269: Praise Diversity, Address Inequality

[LetalisK]

I would assume that the reason most protagonists in core games are white and male is because most consumers are white and male. It makes it easier for the consumer to identify with a character who is similar to them, thus increasing interest level, which translates into money. It's basically the easy and cheap way out of having to add more characterization to generate interest. Is it racist? Only as racist as someone who complains about it, as they are exhibiting this very principle.

 

[CitySquirrel]

There are multiple reasons why the main version of a game character is usually white and male. I'd suggest that the main reason is to avoid being called racist or sexist.

Wasn't that his point? Rather than try to deal with race, we avoid it. Also, the reason people get called racist and sexist is because they implement things in weird ways. A Japanese example: okay, so FF13 has some racial diversity in their otherwise racially ambiguous character group. Unfortunately he is the cliched wisecracking black dude with an afro and who gets as his vehicle summon thingy...a red sports car. Now, these were the Japanese, who tend to think culture is genetic, not Americans, but the point is that when they add racial diversity they cannot get past race as a role I mentioned in another thread.

 

[BiscuitTrouser]

Praise Diversity, Address Inequality

The sad truth is that all races will never be represented in games unless we start changing how it is discussed in the public forum. Jamin Brophy-Warren is tired of wondering if too much criticism in favor of more diversity in games is "too much."

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This picture sums up my thoughts nicely.

I think that if the character is custemizable and you make can them black it doesnt matter. If the game has a character already set up and hes white, dont worry so much about it. It's a set character and their race shouldnt affect your enjoyment of the game too much. I enjoy games where i can make my character too, it makes it feel more personal. Ive played as black characters and white characters and i personally couldnt care less if they were all purple. If every character was black i wouldnt really care. It just doesnt seem like much of a big deal for me.

 

[Cliff_m85]

There are multiple reasons why the main version of a game character is usually white and male. I'd suggest that the main reason is to avoid being called racist or sexist.

Wasn't that his point? Rather than try to deal with race, we avoid it. Also, the reason people get called racist and sexist is because they implement things in weird ways. A Japanese example: okay, so FF13 has some racial diversity in their otherwise racially ambiguous character group. Unfortunately he is the cliched wisecracking black dude with an afro and who gets as his vehicle summon thingy...a red sports car. Now, these were the Japanese, who tend to think culture is genetic, not Americans, but the point is that when they add racial diversity they cannot get past race as a role I mentioned in another thread.

I don't think there's a point to deal with race. It's a non-option, as such we shouldn't be ashamed nor proud of it. Same with sex, sexual orientation, and nationality. *shrugs*

 

[geoflo1024]

"VIDEO GAMES COME FROM JAPAN!" (Moviebob/GAme Overthinker)

How much writing about lack of diversity it too much? I believe in your freedom of speech, and I believe you can say too much all you want. That being said, almost any is too much. Let us tack your arguments about not finding characters of your specific racial mix into other media:

Leonardo De Vinci is a racist, because the Mona Lisa is not my ethnicity.
The Latins were racists for sculpting mostly Latins.
Charley Chaplin is a racist for only portraying white folk.
The Arthurian Legends are racist for not having blacks, Asians, or Mexicans.
...

The problem with this argument, is that Leonardo Da Vinci was from Italy, the Latins are from Latin America, Spain, and Portugal, and the Arthurian Legends are from Europe. Each catered to the largely homogenous populations of their respective countries. Charley Chaplin is a product of a time that WAS racist, and therefore this argument is demonstrably fallacious. We live (or at least I do) in the so-called "Melting Pot" of the United States. There is an amalgamation of all races in this country, and it is what defines us as a nation. True, interracial marriages (and presumably births) in this country account for less than five percent of marriages. However, it is not farfetched to expect to see the fifteen percent Hispanic and thirteen percent black population of the United States represented in video games set in the present. Beyond that, as the United States (and indeed the world) continue to intermingle and intermarry, it should be noted that media set in the future should see MUCH more diversity in terms of race and ethnicity.
I'll concede that the author shouldn't expect to see several black/Mexican mixed race characters in video games, but the fact that such a mix is the second most common form of interracial marriage (behind white/Asian), in five to ten years time, this may not be such a farfetched expectation either.
On a more personal note, it is my personal feeling that it is very difficult for the caucasian populace to understand why this is so important to minorities. As a Hispanic, I yearn to see other Hispanics wipe out the alien horde, survive the post-apocalyptic wasteland, and fight his way through the zombies. No doubt anyone on this thread can give me the names of a few games that allow me to see this, to which I will give you several hundreds of games where such a thing is possible only with white male protagonists. Are those five or six games fifteen percent of several hundred? No.

 

[Indignation837]

I don't think the whitewashing problem that games have is the developers' fault. As someone who for some reason still has some faith in humanity's goodness (I'm not sure why, but I do), I try to give developers the benefit of the doubt when it comes to issues like this - even Resident Evil 5. After all, the game does take place in Africa, where lots of black people do live, and the main character was already established as being white from previous games. I think the problem lies more in the fact that games are only trying to not be racist rather than aiming to be fully inclusive. Frankly, I can't blame developers for thinking that way. It's a fine line to walk. If a game were to have a minority protagonist and a wide variety of ethnicity in their characters, it would be great. I don't really care what color character I'm playing as, so long as it's a good game. But if even one little thing could be misconstrued as racist in a game like that, special interest groups would be up in arms about it a la Mafia 2. It's all a big risk-analysis game.

For example, I could make a flash game - let's say it's a platformer where there's enemies that can hurt you, and you can eat food to recover health. Let's also suppose that, as a fairly common food, I put in a fried chicken drumstick as one of the things you can eat to recover health. Now, not thinking about the potential for a racial stereotype, I make my main character black in an effort to be racially diverse. Someone could come along and play my game and realize "A black character eating fried chicken to recover health?! It must be a racial slur!" where the two elements didn't even connect in my mind before releasing it. Note that it doesn't matter whether or not the slur was intended, or the fact that there's other food you can eat. All it takes is for someone with a semi-popular blog to say that my game is racist, and suddenly their readers will avoid my game. I then lose on ad revenue and have to play damage control, and no matter how hard I try some people will never play my game because they're convinced I'm racist.

Now, let's back this up a second. Say I instead made my main character white. Well, there's not nearly as many racial slurs connected to white people as there are other races, and certainly not one between white people and fried chicken. I release my game, I get my ad revenue, and all is well. The only thing I can be accused of is whitewashing - just like every other developer - or perhaps a few complaints about the dodgy physics engine or whatever.

tl;dr It's a lot safer to whitewash the cast of your game and be accused of whitewashing - just like almost every other game out there - than it is to make a diverse cast and have the risk of something being taken as racist and getting your game lambasted by some over-analyzing special interest group. The first rule of crisis management is to not let a crisis happen in the first place, and by blending into the crowd game developers prevent being accused of any more racism than any other developer. In an almost poetic bit of cosmic irony, it's people like Unico National that prevent games from having more diversity for fear of having a Mafia 2 on your hands.

 

[wraithian]

Personally, I'd much rather have developers spend their time and budget on crap that matters in a video game, like content, rather than 40 billion different character feature combinations and whether or not I can properly be represented in a video game (half Irish, half Mexican--wanna talk about feeling left the hell out?).

 

[Smokescreen]

The answer to a lot of your questions can be found pretty easily in your own article (both this one and the older Wall Street Journal one you linked).

Why aren't there more ethnic characters in video games? Because...

"[...] Ms. Flanagan says that to deal with violent images, particularly ones that involve people of color, the game should be nuanced and confront issues of race head on."

"He says the choice of race can be difficult and they wanted to avoid stereotypes."

"What about the dread-locked Mojya Corps of LocoRoco or the similar sambo-like characters in Patapon 2? What about maniacal, trash-talking Cole Train in Gears of War? I know plenty of black dudes just like Cole, but when he's the only one, it distorts who black folk actually are. All of these examples could be part of a strong case that racist imagery continues to pervade videogames just as it does all other forms of media."

The long and short of it is this: feature white characters, and tell the story you want to tell. Feature non-white characters, and tell stories about tolerance and racial issues.

Interesting thought there. I'm not sure how much weight it actually holds but I can certainly see an outcry from groups who, when seeing people of different races in a game, would insist that 'They got it all wrong!' or 'didn't handle the characters correctly' when the goal is to make a game (first) and tell a story (second) and do the best job they can-without having to worry about getting everyone's panties in a bunch.

That said; I think it's a pretty short-sighted reason to keep things as is.

While I disagree with the article's premise of "When is too much crowing about race in games "too much?" The truth is that it is never too much," because being unable to recognize when it is too much is the mark of a zealot, I do agree that "Creating change is about building inertia. It's about taking every small act of unkindness or cultural ignorance and making it public."

Things don't shift overnight and I think keeping discussions like this afloat do help broaden our consciousness when it comes to exclusivity in the Universe.

 

[CitySquirrel]

I don't think there's a point to deal with race. It's a non-option, as such we shouldn't be ashamed nor proud of it. Same with sex, sexual orientation, and nationality. *shrugs*

Well, then I refer you to my previous statement.

 

[fulano]

It's interesting to see how many of the posters are being, let's be honest, a tad condescending. Basically saying "What is teh big deal? Why should race matter?" etc., etc.

Truth of the matter is that race, or ethnicity, does matter. I don't whine about it precisely because of light handed responses this article seems to be getting, but even you guys do have a point.

There was an article, I believe it was in Destructoid, that pointed towards the overabundance of white protagonists with short brown hair and stubble. Just think about that.

It's quite simple yet that one single thing points towards a wide cultural divide in our society.

There is an expectation of achievment for the majority of the population, and then there's another for the minority. Unless there is a concise, directed cultural effort from both, the minorities will be swept aside. But I don't think it is so much as the majority trying to be insensitive more than the simple fact that its output swamps all available channels and the minority is still struggling with other things to put more of a concerted, directed effort.

Also, it can always be summarized as the following: If people of color want to be equally represented then, at the very same time they are creating social conscience, they should start making the games themselves.

But, who is making the games? Nerds, geeks, techies, or in short, very educated people.

What is the nerd, geek, techie stereotype?

Where are the mexicans, inidigenous, black guys, mixed, etc. Don't believe me? Watch a sitcom named Big Bang Theory that represents and pokes fun at its subject matter. But, hey, at least they've got an indian guy, right?

Again, proactivity within minorities is paramount, but the majority should take steps to facilitate the opening of the channels. That's it.

 

[Georgie_Leech]

Although I agree that there remains a distressing amount of racism in society, I disagree with your call to constantly question the race of characters in games, questioning the reason why each character is which culture. Although that would cut down on the (obnoxious) stereotypes, it also screams the message "Race is a big deal!!!" which goes against everything that multi-cultural society teaches, which is that race is not a defining feature. It would force an even greater degree of political corectness on all of us, and would do very little to combat the actual issue: The racists, sexists, etc. in real life.

 

[AceCalhoon]

That said; I think it's a pretty short-sighted reason to keep things as is.

I'm not championing it as The Way Things Should Be. I'm pointing out that, the way I see it, an intense focus on race has led to a situation where the easiest course of action is to avoid the topic altogether.

When we talk about race we need to be moving the conversation towards things which are factual and actionable. If the problem is that there simply aren't enough X in video games, then there is only one possible solution: Mandate that a certain percentage of games must include X.

What we need to look for are the underlying causes of the problem. Are people not being hired because of the color of their skin? Not being promoted, or published? These are things we can solve, if they're brought to light. This is what we should be outraged about, not that there were 2% fewer minorities in corridor shooters this year as compared to last.

We also need to be cleaning up our perceptions of what is and isn't over the line. Every piece of objectionable content I've ever heard of in RE5 was also in RE4, but nobody cared. This sort of inconsistency only serves to hurt attempts at dialog.

 

[You Can't Take the Sky From Me]

Should't artistic freedom be more important than the skin tones of main characters? And why is RE5 racist and GTA:SA isn't? Why do people need to make such a big deal about these things? Are the Forgotten Realms novels racist because the Drow are black skinned. I realy don't understand, isn't racism about hate not just if your main character is black or not?

 

[AceCalhoon]

Where are the mexicans, inidigenous, black guys, mixed, etc. Don't believe me? Watch a sitcom named Big Bang Theory that represents and pokes fun at its subject matter. But, hey, at least they've got an indian guy, right?

The Big Bang Theory, by the numbers:
Caucasian 3, 60% (Sheldon, Leonard, Penny)
Jewish 1, 20% (Howard)
Indian 1, 20% (Raj)

The United States, by the numbers:
Caucasian 65%
Jewish 2.2%
Indian less than 4.4% (considered part of the Asian ethnic group)

Perhaps they should have kicked out Howard and Raj for more populous ethnic groups?

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_the_United_States
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_American
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_population

 

[fulano]

Where are the mexicans, inidigenous, black guys, mixed, etc. Don't believe me? Watch a sitcom named Big Bang Theory that represents and pokes fun at its subject matter. But, hey, at least they've got an indian guy, right?

The Big Bang Theory, by the numbers:
Caucasian 3, 60% (Sheldon, Leonard, Penny)
Jewish 1, 20% (Howard)
Indian 1, 20% (Raj)

The United States, by the numbers:
Caucasian 65%
Jewish 2.2%
Indian less than 4.4% (considered part of the Asian ethnic group)

Perhaps they should have kicked out Howard and Raj for more populous ethnic groups?

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_the_United_States
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_American
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_population

That is a way to approach the argument, but by that same token I could say that Howard is white and society makes no more assumptions about him at face value than it does about Sheldon, Leonard, or Penny; and by contrast it would do so about Raj. That's teh sticking point here: society's view towards the other.

I could also say that I'm a mexican that tends towards the white spectrum and if you looked at me you migt be inclined to say that I might very well be a tanned white guy from, say, Spain, and I for sure wouldn't get treated much differently than my perceived pasty brethren. I would get Sheldon treatment, not Raj treatment (though on a trip to Arisona I already got myself a "spic" call once so who knows).

EDIT: Added this to avoid double post...

Should't artistic freedom be more important than the skin tones of main characters? And why is RE5 racist and GTA:SA isn't? Why do people need to make such a big deal about these things? Are the Forgotten Realms novels racist because the Drow are black skinned. I realy don't understand, isn't racism about hate not just if your main character is black or not?

I'm on the same boat as you, I don't see either RE5 or GTA:SA as racist, but that's me, yet even I can see how someone else might object to those portrayals and how I would have to take his/her oppinion into consideration. The world is not soleley based on my personal perceptions.

Racism is not about hate solely but about also willful ignorance and willful lack of sensitivity to other people's cultures and backgrounds of the ethnic kind.

As for the Drow, well, aren't they like the bad guys? Kinda like the LOTR orcs? If so, they are definitively racist 'cause, well, isn't the entire race evil?

 

[AceCalhoon]

That is a way to approach the argument, but by that same token I could say that Howard is white and society makes no more assumptions about him at face value than it does about Sheldon, Leonard, or Penny; and by contrast it would do so about Raj. That's teh sticking point here: society's view towards the other.

I could also say that I'm a mexican that tends towards the white spectrum and if you looked at me you migt be inclined to say that I might very well be a tanned white guy from, say, Spain, and I for sure wouldn't get treated much differently than my perceived pasty brethren. I would get Sheldon treatment, not Raj treatment (though on a trip to Arisona I already got myself a "spic" call once so who knows).

I think it's fairly safe to say that discrimination against Jewish people is still measurable. But if it's pure skin color you wish, we can do that too:

The Big Bang Theory, by the numbers:
White 4, 80% (Sheldon, Leonard, Penny, Howard)
Indian 1, 20% (Raj)

The United States, by the numbers:
White 75%
Indian less than 4.4% (considered part of the Asian ethnic group)

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_the_United_States
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_American

 

[Smokescreen]

That said; I think it's a pretty short-sighted reason to keep things as is.

I'm not championing it as The Way Things Should Be. I'm pointing out that, the way I see it, an intense focus on race has led to a situation where the easiest course of action is to avoid the topic altogether.

Oh, it wasn't my intention to say that you /were/ championing The Way Things Should Be and if it came across that way, I apologize.

I agree that it is easier to avoid the topic because those who attempt it will, more often than not, be vilified rather than praised but I don't think changes come about without the kinds of discussion brought about by this issue of the Escapist giving a platform to jump off and talk about it.

 

[fulano]

That pretty much seals it. At least for the core group.

I don't know if there are other characters appearing somewhere around the show that are intelligent representations of minorities, but the point remains that there is not enough of it. Not the producers fault though, but it is a sign of what needs to be addressed by the minorites ourselves. The street goes both ways.

In many ways, Battlestar Galactica did a good competent job on this front and didn't make too much fuzz about it. Hopefully as we move forward these issues can be addressed more and more.

 

[AceCalhoon]

That pretty much seals it. At least for the core group.

I don't know if there are other characters appearing somewhere around the show that are intelligent representations of minorities, but the point remains that there is not enough of it.

I may be misinterpreting what you're saying here, but I think you may want to look at the numbers again. The Big Bang Theory is literally as close to the realistic numbers for white/non-white cast members as it could possibly be, given a five member cast size.

 

[Sonofadiddly]

I think the issue of race should always be open to discussion. I don't think anything should be automatically decried as racist, however. We need to actually consider the issue before we decided if something is a problem or not. And while something should not be automatically decried as racist without consideration, a person who mentions that something might be racist should not be automatically shouted down as being a member of the PC police. Sometimes political correctness goes too far and does nothing but stifle free expression. And sometimes the people who declare that anyone who wants to talk about racism is PC are stifling free expression and preventing a serious and important issue from being discussed.

Let people speak. Voice your own concerns, but don't tell people that they're speaking up "too much." There is no such things as too much discussion or too much expression.

And for the record, I believe that lack of diversity in games is a problem. I'm always baffled by how much that and racial stereotypes show up in American games. I can understand in a Japanese-made game that there might be a black guy with a half-fro who fights by unnecessarily shooting his guns behind his back and harmonica music plays whenever the cut scene is focussed on him, but I expect better from American-made games. Is there a lack of diversity in the industry? It's like some developers have never met a black person.