Political undertones & games..

[RobertR1]

I hate fanatical idiots......

 

[wco81]

What about Mercenaries?

What about some PC games where you're taking out Osama and the Arab counterpart, where you're killing American soldiers?

 

[Carl B]

I don't get it, what options is Capcom going to have here? Change the setting completely? Makes half of the zombies white (and therefore throw out any type of realistic portrayal of the setting or any real story line)? The thing that gets me in these cases is that often times these people are LOOKING at any opportunity they have to scream "racial inequality!". Seriously, if you're so sensitive to these issues then maybe you should take a step back and look in the mirror, I think you might finally learn who is the real discriminator.

I don't think Capcom's going to do anything, and truthfully it's not as if anyone's asking them to either. The blog post is just basically a rant - not any sort of call to action.

And frankly, everyone has the right to rant (check out this forums general discussion, religion, and political forums). If myself and several others knew this was going to be potentially problematic imagery, then no surprise really when some people indeed find it problematic.

But I don't think the game development itself will change - and when you look at the context of the original post, if anything becomes of this story, it will have been press-fueled rather than through any public outcry.

What about some PC games where you're taking out Osama and the Arab counterpart, where you're killing American soldiers?

Well, truthfully I think those games self-censor via what must assuredly be abysmal sales. If any game like that were to go mainstream, I think it would get Congressional action coming down on it.

I watched the trailer and I never once thought that... it is a videogame about zombies, people need to get over themselves, obviously if it's located in Africa the great majority are going to be black... I can't be the only annoyed at how people always take things out of context to appear on the news or to gain a couple of votes.

Well, you don't live in the United States, so you may not understand or 'get' how many of us could have seen this coming. By the way, I think out of most countries, the US actually has *less* racism than most - certainly inclusive of Europe - but the sensitivity is very high... and rightly so to tell you the truth, since the racial past here is so grim.

 

[blakjedi]

if teh game were set in lets say... Haiti the outcry would be less because:

a) Haitians arent giving much respect by the western even though they are wonderful people with a rich culture

b) people expect and have com eto accept zombies to be a part of the Haitian folklore ala "serpent and the rainbow"

 

[Scott_Arm]

I don't think there was any racist intent in RE5, and I don't think it's worthy of getting too crazy about, but there's still a lot of racism in the western world. As a white person, I might easily brush this off as a case where someone is overly sensitive, but if you really look at how non-white people are protrayed on the news and in the media, it's resoundingly pretty bad. Maybe there are better targets, but I'm sure people who have parents or grandparents that lived through segregation are going to be fairly sensitive, and for good reason.

 

[archangelmorph]

I hate fanatical idiots......

Out of curiousity... Who exactly are you referring to as fanatical idiots?

 

[valioso]

Well, you don't live in the United States, so you may not understand or 'get' how many of us could have seen this coming. By the way, I think out of most countries, the US actually has *less* racism than most - certainly inclusive of Europe - but the sensitivity is very high... and rightly so to tell you the truth, since the racial past here is so grim.

Actually I do live in the US. And yes it probably should have popped in my head, but I find the whole concept of ranting about that so out of touch with reality that it just didn't.

 

[Color me Dan]

I could never understand how it would be to be black, i could imagine i guess, but that's far from understanding. But if there is anything i really disslike about western media in general is it's mostly almost farcial stereotypes.

I imagine it might be like being the picked on guy in school where people you don't even know give you that odd look or smirk or whatever that makes you really uncomfortable, and have that happen every day through the rest of your life. I'd imagine that i'd be quite sensitive whatever the context.

I don't think Capcom would do anything like this on puspose, but i get why it'd raise a few eyebrows from people not in the loop.

 

[Carl B]

Actually I do live in the US. And yes it probably should have popped in my head, but I find the whole concept of ranting about that so out of touch with reality that it just didn't.

My bad - for some reason I thought you were in Spain Valioso. Not sure why I thought that...

 

[RancidLunchmeat]

if teh game were set in lets say... Haiti the outcry would be less because:

a) Haitians arent giving much respect by the western even though they are wonderful people with a rich culture

b) people expect and have com eto accept zombies to be a part of the Haitian folklore ala "serpent and the rainbow"

Oh, and you were almost so close.

First.. The outcry would be the same because the only ones who believe this to be racist are racists themselves. Searching for inequity in everything because they feel the differences they are searching for actually exist.

Second, where do you think the Haitian folklore came from? Where do you think Voodoo (and therefore, zombies) originated?

In West Africa.

It is perfectly sensible and in no way racist, to have a zombie themed game set in Africa where the majority of zombies would be black.

Africa is where the zombie mythos originated and the majority of the inhabitants are black!

An individual would have to have no knowledge of the origins of the zombie myth, as well as no knowledge as to the demographics of Africa in order to see racism.

 

[blakjedi]

Oh, and you were almost so close.

Second, where do you think the Haitian folklore came from? Where do you think Voodoo (and therefore, zombies) originated?

In West Africa.

It is perfectly sensible and in no way racist, to have a zombie themed game set in Africa where the majority of zombies would be black.

Africa is where the zombie mythos originated and the majority of the inhabitants are black!

An individual would have to have no knowledge of the origins of the zombie myth, as well as no knowledge as to the demographics of Africa in order to see racism.

Sure. But most Americans associated voodoo etc with Haiti and the Carribean making it less sensitive. By just saying AFRICA you are applying that folklore stereotype to a WHOLE CONTINENT as opposed to specific cultures and/or nations which have that as a known part of their culture.

It does not make it any less fair a determination but it makes it more palatable. I think. Much like a game about santoria would be well placed in the DR or Brazil. Or a game about vampires in the historic location of transylvania in middle/eastern europe. Or killing druids in the British isles.

 

[Moonblade]

This is the funniest thing I've read all day. How could you possibly know that?

Because I invested most of my skill points I gained from real life experiences in something called 'self-knowledge'

No seriously, I didn't care about a black guy shooting white people in GTA: SA either.

 

[Carl B]

Because I invested most of my skill points I gained from real life experiences in something called 'self-knowledge'

No seriously, I didn't care about a black guy shooting white people in GTA: SA either.

Moonblade what the hell are you talking about? Obviously the only people that would have had a cause to see racism in GTA: SA would have been African Americans, for the furthering of a gangland stereotype. And of course, that's actually what GTA is based on through and through - stereotypes - so the fact that it's a non-issue stems in part from its overt acknowledgment of such. Still, I could definitely see people being upset by it.

The blog poster isn't upset because she feels that black people are being shot by white people, so much as the Africans/zombies echo disturbingly in her mind the racial supremacist notions of Africans as 'savages.' The military put-down is just sort of salt in her wounds after that.

Now obviously this woman likely sees conspiracy all around her, but GTA: SA is certainly not the counter-argument against RE:5.

 

[archangelmorph]

Oh, and you were almost so close.

First.. The outcry would be the same because the only ones who believe this to be racist are racists themselves. Searching for inequity in everything because they feel the differences they are searching for actually exist.

Second, where do you think the Haitian folklore came from? Where do you think Voodoo (and therefore, zombies) originated?

In West Africa.

It is perfectly sensible and in no way racist, to have a zombie themed game set in Africa where the majority of zombies would be black.

Africa is where the zombie mythos originated and the majority of the inhabitants are black!

An individual would have to have no knowledge of the origins of the zombie myth, as well as no knowledge as to the demographics of Africa in order to see racism.

Where and how the whole Zombie mythos came from is pretty irrelevant in the context of this arguement..
The problem isn't that the zombie's are black..
The problem is that on the surface when someone not very well verse in the RE franchise sees the trailer they don't see zombies at all.. All they see are black people going crazy and attacking a white american soldier with sickles and pitchforks, with the soldier proceeding to retaliate using ballistic weapons..

One *could* argue that the issue would have been much less visible had the zombies ACTUALLY have been zombies (in the stereotypical sense we're all used to seeing).. But the problems with the trailer are represented by the fact that they seem so far from it..

Not to mention the visual fidelity actually adds to the impact of the believability of the villagers in the trailer to the point where they seem much more "human" and "alive" than any RE character has ever been..

In the end I don't believe their arguements hold much merit given my knowledge and understanding of the RE series, however I do believe that those that did raise the issue didn't do anything wrong in doing so in that it's pretty clear that the sensitivities are there..

Oh and I really don't think it's fair to brand the blog authors "racist" for bringing up the issue as I feel thats a bit far fetched..

It's really not difficult to see why these people are reacting over-sensitively to the issue when there's a clear reason those sensitivites exist in the first place.. For those who don't share those sensitivites then you should just acknowledge them, accept them and move on..

Taking offense in their offense by calling them themselves "racist" only shows ignorance on your part (in understanding their own logic, however flawed..)

 

[Scott_Arm]

Oh, and you were almost so close.

First.. The outcry would be the same because the only ones who believe this to be racist are racists themselves. Searching for inequity in everything because they feel the differences they are searching for actually exist.

Honestly, you don't believe there is any racial inequity in modernized nations? You should do some SERIOUS looking around.

Second, where do you think the Haitian folklore came from? Where do you think Voodoo (and therefore, zombies) originated?

In West Africa.

It is perfectly sensible and in no way racist, to have a zombie themed game set in Africa where the majority of zombies would be black.

Africa is where the zombie mythos originated and the majority of the inhabitants are black!

An individual would have to have no knowledge of the origins of the zombie myth, as well as no knowledge as to the demographics of Africa in order to see racism.

Are you really going to fault people for their lacking knowledge in "zombies?" It's hardly an important thing to be educated about.

You have to admit that the imagery in the game does echo the ignorant opinion that whites held of the African nation, and that the images of white military man combating the savagery could be taken poorly. You're talking about a continent that has been through and through raped and oppressed by wealthy nations for centuries. Personally, I can see that it's just a game, and I don't think any of it was meant to be degrading or harmful. But I'm white, so I'm hardly going to be offended in the same way as a black person might. Maybe RE5 will have a clever social/political message, but I doubt it.

 

[Scott_Arm]

Because I invested most of my skill points I gained from real life experiences in something called 'self-knowledge'

No seriously, I didn't care about a black guy shooting white people in GTA: SA either.

This has to be one of the weirdest posts, and strangest come-backs I've ever seen ...

You know what you'd think if you were black, because of life experience ... Your life experience of being white educates you about being black, how?

You're white and you don't care about how black people are portrayed in entertainment and media, so how does that show to me that you understand what it's like to be black?

 

[Scott_Arm]

Where and how the whole Zombie mythos came from is pretty irrelevant in the context of this arguement..
The problem isn't that the zombie's are black..
The problem is that on the surface when someone not very well verse in the RE franchise sees the trailer they don't see zombies at all.. All they see are black people going crazy and attacking a white american soldier with sickles and pitchforks, with the soldier proceeding to retaliate using ballistic weapons..

One *could* argue that the issue would have been much less visible had the zombies ACTUALLY have been zombies (in the stereotypical sense we're all used to seeing).. But the problems with the trailer are represented by the fact that they seem so far from it..

Not to mention the visual fidelity actually adds to the impact of the believability of the villagers in the trailer to the point where they seem much more "human" and "alive" than any RE character has ever been..

To be honest, I hadn't even watched the trailer. If what you say is true, and the "zombies" look more like crazies as they did in RE4, then I can REALLY understand why that blog poster brought this up. It could definitely look bad to anyone that didn't understand the series, or even someone that did.

 

[Carl B]

Scott_Arm, the next move for you is to see the trailer obviously - because... well, I mean we're talking about 'experiencing' here afterall.

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/22800.html

(It looks like the comments section of the link has already degenerated into typical game-land fare...)

 

[Tap In]

1) Firstly, when I first saw the trailer I was wondering whether there would be any rumblings to this effect - because it of course does stand out that all the zombies are black......

I admit it certainly crossed my mind watching it as well.

 

[Moonblade]

Moonblade what the hell are you talking about? Obviously the only people that would have had a cause to see racism in GTA: SA would have been African Americans, for the furthering of a gangland stereotype. And of course, that's actually what GTA is based on through and through - stereotypes - so the fact that it's a non-issue stems in part from its overt acknowledgment of such. Still, I could definitely see people being upset by it.

Well, sure. You can look at it that way and I can understand why some people might be upset because of their (own) superficial view on things but that doesn't mean I can justify their childish accusations towards the gaming industry. Btw I don't live in the United States so maybe I'm not fully understanding this 'gangland stereotype' thing but it's not like we don't have minorities or a grim racial past in Europe and I agree with valioso that it's all too farfetched.
You're complaining about the 'gangland stereotype' but I get so sick of the furthering of the 'black people whining about inequality and stereotyping of of the black race' stereotype as well.