A Houston Chronicle blog post caused quite a stir a few weeks back when it tried to make Left 4 Dead 2's New Orleans setting sound racist, or at the very least, insensitive to the Hurricane Katrina disaster. While visiting Valve this past week, we asked how they felt about the accusations, and Left 4 Dead writer Chet Faliszek was quite frank with his response.
"Utter insanity," says Faliszek, when sharing his opinion on the controversy. "There are mixed races of zombies, there are all different races of zombies that you shoot, and since we placed it in New Orleans, that makes it racist? I honestly re-read the paragraph about five times ... but when two of the characters in your game are African-American, it's a weird thing to be accused of. We're like, 'how does this work'?
"... As far as Katrina goes, if you go down to New Orleans, Katrina's still going on. I mean, it's messed up, it is crazy that the city is still in the state it's in, and we treat that with the utmost respect. Our CEDA thing is not some subversive commentary on anything. This is a videogame, those are real people's lives, we are not trying to make a statement with that ... It's a place we love, it's dear to our hearts. We would not cheapen it. It's not a brick-for-brick representation of New Orleans; it's a fictional version, and I love that city."
Most would agree that the "controversy" over Left 4 Dead 2's setting was ridiculous, but it's good that Valve reiterates just how bizarre the accusations were. It really goes to show that you can't do anything involving black people these days without some moron (usually a guilty white person) screaming about racism.
For more of Chet's comments on this subject, and all things Left 4 Dead, keep hitting up Destructoid. We have loads more discussion, a full interview, and a close look at some videogame content, all coming over the next few days.
Contest:
10:00 AM on 07.30.2009
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I still think that whoever started all this crap should have their rights to free speech revoked. Simply moronic.
there are no asians/hispanics/polynesians/arabs/indians/turks/inuits/martians in l4d2! das racis! l4d2 should have all races and all ethnicities working together in harmony to eat the brains of the survivors.
I want racism on my ps3, and it is called gran turismo 5. There will be all kinds of races there, no?
It really goes to show that you can't do anything involving black people these days without some moron (usually a guilty white person) screaming about racism.
It's so sad how true this is these days. *sigh*
"CEDA" Quarantine and some of the madness regarding moving people to shelter during Katrina could probably be drawn as a parallel of each other, at least regarding the potential for being perceived as inhumane or cruel. Both involve forcing people into a somewhere for an arguably good reason, regardless of their will.
Unfortunately, whether they're setting up a commentary or not, there's the potential for a thematic similarity. You know, with regards to everyone in an area. Not just in some racial treatment consideration.
Perhaps making that a race related concern is unfair, though. Is it really a racial determination if the people of your locale happen to be of predominately a particular race?
It really goes to show that you can't do anything involving gamers these days without some moron (usually a gamer) screaming about gamer stereotypes and representation.
Amirite?
Herpaderpaderp.
We agree on something?! OH SNAP! lol
@arch
What are you talking about? Who is “they”? Where are the people amassing in droves screaming that L4D:2 is racist and that they refuse to buy it? Your comment is aggravating to me on many levels. Firstly, it attributes the stupid ramblings of one individual onto many, which simply is not the case. Secondly, if I understand you correctly and “US” equates to White America, then Obama’s victory is solely a result of ONE American demographic, which is also not the case. This kind of response is exactly what angers me regarding Jefferson’s original assertion. The assumption that all African American’s think with one mind is just as ludicrous as ANY other American demographic engaging in “group think”…..Jefferson as a writer is a sensationalist and he seems to have found many other sensationalists with this fly-trap of an article.
PS3 is black. RACIST!!
360 and Wii are white. RACIST!!
360 elite is black. RACIST!!
PSP is black, yellow, blue, red, gray, white, pink. RACIST!!
They'll be introducing black, quadriplegic, lesbians next.
Sick bastards!
By "they" I meant the black community. I was merely referring to whoever still plays the "race" card. If the majority of the country elected a black president, then I assume that most people have moved on from racial tension. But apparently there are still people out there that will exploit the black community by playing the race card. People like Jefferson.
". . . it attributes the stupid ramblings of one individual onto many, which simply is not the case."
Just like no one believes all Muslims are terrorists? While it isn't true, it's the few fanatics that you see on TV that make people believe it is. It's the same with the Christian, gay, etc. communities. As for the black community, it's the stereotype that people like Jefferson love to exploit by playing the race card. I was merely responding sarcastically.
So chill out.
If you know that “all Muslims aren’t terrorists” then you should also know that attributing one dude’s opinion to that of many is patently silly. Sarcasm involving a sentence written in ALL caps seems more of a declaration of internal perspective rather than a good humored joke. When admonishing me to “chill out” you may want to prescribe yourself some of your own medicine before authoring provocative statements. You had to know someone might react to what you posted (almost like trolling with regard to race) and in certain ways your comment reminds me of Jefferson’s writing style. Not mad at ya’, just had to speak my mind. ;)
No, usually it's not said "guilty" person.
Usually if it is, it's because he or she is a newsperson and if they don't come across unnecessarily sympathetic then they, too, are racist.
It's cool. And I think we all can agree that racism is ridiculous and stupid.
Yes, on that we totally agree!
There's clear racism against the Combine in Half-Life, and "nubs" -- I don't use such hateful slang lightly -- have long been terrorized in Counter-Strike.
"Racist?! What is this I don't even.."
seriously though much respect to Chet Faliszek for standing up for common sense. all capcom did was apologizes for something they didn't mean to do.
Maybe racism wouldnt be so much a problem if people stop throwing the word around. I mean come on...