tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3195137247359978282.post3240917133346719990..comments2023-09-17T10:46:04.108-05:00Comments on 20 Sided Woman: Why Resident Evil 5 Still Offends MeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07147206016242798126noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3195137247359978282.post-86285340231231790062009-02-09T07:49:00.000-06:002009-02-09T07:49:00.000-06:00As The DM noted, realism in games has reached a ne...As The DM noted, realism in games has reached a new level. Thirty years ago no one cried foul that PacMan was mercilessly gobbling up the blue ghosts, because there was a clear disconnect between this and reality. Now games are depicting reality (or fantasy) so well that it is harder to say that it is "just a game".<BR/>I'm not suggesting that we should go back to the days of blue zombies, but we can't afford to ignore the issue either. If someone wants to publish a game with a racist (or other) agenda, they now have the capability to do so. By paying attention to issues like this, we can raise the awareness level and make game manufacturers think twice about what their games are representing.Dan Eastwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14105563883467108602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3195137247359978282.post-85344388205643190132009-02-08T22:53:00.000-06:002009-02-08T22:53:00.000-06:00I didn't mean to slight sIL in entirety, but the t...I didn't mean to slight sIL in entirety, but the truth is, I'm from Chicago originally and since moving to Central Illinois, I've found a casual sort of prejudice to be fairly ingrained among most people here, and it came not as a shock per se, but it definitely was a change to my viewpoint that Illinois is a more progressive state. I realize now that it isn't, for the most part. I still get along with most people around these parts, but man, some people will start in on the n word this and the n word that and, it isn't widespread enough to make a man angry, but like I said before, it does make a man tired.Charles Clarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07367107424432821166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3195137247359978282.post-85166845293329425562009-02-07T19:15:00.000-06:002009-02-07T19:15:00.000-06:00Maybe it's just me. I was fortunate to grow up in ...Maybe it's just me. I was fortunate to grow up in with exposure to tons of different people. I spent time in Maxwell Street in Chicago as a child. It was obvious that I was one of the few white people in the area, but nobody seemed to care. Everybody was very pleasant. I've spent plenty of time in places where I know that I was out of place. I used to work in a town where I was regularly told I was a racist and threatened by customers. I didn't stop going to that town. <BR/>We can't limit our behavior based on what happens to other people (i.e. I won't go to Southern Illinois because of what a third party said happened to a 4th and 5th party. If we do that, we end up causing the same bigotry and fear we are trying to avoid.Frank Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13929174034806748558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3195137247359978282.post-1182739694428181702009-02-07T17:38:00.000-06:002009-02-07T17:38:00.000-06:00It may, but then again any place where I feel I am...It may, but then again any place where I feel I am unwanted I approach very cautiously. I knew of someone from there who said that families like mine were driven out of his town in Southern IL. I had a family member in Kentucky who had a bad experience at her workplace. I know it may be different if I go for myself (and I will if the right reason occurs), but considering that throughout most of my childhood I grew up in schools where I was told how unwanted I was at least once a week, I consider it a luxury to avoid places where that may (or may not) occur now. <BR/><BR/>Sorry to offend, I hope you know that wasn't my intention.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07147206016242798126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3195137247359978282.post-86679968371089122522009-02-07T12:55:00.000-06:002009-02-07T12:55:00.000-06:00Those last comments about Kentucky and Southern Il...Those last comments about Kentucky and Southern Illinois seem to smack of hypocrisy.Frank Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13929174034806748558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3195137247359978282.post-41848199172391822842009-02-07T12:52:00.000-06:002009-02-07T12:52:00.000-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Frank Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13929174034806748558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3195137247359978282.post-52678719313813329862009-02-07T10:21:00.000-06:002009-02-07T10:21:00.000-06:00I agree that this may be an ignorance issue, but t...I agree that this may be an ignorance issue, but then again I don't think there is an excuse for it.<BR/><BR/>And Southern Illinois is a place a approach VERY cautiously.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07147206016242798126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3195137247359978282.post-36498677110197621922009-02-07T08:45:00.000-06:002009-02-07T08:45:00.000-06:00It is unfortunate that even as we get more global,...It is unfortunate that even as we get more global, it seems that America is (weirdly) both way the hell behind the racism curve and yet the only society that's actually also AHEAD of it. It makes me scratch my head a lot.<BR/><BR/>I'm a part-Cuban, part-Chinese, part-European person, and my mother was an immigrant who came over right after the Missile Crisis. I am ethnically taken from an enemy of the United States. So is everybody who's part German, while we're at it.<BR/><BR/>Yet, I've been raised well. My family doctor growing up was Iranian, I have a Vietnamese friend, a lesbian friend, and a couple of years ago I was rooming with a guy whose parents were from India and there was never awkwardness. This does not happen in other countries, for the most part.<BR/><BR/>Japan is like damn near the rest of the world, which is to say, it's homogeneous. And when everybody around you doesn't think about something, it's easy to be insensitive. Many games are too sensitive (no accents in Metal Gear Solid 3?), but I agree in this case that Capcom is just being stupid.<BR/><BR/>There is, however, a difference between malice and ignorance, and I think they're falling on the ignorance side of it. Some character designer came up with Chris's sidekick totally independent of those who were modeling the way-too-realistic-looking Africans.<BR/><BR/>I would say it's up to America to hold racial sensitivity lessons by example, but fuck, have you ever walked around Kentucky? Or Illinois below I-80? It tires a man.Charles Clarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07367107424432821166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3195137247359978282.post-69935536944146534212009-02-06T18:12:00.000-06:002009-02-06T18:12:00.000-06:00I do have to agree that CAPCOM dropped the ball on...I do have to agree that CAPCOM dropped the ball on this in some ways... the producer, Masachika Kawata, essentially says 'it's not our problem' in this quote:<BR/><BR/>"We can't please everyone. We're in the entertainment business - we're not here to state our political opinion or anything like that. It's unfortunate that some people felt that way."<BR/><BR/>I chalk all the ignorance on this issue up to a westernized perception of Africa as a dark, conflict ridden, tribal, and dangerous place. Doesn't make the ignorance right, just means people should be educated and more sensative.<BR/><BR/>On a separate note, this does play into my <A HREF="http://digitalmystic.blogspot.com/2009/02/i-dream-in-color-or-i-am-sick-of.html" REL="nofollow">Realism Screwing Up Games</A> post, as both Far Cry 2 and RE5 had teams devoted to getting Africa looking as realistic as possible in their games, yet they didn't stop to think that whole time about other details such as race and storyline and such. (Not to mention the fact that gamers are pissed at RE5 for not letting you move and shoot at the same time)The DMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15703445518849545756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3195137247359978282.post-40191304571106685552009-02-06T18:08:00.000-06:002009-02-06T18:08:00.000-06:00Growing up in San Diego and being Hispanic I was d...Growing up in San Diego and being Hispanic I was definitely in the majority ;-)Brandonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04355143689202664013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3195137247359978282.post-16703763350249632042009-02-06T17:30:00.000-06:002009-02-06T17:30:00.000-06:00I can understand why it isn't immediately offensiv...I can understand why it isn't immediately offensive to everyone, Brandon. I think being a minority does make one more sensitive to these situations. It depends on the person and their background. However, I don't think that Capcom could've actually been that ignorant about race relations in America.<BR/><BR/>You're right, Capcom should use that kind of marketing in all their markets. It's just bad business not knowing what will hinder a game in the eyes of the public you are trying to sell your product to.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07147206016242798126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3195137247359978282.post-5339204910972629082009-02-06T16:07:00.000-06:002009-02-06T16:07:00.000-06:00I normally try to stay out of any written discussi...I normally try to stay out of any written discussion about racial topics because of the massive danger of having my written word misinterpreted. I did want to point out a couple of things though. <BR/><BR/>First, the entire human race has had the unfortunate history of violating human rights based on minority status, so I would hope that Capcom would use the same logic in all of their markets. It's a great rule of business to consider your target audience. <BR/><BR/>Second, having watched the video before reading your post - and being familiar with the series - I didn't even consider what race the zombies were as soon as I saw that guy's eyes bleeding. I just assumed that it was characters attached to the setting.<BR/><BR/>I see where you are coming from on your concerns. I just didn't reach that level of thinking while I was watching the video. I honestly believe that they wouldn't have been able to make and sell this game without offending people, given the setting.Brandonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04355143689202664013noreply@blogger.com