Why are all future human heroes American?

[Agayek]

How does that make any sense?

Think about it.

Everyone hates America. It's the "cool" thing right now. Obviously that means if you take any of the most hated American video game characters from the last decade and made them French, British, or Italian, everyone would instantly love them.

 

[Sindre1]

Mario is the most popular character in any game, and he is Italian. Makes him stand out.
Im sure that a lot of characters would be more popular if they where not American, like everybody else.

How does that make any sense?

How does it not?

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

Because Americans MAKE the games.

^This. Same reason why every NPC in the Fablegames has an English accent; Lionhead is an English developer, and therefore it's easier for them to hire English voice actors.

Also, Japanese developers who localise their game for English speaking countries use voice actors that have the same accent as the target group. And since most English speaking gamers are American, they use American voice actors.

I love the Fable voice actors for their Britishness. Especially the first game with the guy asking you to watch the barn. My dad heard and just yelled "Don't trust 'im! He's a scouser!"

 

[Yossarian90]

Also Mario isn't Italian he's from the Mushroom Kingdom, he's an immigrant who went there to start again

Hey I just realized where Rockstar got the idea for GTA 4 from!

 

[asinann]

Because our lack of accent means that the main character can be understood by EVERYONE and the game won't have to be localized 20 different times.

Oh, and America is the largest single market for the games.

Lack of accent?? Only to yourselves!

Come on man, don't be that stupid.

The British invented the language and still haven't learned to spell properly (who thought that "silent letters" were a good idea?)

When most of the world learns "english" they are actually learning to speak "american" (we call it english but spell everything in as few letters as possible, speak faster and added words that aren't friendly.)

When people are referred to as having a lack of accent in english, they aren't talking about speaking like a Brit, they are talking about speaking like a mid-western American (there are people here with regional accents, and when you hear one of them you think badly of the person.)

 

[tsb247]

why can't Americans relate to anyone other than themselves. Bit self centred isn't it

Yes, but sometimes it's difficult to relate to anyone else when so many others seem to hate you. I have encountered so many threads on these forums alone that are just LOADED with anti-American sentiment. Why bother when some just don't seem to want to listen?

I'm sick of all of the anti-American B.S. People call us 'evil' for invading Iraq, and then they go around saying that they hate us and we should all die. It's a little hypocritical yes?

I'm not trying to start a flame war or anything. I'm just trying to answer your question. Would you want to relate to someone who really seems to have no interest? Maybe Americans would branch out if people would be more accepting of our way of life rather than being nothing but critical and getting into pissing contest about, "Which country is better?" Americans are just as guilty of doing this too I might add...

Americans aren't bad. We have good ones and bad ones just like everyone else.

 

[Internet Kraken]

Mario is the most popular character in any game, and he is Italian. Makes him stand out.
Im sure that a lot of characters would be more popular if they where not American, like everybody else.

How does that make any sense?

How does it not?

I don't think giving a character an accent would make somebody like them more. Unless you hate a game character just because they're an American, and that's a stupid reason to hate somebody. Especially a fictional character.

 

[Istickell]

Probably because it was an American who created the character, does it matter? If your care so much then why don't you write a story about a future hero that is European or African. Then we won't have to here people bitching about who's nationality is better and how they're jealous that a different country has it better.

 

[Yossarian90]

why can't Americans relate to anyone other than themselves. Bit self centred isn't it

Yes, but sometimes it's difficult to relate to anyone else when so many others seem to hate you. I have encountered so many threads on these forums alone that are just LOADED with anti-American sentiment. Why bother when some just don't seem to want to listen?

I'm not trying to start a flame war or anything. I'm just trying to answer your question. Would you want to relate to someone who really seems to have no interest?

Americans aren't bad. We have good ones and bad ones just like everyone else.

Jesus Christ here we go, I was waiting for this im not anti-American thats just your default position for anyone who criticises your country

Im just saying there are other countries out there.

 

[Lord George]

Because our lack of accent means that the main character can be understood by EVERYONE and the game won't have to be localized 20 different times.

Oh, and America is the largest single market for the games.

Lack of accent?? Only to yourselves!

Come on man, don't be that stupid.

The British invented the language and still haven't learned to spell properly (who thought that "silent letters" were a good idea?)

When most of the world learns "english" they are actually learning to speak "american" (we call it english but spell everything in as few letters as possible, speak faster and added words that aren't friendly.)

When people are referred to as having a lack of accent in english, they aren't talking about speaking like a Brit, they are talking about speaking like a mid-western American (there are people here with regional accents, and when you hear one of them you think badly of the person.)

Well I can say that it sounds like an accent to me, sounds like a yanks accent. The most implacable accent I've ever heard was from an English south easterner. It sounded so bland.

 

[Yossarian90]

Probably because it was an American who created the character, does it matter? If your care so much then why don't you write a story about a future hero that is European or African. Then we won't have to here people bitching about who's nationality is better and how they're jealous that a different country has it better.

I don't care it's just an observation

 

[xChevelle24]

In most games why do the main characters talk with an American accent? The Halo games(with exception to Australians), Gears Of War, Dead Space, Mass Effect, Chronicles of Riddick the list goes on. Even the side characters talk, mostly, like Americans or with some sort of American lilt. I know alot of developers and publishers are American but goddamn can't we have the Russia equivelent of Master Chief.

It's like America conquers earth and makes everyone on earth American apart from the Australians who they deem worthy to go into space with them. I understand but it would be nice for some other English speaking heroes or even ones with strange accents.

To quote some lady:

"Because only American women give birth to real men!"

 

[Woe Is You]

It's like America conquers earth and makes everyone on earth American apart from the Australians who they deem worthy to go into space with them. I understand but it would be nice for some other English speaking heroes or even ones with strange accents.

You should play some of those PC games the eastern bloc and Russia gives us. Seriously.

Start from Silent Storm and STALKER.

 

[Sindre1]

Mario is the most popular character in any game, and he is Italian. Makes him stand out.
Im sure that a lot of characters would be more popular if they where not American, like everybody else.

How does that make any sense?

How does it not?

I don't think giving a character an accent would make somebody like them more. Unless you hate a game character just because they're an American, and that's a stupid reason to hate somebody. Especially a fictional character.

Mario is the most popular character in any game, and he is Italian. Makes him stand out.
Im sure that a lot of characters would be more popular if they where not American, like everybody else.

Makes him stand out.

That was the important part.
But I see your point about that other stuff.

Edit: Soooo... something got fucked up with my post :S

 

[funksobeefy]

"We are the best, because we are the best" its just really stupid

I think if your taking any of those responses seriously then you need to take a class on sarcasm.

Obviously its because most game companys are located in the states, just like Hollywood does alot of American focused movies because its located it America. Until your country creates a multi-trillion dollar movie and game entertainment business with millions of people working for it and it starts to influence all of pop culture around the world your gonna have to live with the American one

Nobody gets mad at Bollywood because they make Indian focused movies.

 

[TriggerUnhappy]

they always say it in American, it feels like your fighting for the United States of American Earth

Actually, us Americans speak English, hard to believe I know. On a more serious note, the main reason is that American voice actors may be easier/cheaper for the company to hire or the company that made the game will think the main hero speaking with an American accent will raise sales over here, I don't know. Honestly, I don't really care and I think it would be interesting if you could choose the accent/nationality of your characters in games. (Imagine an English accented Shepard in Mass Effect 2)

 

[tsb247]

Jesus Christ here we go, I was waiting for this im not anti-American thats just your default position for anyone who criticises your country

Im just saying there are other countries out there.

I never called you anti-American. You are assuming. I simply answered your question. I'm sorry if you feel like I was accusing you of something, that was not my intention.

 

[Yossarian90]

To quote some lady:

"Because only American women give birth to real men!"

You stole that from 300, and replaced Spartan with American, cheap dude, cheap

Plus your nation was invented by all European nations immigrants (not a bad thing just saying)