Ok. There's been a lot of talk today about racism in games and I feel like I need to comment on some of the insane-o reactions to these stories. I originally was going to write this blog about a story on Kotaku that quoted Morgan Gray (the Senior Producer at Crystal Dynamics) about his feelings on black stereotypes in games, but then over here Gameboi posted about a quote from N'Gai (En-Guy) Croal pertaining to the Resident Evil 5 trailer. So I'm going to give you a 2-for-1 and talk about each separately. Strap yourselves in kids because this is going to be a long one.
First, a little background on me:
I'm the product of a white dad and a black mom. I don't really identify myself as either as I am no more one than the other, and I never even gave it that much thought until someone pointed it out to me at the age of 10. Being of mixed decent, I've had the unique opportunity of being able to see both sides of the proverbial fence. I have really rich white relatives who live in the same neighborhood as Oprah's father, really rich black relatives who could afford to buy my cousin literally a walk in closet full of toys and send him to law school, and poor black relatives who live in the heart of the ghetto where crack houses are just down the road and people shoot guns in the air on the street on New Years.
Despite the fact that my Dad is a religious right wing white guy, he raised me on NWA, 2 Live Crew, and Wu-Tang and used to blast "Fuck the Police” when the cops came to our house late at night to tell us to turn the music down (on more than one occasion). I myself tended to relate and hang out with white people more (while my little brother related more to black people), but I had plenty of black friends as well since the schools I went to had a good mix of races. My point is that I come from a pretty diverse/crazy background.
Because of my ability to blend into both racial groups (people mistake me as hispanic, arabian, and asian(?) on a constant basis), I've seen racism from all sides. I've also been the victim of racism a few times as I seem to attract white girls with extremely racist fathers. But I'm not easily offended at all, I'm not a big fan of political correctness, and I tend to laugh most racist stuff off.
But enough about me.
Let's talk about the Kotaku article first. This is the quote that Kotaku pulled from Morgan Gray's interview:
“Here's the thing: Cole Train on his own, no harm no foul. But what is Cole Train? ColeTrain is basically like every other effin' black character in a video game. Like here comesthe urban stereotype. Where is this 1990's — not even 2000 — black slang, wheredoes this fit in this futuristic world that doesn't even take place on Earth? They goreally far to do a lot of fictional justifications for this culture that they've built, andthey go right back to this urban stereotype for the black character.
I'm not knocking Epic; the game was fun and gorgeous. But it's just a lack of thought, right?All it does is reinforce dumb stereotypes and it sort of reinforces casual racism.”
Now over on Kotaku, the main reaction to this was along the lines of “All football players are like that. It wouldn't make sense if he was a scrawny white guy.” which totally misses the point. Now let's make a few things clear.
*First of all, I think Cole is the most awesomest character in Gears. The dude is hilarious and lightens up the mood when he's around.
*Second, Gears of War isn't the pinnacle of character development. Pretty much everyone in the game is a stereotype of some kind.
*Third, from what I heard, Cole was inspired and voiced by Terry Tate or more specifically, those awesome “Terrible Terry Tate: Office Linebacker” commercials. Epic saw those and thought it would be cool if you could play a character like that in a game.
All that said, is Cole Train a negative black stereotype? Hell yes. He's the stereotypical loud mouth, cocky, football playin, simple minded, out dated gangsta slang spoutin black guy. He's extremely entertaining and again, I love the guy, but this is still true so Morgan used Cole Train as an example.
But within the context of the full original article, you can see that his point wasn't about how Cole is a negative stereotype, or even that it's not ok to have a character like that every now and then, it was the fact that more often than not when black people (or most minorities) are portrayed in games, they turn out to be a character like Cole Train. This loud mouth, attitude having, stereotypical black guy. I can't stress this point enough since so many people missed it over there so I'll say it again.
His point is that 9 times out of 10, the minority is portrayed as a negative stereotype.
Morgan isn't saying there's no place for a character like that, only that he'd like to see a more balanced portrayal of minorities in games.
Now about this N'Gai quote.
A LOT of people are reading the quote and mis-interpreting it as him saying that Resident Evil 5 is racist. THIS IS NOT WHAT HE'S SAYING AT ALL. He was merely pointing out how the trailer could be mis-interpreted (ironic huh?) as being racist and how the marketing team might want to be a little more careful about it. He was explaining how as a black man, the images of a white guy shooting up a village full of crazy black people could be a little jarring ESPECIALLY out of context.
Now, when I first saw the trailer, my first reaction like most people here was “ZOMG ALMIGHTY! Look at the GraphiX!!”. Ok, actually it was “What kind of super-roids has Chris been taking?”, but while watching it I thought the same thing N'Gai did. “Oh shit. Al Sharpton is going to have a field day with this.” If you didn't then good for you. You're cookie is in the mail. But you have to understand that we as gamers know that RE is about shooting zombies so that's what we see, but imagine you have no idea what RE is or even the basic concept. Imagine you're a black person who is old enough to remember segregation and MLK being assassinated, and stories about black people being lynched or drug behind trucks and the white people who got away with it because of all white juries. Now imagine you're watching TV and the RE5 trailer pops up as a commercial. HOPEFULLY you can understand what the reaction to that might be like.
Now again we have the argument of “But no one complained about the Spanish zombies in RE4! Why are you complaining now?”. Well if you saw the “zombies” in RE4 in a quick 30 second commercial on TV would you automatically think “Hey. Why is that white guy shooting all those Spanish people?”? No because the zombies in RE4 looked pretty fucked up already and you don't really identify them as Spanish until they start talking (at least I didn't). The black zombies in RE5 don't even really look like zombies. They just look like a bunch of crazy black people. Hell, one of them is using a megaphone with his stunna shades on.
People keep saying “Well if you look for racism all the time, of course you'll find it.” or “If you keep pointing out racism, you're only perpetuating racism” which is not only retarded it's again, missing the point. If you read N'Gai's quote again, he keeps stressing the imagery and context in the trailer. That's because as a black person in America, you have this historical context of violence and oppression against blacks. For a lot of people, who grew up with this and were able to see it happen before their eyes, when this imagery of a white guy shooting up all these scary black people is presented to them with no context, they can't help but be reminded of those events. Again, N'Gai isn't saying RE5 is racist, he's only suggesting that the marketing team provide CONTEXT for the imagerywhen they present it to the uninformed, lest they want a shit-storm upon their doors.
This is ALL he's fucking saying.
There are some other points I'd like to make but this blog is already too long. Hopefully this will help some of you understand where these guys are coming from. I also recommend you watch or listen to Barack Obama's recent speech about racism. No matter what you're political affiliation is, he explains the issue we're talking about here pretty well. That's it. I'm out.
Sharpless has a mancrush on your dad, who I'm assuming purely on the basis of fashion and hair was a physics or math teacher.
Also, I agree with you. It's hard for me to see how people could misconstrue, or even take serious issue with, N'Gai's message -- some people could see these images and get the wrong idea. Are his detractors saying that people cannot be disturbed by those images? If so, I hope they have recognized that some people were, thus proving the detractors demonstrably incorrect.
Dude, I am coming way late to the party but this is an amazing blog which provides a beautiful counterpoint to all the dumbass angry white males shouting about how retarded N'Gai is in the original front page post. I am praying to the blog gods that this gets front paged for more people to read and think on, because it's probably the finest written c-blog I've seen in a long damn time.
Great post man. I'm glad you decided to flesh this out here on your blog. I entirely agree. The outlandish reactions to N'Gai's statements were entirely uncalled for since it seemed as though no one actually read what he was trying to say.
I also wanted to make a point that the argument that RE4 is 'racist' against Spanish townfolk is also more or less invalid. Not only do the Spanish looking zombies look like they're deteriorating, but the atmosphere and artwork in the game elicits a general understanding that the villiage is basically trapped in medeival times. This further seperates the zombie bodies from race or nationality related pressure as the scenario is a fantasy.
The scenes depicted in the trailer (not the game because no one knows what the game is like) portrays an image that is very similar to what an impoverished black town may very well look like in this day an age. The bodies are not coveted in flowerly peasant shirts or archaic monk robes, therefore the instance of fantasy is compromised.
all zombies should be grey, good intentions or not I think most people who do or dont play video games should just stop worrying about Re5 and stfuajpg or stfu and dont play games.
I think we can all agree on one thing about RE5, regardless of N'Gai's comments or not: Once this game is released, it's going to be one hell of a shitstorm.
While I recognize that without any context, if I were a black man and I saw a trailer about a white man shooting crowds of dark-skinned people, I would certainly be upset.
My problem with the issue is that I feel as if many or most of the detractors of the trailer are making no effort to provide themselves with that context. Please note, I am not refuting the fact that some people may be legitimately disturbed or offended by the trailer. I am, however, against the knee-jerk reactions of crying out in anger against the "racism" and "white oppression" allegedly depicted.
I spoke quickly and without reading the full article in its context when I commented on the N'Gai article, which makes this somewhat hypocritical.(In my defense, I was just skimming because I had to go, Destructoid's article did swing the racism bat pretty hard.) But it also proves my point. Once I did get the context, I realized the issue wasn't an issue at all. Therein lies the difference in legitimacy.
I would hazard to say that many of those crying foul on this trailer are those who look over every bit of mass media for opportunities to rage against the current state of racial relations.
There is a difference between recognizing the struggles of the past and living in that past. In one, you take the lessons you learn from it and use them to better your world. In the other, you just end up bitter and scorned.
Good read, but I'm doubtful a trailer for this game could have been cut that wouldn't cause certain people to feel buthurt. People who complain about RE5 being racist based just on a commercial are simply pulling a Jack Thompson. Remember how Bully was supposed to be a Columbine simulator?
They're perfectly within their right to be offended by whatever they want, and I'm perfectly within my right to consider them morons unwilling to do actual research and hence worthy of ignoring. And these types aren't limited to any one race. There tons of individuals out there with a victim complex looking for any reason at all to be offended. I think it's silly that people believe they have a right not to have their feelings hurt, especially when it's a commercial for a freaking video game.
Let's be honest, the average person who doesn't know anything about RE5 already isn't going to buy the game in the first place. So why is it a marketing mistake? Is anyone with a shred of common sense in the first place actually think that someone is going to make a video game glorifying a white hero slaughtering some "savage darkies" in this day and age? If so, they're delusional. It doesn't matter if they've experienced racism in the distant past or just an hour ago. That sort of commerical product would never be developed in 1988, let alone 2008.
I think instead of godwining the interview, N'gai should have used an analogy based on the film Ultraviolet. From the trailers, I thought that movie was going to be a kick ass action sci-fi flick. And within the first 10 minutes, I realized I'd just paid $8 to watch the cinematic equivalent of colostomy bag. If only I'd taken the time to read some reviews first and found this out beforehand.
So tell me what's a positive minority stereotype to counteract N'Gai's post?
Cole Train negative is debatable til the moon fall into the sea. In Gears, you get to play as Cole and not him, shooting at him, so both sides of the coin are covered.
I'm black and even I find that picture of a positive minority stereotype character hard to paint when you drag it into games. Just what would you have this character do to not upset minorities? Not shoot a gun so not to classed as violent, so that character will get the lame babysitting jobs and then be classed as a slave to do the clean up work. Yoou can't win this lame crap either way you go, that's why this should not be raised in games.
Are you really saying that all black (or others of colour, aren't we all?) game characters must be lawyers and doctors, in order to appease those who still get their backs up? N Gai should try looking a little further into games for what he seeks in characters, beyond Gears. Perhaps N'Gai would also do better to look at all minorities in game, than just what applies to him personally.
Don't you think this would be a fairer way to go? I certainly do.
Guitar, good read. I thought I was going to get annoyed at you, but I ended up agreeing with almost everything you wrote.
Except for one thing.
Cole Train.
Ugh.
I want to punch that guy in the face. And the guy who wrote for him. And, for that matter, the guy who writes all the black characters in Michael Bay movies (who may also have written Cole Train).
To me, he's as painfully annoying as all the mincing queen characters walking around the gay area of San Ferraro in San Andreas. I think Rockstar kind of made up for it with Bully, what with the non-stereotypical gay stuff in that, but jeez. I didn't throw my copy of the game out, but I did get a little irked.
I think gays should be as thoughtfully portrayed in every game as they were in Final Fight, where they consisted of 95% of the cast. (Not including Guy or the post-op transexuals.)
I know what you mean. Before the uninformed head to the internets or to the media, they should GET informed about the subject and hopefully realize there's nothing to worry about. If it gets taken that far before they do the research then they are totally at fault.
@Cowboy
Well, there IS no positive stereotype really, and again, I wouldn't argue that Cole TRain needs to be changed (neither is Morgan Gray) because he fits the super machismo setting of Gera. The problem though is that 9 times out of 10 the black guy acts like Cole TRain. Morgan just wants to see a better balance. More characters like Eli Vance from half-Life. Imagine if 9 times out of 10 the white guy was a hard drinking, country listening, southern drawl having, redneck. That's the issue here.
@Koobert
This could definitely be applied to gay characters since 9 times out of 10 they are extremely flaming in games.
I'm just saying that every time someone points out something as racist (which again, isn't even the situation here) it doesn't mean they are automatically playing the race card.There might actually be some legitimacy to it.
Excellent response, Guitar. I fully admit that it is oftentimes very difficult to determine when some is playing the Race Card and when it's legitimate. It's much like The Boy Who Cried Wolf fable, when so many people are doing it, it makes it harder and harder to see it when it is really there.
Great read man. Front-page stuff, definitely. Balancing out both sides of the argument here on Destructoid would be really credible to us and our community and show that we're not biased and we can see both sides of an argument.
As I posted in the main story:
For comparison:
"White" Zombie from previous Resident Evil game:
"Spanish" zombies from RE4
The apparently unzombified mob from RE5 Trailer:
The zombies:
If you can honestly say the average person can see the difference between the last two image, then be my guest. Hell, the unzombified mob of black people looks scarier than the zombies. So why are people acting as if people seeing anything is so far fetched?
-----------
The zombies in RE5 don't look like zombies. Make them look more like zombies.
"The zombies in RE5 don't look like zombies. Make them look more like zombies."
They aren't zombies, and either were the people in 4 who also didn't look like zombies.
In 5 it's most likely a mutation of the los plagas lifeform that Umbrella has managed to take control of.
While I understand why people think they are zombies (since the series is known for zombies) I don't understand why people think the people in 4 look like zombies.
The people in RE4 do look like zombies. They may not be the ultra traditional, super deteriorated zombies but I've seen plenty of low budget movies where they looked really similar. Either way, you can at least tell there's physically SOMETHING wrong with them. They don't look like they're just really pissed.
I agree that you can tell there is something off the first time you meet one of the los plagas carriers in 4, but nothing screams zombie. As you said they aren't deteriating, they can talk and form strategies, use weapons and go about their lives.
The people in RE4 do look like zombies. They may not be the ultra traditional, super deteriorated zombies but I've seen plenty of low budget movies where they looked really similar. Either way, you can at least tell there's physically SOMETHING wrong with them. They don't look like they're just really pissed.
I whole-heartedly agree with this statement. However, i'm glad they are going with the current "trend" of zombitis? Where the zombies have very few distinguishable features that would make a passerby at first glance deem them "normal" (aside from the bloodstains on their tattered clothing. Seeing as though they decided to set this game in Africa (which is awesome, as Africa isn't a regularly scheduled stop for video game settings) A majority of the african population happens to be black.
Given the situation, how could they make the zombies noticably "zombie-like" and still retain the current trend in subtle "zombitis"?
The "zombies" in RE4 (early in the game) looked like something was up with their skin tone, using a locale of people with skin who is already very dark, i think applying that same line of thought is one of the reasons why they chose the setting they did. RE4 you could tell who was "healthy" by training yourself what to look for. I think this game will prove to be challenging because (at least from the trailer) it's nearly impossible to tell if they're just a super-aggressive mob or zombified.
I can see how the trailer could be misconstrued to those unfamiliar with the game. But unless those who could potentially call the game out for racism aren't willing to take in the full context of the game, then their opinions on the matter aren't worth much.
I see the fox "fiasco" with Mass Effect happening on a slightly larger scale with RE5.
Awesome read and I agree with you 100%. I have to admit that me a Spanish dude, lookin' at the RE5 trailer that was like this game looked awesome but then you see some thing like this:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=VeNaii1g5zE
You got to at least say to yourself, "Damn, Capcom you really done unknowingly F'ed up! Get ready for Al and Jesse to slam you as a racist company." And you know that when the game's released Geoff Keighly's going to have to go on Fox news and defend Capcom from the right wing media labeling them as general Hate-Mongers peddling propaganda to the youth of America. I guess what I'm trying to say is, Capcom I think you're gonna need a REAL Flame Shield.
[quote]he's only suggesting that the marketing team provide CONTEXT for the imagery when they present it to the uninformed[/quote]
#1) have you been reading the debate between him and Sterling on the MTV interview page? that is NOT all he is saying.
#2) The marketing shouldn't have to provide anything. Their intent should be easily interpreted by any sane person as non-racist.
Of COURSE people are going to overreact. Racism is a serious charge (and when you boil down his "mister reasonable" tone that is exactly what he is charging) and people seem to be getting more and more annoyed daily by the hypersensitivity being displayed by many minority special interest groups. Such charges invariably leads to companies taking their entertainment and watering it down into bland non-offensive pap because they are scared to death.
I read it all and I still think that's all he's saying. All the examples and minutia he was getting into was to help illustrate how it can be viewed that way since apparently so many people just "don't see it". Did he go a bit far with it? Sure. But since so many people refuse to even begin to see the other side, I can't entirely blame him.
To your point #2,
Again, look at that trailer and imagine you know nothing about Resident Evil or the fact that it includes zombies and tell me again you can't see how someone could see it as racist. They even intercut the angry guy with the megaphone while Chris is getting attacked. They don't even look like zombies. You can't change the gut reaction some people are going to have to that imagery. If you still can't understand that, I don't know how to get you to.
Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?
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Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press living the dream since March 16, 2006
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Sharpless has a mancrush on your dad, who I'm assuming purely on the basis of fashion and hair was a physics or math teacher.
Also, I agree with you. It's hard for me to see how people could misconstrue, or even take serious issue with, N'Gai's message -- some people could see these images and get the wrong idea. Are his detractors saying that people cannot be disturbed by those images? If so, I hope they have recognized that some people were, thus proving the detractors demonstrably incorrect.
N'Gai didn't say anything about should.
fixed*
Amazing Read my friend, I actually signed up for the site just to comment on this. Thank You good man../jealous of your hair.
Great read, but now I want some purple drank.
Dude, I am coming way late to the party but this is an amazing blog which provides a beautiful counterpoint to all the dumbass angry white males shouting about how retarded N'Gai is in the original front page post. I am praying to the blog gods that this gets front paged for more people to read and think on, because it's probably the finest written c-blog I've seen in a long damn time.
Great post man. I'm glad you decided to flesh this out here on your blog. I entirely agree. The outlandish reactions to N'Gai's statements were entirely uncalled for since it seemed as though no one actually read what he was trying to say.
I also wanted to make a point that the argument that RE4 is 'racist' against Spanish townfolk is also more or less invalid. Not only do the Spanish looking zombies look like they're deteriorating, but the atmosphere and artwork in the game elicits a general understanding that the villiage is basically trapped in medeival times. This further seperates the zombie bodies from race or nationality related pressure as the scenario is a fantasy.
The scenes depicted in the trailer (not the game because no one knows what the game is like) portrays an image that is very similar to what an impoverished black town may very well look like in this day an age. The bodies are not coveted in flowerly peasant shirts or archaic monk robes, therefore the instance of fantasy is compromised.
Anywayyyyyy great post!
oh, also! adorable family :D
@Tiff
Thanks!
I agree about RE4. And just like you guys mentioned on PodToid, you learn throughout the game how the people of that place weren't always like that.
Feck marcus
it should have been trains of war
all zombies should be grey, good intentions or not I think most people who do or dont play video games should just stop worrying about Re5 and stfuajpg or stfu and dont play games.
I think we can all agree on one thing about RE5, regardless of N'Gai's comments or not: Once this game is released, it's going to be one hell of a shitstorm.
I cant wait to kill me some fucking black people.
God bless murder simulators.
good read.
also, Mom + Dad = gangsta. That was awesome.
Also, you look a lot like your dad — except you have epic facial hair.
While I recognize that without any context, if I were a black man and I saw a trailer about a white man shooting crowds of dark-skinned people, I would certainly be upset.
My problem with the issue is that I feel as if many or most of the detractors of the trailer are making no effort to provide themselves with that context. Please note, I am not refuting the fact that some people may be legitimately disturbed or offended by the trailer. I am, however, against the knee-jerk reactions of crying out in anger against the "racism" and "white oppression" allegedly depicted.
I spoke quickly and without reading the full article in its context when I commented on the N'Gai article, which makes this somewhat hypocritical.(In my defense, I was just skimming because I had to go, Destructoid's article did swing the racism bat pretty hard.) But it also proves my point. Once I did get the context, I realized the issue wasn't an issue at all. Therein lies the difference in legitimacy.
I would hazard to say that many of those crying foul on this trailer are those who look over every bit of mass media for opportunities to rage against the current state of racial relations.
There is a difference between recognizing the struggles of the past and living in that past. In one, you take the lessons you learn from it and use them to better your world. In the other, you just end up bitter and scorned.
Good read, but I'm doubtful a trailer for this game could have been cut that wouldn't cause certain people to feel buthurt. People who complain about RE5 being racist based just on a commercial are simply pulling a Jack Thompson. Remember how Bully was supposed to be a Columbine simulator?
They're perfectly within their right to be offended by whatever they want, and I'm perfectly within my right to consider them morons unwilling to do actual research and hence worthy of ignoring. And these types aren't limited to any one race. There tons of individuals out there with a victim complex looking for any reason at all to be offended. I think it's silly that people believe they have a right not to have their feelings hurt, especially when it's a commercial for a freaking video game.
Let's be honest, the average person who doesn't know anything about RE5 already isn't going to buy the game in the first place. So why is it a marketing mistake? Is anyone with a shred of common sense in the first place actually think that someone is going to make a video game glorifying a white hero slaughtering some "savage darkies" in this day and age? If so, they're delusional. It doesn't matter if they've experienced racism in the distant past or just an hour ago. That sort of commerical product would never be developed in 1988, let alone 2008.
I think instead of godwining the interview, N'gai should have used an analogy based on the film Ultraviolet. From the trailers, I thought that movie was going to be a kick ass action sci-fi flick. And within the first 10 minutes, I realized I'd just paid $8 to watch the cinematic equivalent of colostomy bag. If only I'd taken the time to read some reviews first and found this out beforehand.
So tell me what's a positive minority stereotype to counteract N'Gai's post?
Cole Train negative is debatable til the moon fall into the sea. In Gears, you get to play as Cole and not him, shooting at him, so both sides of the coin are covered.
I'm black and even I find that picture of a positive minority stereotype character hard to paint when you drag it into games. Just what would you have this character do to not upset minorities? Not shoot a gun so not to classed as violent, so that character will get the lame babysitting jobs and then be classed as a slave to do the clean up work. Yoou can't win this lame crap either way you go, that's why this should not be raised in games.
Are you really saying that all black (or others of colour, aren't we all?) game characters must be lawyers and doctors, in order to appease those who still get their backs up? N Gai should try looking a little further into games for what he seeks in characters, beyond Gears. Perhaps N'Gai would also do better to look at all minorities in game, than just what applies to him personally.
Don't you think this would be a fairer way to go? I certainly do.
lol @ Barack O'Bama. "Typical white person" is not racism at all. LOL.
Guitar, good read. I thought I was going to get annoyed at you, but I ended up agreeing with almost everything you wrote.
Except for one thing.
Cole Train.
Ugh.
I want to punch that guy in the face. And the guy who wrote for him. And, for that matter, the guy who writes all the black characters in Michael Bay movies (who may also have written Cole Train).
To me, he's as painfully annoying as all the mincing queen characters walking around the gay area of San Ferraro in San Andreas. I think Rockstar kind of made up for it with Bully, what with the non-stereotypical gay stuff in that, but jeez. I didn't throw my copy of the game out, but I did get a little irked.
I think gays should be as thoughtfully portrayed in every game as they were in Final Fight, where they consisted of 95% of the cast. (Not including Guy or the post-op transexuals.)
The Terry Tate commercials are so bad-ass. Huzzah for fellow mixed race pplz!
BTW your dad sounds GANGSTA!
So wait... do you have a giant dick or not?
Everything from your pictures to the text was absolutely fantastic, Atomik.
There's really nothing I can add to any of this. Best blog ever?
I'm glad you wrote this article, because I think some people are understanding the perceived problem better.
FUCK YES!!
I love you
I'm pretty sure we knocked this topic out of the park and it's pretty much dead. Maybe we should run for office or something
Glad to see a good blog getting some appreciation herez
@Mecha & Mxy
I know what you mean. Before the uninformed head to the internets or to the media, they should GET informed about the subject and hopefully realize there's nothing to worry about. If it gets taken that far before they do the research then they are totally at fault.
@Cowboy
Well, there IS no positive stereotype really, and again, I wouldn't argue that Cole TRain needs to be changed (neither is Morgan Gray) because he fits the super machismo setting of Gera. The problem though is that 9 times out of 10 the black guy acts like Cole TRain. Morgan just wants to see a better balance. More characters like Eli Vance from half-Life. Imagine if 9 times out of 10 the white guy was a hard drinking, country listening, southern drawl having, redneck. That's the issue here.
@Koobert
This could definitely be applied to gay characters since 9 times out of 10 they are extremely flaming in games.
@Kryptinite
I call dibs on President!
Wait...no. I want to be Secretary of Giant Mecha Suits!
@Usedtabe
The man was raised predominantly by white people. He is half white. It's a bad choice of words but I really doubt he was being racist against himself.
Awesome post.
I'm just saying that every time someone points out something as racist (which again, isn't even the situation here) it doesn't mean they are automatically playing the race card.There might actually be some legitimacy to it.
Excellent response, Guitar. I fully admit that it is oftentimes very difficult to determine when some is playing the Race Card and when it's legitimate. It's much like The Boy Who Cried Wolf fable, when so many people are doing it, it makes it harder and harder to see it when it is really there.
@loki d20
Thanks. I completely understand where you're coming from since there seems to have been a lot of abuse of it lately.
@guitarAtomik
Ok cool, you can be Secretary of Giant Mecha Suits and I'll be Department of Defense....with lazers!
Great read man.
Why isn't this on the front page?
Racism I say! lul
Seriously this was one of the best blog posts I've read to date on DToid...good response to the controversy.
Great read man. Front-page stuff, definitely. Balancing out both sides of the argument here on Destructoid would be really credible to us and our community and show that we're not biased and we can see both sides of an argument.
As I posted in the main story:
For comparison:
"White" Zombie from previous Resident Evil game:
"Spanish" zombies from RE4
The apparently unzombified mob from RE5 Trailer:
The zombies:
If you can honestly say the average person can see the difference between the last two image, then be my guest. Hell, the unzombified mob of black people looks scarier than the zombies. So why are people acting as if people seeing anything is so far fetched?
-----------
The zombies in RE5 don't look like zombies. Make them look more like zombies.
"The zombies in RE5 don't look like zombies. Make them look more like zombies."
They aren't zombies, and either were the people in 4 who also didn't look like zombies.
In 5 it's most likely a mutation of the los plagas lifeform that Umbrella has managed to take control of.
While I understand why people think they are zombies (since the series is known for zombies) I don't understand why people think the people in 4 look like zombies.
@TheRemedy
The people in RE4 do look like zombies. They may not be the ultra traditional, super deteriorated zombies but I've seen plenty of low budget movies where they looked really similar. Either way, you can at least tell there's physically SOMETHING wrong with them. They don't look like they're just really pissed.
@GuitarAtomik
I agree that you can tell there is something off the first time you meet one of the los plagas carriers in 4, but nothing screams zombie. As you said they aren't deteriating, they can talk and form strategies, use weapons and go about their lives.
Great read GuitarAtomik. Keep it up!
Atomik / Kryptinite '08
The people in RE4 do look like zombies. They may not be the ultra traditional, super deteriorated zombies but I've seen plenty of low budget movies where they looked really similar. Either way, you can at least tell there's physically SOMETHING wrong with them. They don't look like they're just really pissed.
I whole-heartedly agree with this statement. However, i'm glad they are going with the current "trend" of zombitis? Where the zombies have very few distinguishable features that would make a passerby at first glance deem them "normal" (aside from the bloodstains on their tattered clothing. Seeing as though they decided to set this game in Africa (which is awesome, as Africa isn't a regularly scheduled stop for video game settings) A majority of the african population happens to be black.
Given the situation, how could they make the zombies noticably "zombie-like" and still retain the current trend in subtle "zombitis"?
The "zombies" in RE4 (early in the game) looked like something was up with their skin tone, using a locale of people with skin who is already very dark, i think applying that same line of thought is one of the reasons why they chose the setting they did. RE4 you could tell who was "healthy" by training yourself what to look for. I think this game will prove to be challenging because (at least from the trailer) it's nearly impossible to tell if they're just a super-aggressive mob or zombified.
I can see how the trailer could be misconstrued to those unfamiliar with the game. But unless those who could potentially call the game out for racism aren't willing to take in the full context of the game, then their opinions on the matter aren't worth much.
I see the fox "fiasco" with Mass Effect happening on a slightly larger scale with RE5.
Good blog entry, keep up the good work.
@Melmoth
I agree with everything you said. I'm also looking forward to the change in locale.
Awesome read and I agree with you 100%. I have to admit that me a Spanish dude, lookin' at the RE5 trailer that was like this game looked awesome but then you see some thing like this:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=VeNaii1g5zE
You got to at least say to yourself, "Damn, Capcom you really done unknowingly F'ed up! Get ready for Al and Jesse to slam you as a racist company." And you know that when the game's released Geoff Keighly's going to have to go on Fox news and defend Capcom from the right wing media labeling them as general Hate-Mongers peddling propaganda to the youth of America. I guess what I'm trying to say is, Capcom I think you're gonna need a REAL Flame Shield.
Keep it up! Keep it up! Rah rah rah!
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
[quote]he's only suggesting that the marketing team provide CONTEXT for the imagery when they present it to the uninformed[/quote]
#1) have you been reading the debate between him and Sterling on the MTV interview page? that is NOT all he is saying.
#2) The marketing shouldn't have to provide anything. Their intent should be easily interpreted by any sane person as non-racist.
Of COURSE people are going to overreact. Racism is a serious charge (and when you boil down his "mister reasonable" tone that is exactly what he is charging) and people seem to be getting more and more annoyed daily by the hypersensitivity being displayed by many minority special interest groups. Such charges invariably leads to companies taking their entertainment and watering it down into bland non-offensive pap because they are scared to death.
@Churchhills Dog
I read it all and I still think that's all he's saying. All the examples and minutia he was getting into was to help illustrate how it can be viewed that way since apparently so many people just "don't see it". Did he go a bit far with it? Sure. But since so many people refuse to even begin to see the other side, I can't entirely blame him.
To your point #2,
Again, look at that trailer and imagine you know nothing about Resident Evil or the fact that it includes zombies and tell me again you can't see how someone could see it as racist. They even intercut the angry guy with the megaphone while Chris is getting attacked. They don't even look like zombies. You can't change the gut reaction some people are going to have to that imagery. If you still can't understand that, I don't know how to get you to.
Nice post mah ni.wig... friend :D