that the developers believed in the force of their story, and understand the risks as well as the responsibility it would mean to create a character who is believable and realistic. To him, authentic representation is crucial due to the fact that storytelling in video games often place players from the perspective of characters they may not necessarily relate to, which presents a "unique opportunity to drive empathy and share experiences”. Guillaume explains that Tell Me Why avoids a common trope in fictional works where minority characters are often painted in "broad strokes", and emphasized that while it is not possible for the developers to represent every transgender individual's experience within the constraints of the game's narrative, he hoped that players will be moved by Tyler's individual story. While Tell Me Why is the first AAA video game to feature a transgender character as its main character, Guillaume drew attention to the fact that many indie video games have featured LGBTQ+ themes or openly transgender characters, and he was hopeful that other major developmental studios do not hesitate to follow in their examples. Dontnod consulted GLAAD, a non-governmental organization (NGO) originally founded to monitor potentially defamatory media coverage and depictions of LGBT people, for advice and input in the development of Tyler as an authentic transgender character. Guillaume credited GLAAD, particularly its director of transgender representation Nick Adams, for their assistance into script reviews and casting for Tyler, as well as its efforts in LGBTQ+ community outreach. Adams said that it is important that Tyler is a "realistic hero" and that Tell Me Why fosters an inclusive gaming experience, as "authentic media portrayals of trans characters can be a powerful tool for acceptance and understanding". Adams explained that it is critical that the real story of Tell Me Why does not place undue emphasis on the thoughts and opinions expressed by other characters towards Tyler's gender identity; instead, the goal is to strike "a balance between not ignoring Tyler’s ‘transness’, as if it doesn't affect his life, but not making it the central focus". Players may decide during the course of the narrative as to whether Tyler develops a romantic relationship with Michael, Alyson's friend and colleague at the local café and convenience store in Delos Crossing. Carmouche noted that Adams wanted the writing team to explore Tyler's romantic side. The developers decided to approach the romantic dialogue between Tyler