Huh, he was? Didn't really watch E3, couldn't be bothered. This is why I tend to keep my mouth shut on some of these subject matters, but I do blurt out something stupid every once in awhile. I have to say though that was rather cool. I'm not gonna lie, I was particularly interesting in Far Cry 4, but this has captured my attention.NLS said:
First Look at Far Cry 4 Protagonist Ajay Ghale
- Thread starter roseofbattle
- Start date
The article didn't say the game was improved by a lack of white characters, it said it was improved by avoiding the "white savior" cliche, which I think we can all agree is a little groan worthy.Imperius said:
It's less "the game had a white guy in it, so the story sucked," and more, "the game fully and unabashedly embodied the centuries-old, time-honored, seriously-the-historical-significance-of-this-storyline-cannot-be-overstated 'white guy stumbles into brown people conflict, becomes the mythical hero of legend that it turns out none of them could, saves them all when they were totally incapable of saving themselves, and that's why we should get involved in as many foreign countries and set up as many empires as possible folks who's with me' trope. Also, on a more personal note, the story fucking sucked."Imperius said:Wow. So much racism in that last paragraph. So a narrative is improved when you cut out all the white people? Golf clap, OP, Golf Clap.
Nobody, but nobody, is saying changing a protagonist's race regardless of any other context or consideration improves a story. That's an absurd claim. But it's promising to see Ubisoft's crack team of storytellers discover they had the fucking option.
Don't get me wrong, I'm pretty sure FarCry 4's narrative is going to be terrible. But given all the context of the conflict and scenario they're portraying--and ONLY given that context--yeah, I think a non-native white guy would be inappropriate. Some dude on vacation is not going to have the same stakes as a guy from the region, which I am assuming this guy is.
Does this mean that another random non-white ethnicity would be equally odd and probably unsuited? Well. Yeah, probably. Although if they made him, like, a black guy, at least we'd have some faith they made that uncharacteristic move for a reason besides "it's the default," and pay attention to see what it was.
No suggestion of the sort was made. The apt casting of an asian protagonist creates a narrative consistency given that the character is from the actual place, not a hapless American who happens to save everyone because he's magically superior. I think you're missing the allusion hereImperius said:
I must say, I am highly offended by this choice of protagonist.
This is clearly a highly stylized and idealized version of an Asian, perpetuating the "Model Minority" stereotype. Furthermore, since this game was written by white people, this is a problematic example of cultural appropriation.
And that's not even going into the fact of how age-ist it is to have him be young.
[spoiler/]I jest of course. As much as I liked Jason Brody in a Greek Tragedy sort of way, the opening cutscene of FC3 made me want to kill myself. While I do think the idea behind FC3 of the American college moron having to leave behind everything he was in order to survive was a neat way to go, having the main character be a native defending a homeland that [i/]isn't[/i] the United States is a nice way to take it[/spoiler]
This is clearly a highly stylized and idealized version of an Asian, perpetuating the "Model Minority" stereotype. Furthermore, since this game was written by white people, this is a problematic example of cultural appropriation.
And that's not even going into the fact of how age-ist it is to have him be young.
[spoiler/]I jest of course. As much as I liked Jason Brody in a Greek Tragedy sort of way, the opening cutscene of FC3 made me want to kill myself. While I do think the idea behind FC3 of the American college moron having to leave behind everything he was in order to survive was a neat way to go, having the main character be a native defending a homeland that [i/]isn't[/i] the United States is a nice way to take it[/spoiler]
roseofbattle said:
It seems to me that the writer is suggesting that having a white person as the protagonist degenerates the quality of the story. At best, the paragraph is poorly worded, and at worst, is racist towards white people.
By the way, Jason ended up fighting white mercs on the Rook islands as well, so wouldn't that cancel out that cultural insensitivity?
And for the most part, video games are designed to make you the player feel larger-than-life or otherwise superior in skills or courage than the npc's around you. Since you adopt the role of Jason Brody, it is not unnatural to assume you will be "the chosen one" in the game.
Same in Farcry 4. I except Ajay to end up being as equally competent.
I mean, its cool we're not a white person for once...but I heard his voice and i'm pretty sure he's from the U.S, or at the very least, Canada. He is still going to have the personality that is going to be similar to Jason Brody, just probably less frat-boyish. The fact that he is of Asian descent is completely superficial.
That's the thing. You're giving the focal point of the story to a white male protagonist, how he got there is irrelevant from that point. If it was written in a book from his perspective, the complaint is the same: it's a hilariously stereotypical (and kind of ancient) trope. Why is Jason Brody, (borderline anagram for frat boy nicknaming; doubly so given his background) suspended into onto an island with almost no prior experience and given mysticism via its natives, BETTER at it than literally -everyone else-. Being the focal point doesn't excuse using really crappy narrative choices. No one's doubting their capability: it's the PC, they're going to be capable because they control the progression of the story. How that impacts said story is a whole other matter.Imperius said:
And no, it isn't an insult toward white people, it's a jab at the status quo of our current-day triple-A industry state. We're already swimming in white male protagonists, the last thing we need are white male protagonists who perpetuate, even if not outright racism, an extremely dated race-related idea. Intention obviously plays a part in this, and I sincerely doubt the guys at Ubi just sat down and decided "let's make racism!", but it needed to receive some criticism. They're obviously set on making games in exotic regions of the world, and they need to account as to how the characters they create work within them.
considering the article states that he lived in the region in which the game takes place and moved because of civil war, I doubt it's going to be that superficial.freakonaleash said:
Um, the article itself says that his home region is in the Himalayas, which is where the game takes place.freakonaleash said:
As an Asian-American, I'm pretty happy to play a game with an Asian-American protagonist. (The intro to game shows him with an American passport so even though he was born in Kyrat he was probably raised in the United States)
Although if his voice actor is white, I'm sure there'll inevitably be an article bitching about it.
Although if his voice actor is white, I'm sure there'll inevitably be an article bitching about it.
And race as we all know, is more than just superficial.freakonaleash said:
No but I get what you´re saying. It´s fun that we´re playing as someone else than well built european dude for once, even if it is just so we can play as attractive asian dude but the focus on diversity should be on more than just superficial qualities so we don´t just end up as playing as the dudebro rainbow.
"Hey katie, I'm going to steal names from your bad twilight fanfiction. Say nothing if you're cool with that."
well, at least they're making vaguely Asian. Hopefully they don't make him a silent protagonist like they did with Far Cry 2 protagonist.
Which would be pretty baseless and pointless. I mean, if he lived in America for most of his life, he would have an American accent.fezgod said:
You do have a point.MarsAtlas said:
That video is great too. I love watching them tear apart a terrible game. If I recall, that game actually evoked far more rage from Yahtzee as well.
The only issue was that upon clicking on it, I saw an annotation pop up with "Trigger Warnings".
Now I've lost some respect for whoever is in charge of the EC YouTube videos and I'm just really really sad.
Well... I do like the attempt at diversity. But this is Ubisoft, so the chances of them ruining this cool looking protag with dull as paint drying written character background/motivation is preeeeeetty high.
If that's the case, the change will be for not!
If that's the case, the change will be for not!
Not a big surprise, I'm pretty sure that they already said that the main character was going to be a native to the region.
But of course, this will simply become a back and forth about race, "oh wonderful, he's not white" or "oh no, Ubisoft is cracking under pressure" or "oh lordy! He must have been white, but they changed him because we told them to do it!"
But of course, this will simply become a back and forth about race, "oh wonderful, he's not white" or "oh no, Ubisoft is cracking under pressure" or "oh lordy! He must have been white, but they changed him because we told them to do it!"
Kudos on maintaining racial diversity, Ubisoft!
On the other hand:
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2014-06-11-far-cry-4-to-also-skip-playable-female-character-due-to-workload
Damnit, Ubisoft!
Well, at least they aren't completely devoid of trying to be diverse.
On the other hand:
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2014-06-11-far-cry-4-to-also-skip-playable-female-character-due-to-workload
Damnit, Ubisoft!
Well, at least they aren't completely devoid of trying to be diverse.