A Lesbian's Take On The Story (spoilers)

[Psycho_Amanda]

I don't wanna be one of those people that is like "well I'm gay so I understand it better than anyone else!" But I do feel that I need to let out how the story hit me personally, as someone who has been in a situation like this.

So let's start at the beginning, when Sam says that she can't help but notice Lonnie, that it's like there's a gold star over her head or something. This hit me immeadiately and I feel that this is something everyone can relate to. I mean as soon as she said that, I was like "lesbian story time."

As the story went along, I found myself almost craving to hear the stories about how she was being bullied before and after her and Lonnie got together. I really wanted something juicy for my brain to sink its teeth into. Not in a cruel "yeeeees cryyyy your tears sustain me" way, but more of a "give me more that I can reflect on and relate to" way. Especially the part about the school replying to the bullying! I wanted to see more of that! The tone of "just shut up about it, you wanted to keep it a secret, didn't you?" is spot on with what I have experienced. Getting bullied for holding my girlfriend's hand. Then complaining that someone gave me a death threat, the school gave me the response of "well why would you be public about it if you didn't want to be bullied?" But I digress.

I also felt a lack luster sense of how she told her parents about it, or rather, how they found out. There was no build up to it. Something that made you feel that she herself was uncomfortable with herself in these terms. But no, they found the magazine and were suspicious of how much time Sam spent with Lonnie. Bing bang boom there now they know she's gay. I'm sorry, but for someone who clearly was uncomfortable about telling others about it? That's not how it works.

But here is my biggest issue with the story. All this build up to Lonnie leaving, all this stir and commotion over it. Dead within minutes. Yes, it's nice that they could be together again and everything. But really? I don't feel that it was a necessary element to be honest. Yes a sense of desperation and need to just be there was building up so nicely, then suddenly, "COME HERE TO ME MY LOVE I NEED AND WANT YOU BE TOGETHER FOREVER YEEEEES!" I'm sorry to say, but HUGE cliche. It kinda ruined my feelings up to that point. But who likes to be left with a truly bittersweet ending? *cough* cat lady *cough*

So let's sum it all up, I really feel that this as a story driven game, needs more story. I don't feel that everything was justified in Sam just up and leaving. It needed more explanation.I mean this is a young woman's journal for all that is fluffy! She'd be writing in that crap everyday! Especially since it's obvious she is a creative writer! And don't even get me started on documenting the history of the "psycho house" that is a whole other complaint. So all in all I love where the game is headed, but to me, it just doesnt feel finished.

[Goober Peas]

Well, the story wasn't finished. It was just simply a picture of their lives during the course of the year. There was no real beginning, nor was there an ending obviously. As for justification for up and leaving...well, that's love for you. There's no justification or rationality to it. It just happens. I don't believe this is some kinda LGBT game, it's a game with a story that happens to involve two gay teen girls. The focus isn't on their sexuality and how they dealt with it, but rather their feelings for each other. It's just a love story, not a GAY love story.

As a straight dude, I can't really identify with the being gay part. So that stuff, while making the story more tragic IMO, didn't resonate with me because I simply have no experience with that. I was never bullied in school either, so there's no collary for it. However, I was still able to identify with Sam on a pretty personal level. Some of it had to do with the things she liked and how she was during 1994/5, very similar to myself during those times. But the biggest thing was when she found out that Lonnie was joining the Army. Having to let go of someone you love is a fairly common life experience, but that person you love joining the Army...that all actually happened to me. I knew exactly what Sam and Lonnie were going through, how they thought and how they felt. Every emotion felt and conveyed by Sam...I knew what it was like. The only difference being I didn't make the choice Sam did, and I wonder if I had how would things be different.

As for the time frame when Lonnie has to report for basic...well that was on the 5th, game takes place literally hours afterwards. There wasn't much else to do...Sam booked it hours before Kate gets home.

Anyway, long winded post over now, just want to finish with this. I think Fullbright did an excellent job in creating characters and a story that you really don't ever actually see. Especially since superficially Sam and myself are very different people, yet I was able to identify with a character so dissimilar to myself.

The End

[Psycho_Amanda]

I would agree with you on these terms, I guess just I felt kinda down for the simple fact that all of a sudden everything was going to be better now. I really liked the development of a lot of the characters! And no, I don't think that it is a gay based love story, but I just wished it had be elaborated on. As I've said, I wished that she had written more about her life, or at least portrayed it more in her creative writing stories. I do enjoy the game and I'm glad that I played it. It just made me feel that I wanted more from it.

[Goober Peas]

I totally agree on that point. I liked the game so much that I wish there was more. I want to know more about Sam and Lonnie, and the family. I want to know how things turn out for them. I want to run through the game again...but I don't know if I can right now. It's too bittersweet for me, especially the song that plays at the end. Heavens to Betsy one...I actually remember hearing that song off and on during the 90s and early 2000s. Complex or Complicated is the name I think?

Anyway, one thing I think people pick on is "Why did there have to be lesbians?" And I can understand that. Often times in media when a character is made a lesbian, it's usually in order to make that character seem more sexy, badass, or edgy in some way. But with Gone Home that's clearly not going on. Both Sam and Lonnie are really average looking, not tough girls at all, nor do they have much sex appeal. They're just totally average people. Which is good IMO.

I don't know where I'm going with all of this, other than I like the game a lot and like talking to likeminded people about it I suppose. So there. I guess I'm agreeing with you, but I'm not counting not having more against the game.

[Psycho_Amanda]

Oh I totally agree on the part about them not being sexualized but rather, they're just two girls in love. It's not a nasty mish mash of just sexuality, it pushes no agenda and it tells a story that you only minutes ago have heard at all after coming back from europe.

[Goober Peas]

Well, I'm glad we all agree then. PIZZA FOR ERRYBODY

I wasn't kidding when I said I really liked the game...I dorked out and made badges and emotes and stuff. Even used the profile background I got.

[Deadbreeze]

I just can't believe she didn't stick around to see me! I was kinda bummed, thinking I'd see my first real character in the game, finally getting to the attic, and then BAM.... more notes. And she's gone. Not coming back to her sister who she loves sooo much and hasn't seen in a year. Not gonna introduce her new girlfriend who is the love of her life to that sister she trusts sooo much. Just gonna leave me here to rot in this creepy new house I've never seen before until mom and dad get home from the anniversary trip. Thats FINE. Hrmph... you betch.

All in all it was a great game. I truely enjoyed the story, though it was missing a little more on the Oscar the ghost side. They said they had seen Oscar off, and by that point I was like "Who the feck is Oscar?" Didn't take me long to figure it out though.

I agree more to the bullying side couldn't have been bad. It already hit my feelers enough, and that would have mad it worse, but in a good way. I really was able to empathize with the characters and came out of it with that "sad its over" but "damn that was a good" feeling.

Also, I love punk music and never listened to Heavens to Betsy or Bratmobile, and was really digging the tapes. So I'll be playing that in my car soon. AND I saw a VHS tape of Bridge Over the River Kwai, and thougt: "I remember my moms husband watching that movie once. It must be good. Gonna have to check it out." Not that I have any love for that POS.

This game did a good job of emulating the 90s and taking me back and stabbing me in the frickin heart. Never imagined I'd be paying cash for that last part. Sonofa-

[Goober Peas]

Yeah, it did do a good job of recreating the mid 90s. I grew up during that time and remember a lot of the stuff Sam had and did, because I had and did much of the same. Street Fighter 2 arcade, music magazines, listening to weird music, middle/high school drama, no constant online/cell phones. It was a great time to be a teenager. Being in my 30s now and looking back on it I miss it sometimes.

[Bazaar_Bizarre]

I bought and played this game just last night and it actually made me cry. Ever since I was young I have always been attractd to older men for some reason. Anyway, my first boyfriend of sorts (a guy I talked to online for several years as a form of release) died just a few days ago. My parents made me stop talking to him but a few years later every now and then we would talk. This game really reminded me of that time and I enjoyed it.

[Kaero]

I felt that the ending was off too.. but to me the ending was the tale of a disaster in the making.

they had a car.. a bag of clothes, maybe $20 and whatever the other girl had on her.. a car with one tank of fuel.

They were screwed. They can't 'just drive!' off into the sunset. They had no money food or supplies and nowhere to go.

[Goober Peas]

Originally posted by Sharky:

I felt that the ending was off too.. but to me the ending was the tale of a disaster in the making.

they had a car.. a bag of clothes, maybe $20 and whatever the other girl had on her.. a car with one tank of fuel.

They were screwed. They can't 'just drive!' off into the sunset. They had no money food or supplies and nowhere to go.

"If there's a will, there's a way."

Which is certainly true. I took away from this that if they truly loved each other then they'd find a way to make it work. That's what I'd like to believe. It's not 100% realistic, but it's not unrealistic either.

Also, just to point out something. Sam stole VCRs and other electronics in the house to pawn. Including her Super Nintendo.

[Mr Long Pants]

Note deleted from the final game: "Goodbye mom, Goodbye dad. I hate you both and the society you represent. I've stolen a bunch of your s*** so I can live with this chick i met less then a year ago but i'm totally in love with".

Although it's staring us right in the face as we're exploring the house Sam's larceny is still something I attempt to overlook as it doesn't really help me empathize with her character.

[Skyforger]

There was a south park episode on things like this, people reading to much into things. Seeing things/making conclusions where there were none.

It is the one where butters writes the book on poo, and people are finding profound meanings in it.

tl;dr - you are seeing things you want to see in the game, trying your best to relate to it. It all happens to us at some point.

[Mr Long Pants]

I have no problem with people looking really deep into this game, I've been doing the same thing with Metal Gear Solid for the last 15 years.

I just don't try to sell MGS on those things as they're more something I just do because I personally enjoy the game so much.

[Akim]

Gay gamer commenting here.

I liked the idea and the design of the house, but somehow the story and the spooky atmopshere didn't fit together. With all the atmopshere I expected a ghost story, or an alien abduction, or a psycho thing. In every drawer I opened I half expected some chopped off limbs, because it so felt like Silent Hill. And then, it is a love story.

Which isn't bad at all, but kinda totally weird in this setting. The empty haunted house and then a coming out story? Very odd.

[Makarov]

Originally posted by Akim:

Gay gamer commenting here.

I liked the idea and the design of the house, but somehow the story and the spooky atmopshere didn't fit together. With all the atmopshere I expected a ghost story, or an alien abduction, or a psycho thing. In every drawer I opened I half expected some chopped off limbs, because it so felt like Silent Hill. And then, it is a love story.

Which isn't bad at all, but kinda totally weird in this setting. The empty haunted house and then a coming out story? Very odd.

I couldn't agree more. Kind of a strange mishmash that leads to a lot of players expecting stuff that never happens. I don't know if I'd call it a bait and switch but it's just odd.