romances that can happen are male x female.''
Straight-Locking by ZeroParanoia May 15, 2022
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