zero exhaust Y AI: The Somnium Files writer and director Kotarou Uchikoshi He took to Twitter recently with a bit of trivia regarding the gender identity of one of the supporting characters in his latest game, AI: The Somnium Files – Nirvana Initiative.
*Note: This article contains minor spoilers. AI: The Somnium Files – Nirvana Initiative.
His original tweet thread dives into not only Marco’s gender identity (an AI designed to help police solve crimes by diving into the minds of criminals and key witnesses), but also the process of locating him and why. Certain decisions were made about how the character is referred to in English.
In the JP version, no pronouns are used in the lines relating to Marco. But in English, I knew that it’s hard to build natural sentences without using pronouns, so we checked with the localization staff and decided to use “he/his”. #ainispoilers
—Kotaro Uchikoshi Eng (@Uchikoshi_Eng) July 30, 2022
Maybe I made a mistake using the word “confuse”. Now suppose your mind is filled with many thoughts about the truth of the case. And in that state, if any other important information (off the case) jumps into your head… #ainispoilers
—Kotaro Uchikoshi Eng (@Uchikoshi_Eng) July 30, 2022
it will be a mixture of both and messy, right? That’s what I meant by “confused”. It doesn’t mean like “confused by misunderstanding the meaning of them/ze”. #ainispoilers
—Kotaro Uchikoshi Eng (@Uchikoshi_Eng) July 30, 2022
Unsurprisingly, the conservative side of the game’s fandom exploded. Some complaints were met with sarcastic humor.
Wow I didn’t know that! Where can I buy the dictionary you are using? I think it’s very unique and super rare, so I’d like to donate it to the Atami museum.
—Kotaro Uchikoshi Eng (@Uchikoshi_Eng) August 3, 2022
Others were met with a sincere outpouring of love in the face of hate.
Hello Roberto! Thank you for your message! Even if you hate me, no matter what you say to me, I will forgive you with boundless love. All human beings have the same value and dignity. That is my firm belief. Nobody can change that.
—Kotaro Uchikoshi Eng (@Uchikoshi_Eng) August 2, 2022
But what was most interesting was when the conversation turned into a philosophical look at gender identity in general.
And this has also been medically confirmed. However, if you’re implying that non-binary people don’t exist by absolute criteria, then I agree. Likewise, men and women as gender identities are also not defined on the basis of absolute universal rules.
—Kotaro Uchikoshi Eng (@Uchikoshi_Eng) August 3, 2022
Gender identity is not defined by physical laws. Of course you don’t define it either. Only the will of each human being can define it with total freedom. “Man is condemned to be free.” We have to accept that responsibility with suffering and struggle.
—Kotaro Uchikoshi Eng (@Uchikoshi_Eng) August 3, 2022
Uchikoshi has expressed his support for the LGBTQ+ community in his two AI: The Somnium Files games. In the original game, Mizuki He says Mama, owner of a marble bar, “The LGBT community is rich in sensitivity, has excellent taste and is full of talented and artistic people. And they share a common struggle… It makes them more sensitive and capable of sympathy. It’s because that so many of them are kind and caring. And they choose to live their lives, on their own terms. It means they have a strong backbone. So because of all of that, I really respect them. They’re even a little cool…”
The same sentiment is reiterated in the sequel where Mizuki punish people who discriminate against LGBTQ+ people, the disabled community, and other minorities. The games encyclopedia entry for LGBTQ+ also clearly states: “The acronym LGBTQ+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning. I love you all!”
Font: Kotarou Uchikoshi On twitter