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TRENDING NOW: That’s the thing with modern media – the time lapse between ‘making a silly comment’ and ‘paying the price for a silly comment’ is so very, very small.
And so it is that Gearbox’s use of the term ‘Girlfriend Mode’ to describe an upcoming new feature that dramatically lessens Borderlands 2’s challenge has already sent the internet into a rage.
Take a look at some of the comments current circulating on Twitter below:
https://twitter.com/Carachan1/status/234974786764288000https://twitter.com/SebWuepper/status/234970533962346496
Borderlands 2 developer blasted after 'girlfriend mode' comment http://t.co/dXSKv1cU
— HuffPost UK Shopping (@HPShopping) August 13, 2012
Oh dear. WELL DONE, GAMES INDUSTRY. RT @atheistium: Yes because girlfriend mode isn't at all insulting http://t.co/O1Cis6Ex
— PW @Retroid@mastodon.social & @retroid.bsky.social (@SuperRetroid) August 13, 2012
For the lack of a better term, let's call this: Idiot Sexist Mode http://t.co/5zctk1hb
— Dennis Kogel (@AlexBronsky) August 13, 2012
https://twitter.com/atheistium/status/234970386809380864
"Girlfriend mode", is this supposed to be a joke? http://t.co/vrcnmwCr #Borderlands2
— lee (@potatokeki) August 13, 2012
Well that's 1 less game I'm buying in 2012 RT @davidwildgoose: Borderlands 2 has a "girlfriend mode". Nice one, Gearbox http://t.co/PFTje734
— Brendan Keogh (@BRKeogh) August 13, 2012
https://twitter.com/JamesPinnell/status/234968617186385922
That's a neat idea for a skill tree, Gearbox, but please don't ever refer to it this way again. http://t.co/oYjsi2DZ
— Chris Schilling (@schillingc) August 13, 2012
Oh, joy, it's that time again when another game dev puts sexist foot in mouth. http://t.co/KlCXVbQy
— kateri (@kateri_t) August 13, 2012
"I want to make, for the lack of a better term, the girlfriend skill tree". http://t.co/sQZhe5QM You should come up with a better term.
— Cosmik (@Cosmik_) August 13, 2012
Re: This whole 'girlfriend mode' thing. My girlfriend is probably better at Borderlands than I am…
— Zed (@dedhedzed) August 13, 2012
"girlfriend mode" in Borderlands 2. FFS. http://t.co/Mr2Ij157 The idea's great, right up until the lead designer calls it GIRLFRIEND MODE.
— Maz Hamilton (@newsmary) August 13, 2012
https://twitter.com/MaryKateClark/status/234976173854171136https://twitter.com/Strangist/status/234975852281094147
Borderlands 2 does NOT have a girlfriend mode. Anyone that says otherwise is misinformed or trying to stir up something that isn't there.
— Randy Pitchford (@DuvalMagic) August 13, 2012
The future DLC Mechromancer class has a skill tree that makes it easier for less skilled coop partners (any gender!) to play and be useful.
— Randy Pitchford (@DuvalMagic) August 13, 2012
@jinxcellent I didn't know it was a nickname. It's not even a thing – just a skill built from the idea of playing coop with noob friends.
— Randy Pitchford (@DuvalMagic) August 13, 2012
It's not a thing. Just sensationalism. There's a TBD skill for a future DLC char that is helpful for noob coop buddies. That's a good idea!
— Randy Pitchford (@DuvalMagic) August 13, 2012
I'm sure Hemmingway is getting noogied now, but not his fault. A personal anecdote has been twisted and dogpiled on by sensationalists. Fun!
— Randy Pitchford (@DuvalMagic) August 13, 2012
@DuvalMagic completely reject the accusation of sensationalism. It is a direct quote from the lead designer who said it to a roomful of us.
— Wesley Yin-Poole (@wyp100) August 13, 2012
@DuvalMagic that's how it was referenced by Gearbox staff a number of times two weeks ago during the studio visit. The quotes are accurate.
— Wesley Yin-Poole (@wyp100) August 13, 2012
https://twitter.com/robfahey/status/234989484729569280https://twitter.com/robfahey/status/234990102907088897https://twitter.com/weefz/status/234990508978622464
@angryjedi @weefz Is it raging fury, though? Most people I've seen just think it's sexist but aren't going mad about it.
— Chris Schilling (@schillingc) August 13, 2012
https://twitter.com/weefz/status/234991611216531458https://twitter.com/timothydclark/status/234990151602941952
Soon enough developers will just send out press releases that are so carefully worded they will be pointless. And we'd all moan.
— David Turner (@davidturners) August 13, 2012
So, to clarify, there's a skill class in Borderlands 2 that will do my washing up and make me tea? INSTABUY.
— Simon Parkin (@SimonParkin) August 13, 2012
We have a mode on one of our games we're calling internatlly "insert random faux outrage on twitter mode" hopefully it'll live upto its name
— Stuart Turner (@OnlyOneT) August 13, 2012
Next time journos wonder, "Why don't developers give us more insight into the development process?" Remember "girlfriend mode."
— Justin “Hoops” McElroy (@JustinMcElroy) August 13, 2012
@wyp100 That those reporting on this easier skill tree are attempting to create a story rather than report one.
— Justin “Hoops” McElroy (@JustinMcElroy) August 13, 2012
https://twitter.com/itsJuliaHardy/status/234993782720954368
People often complain that devs should be less robotic, shouldn't stick to PR lines. This is why they do it.
— Tamoor Hussain (@tamoorh) August 13, 2012
https://twitter.com/Rob_Crossley_/status/234994539088195584
@_wotta Yeh, it's insulting and inflaming a topic that really doesn't need it
— Glitched Helix (Indra) (@GlitchedHelix) August 13, 2012
https://twitter.com/atheistium/status/234994380107292673
@atheistium @_wotta Yeh, it seems to be their studio slang name for it, but still they shouldn't do it. It's an industry sore point.
— Glitched Helix (Indra) (@GlitchedHelix) August 13, 2012
https://twitter.com/atheistium/status/234995455753326593
Sorry, Gearbox, but refusing to outright vilify the use of that term, without being sly and snide, you've lost the argument.
— Dan Pearson (@Danbojones) August 13, 2012
@shaunmcilroy Wow, that's quite the accusation!
— Ben Parfitt (@BenParfitt) August 13, 2012
@shaunmcilroy Hey man, I'm not making the industry talk about it
— Ben Parfitt (@BenParfitt) August 13, 2012
@BenParfitt Fuck you Ben! You is wrongs! @Gearbox We're still on for that review copy/support, right? RIGHT!? #Jokes
— Wesley Copeland (@Wesley_Copeland) August 13, 2012
I wish there was a 'boyfriend mode' in Puzzle Quest II. My fiancee always thrashes me in that game.
— Dom Sacco (@Dom_Sacco) August 13, 2012
https://twitter.com/weefz/status/234998458317156352
Gaming is divided by skill, not gender. Our goal with Mechromancer is for co-op partners of any skill to have fun together.
— GearboxOfficial (@GearboxOfficial) August 13, 2012
@DuvalMagic @GearboxSoftware You folks have our support! We're all just looking forward to getting out hands on the game righ? #GAMEON!
— GAME.co.uk (@GAMEdigital) August 13, 2012
'Girlfriend mode' I agree that it was a stupid thing to say, some of the reporting has been equally irresponsible.
— Andy Corrigan (@FlameRoastToast) August 13, 2012
https://twitter.com/ultrabrilliant/status/234999973819867136
I am amazed that no-one within Gearbox, when someone said the words 'girlfriend mode', said "hang on, that's not on."
— Will Templeton (@Willeth) August 13, 2012
The instant (and now deleted) flood of knee-jerk chauvinism in comments on our Borderlands 2 newb-mode story today makes me want to scream.
— Alec Meer is really at @bonzrat.bsky.social (@bonzrat) August 13, 2012
Don't take someone's editorialising at face value. Seek out the original source if you don't want to sound like a Daily Mail reader.
— Nick Jones (@Nclas_Jones) August 13, 2012
I hear there’s going to be a character who falls asleep after firing his weapon and it’ll be called Boyfriend Mode #Borderlands2
— Libi (@xLibitinax) August 13, 2012
Love how @MCVonline is trying to spin a conversation we're all having on Twitter into an article. That's journalism, folks.
— Keith Andrew (@tweeting_keith) August 13, 2012
@MCVonline Just seems a bit of a waste of time. Given that you're a trade site, and all the trade are involved in said convo.
— Keith Andrew (@tweeting_keith) August 13, 2012
@tweeting_keith Feel free not read the article if you feel it's of no interest
— MCV/DEVELOP (@MCV_DEVELOP) August 13, 2012
@MCVonline this story reminds me of the kids at school who stood by the side shouting "fight, fight, fight"
— David Childs (@Davidmchilds) August 13, 2012
https://twitter.com/RichStanton/status/235006279372926976https://twitter.com/d0od/status/235006838331015169https://twitter.com/JimSterling/status/234997106505547776https://twitter.com/JimSterling/status/234997204887162880
