Race in video games
February 16, 2007 | Links
Chris Kohler has an interesting post over on Wired Games about race in video games.
The topic was started by fellow 9ruller, Jason Ellis from Microscopiq.
I really like the point Chris makes about characters, Jade from Beyond Good and Evil in particular, being designed to be racially ambiguous - and I wish more companies would do the same.
I’ve never really considered the race, or the sex for that matter, of the characters in the games I play. I play games for enjoyment, and really don’t care whether I am black, white, male, or female - provided the game is fun. I feel the character should fit the game, they should look like they belong in the world, and belong in the role they are playing - skin colour shouldn’t matter at all.
Gun Wing
Rocket Boards
Seths Puzzle Boxes
ExGen
Comments »
February 18, 2007
It shouldn’t matter, but the sad fact is that the ‘neutral’ choice in videogames (among other cultural products) is white and male. If you have a female central character, she’s often a piece of eyecandy for male gamers, and if you have a character who’s black or latino or Asian, they usually have a bunch of stereotypes stapled to them. It doesn’t mean everyone has to be portrayed in a relentlessly positive fashion, but something halfway realistic would be nice.
I think everyone likes to have the opportunity to see themselves reflected in the TV shows they watch, the books they read and the games they play. I have to admit I enjoy games like Oblivion where I can spend a few minutes choosing the gender, race and appearance of the character I play. Even if it’s purely cosmetic and has no effect on gameplay, I like to be able to have some input on who I’m going to be watching and playing over the next 15-50 hours…