Political correctness in games has just gone too far!

[Thespian]

Okay look before any of you call me racist, or a misandrist, or a heterophobe or whatever, hear me out.
Look, I get it. Okay? I do. It's good to represent everyone in media, so that we all have someone to look up to. Sure. But lately, and in games especially, things have just gotten ridiculous. I know we all want diversity in games but lately it has become ludicrous. I mean man, it's like every developer is trying to just cram in a straight white dude into their games.
Hey look, it's okay for me to say this, I have some straight white friends, some are guys, they are all cool with me saying this. I asked them. So I have the right to make sweeping generalizations about all straight white dudes now. That's how it works. I'm not racist.

But the simple fact is, every single game has gotten ridiculous with it's attempts to cram in white guys. I know, I know, straight white male teenagers don't have many role models, or people to look up to. Yeah of course most game protagonists obviously are trying to appeal the demographic of non-white girls. I mean I can drop a name like Nilin and Sheva Alomar and you know who they are immediately without even googling them. Like, these are the real memorable characters. Unfortunately games lately just bombard us with forced white guys in every role. And they are all straight too wtf! I'm sick of all this forced romance where like, EVERY guy and EVERY girl JUST SO HAPPEN to be straight? In what universe is that likely? Like by the end of it there might just be one LGBT person out of like twenty characters. That is so unrealistic and it breaks down the immersion for me
It's obviously just all part of the straight agenda because games want to appear "politically correct" by giving fair representation for straight people. But this is just ludicrous. Let me give you a few examples.

God of War is ridiculous. I mean, we all know that the Gods swung both ways. Heck, basically everyone would fuck anyone in Ancient Greece and Rome. We know thanks to historians that there wsa no concept of sexuality back then. This also goes for all games set in ancient Rome or Greece.
Uh, sorry guys I don't mean to offend, but putting straight people in these games just makes it less realistic and I can't enjoy the story as well.

What's the deal with games like Dragon Age and The Witcher and fantasy games that have almost all white people in them? Oh you just so happened to choose western mythology? Yeah right what are the odds that alllll of these games wouldn't set their fantasy story in the mythical setting of Africa or Asia? Uhm yeah they're just trying to get white people to buy the game it's pretty dumb imo.

Batman arkham asylum? Are you serious? Batman is soooooo played out by now uhm is this the guy with the bat-credit card? Ya he's really cool what's his super power having his card rejected at restaurants so he gets embarrassed in front of his creepy kid sidekick (who doesn't wear pants??)
We know what we WANTED. A black panther game. Black Panther is such a fucking badass. He lives in Wakanda which is a super futuristic city of geniuses hidden in the jungle, he has knowledge of super great technology and spiritual magics too. Not to mention he's better at fighting, better at stealth and has better gadgets. But nooooo they had to drag out this obscure superhero from 1939 who dresses up like a bat. And why? Duh, because he's straight, white and a dude. Ugh.

Not to mention games and tv set in multi-cultural cities like detroit or london or new york or and - gasp! There are only white guys to be seen.

I could go on and on, but it was fine when maybe there would be like, one or two white people in a game, maybe a heterosexual love story here or there. But now? Everyone is so gutless and afraid of being called un-PC that straight white males are EVERYWHERE! This is ridiculous and it's gone too far in my opinion. I'm sorry but I'm the only one saying this and it needs to be said.

Shoving token white people into every damn game is just unrealistic. Let's go back to the actual realistic and balanced representation.

Because honestly, no one really believes that there are this many straight white dudes around. You'd have to be a fucking idiot.

 

[Thespian]

Lol,this thread is going to be fun.Get your umbrellas ready folks because there's a storm coming.

That makes it sound like this post was intended to provoke a reaction. It genuinely was not.

 

[Silvanus]

This did make me laugh.

I'm not quite sure whether you're A) parodying the argument of those who believe 'diversity has gone too far', or B) making the point that the current representation of different demographics is realistic so we shouldn't complain. In short, I'm not sure which side you've got in your crosshairs.

(If that was your intention, to get everyone, then well played).

 

[aozgolo]

I thought "political correctness" was inclusive, and you're arguing that it's exclusive. If games were too "PC" as you say then there would be equal representation of LBGTs and non-white races, which in western society are still minorities, which makes sense that when marketing games to western society you appeal to the largest demographic, straight white guys.

Regardless of whether this thread was intended sardonically as a parody or is playing itself straight, I'm kind of tired of the assertion that any straight white character is somehow a jab at equality or fair representation. I'm all for more varied characters and having different types, but that doesn't mean you can't have straight white protagonists.

Bigotry works both ways, those who are actively bigoted towards minority representations, and those who are bigoted towards majority representations over broad assumptions of them all being bigoted.

 

[Erttheking]

Reading that post just left me feeling confused, but mildly amused.

 

[Exhuminator]

Because honestly, no one really believes that there are this many straight white dudes around. You'd have to be a fucking idiot.

I would be interested in knowing where you live.

I think honestly we're all sick of playing this guy in AAA western developed games...

Luckily diversity is starting to show a bit more lately:
http://www.technewsdaily.com/17881-games-non-white-protagonists.html

For the record though, there have been games that break the mold. There's too many to list, but just to prove you're being a tad hyperbolic here's a few...

Urban Chaos featured a female black lead as its protagonist:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_Chaos

Take the lead of San Andreas, not a white dude:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Theft_Auto:_San_Andreas

Don't forget about Faith from Mirror's Edge, who is at least half-Asian:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirror%27s_Edge

And WRPG maker Bioware actually made an RPG that took place in Asia, and featured Asian protagonists:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jade_Empire

Everybody knows Tingle is gay:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freshly-Picked_Tingle%27s_Rosy_Rupeeland

There are actually a fair amount of gay characters in video games:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_LGBT_characters_in_video_games
http://gaygamer.net/top-20-gayest-video-game-characters/

OP has a point though, there needs to be more diversity in video game leads for sure. I would say that over time we will continue to see further diversity. Well, when publishers start researching more up to date focus groups at least.

 

[FalloutJack]

Games are - by design - fictional worlds. So, the question to call into mind here is this:

Is a lack of diversity in a game actually relevent in real life?

My answer would be no. I don't think it's actually that important here. It doesn't offend the Italian side of my heritage either to find that there are alot of Mafia types in media either.

 

[Maximum Bert]

I am also not sure if the first post was entirely serious I am going to guess not because if it is then it is terribly written.

Diversity for diversitys sake is bad imo saying you must make your character like this because theres a lack of them is as bad as saying you make your character like thus because thats what everyone is doing or any other reason they choose to give for either scenario.

Designers should be allowed to make whatever character with what ever preferences and personality they so choose, want to make them gay, straight, ambiguous, have no sexual inclination at all, fancy turtles thats all cool they shouldnt however be pressured to make them gay or straight etc.

Also fantasy worlds are just that fantasy so the rules are pretty much up to them entirely for a slavish recreation of a real life city then yes they should do their research and that should be reflected in the game.

 

[endtherapture]

I thought "political correctness" was inclusive, and you're arguing that it's exclusive. If games were too "PC" as you say then there would be equal representation of LBGTs and non-white races, which in western society are still minorities, which makes sense that when marketing games to western society you appeal to the largest demographic, straight white guys.

Regardless of whether this thread was intended sardonically as a parody or is playing itself straight, I'm kind of tired of the assertion that any straight white character is somehow a jab at equality or fair representation. I'm all for more varied characters and having different types, but that doesn't mean you can't have straight white protagonists.

Bigotry works both ways, those who are actively bigoted towards minority representations, and those who are bigoted towards majority representations over broad assumptions of them all being bigoted.

/thread

I basically agree with this post. Most videogamers are straight white males hence the number of straight white male protagonists.

Basically though they're all different characters when you look at them. Default Shepherd might be white male, but you can also play him as a woman, make him Asian or Black etc. so it's not a big deal in that case.

 

[Eamar]

This did make me laugh.

I'm not quite sure whether you're A) parodying the argument of those who believe 'diversity has gone too far', or B) making the point that the current representation of different demographics is realistic so we shouldn't complain. In short, I'm not sure which side you've got in your crosshairs.

(If that was your intention, to get everyone, then well played).

Pretty much this.

Still, I feel mildly entertained, so cheers for that.

And now I'm getting out, because this thread is doomed to become a carbon copy of the last one, albeit possibly with less LOTR. If anyone wants to know my position on these matters for some reason, it's in there.

 

[Bombiz]

This did make me laugh.

I'm not quite sure whether you're A) parodying the argument of those who believe 'diversity has gone too far', or B) making the point that the current representation of different demographics is realistic so we shouldn't complain. In short, I'm not sure which side you've got in your crosshairs.

(If that was your intention, to get everyone, then well played).

Pretty much this.

Still, I feel mildly entertained, so cheers for that.

And now I'm getting out, because this thread is doomed to become a carbon copy of the last one, albeit possibly with less LOTR. If anyone wants to know my position on these matters for some reason, it's in there.

hold on. it's been a full 3 hours since this thread was created and it's still civil. maybe this time it'll be different.
also what other thread is this a carbon copy of?

 

[Eamar]

hold on. it's been a full 3 hours since this thread was created and it's still civil. maybe this time it'll be different.
also what other thread is this a carbon copy of?

The "has 'diversity' in fiction gone too far?" thread, which is currently sitting at 17 pages. The OP is different, but the issues addressed are the same and some of the same arguments have already come up.

Of course it might be different this time, but I rather suspect otherwise. Unless of course everyone's too worn out from the other thread to bother with this one.

By all means go ahead and prove me wrong, I would welcome it However, I shall not be participating myself.

 

[Bombiz]

hold on. it's been a full 3 hours since this thread was created and it's still civil. maybe this time it'll be different.
also what other thread is this a carbon copy of?

The "has 'diversity' in fiction gone too far?" thread, which is currently sitting at 17 pages. The OP is different, but the issues addressed are the same and some of the same arguments have already come up.

Of course it might be different this time, but I rather suspect otherwise. Unless of course everyone's too worn out from the other thread to bother with this one.

By all means go ahead and prove me wrong, I would welcome it However, I shall not be participating myself.

eh the topic has kind of worn it's self down as of late. i don't think anything usefully can be gained from discussing it any more. at least for now.

though if i am to give my own opinion on the matter, i'd say it still has a ways to go before it has "gone too far".

 

[Qvar]

Games are - by design - fictional worlds. So, the question to call into mind here is this:

Is a lack of diversity in a game actually relevent in real life?

My answer would be no. I don't think it's actually that important here. It doesn't offend the Italian side of my heritage either to find that there are alot of Mafia types in media either.

Hah. Better that than the possibly-mentally-handicaped italian guy I've just found at the beggining of Alpha Primer.

"Here, prego! Many weapons, yes. BANG BANG BANG." He kept going on like that for so long, I've been wondering if the devs were actually trying to make a point of some sort. Then he apparently got shoot in the leg, said that he couldn't follow me anymore and assured that he was going to claim physicial disability and a compensatory pension (this being currently trapped in a planet full of zombies. And no, it's not a humorous game).

OT: What this man said. I suscribe all of it.

I thought "political correctness" was inclusive, and you're arguing that it's exclusive. If games were too "PC" as you say then there would be equal representation of LBGTs and non-white races, which in western society are still minorities, which makes sense that when marketing games to western society you appeal to the largest demographic, straight white guys.

Regardless of whether this thread was intended sardonically as a parody or is playing itself straight, I'm kind of tired of the assertion that any straight white character is somehow a jab at equality or fair representation. I'm all for more varied characters and having different types, but that doesn't mean you can't have straight white protagonists.

Bigotry works both ways, those who are actively bigoted towards minority representations, and those who are bigoted towards majority representations over broad assumptions of them all being bigoted.

 

[Silvanus]

I'm kind of tired of the assertion that any straight white character is somehow a jab at equality or fair representation. I'm all for more varied characters and having different types, but that doesn't mean you can't have straight white protagonists.

That's an assertion that nobody ever made, and I think you know that full well. That's a fully intentional strawman.

I basically agree with this post. Most videogamers are straight white males hence the number of straight white male protagonists.

The proportion is not representative, though. Almost all video game protagonists (who have written romances) are straight-- the exceptions are very, very rare. I can't think of any canonically gay protagonists.

This is not the case with gamers. They exist, and while a minority, they're not near-nonexistant. Likewise, I'd also bet quite a bit there is a higher proportion of female gamers than there is of female protagonists.

 

[Something Amyss]

But the simple fact is, every single game has gotten ridiculous with it's attempts to cram in white guys.

Oh, man, I am SICK TO DEATH of people bashing straight white men every time they ask for a little representation[footnote]But seriously, when I saw where this was going, I laughed so hard I think I may have cracked a rib.[/footnote]. You may not have mentioned sexuality, but I'm sure you were thinking it. Do you have any idea how few games were released last year featuring straight white dudes? I CAN'T COUNT THAT HIGH. But it's still NOT ENOUGH.

Won't someone please think of the straight white dudes?

 

[Something Amyss]

Most videogamers are straight white males

Can you prove that? I'd be interested in seeing it.

 

[RedDeadFred]

*In the Joker's voice* And here... we... go.

Oh the madness that this thread has the potential to create. It was an entertaining read but I think I should dive for cover now. I'll check back later and see if anarchy has broken loose.