Comments on: Race in Games: Culture, Context, and Controversy http://microscopiq.com/2007/08/race-in-games-2/ art • games • change Fri, 16 May 2008 02:13:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: annata http://microscopiq.com/2007/08/race-in-games-2/#comment-18362 annata Mon, 17 Sep 2007 09:54:08 +0000 http://microscopiq.com/2007/08/race-in-games-2/#comment-18362 Ps: everyone is crying about erverything!Religious Lunatics about Games that show God in a way they don't belief in,women made into sexobjetcts,!For all those whiners!Resident evil or Biohazard as it's called in America is a killing game!You kill People Be it black or white or any other colr i don't care!As long as the game is good and the story gives me enough reason to kill i kill it!I also like games which give no reason to kill but thats not Resident evil! As for those people who think games make an social impact!That maybe in america but in our country schools and the envoirement raise our children!It's changing but thats another issue!Games are Entertainment and as long as its fun who cares what colors those pixels are!Resident evil 5 is no Casestudy about african society!It's an fictional Horror game! No Zombies don't exist perhaps religoius americans belief in Zombies and therefore it's more realistic to them!Perhaps Americans can't distinguish Games from Reality!In this case i agree it's racist!But as long as it's not the intention to explicitly kill black people because they are black and black is ... no idea fill in what you like!It's not racist at all! It's a game!It's not real, Zombies are not real, Mind controlling Parasites are not real so who cares! You should try to change your envoirement so that you get the respect everyone deserves!So that white people can shoot black people and blacks can shoot white people in Videogames and are not called racist, but Gamers!! Ps: everyone is crying about erverything!Religious Lunatics about Games that show God in a way they don’t belief in,women made into sexobjetcts,!For all those whiners!Resident evil or Biohazard as it’s called in America is a killing game!You kill People Be it black or white or any other colr i don’t care!As long as the game is good and the story gives me enough reason to kill i kill it!I also like games which give no reason to kill but thats not Resident evil!

As for those people who think games make an social impact!That maybe in america but in our country schools and the envoirement raise our children!It’s changing but thats another issue!Games are Entertainment and as long as its fun who cares what colors those pixels are!Resident evil 5 is no Casestudy about african society!It’s an fictional Horror game!

No Zombies don’t exist perhaps religoius americans belief in Zombies and therefore it’s more realistic to them!Perhaps Americans can’t distinguish Games from Reality!In this case i agree it’s racist!But as long as it’s not the intention to explicitly kill black people because they are black and black is … no idea fill in what you like!It’s not racist at all!

It’s a game!It’s not real, Zombies are not real, Mind controlling Parasites are not real so who cares!

You should try to change your envoirement so that you get the respect everyone deserves!So that white people can shoot black people and blacks can shoot white people in Videogames and are not called racist, but Gamers!!

]]> By: annata http://microscopiq.com/2007/08/race-in-games-2/#comment-18358 annata Mon, 17 Sep 2007 08:20:57 +0000 http://microscopiq.com/2007/08/race-in-games-2/#comment-18358 Carlos you pointed rape and murder as difficult issues and though they are, there are many videgames where the protagonist kills and games where he even rapes!Killing games are obviosly the most popular games everywhere not only in America!So it is ok to kill Aliens white people but not blacks?And what do you expect of a game that plays in Africa!That the enemy is the white fellow!i do't know much yet about the precise location this game will play!But i imagine it to be a little village like in Re4, where there surely are no white people!Like in Re 4 there where only Spanish people! There was a Statement that Games form patterns in the mid of the gamers!That is the same argument Anti killing gamers here in europe uses to ban Shooter!Everytime a teenager gets a Gun and kills someone!Which doesn't happen so often as in America! Shooters don't raise Killers and a Shooter where you kill black people! doesn't raise racist killers! The envoirement like family friends and even politics are the fundamentals of racism, sexism, or being hostile against homosexuals! Carlos you pointed rape and murder as difficult issues and though they are, there are many videgames where the protagonist kills and games where he even rapes!Killing games are obviosly the most popular games everywhere not only in America!So it is ok to kill Aliens white people but not blacks?And what do you expect of a game that plays in Africa!That the enemy is the white fellow!i do’t know much yet about the precise location this game will play!But i imagine it to be a little village like in Re4, where there surely are no white people!Like in Re 4 there where only Spanish people!

There was a Statement that Games form patterns in the mid of the gamers!That is the same argument Anti killing gamers here in europe uses to ban Shooter!Everytime a teenager gets a Gun and kills someone!Which doesn’t happen so often as in America!

Shooters don’t raise Killers and a Shooter where you kill black people! doesn’t raise racist killers!

The envoirement like family friends and even politics are the fundamentals of racism, sexism, or being hostile against homosexuals!

]]> By: Aparna Pappu http://microscopiq.com/2007/08/race-in-games-2/#comment-14867 Aparna Pappu Wed, 15 Aug 2007 23:32:09 +0000 http://microscopiq.com/2007/08/race-in-games-2/#comment-14867 I meant to write a response to the original post but figured I ought to read the responses first. That project somehow never seemed to reach completion as the number of responses kept growing. Anyway a few things that came to me - people who felt that just by saying they are black and that if they think it's ok to show Africans in that context it is ok are so wrong. they are black. they are _NOT_ african. being african itself is so complex - ask someone from Botswana and they will quickly dissociate themselves for Nigerians and so on and so forth. My point being sitting here in a wealthy western country that is part of a group of countries that has for so long exploited Africa gives you no right to say that is ok to show Africans in that context. - the other common response - 'it's just a game' - only the privileged would say _only_ a game is as powerful a medium as a newspaper, a tv show or a hollywood movie in perpetuating stereotypes. so what if you showed spaniards being zombies - who cares - aside from the fact that spaniards in their colonizing past have been worse than zombies the fact is they are a first world country and have no need to be defensive in a situation showing them to be less than perfect. Showing Africans in that context is incredibly insensitive, unfair. How many africans will play this game? Too few to write back on this blog and tell you what they think. So you are ok taking potshots, speaking on behalf of people that don't have a voice on the same platform? This still sound like 'just a game'? Anyway that's my 2 cents. Thanks Jason for bringing this up in this context. People in the US have no clue about how lucky they are that they can sit here and debate the merits of the nationality of zombies in a game that plays on a platform that costs as much as it does to feed at least one family for an entire year in some parts of the world. If I were Samuel L Jackson I would say 'shut the fuck up' to all those who thought it did not matter. I meant to write a response to the original post but figured I ought to read the responses first. That project somehow never seemed to reach completion as the number of responses kept growing. Anyway a few things that came to me
- people who felt that just by saying they are black and that if they think it’s ok to show Africans in that context it is ok are so wrong. they are black. they are _NOT_ african. being african itself is so complex - ask someone from Botswana and they will quickly dissociate themselves for Nigerians and so on and so forth. My point being sitting here in a wealthy western country that is part of a group of countries that has for so long exploited Africa gives you no right to say that is ok to show Africans in that context.
- the other common response - ‘it’s just a game’ - only the privileged would say _only_ a game is as powerful a medium as a newspaper, a tv show or a hollywood movie in perpetuating stereotypes. so what if you showed spaniards being zombies - who cares - aside from the fact that spaniards in their colonizing past have been worse than zombies the fact is they are a first world country and have no need to be defensive in a situation showing them to be less than perfect. Showing Africans in that context is incredibly insensitive, unfair. How many africans will play this game? Too few to write back on this blog and tell you what they think. So you are ok taking potshots, speaking on behalf of people that don’t have a voice on the same platform? This still sound like ‘just a game’?

Anyway that’s my 2 cents. Thanks Jason for bringing this up in this context. People in the US have no clue about how lucky they are that they can sit here and debate the merits of the nationality of zombies in a game that plays on a platform that costs as much as it does to feed at least one family for an entire year in some parts of the world. If I were Samuel L Jackson I would say ’shut the fuck up’ to all those who thought it did not matter.

]]> By: Carlos http://microscopiq.com/2007/08/race-in-games-2/#comment-14571 Carlos Sun, 12 Aug 2007 22:53:20 +0000 http://microscopiq.com/2007/08/race-in-games-2/#comment-14571 Judy - I feel sometimes people form these preconceptions out of carelessness. Some people may feel the information they hold about a country or race is enough to draw conclusions. They may also feel that it's not worth the effort to inform themselves accurately about a country or race. Unfortunately, the media makes this problem worse by giving us limited news about the world. I feel that this can change with people making an effort to educate a chunk of our population about our misperceptions of races. Just like we have had national campaigns against smoking or promoting safe sex, I feel we need a national campaign against racism. Xanter- I appreciate your response. Racism is a serious problem that is regularly not given the proper value it deserves. If the topic where about rape or murder or terrorism, few people would disagree that these are horrible occurrences that have happened in the past and can very likely happen again. We all see them as tragic events and, as a society, we do everything possible to prevent them from happening again. However, we do not treat racism in the same way. Even though people have been traumatized and will be traumatized as a result of racism, have died and die as a result of racism, have been massively extinguished and will be forced into oblivion as a result of racism. My point, I feel that your thoughts fall short of giving the issue of racism the importance it deserves. There are many people who share your views and, unfortunately, these views do not help with attacking the problem of racism in our country. Judy - I feel sometimes people form these preconceptions out of carelessness. Some people may feel the information they hold about a country or race is enough to draw conclusions. They may also feel that it’s not worth the effort to inform themselves accurately about a country or race. Unfortunately, the media makes this problem worse by giving us limited news about the world. I feel that this can change with people making an effort to educate a chunk of our population about our misperceptions of races.

Just like we have had national campaigns against smoking or promoting safe sex, I feel we need a national campaign against racism.

Xanter- I appreciate your response. Racism is a serious problem that is regularly not given the proper value it deserves. If the topic where about rape or murder or terrorism, few people would disagree that these are horrible occurrences that have happened in the past and can very likely happen again. We all see them as tragic events and, as a society, we do everything possible to prevent them from happening again.

However, we do not treat racism in the same way. Even though people have been traumatized and will be traumatized as a result of racism, have died and die as a result of racism, have been massively extinguished and will be forced into oblivion as a result of racism.

My point, I feel that your thoughts fall short of giving the issue of racism the importance it deserves. There are many people who share your views and, unfortunately, these views do not help with attacking the problem of racism in our country.

]]> By: Guagentua http://microscopiq.com/2007/08/race-in-games-2/#comment-14238 Guagentua Fri, 10 Aug 2007 21:07:29 +0000 http://microscopiq.com/2007/08/race-in-games-2/#comment-14238 A video about this trailer of resident evil 5 : http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2qd5v_terminablack-5-ou-resident-evil-5_creation A video about this trailer of resident evil 5 :

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2qd5v_terminablack-5-ou-resident-evil-5_creation

]]> By: Curt http://microscopiq.com/2007/08/race-in-games-2/#comment-14236 Curt Fri, 10 Aug 2007 20:08:13 +0000 http://microscopiq.com/2007/08/race-in-games-2/#comment-14236 My lingering question is: Why has Capcom, both Japanese HQ and the American Capcom blogs, chosen not to respond to this issue? The only reasons I can come up with are not complimentary to the company. Arrogance? Dismissive? (I.e., only hysterical blacks, after all.) Delighted with the sh/tstorm they've kicked up? This is another situation for the Naked Conversations list of companies who blew it when they could have turned it around for themselves. My lingering question is: Why has Capcom, both Japanese HQ and the American Capcom blogs, chosen not to respond to this issue? The only reasons I can come up with are not complimentary to the company. Arrogance? Dismissive? (I.e., only hysterical blacks, after all.) Delighted with the sh/tstorm they’ve kicked up? This is another situation for the Naked Conversations list of companies who blew it when they could have turned it around for themselves.

]]> By: Official Shrub.com Blog » Blog Archive » Racial issues in Resident Evil 5: Link Roundup http://microscopiq.com/2007/08/race-in-games-2/#comment-14132 Official Shrub.com Blog » Blog Archive » Racial issues in Resident Evil 5: Link Roundup Thu, 09 Aug 2007 10:09:41 +0000 http://microscopiq.com/2007/08/race-in-games-2/#comment-14132 [...] Race in Games: Culture, Context, and Controversy at microscopiq: I’m fully prepared to accept the possibility that Capcom is not intentionally drawing on painful stereotypes, but that does not mean they’re allowed to be oblivious to them or their impact. To the contrary, as a company that sells into many markets worldwide, it is very important for them to be aware of cultural issues. If they fell down anywhere, it seems likely to be here — understanding stateside racial sensitivities. [...] [...] Race in Games: Culture, Context, and Controversy at microscopiq: I’m fully prepared to accept the possibility that Capcom is not intentionally drawing on painful stereotypes, but that does not mean they’re allowed to be oblivious to them or their impact. To the contrary, as a company that sells into many markets worldwide, it is very important for them to be aware of cultural issues. If they fell down anywhere, it seems likely to be here — understanding stateside racial sensitivities. [...]

]]> By: yes http://microscopiq.com/2007/08/race-in-games-2/#comment-13937 yes Wed, 08 Aug 2007 01:40:42 +0000 http://microscopiq.com/2007/08/race-in-games-2/#comment-13937 Just adding to what Judy said about Senegal. People think that Africa is a very dangerous crime-rife continent, there are countries with high crime rates, but there are also others with very low crime rates, dozens of times lower than the US'. According to INTERPOL Senegal's crime rate is lower than Japan's, which is already reknowned as a safe country. Just shows you how much people don't know about Africa. Personally, I feel safer in Senegal than in New York... Just adding to what Judy said about Senegal. People think that Africa is a very dangerous crime-rife continent, there are countries with high crime rates, but there are also others with very low crime rates, dozens of times lower than the US’.
According to INTERPOL Senegal’s crime rate is lower than Japan’s, which is already reknowned as a safe country. Just shows you how much people don’t know about Africa. Personally, I feel safer in Senegal than in New York…

]]> By: judy http://microscopiq.com/2007/08/race-in-games-2/#comment-13913 judy Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:39:16 +0000 http://microscopiq.com/2007/08/race-in-games-2/#comment-13913 You are definitely right when you talk about "misconceptions about Africa." When I told people, excitedly, that I was about to spend a Fulbright year teaching law school in Senegal, there would be a pause, then someone would say: "There's a law school in Senegal?" My answer: "Sure: how else would they train their lawyers?" And the follow-up question: "They have lawyers in Senegal?" (After several of these conversations, I changed my initial comment, to say that I would be teaching at "one of the law schools" in Senegal...) The second comment, from everyone: "But isn't it dangerous there?" I always asked them what they knew about Senegal that I didn't. And of course, they had no information about Senegal at all...just an general sense, I think, that a country with a lot of black people had to be dangerous. (To give you a sense of the level of danger in Dakar, where I lived, you should know that lots of people there have guards for their houses. In a very poor country, there is always a temptation to steal. So I did have a "guard" for the Fulbright house, and these were his "weapons": a whistle, to call the other guards to come help, and a slingshot!) Anyhow, you are doing important work. Keep it up. The stereotypes about Africa are all negative, and I think we need to both recognize them when we see them, and then think about why this is so. You are definitely right when you talk about “misconceptions about Africa.” When I told people, excitedly, that I was about to spend a Fulbright year teaching law school in Senegal, there would be a pause, then someone would say: “There’s a law school in Senegal?” My answer: “Sure: how else would they train their lawyers?” And the follow-up question: “They have lawyers in Senegal?” (After several of these conversations, I changed my initial comment, to say that I would be teaching at “one of the law schools” in Senegal…) The second comment, from everyone: “But isn’t it dangerous there?” I always asked them what they knew about Senegal that I didn’t. And of course, they had no information about Senegal at all…just an general sense, I think, that a country with a lot of black people had to be dangerous. (To give you a sense of the level of danger in Dakar, where I lived, you should know that lots of people there have guards for their houses. In a very poor country, there is always a temptation to steal. So I did have a “guard” for the Fulbright house, and these were his “weapons”: a whistle, to call the other guards to come help, and a slingshot!) Anyhow, you are doing important work. Keep it up. The stereotypes about Africa are all negative, and I think we need to both recognize them when we see them, and then think about why this is so.

]]> By: Xantar http://microscopiq.com/2007/08/race-in-games-2/#comment-13498 Xantar Sun, 05 Aug 2007 20:56:10 +0000 http://microscopiq.com/2007/08/race-in-games-2/#comment-13498 Carlos - when did I ever make anyone into a victim? I was just pointing out that insulting Geo is not a productive way to participate in the conversation. He seems to have taken it pretty well, but others might have just gotten offended and left. And if our goal is to promote an understanding of racism, that seems like a pretty counterproductive result to me. And moreover, it was never my intention to attack your character (how could I since I don't know you?). What I did say is that your aggressive responses give the impression that you would rather have moral superiority than true understanding. And that makes you look immature, even if you really aren't. Please understand that I appreciate all the other points you've been making in this conversation, but I wish you could avoid occasionally adopting a tone that's likely to alienate others. Those are just my thoughts on the matter. If I hurt or offended you, I apologize. If I'm misunderstanding you, please set me straight. And if you choose to respond to this, I'm not going to say anything further. This is the kind of conversation that simply bounces back and forth going nowhere, and as I said, I have no interest in participating in such. Carlos - when did I ever make anyone into a victim? I was just pointing out that insulting Geo is not a productive way to participate in the conversation. He seems to have taken it pretty well, but others might have just gotten offended and left. And if our goal is to promote an understanding of racism, that seems like a pretty counterproductive result to me.

And moreover, it was never my intention to attack your character (how could I since I don’t know you?). What I did say is that your aggressive responses give the impression that you would rather have moral superiority than true understanding. And that makes you look immature, even if you really aren’t. Please understand that I appreciate all the other points you’ve been making in this conversation, but I wish you could avoid occasionally adopting a tone that’s likely to alienate others.

Those are just my thoughts on the matter. If I hurt or offended you, I apologize. If I’m misunderstanding you, please set me straight. And if you choose to respond to this, I’m not going to say anything further. This is the kind of conversation that simply bounces back and forth going nowhere, and as I said, I have no interest in participating in such.

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