Archived from groups: alt.games.video.sony-playstation2 (More info?)
This isn't a direct follow-up to the recent thread concerning racist
language in online games, but that thread had me thinking about another
topic which I think is worthy of discussion. Namely, is the
"urbanization" of videogames a good thing, a bad thing, or neither?
By urbanization, I mean games which feature inner-city environments
(usually crime-ridden), hip hop and rap music, slang and "ebonics"
dialogue, and minority (usually African or Latino) characters.
Considering that the game company CEO's, the programmers, the PR
contacts, and even the game journalists are primarily white, what does
this mean? Is it an honest attempt to create "inclusive,
multicultural" games instead of games with white characters? Or is it
simply an attempt to "cash in" on the latest fad--trying to be "hip" by
using new music and current clothing styles?
If you are not a minority, do you really care if the main character is
black or white? Are you really interested in gangsta rap, or could you
not care less? Can you really relate to life on the "street" while
living in the country or the suburbs? Do you feel as if the publishers
are trying to convey a social or political statement?
If you are a minority, do you really care if the main character is
black or white? Are you more offended by the use of harmful
stereotypes than you are by the lack of main characters who are
minorities? Do you think hiring minority programmers, journalists, and
game company CEO's is a better goal than creating violent urban games
that might perpetuate stereotypes?
On the one hand, even though videogames are entertainment and fantasy,
people probably want a main character that they can relate to. On the
other hand, wouldn't it be better if you could simply change the color
of Max Payne or Lara Croft's skin...rather than being forced to play a
gangbanger or an NFL/NBA star if you want a minority character? Aren't
there some stories and values that transcend race? (Consider Ubisoft's
"Beyond Good and Evil" starring an Asian female--would the game have
been any less brilliant with a black male?)
If game publishers suddenly "feminized" games--making more female lead
characters, but keeping them in stereotypical female roles (shopping,
cooking, etc.)--I'm sure we would hear a lot of criticism from both
males (who don't want to play those roles) and females (who are
offended by those roles). Why, then, has no one commented on the fact
that a lot of games have taken on an "urban" style in the past few
years?
This isn't a direct follow-up to the recent thread concerning racist
language in online games, but that thread had me thinking about another
topic which I think is worthy of discussion. Namely, is the
"urbanization" of videogames a good thing, a bad thing, or neither?
By urbanization, I mean games which feature inner-city environments
(usually crime-ridden), hip hop and rap music, slang and "ebonics"
dialogue, and minority (usually African or Latino) characters.
Considering that the game company CEO's, the programmers, the PR
contacts, and even the game journalists are primarily white, what does
this mean? Is it an honest attempt to create "inclusive,
multicultural" games instead of games with white characters? Or is it
simply an attempt to "cash in" on the latest fad--trying to be "hip" by
using new music and current clothing styles?
If you are not a minority, do you really care if the main character is
black or white? Are you really interested in gangsta rap, or could you
not care less? Can you really relate to life on the "street" while
living in the country or the suburbs? Do you feel as if the publishers
are trying to convey a social or political statement?
If you are a minority, do you really care if the main character is
black or white? Are you more offended by the use of harmful
stereotypes than you are by the lack of main characters who are
minorities? Do you think hiring minority programmers, journalists, and
game company CEO's is a better goal than creating violent urban games
that might perpetuate stereotypes?
On the one hand, even though videogames are entertainment and fantasy,
people probably want a main character that they can relate to. On the
other hand, wouldn't it be better if you could simply change the color
of Max Payne or Lara Croft's skin...rather than being forced to play a
gangbanger or an NFL/NBA star if you want a minority character? Aren't
there some stories and values that transcend race? (Consider Ubisoft's
"Beyond Good and Evil" starring an Asian female--would the game have
been any less brilliant with a black male?)
If game publishers suddenly "feminized" games--making more female lead
characters, but keeping them in stereotypical female roles (shopping,
cooking, etc.)--I'm sure we would hear a lot of criticism from both
males (who don't want to play those roles) and females (who are
offended by those roles). Why, then, has no one commented on the fact
that a lot of games have taken on an "urban" style in the past few
years?
bydnWhM0pUqOUHfRVn-1A@comcast.com...
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