racism in videogames

[BishopofAges]

When it is part of the story in a meaningful and not just "hey guys! we added racism" type thing, it can be an interesting story-telling device, as is most struggle and adversity against a character.

Story-tellling has taken some hits in certain genres. I can't really speak for the current 'realistic shooter' class, because I don't play many of them, but I will say that I, you, and anyone else will get a look of utter confusion if you walk into a gamestop, find two seasoned players of a series and ask them how the storyline was. How do I know? I did this experiment once while I was waiting in line to buy a game, and just so happened to be there on a release date. I had asked about 15-18 people and only got about one good response.

Back on the topic: certain things like racism or killing off characters may piss us off, but if executed properly they can make the story all the more meaningful and rememberable, even if it is to spite that bastard who killed your favorite character.

 

[Odinsson]

In terms of a game where racism was an integral part of the story, I personally can't go past both Witcher games. The conflict and hatred between human and non-human was a huge part of the events of the games, and your character himself has trouble deciding which side he takes

 

[ZippyDSMlee]

Russians or home boys as bad guys dose not equate to racism. Correlation is not causation. If anything its poor writing.

 

[shrimpcel]

Bioshock had some racist comments made by some characters, mostly in the audio logs. Targets: French, Americans if my memory is correct.
Mass Effect series also has some racism going on between the different species. The first game was partly about proving Humanity's worth after all.
The Elder Scrolls has the same problem, more obviously in Skyrim, with some Nords' belief in their own superiority.
Grand Theft Auto, pretty obvious.
Warcraft and World of Warcraft have a lot of this going on, Humans often deeming other races as inherently evil, untrustworthy, etc.
And then there's Call of Duty.

 

[Salad Is Murder]

The Dead Rising and Street Fighter games have always seemed pretty racist to me...maybe Capcom games as a general rule. I mean, come on...Dee Jay, T.Hawk for realsies Capcom?

 

[shadowskater]

How about racism in Pokemon? Have you guys heard the debates about whether Jynx is based on black stereotypes? There's actually a really strong case for it...the big lips, the black face, the "mammy" shape. Either that, or she's inspired by ganguro girls in Japan, a 90's fashion fad where girls tanned a lot and bleached their hair, but that's also based on black stereotypes. The debate surrounding the issue is really interesting. I think this video explains it really well:

http://www.screwattack.com/shows/partners/game-theory/pokemon-part-3-white-power-and-black-faces

Personally, though, I think a game that has characters with racist beliefs, like Bioshock, adds to the realism of the experience. Because, honestly, it's not a colorblind world, especially during the time period of Bioshock's setting. I think it makes the game world feel more authentic, though I can see how some people would get upset by it.

 

[Popeman]

The Elder Scrolls has the same problem, more obviously in Skyrim, with some Nords' belief in their own superiority.
Warcraft and World of Warcraft have a lot of this going on, Humans often deeming other races as inherently evil, untrustworthy, etc.

I hate fantasy that take that route it's so lazy. Although to be fair with Skyrim almost everyone thinks they are the best. Or as yahtzee would say "it's nice to see it's not just he humans who are completed fuck wits this time."

 

[Lucian The Lugia]

I'd like to see Americans be the bad guy for once. Not just a few evil Americans but the actual nation be evil. Europe, Russia and China would set up an alliance to stop the evil American menace.

Is there even a game with britain as the bad guys? Most of the people here are complete cunts but they're always the good ones :/...

I think Yahtzee said that Killzone 3 had British space Nazis or something.

 

[Yureina]

The only racism that annoys me in games is how Russians tend to be the bad guys in every "realistic shooter" game. I think it is a big reason why I just don't play those games anymore, in addition to the fact that they are also generally shitty.

 

[Zen Toombs]

Dwarves don't look down on anyone, because they're short.

Wynne disapproves -4
Oghren disapproves -10
Shale approves +1

OT: I also don't like the "evil ruskies" vibe modern videogames have had.

I do find racism in sci-fi or fantasy settings interesting though. (See Dragon Age)

 

[Trippy Turtle]

People make such a big deal of racism when it can just be ignored. Imagine how much easier it would be if nobody even bothered to look at the people who were being racist. They would shut up pretty damn quick.

OT: I guess the Nords and Dark elves in Windhelm in Skyrim.

 

[Something Amyss]

People make such a big deal of racism when it can just be ignored. Imagine how much easier it would be if nobody even bothered to look at the people who were being racist. They would shut up pretty damn quick.

OT: I guess the Nords and Dark elves in Windhelm in Skyrim.

Yes, the "just ignore it and it'll go away" method has been so successful in the past.

 

[Something Amyss]

The Dead Rising and Street Fighter games have always seemed pretty racist to me...maybe Capcom games as a general rule. I mean, come on...Dee Jay, T.Hawk for realsies Capcom?

Now, I haven't played DR 2, so maybe there's something I'm missing, but what particularly do you see in the series that's racist?

 

[Trippy Turtle]

People make such a big deal of racism when it can just be ignored. Imagine how much easier it would be if nobody even bothered to look at the people who were being racist. They would shut up pretty damn quick.

OT: I guess the Nords and Dark elves in Windhelm in Skyrim.

Yes, the "just ignore it and it'll go away" method has been so successful in the past.

When have you seen any serious racism with your own eyes? Not something the media has blown way out of proportion.

 

[Something Amyss]

When have you seen any serious racism with your own eyes? Not something the media has blown way out of proportion.

Pretty constantly at my high school. Even better, it was still there when my friend's kids were attending a few years ago. They have the distinction of being muslim and of Arabic descent.

There was also an incident of a burning black effigy at a bonfire, a "lynched" doll outside my father's place, I had to stick up for a guy who was being assaulted for the crime of being a (racial epithet for arab).

And that's just in my backyard, off the top of my head. There are cases of racism in the news verbatim, not "blown way out of proportion, etc.

But hey, it's never happened to you, so it can't be real.

...And that's the problem with the "just ignore it" model.

 

[Trippy Turtle]

When have you seen any serious racism with your own eyes? Not something the media has blown way out of proportion.

Pretty constantly at my high school. Even better, it was still there when my friend's kids were attending a few years ago. They have the distinction of being muslim and of Arabic descent.

There was also an incident of a burning black effigy at a bonfire, a "lynched" doll outside my father's place, I had to stick up for a guy who was being assaulted for the crime of being a (racial epithet for arab).

And that's just in my backyard, off the top of my head. There are cases of racism in the news verbatim, not "blown way out of proportion, etc.

But hey, it's never happened to you, so it can't be real.

...And that's the problem with the "just ignore it" model.

I would have covered that under physical violence with you don't ignore. I was talking about just the racism with no violence or anything attached. Stereotypes and insults.

 

[Jakub324]

just a general discussion: something disgustingly offensive in a videogame, stereotypical background charachters, villains or the opposite, whatever that may be, or just something minorly offensive but not outright racist.

my personal picking point: Russians, every second shooter these days has russians as villains

assuming the game is a military shooter, which enemy nation would you find less offensive?

There's no love lost for North Korea.

If every second shooter then had us kill Koreans, I think

just a general discussion: something disgustingly offensive in a videogame, stereotypical background charachters, villains or the opposite, whatever that may be, or just something minorly offensive but not outright racist.

my personal picking point: Russians, every second shooter these days has russians as villains

assuming the game is a military shooter, which enemy nation would you find less offensive?

There's no love lost for North Korea.

Personally I'd like the modern military shooter genre to fade away now, it outstayed its welcome a long time ago. But if it refuses to go out with dignity, then I agree it could at least try and be a little more inventive and relevant, and stop having its gamers shoot Russians. How about a multi-cultural force of mercenaries?

As for the OT, Brits always end up evil or dead (just like in Hollywood films). I'm not much of a patriot but it's really starting to piss me off now.

Then maybe shooters shouldn't go; Modern Warfare 2 had a predominantly British-American task force solving the USA's problems, and Modern Warfare 3 has two British soldiers running around like James Bond even after the US declared them international criminals.

 

[joe-h2o]

I'd like to see Americans be the bad guy for once. Not just a few evil Americans but the actual nation be evil. Europe, Russia and China would set up an alliance to stop the evil American menace.

Is there even a game with britain as the bad guys? Most of the people here are complete cunts but they're always the good ones :/...

Civilisation 4: Colonisation.

The British are one of four possible bad guys (along with three other powers of Europe) in your quest to settle America and build up a decent economy/army to fight the inevitable arrival of the British/French/Dutch/Spanish to crush you.

The rulers in the animated "headshots" are truly over the top in their caricature.

 

[Cyrus Hanley]

I'd like to see Americans be the bad guy for once. Not just a few evil Americans but the actual nation be evil. Europe, Russia and China would set up an alliance to stop the evil American menace.

Is there even a game with britain as the bad guys? Most of the people here are complete cunts but they're always the good ones :/...

Off the top of my head, there's the Project Nova level in Call of Duty: Black Ops.

 

[Mr. Eff_v1legacy]

I think alot of the so-called racism in video games is people simply looking too deeply into things. For example, the often cited racism in Resident Evil 5, to me, was always ridiculous. The game took place in Africa. The ethic composition of Africa is primarily black.

Where are all of the people complaining about Medal of Honour, Call of Duty and the myriad of other WWII FPS games being "racist" against Germans?