Cuphead: The Fake Outrage (It's Still Not About Ethics)

[UnpopularBlargh]

So for those that don't know, Shaun is a YouTube essayist who explains and debunks alt-right talking points and other less vile stuff (i.e The Great Replacement Isn't Real, CinemaSins Is Still Wrong, Quebec Mosque Shooting: Manufacturing A Conspiracy). Usually he doesn't cover video games but since he just finished Cuphead himself he came across an interesting controversy. In the video below he breaks down how the alt-right and GamerGate remnants have created a fake controversy that SJW's and video game critics are labeling the game is racist when that is not at all the case.



Here is Ian Miles Cheong a prominent voice of the alt-right/GamerGate movement showing how "real" his anger is:


PSA: Shaun speaks in a monotone and very deliberate tone which turns off a few people but your mileage may vary.

 

[Silky]

Ian Miles Cheong's facial hair looks like skin flakes like damn

Shaun makes good content tho

 

[Htown]

watching now

we actually had a thread about cuphead and race a week or two back

wonder if any of this stuff is going to seem familiar

 

[Rats]

That fucking Ian Miles Cheong tweet.

He might actually be the most disingenuous Tweeter in the history of the platform.

EDIT: On a positive note, Shaun is the best and this video is very good.

 

[Maximo]

Ian Miles Cheong anyone got more links, pictures of shit he has said in the past? Im surprised at the amount of Youtubers who I would consider left leaning to quote and reply to his stuff now and then...mainly one in particular when he was tweeting about that person playing cuphead dreadfully.

 

[Deleted member 1413]

It's weird that people are so adamant about journalists hating Cuphead despite getting near universal praise and a very high metacritic average. It's ok to point things out in games you like.

As for Ian, he's always been kind of a dork.
Not sure what caused him to pivot from being a bit annoyingly left leaning to being an awful right winged sh*t head.

 

[Maximo]

It's weird that people are so adamant about journalists hating Cuphead despite getting near universal praise and a very high metacritic average.

As for Ian, he's always been kind of a dork.
Not sure what caused him to pivot from being a bit annoyingly left leaning to being an awful right winged sh*t head.

Click to shrink...

Its now a quick way to get noticed/profitable, before you were shunned now you can play the victim, rally people to your side while promoting a website/patreon.

 

[UnpopularBlargh]

Ian Miles Cheong anyone got more links, pictures of shit he has said in the past? Im surprised at the amount of Youtubers who I would consider left leaning to quote and reply to his stuff now and then...mainly one in particular when he was tweeting about that person playing cuphead dreadfully.

Click to shrink...

Honestly just take a gander at his Twitter. He's basically pond scum.

 

[Kinsei]

As for Ian, he's always been kind of a dork.
Not sure what caused him to pivot from being a bit annoyingly left leaning to being an awful right winged sh*t head.

Click to shrink...

A woman criticized The Witcher 3. I wish I was joking.

 

[Silky]

It's weird that people are so adamant about journalists hating Cuphead despite getting near universal praise and a very high metacritic average. It's ok to point things out in games you like.

As for Ian, he's always been kind of a dork.
Not sure what caused him to pivot from being a bit annoyingly left leaning to being an awful right winged sh*t head.

Click to shrink...

I believe he got called out by one of his colleagues back when he wrote for gameranx and now that people turned on him he went to an audience that eats up anything so as long as they agree with them

Dudes a pasty ant

 

[CannonFodder52]

Great video as always from Shaun.

The Ian content was amazing.

 

[ElBoxy]

watching now

we actually had a thread about cuphead and race a week or two back

wonder if any of this stuff is going to seem familiar

Click to shrink...

It was my thread: https://www.resetera.com/threads/un...e-racist-spectre-of-fleischer-animation.5429/

But yeah, there's been this ongoing manufactured narrative that Cuphead is being "hated" by journalist, progressives, "sjws", etc. It all started when a journalist had trouble getting through the tutorial and they haven't moved on since.

 

[4859]

Pretty good breakdown of the standard tactics of industry worshippers, really this can apply to any subject they wish to 'defend'. In particular the use of the word 'attacking', for anyone who has any manner of rational argument that they disagree with, think they disagree with, or want to create a level of escalated disagreement where one may not really exist, is something I see a lot.

 

[Htown]

That concluding paragraph, though:

I feel like a lot of capital G "Gamers" are so threatened by journalism that simply asks questions or sparks debate because they'd rather be totally passive and uncritical consumers of a predictable and unchanging product. And any hint of outside influence possibly interfering with the imagined purity of that product and its creation process is taken as an outraged attack. Or maybe it's simply being reminded of the fact that games even have a creation process at all that's so infuriating for them. You know, games aren't created in a process by artists. They just happen, and we as gamers buy them. And game journalists only exist to give every game a high score, and provide us with a sense of shared experience and reassurance in our enjoyment in the medium. We don't just want to have fun, we need to be told we're having fun. And anyone theorizing about things possibly being done differently is just ruining the fantasy, really.

Fuckin' preach, dude.

 

[mac]

All video games are inherently political.

 

[Crossing Eden]

This is so perfect:

This video too, is genuine perfection in how succinctly it addresses the truegamer™ reaction to gaming journalism asking their audience to think more critically about the art we consume.

 

[TheMango55]

Video was fantastic until it got to the "Cuphead is racist" part and basically said "It's totally fake outrage and nobody said Cuphead is racist, plus here are all the reasons why Cuphead could be considered racist"

It's like asking "Is launching satellites into orbit is anti-Semitic? I'm not saying it is or it isn't, but here are a bunch of reasons why it could be"

EDIT: Modern rocket technology owes a lot to Nazi scientists, to anyone confused by my comparison

 

[RM8]

I died of cringe just by watching the long haired dork at the beginning of the video. Oh my god somebody help him.

 

[ElBoxy]

Wow, he says Yussef's article isn't saying Cuphead is racist. It's like he used read comprehension or something.

 

[SatelliteOfLove]

This is so perfect:

This video too, is genuine perfection in how succinctly it addresses the truegamer™ reaction to gaming journalism asking their audience to think more critically about the art we consume.

Click to shrink...

Ah, from the Cassandra Fairbanks School of Horseshoemanship, I see.

 

[Crossing Eden]

Video was fantastic until it got to the "Cuphead is racist" part and basically said "It's totally fake outrage and nobody said Cuphead is racist, plus here are all the reasons why Cuphead could be considered racist"

It's like asking "Is launching satellites into orbit is anti-Semitic? I'm not saying it is or it isn't, but here are a bunch of reasons why it could be"

Click to shrink...

It's not calling Cuphead racist at all. It's basically explaining the context of the specific era the art is informed from including the specific tropes that directly inspired the game according to the devs who are quoted during that segment. At worst, he refers to the inspiration as awkward. And that there is merit to a discussion centered around how valid it is to ignore the context of what's directly inspiring an artist. To put it succinctly:We need more critical thinking about the art we consume, Treat this as an objective good thing instead of an attack.

 

[Pablo Mesa]

People getting mad at CH for the art style is plain and simple fool (edited out), It was not the intention if the developers when using early cartoons style, its even over reaching trying to co-relate both the art style with the sentiment of the era and the reflection of the cartoons of the era emselves.
Everyone is entitles to their opinion and what they feel, but you can project those sentiment as is the world is hell bend on create em and make you feel bad

as for Miles he is just an attention seeker

 

[Don Fluffles]

AlphaOmegaSin?
Let me fix that:
AlphatheticOmegaSin

 

[Htown]

People getting mad at CH for the art style is plain and simple retarded, It was not the intention if the developers when using early cartoons style, its even over reaching trying to co-relate both the art style with the sentiment of the era and the reflection of the cartoons of the era emselves.
Everyone is entitles to their opinion and what they feel, but you can project those sentiment as is the world is hell bend on create em and make you feel bad

Click to shrink...

I don't know what I expected.

 

[Pablo Mesa]

I don't know what I expected.

Click to shrink...

im actually curious, what did you expect?? or tell me where I am being wrong then

 

[Dyle]

The conclusion is great, sums up the total lack of nuance that games, and many other media, deal with in modern discourse. Good summary of the "controversy"

 

[Crossing Eden]

People getting mad at CH for the art style is plain and simple retarded, It was not the intention if the developers when using early cartoons style, its even over reaching trying to co-relate both the art style with the sentiment of the era and the reflection of the cartoons of the era emselves.
Everyone is entitles to their opinion and what they feel, but you can project those sentiment as is the world is hell bend on create em and make you feel bad

as for Miles he is just an attention seeker

Click to shrink...

You should really watch the video as your post directly implies that you're one of the people it briefly talks about.

Spoiler

Hint, no one was getting mad at CH for the art style, let alone a significant amount of people.

 

[GameBuddy]

Video was fantastic until it got to the "Cuphead is racist" part and basically said "It's totally fake outrage and nobody said Cuphead is racist, plus here are all the reasons why Cuphead could be considered racist"

Click to shrink...

I think that's misinterpreting Shaun's point. I believe the crux of the article he was talking about and the examples were saying that the cartoons Cuphead is based on are very racist and trying to sanitize elements of them and not wanting to talk about it doesn't erase that fact.

 

[Philly Cheesesteak]

People getting mad at CH for the art style is plain and simple retarded, It was not the intention if the developers when using early cartoons style, its even over reaching trying to co-relate both the art style with the sentiment of the era and the reflection of the cartoons of the era emselves.
Everyone is entitles to their opinion and what they feel, but you can project those sentiment as is the world is hell bend on create em and make you feel bad

as for Miles he is just an attention seeker

Click to shrink...

I guess people that have gone through that time period would be retarded to feel some kind of way about that era's racist propaganda art style being used as a video game in today's society. Yup. Nothing to see here folks.

 

[NICHIJOUDENSETSU]

How / why is this discussion even a thing? Legit question.

 

[Pablo Mesa]

You should really watch the video as your post directly implies that you're one of the people it briefly talks about.

Click to shrink...

im not talking about the video alone tho. most about the overall lambasted the game took for a brief time when it 1st was brought into attention the co-relation of that era cartoon with racism and some people and outlets extended that co-relation to tell CH was being racist.

 

[Bricktop]

I'm pretty sure I've seen more than a few people upset with Cuphead's art style and the word racist has been brought up as well. Let's not pretend that "no one" has an issue with the game.

 

[Pablo Mesa]

I guess people that have gone through that time period would be retarded to feel some kind of way about that era's racist propaganda art style being used as a video game in today's society. Yup. Nothing to see here folks.

Click to shrink...

1) that time is early 1930, even a new born at that time will be 80-90 years old today so I doubt many of the people in that frame played the game
2) Even tho the art style is the same. CH doesnt use any of the tropes the cartoon use for its propaganda, it only uses the art direction.

now if Im being wrong in any of those 2 statements, point me out in the right direction then

 

[Crossing Eden]

How / why is this discussion even a thing? Legit question.

Click to shrink...

Because people like Ian Miles Cheong and AlphaOmegaSin near constantly fearmonger about the gaming journalism boogeyman and how it's ruining the medium.

im not talking about the video alone tho. most about the overall lambasted the game took for a brief time when it 1st was brought into attention the co-relation of that era cartoon with racism and some people and outlets extended that co-relation to tell CH was being racist.

Click to shrink...

Even tho the art style is the same. CH doesnt use any of the tropes the cartoon use for its propaganda, it only uses the art direction.

Click to shrink...

So yea watch the video....

 

[Fat4all]

People getting mad at CH for the art style is plain and simple retarded, It was not the intention if the developers when using early cartoons style, its even over reaching trying to co-relate both the art style with the sentiment of the era and the reflection of the cartoons of the era emselves.
Everyone is entitles to their opinion and what they feel, but you can project those sentiment as is the world is hell bend on create em and make you feel bad

Click to shrink...

 

[CannonFodder52]

That's almost too mean

 

[Mifec]

Great video, I love me some Shaun, been watching his stuff over the last 2 months on occasion. I also love IMC getting destroyed, Destiny has been doing it almost daily on twitter so this is just a bonus.

 

[Kilic95]

im actually curious, what did you expect?? or tell me where I am being wrong then

Click to shrink...

Well, firstly, don't call people retarded. That's a slur.

Secondly, I don't see anything wrong with having a debate.

 

[L Thammy]

I still can't believe that Ian Miles Cheung is a feminist defector because a woman criticized The Witcher.

 

[Philly Cheesesteak]

1) that time is early 1930, even a new born at that time will be 80-90 years old today so I doubt many of the people in that frame played the game
2) Even tho the art style is the same. CH doesnt use any of the tropes the cartoon use for its propaganda, it only uses the art direction.

now if Im being wrong in any of those 2 statements, point me out in the right direction then

Click to shrink...

Sigh. If you watched the video, we wouldn't be having this conversation honestly. Also calling people retarded? Noice.

 

[Pablo Mesa]

Well, firstly, don't call people retarded. That's a slur.

Click to shrink...

sorry, was not the intention

Secondly, I don't see anything wrong with having a debate

Click to shrink...

is not about the discussion of it, is about the over reaching it had to some degree, what the games evokes =/= the intention of the creator. but it was thrown here and there that the game was being racist or that it should change cause of that as if it was the original intention of the devs to be racist emselves (which they did not)

 

[Fat4all]

but it was thrown here and there that the game was being racist or that it should change cause of that as if it was the original intention of the devs to be racist emselves (which they did not)

Click to shrink...

Who is saying it's racist here, or even that it should be changed?

 

[NICHIJOUDENSETSU]

Because people like Ian Miles Cheong and AlphaOmegaSin near constantly fearmonger about the gaming journalism boogeyman and how it's ruining the medium.

Click to shrink...

Call me old fashioned, but I've always found ignoring shit stirrers deprived them of the attention they seek, as well as denied them something to retaliate against and therefore their ability to maintain a coherent platform. Maybe it's just me.

 

[CannonFodder52]

I still can't believe that Ian Miles Cheung is a feminist defector because a woman criticized The Witcher.

Click to shrink...

You know he argues that his weight loss and improved appearance is due to kicking the SJW mindset.

*this is not an attack on his appearance

 

[Crossing Eden]

Call me old fashioned, but I've always found ignoring shit stirrers deprived them of the attention they seek, as well as denied them something to retaliate against and therefore their ability to maintain a coherent platform. Maybe it's just me.

Click to shrink...

Not when they actively organize harassment campaigns against journalists.

 

[Addleburg]

I don't follow gaming stuff as close as many others here, but this is literally the first time I'd heard anyone even claiming that people were claiming Cuphead was racist or ableist. It's amazing that some YouTube personalities can capitalize on supposed outrage about a game, especially when those supposedly outraged people are the same ones giving the game universal praise.

Dunno much about Ian Cheong or the bearded dude featured in the video beyond the fact that I only ever see them in the context of them saying something stupid.

As far as Cuphead goes, I'm definitely in the camp that believes it'd be nice to have an easy mode, but that the game isn't able-ist or wrong for not including one. I plan to still pick it up once I've gone through some of my backlog.

 

[Deleted member 32561]

Call me old fashioned, but I've always found ignoring shit stirrers deprived them of the attention they seek, as well as denied them something to retaliate against and therefore their ability to maintain a coherent platform. Maybe it's just me.

Click to shrink...

That used to work, but sadly all that does is let them go unchallenged and gather a fanbase. You've got to actively pick their fault arguments apart or they'll just seem like geniuses to a scarily growing subset of people.
Edit: And what CrossingEden said.

 

[Norgler]

Never heard of this guy before but that was a pretty good video. I honestly did not know people were outraged at the.. uhh little to no outrage about cuphead.

Gotta keep up that narrative I guess.

 

[Pablo Mesa]

Who is saying it's racist here, or even that it should be changed?

Click to shrink...

Here, no one (as far as I know, I didnt read the thread when the unwinnable article was out)

on the internet? the idea was thrown around, mostly trolling but some serious. and as a personal I still think the articles were trying to tie in the game itself with the idea of racism due to the art style

 

[Don Fluffles]

Just listened to a few of his videos and, Good God, he is masterful at exposing these jackoffs for what they are. It just makes me want to laugh at them.