Ben
Ben is a lifelong Nintendo fan who likes to build websites, and make video games. He buys way too much Lego.
Race in video games
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.
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…