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Representation is Important

Sentry

Sentry

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Member
Oct 25, 2017
87
A couple of days ago I was watching some younger cousins of mine and they asked me a question. "Why aren't there more people who look like us in the games you play?"
Usually they're both caught up in whatever kids do, but the question came out of left-field and threw me for a loop. The next day I came across this video.


This video encapsulates why representation is important in my opinion. It shows the power that a positive characterization can have. In this case Shuri has become a beacon for young African-American/Black women who in some cases don't have a positive models. In the case of video games I think we're making great strides in this area. But I'd like to hear your thoughts on this. Also feel free to post what you feel are important or your favorite forms of representation in gaming.
 
Fat4all

Fat4all

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Oct 25, 2017
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representation is vital

i'd love to see more romani playable characters in games
 

Deleted member 249

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Can't argue with anything you said man. I'd kill to see proper representation for Indians and south Asians in the medium, and the development of the medium.
 
Zvonimir Boban

Zvonimir Boban

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
7,523
I agree 100% but I also think historical accuracy is just as important. After all it breaks immersion to see a brown person wandering around in the background when my mage is battling orcs and dragons so it's important to find a realistic balance.


EDIT: I don't know if I could have laid it on any thicker but don't want an important thread to be derailed because you lot can't spot obvious jokes. THIS POST IS NOT SERIOUS. Please go and get your senses of humour calibrated please and thank you.
 
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Deleted member 25606

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I want more diversity in games for two reasons.

1. Representation is very important for everyone, everyone wants to be able to relate.

2. Games are supposed to be an escape and in the best of times a window into other worlds and experiences, so why has the majority of games in my 35 years of playing starred white dudes. Even as a white person I feel like that story has been told ad naseum give me something new already.
 
Fat4all

Fat4all

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Zvonimir Boban said:
I agree 100% but I also think historical accuracy is just as important. After all it breaks immersion to see a brown person wandering around in the background when my mage is battling orcs and dragons so it's important to find a realistic balance.
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Neoxon

Neoxon

Spotlighting Black Excellence - Diversity Analyst
Member
Oct 25, 2017
85,299
Houston, TX
I 100% agree & have been pushing for more black/brown representation (& representation in general) in games for a while. But in the case of games like Smash, the only way we will see real change with regards to representation is from the source (I.E. us getting black/brown main characters in other Nintendo games), especially when there wasn't much to go on back in December 2015.

With that said, even the little things can go a long way, such as the decision to make the Octoling Girl black by default.
 
Admiral Woofington

Admiral Woofington

The Fallen
Oct 25, 2017
14,892
Zvonimir Boban said:
I agree 100% but I also think historical accuracy is just as important. After all it breaks immersion to see a brown person wandering around in the background when my mage is battling orcs and dragons so it's important to find a realistic balance.
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OK. Please tell me you're fucking with me here because understand that somewhere out there I could read this genuine remark.

I'll just assume you are. Or I'm not getting a meme.
 
Neoxon

Neoxon

Spotlighting Black Excellence - Diversity Analyst
Member
Oct 25, 2017
85,299
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Sentry said:
In this case Shuri has become a beacon for young African-American/Black women who in some cases don't have a positive models.
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I kinda hope that Storm becomes this as well once we get the X-Men in the MCU. She could have easily done so already if Fox had played their cards right.
 
JusDoIt

JusDoIt

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Oct 25, 2017
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Art is important because it helps people reflect on their own humanity. It reminds us that the things we feel aren't isolated, but connect us to other human beings.

How do we achieve that if our art doesn't reflect ALL of humanity?
 
Samanosuke Akechi

Samanosuke Akechi

Banned
Oct 28, 2017
8,071
2001
Zvonimir Boban said:
I agree 100% but I also think historical accuracy is just as important. After all it breaks immersion to see a brown person wandering around in the background when my mage is battling orcs and dragons so it's important to find a realistic balance.
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Wait, did you just say historical accuracy and orcs and dragons in the same sentence?

Like, lord of the rings actually happened hundreds of years ago? I had no idea that was a true story.


Edit: So it was sarcasm? I hope so.
 
OP
OP
Sentry

Sentry

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Member
Oct 25, 2017
87
JusDoIt said:
Art is important because it helps people reflect on their own humanity. It reminds us that the things we feel aren't isolated, but connect us to other human beings.

How do we achieve that if our art doesn't reflect ALL of humanity?
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So how do I give the thread to you cause to be honest its' your thread now
 

Deleted member 8001

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JusDoIt said:
Art is important because it helps people reflect on their own humanity. It reminds us that the things we feel aren't isolated, but connect us to other human beings.

How do we achieve that if our art doesn't reflect ALL of humanity?
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I could see someone spinning this into "Don't censor problematic artwork it represents all humanity" and completely missing the point.
 
808s & Villainy

808s & Villainy

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Oct 27, 2017
42,700
Some of y'all really can't tell sarcasm when you see "historical accuracy" and "battling orcs and dragons" in the same statement?!
 
applejuice

applejuice

Member
Oct 27, 2017
416
Tampa, FL
Zvonimir Boban said:
I agree 100% but I also think historical accuracy is just as important. After all it breaks immersion to see a brown person wandering around in the background when my mage is battling orcs and dragons so it's important to find a realistic balance.
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In all realness, how do all these fantasy worlds still manage to have homophobia in them? All this magic, wonder, and endless possibilities and the writers STILL feel a pressing need to shit on lgbt people.
 

Deleted member 16908

Oct 27, 2017
9,377
That video is really something. That must be a hell of a feeling.
 
SMD

SMD

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Oct 28, 2017
6,341
JusDoIt said:
Art is important because it helps people reflect on their own humanity. It reminds us that the things we feel aren't isolated, but connect us to other human beings.

How do we achieve that if our art doesn't reflect ALL of humanity?
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Hot damn. All I can add to that is representation in the studios matters just as much.
 
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Griffith

Griffith

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
5,585
That's a beautiful video and I definitely agree with what you said.

The only thing I would add is that representing properly is as vital as representing. Learn from the people you are representing or, better yet, have those characters be written by someone that is what you're trying to represent.
 
Owlowiscious

Owlowiscious

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Oct 27, 2017
3,473
808s & Villainy said:
Some of y'all really can't tell sarcasm when you see "historical accuracy" and "battling orcs and dragons" in the same statement?!
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Its the world we live in where these posts can be made seriously.

In a world like this, I feel it hurts the conversation to make these joke posts. We get enough real posts like that I dont want to see it again even as a joke. This thread will now be a discussion on that post.
 
Zvonimir Boban

Zvonimir Boban

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Oct 25, 2017
7,523
applejuice said:
In all realness, how do all these fantasy worlds still manage to have homophobia in them? All this magic, wonder, and endless possibilities and the writers STILL feel a pressing need to shit on lgbt people.
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Games (and other media) reflect people that make them. That's why we have loads of 30-40 something beardy protagonists at the moment and that's unfortunately why homophobia and misogyny is still prevalent in a lot of games.

It's also why it's crucial to get female and minority devs/writers/artists into the games industry so we start seeing more of our stories told.
 
Fat4all

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luckily one of the only romani characters in games is a relatable character for kids to play as

marvel_vs__capcom_3__razputin_aquato_by_kingoffiction-dbnwav2.png
 
Megatron

Megatron

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Oct 27, 2017
5,445
Lol @ all the people who couldn't tell the orcs and mages post was obvious sarcasm. Holy shit.
 
Pekola

Pekola

Member
Oct 27, 2017
2,507
But I don't CARE about a character's race, gender or sexuality. I am okay with the deluge of similar fair-skinned male protagonists we've had so far.

As long as it's done well, I don't care. Just don't censor the creators!

/s
 

SkyOdin

Member
Apr 21, 2018
2,680
Khanimus said:
Some of you can't read sarcasm for shit.
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I could tell it was sarcasm, but I've had the misfortune of seeing a LOT of people post stuff like that while being 100% serious.

Anyways, I agree that representation is important. For my own small part, as a left-handed person, I always appreciate videogames that star left-handed characters who are NOT either villains or traitors.

Women and people of color have it a hundred times worse than me, but I can still sympathize over the importance of representation. It is nice to have someone who resembles you be treated like a normal human being, maybe even a main protagonist.
 

Deleted member 8001

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It's not realistic for a man to be able to take bullets and constantly heal himself with health packs or for a medic to be a white mage and wizard heal them up. It's also not realistic for a man with a shit ton of gear on to be sprinting around like he was Samurai Jack in the "Jump Good" episode.

People don't care about historical accuracy it's just a tool used to hide true intentions. Anyone rational won't have a problem a black guy or woman, or a trans women or man, or a gay man or woman, etc in a game.

And even then, they are games. They are meant to please us as people, as many of us as possible. Just let people be happy, let them be represented and everyone gets to feel welcomed.
 
Waddle Dee

Waddle Dee

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Nov 2, 2017
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That was so adorable. Can't wait to see a similar thing happen with Captain Marvel, and later Ms. Marvel!

I think a nice little step many game devs could do to improve diversity is by simply randomizing what the order on the character select screen is very time you go to it in a game with a diverse roster. Don't always have the white male be the first character highlighted.
 
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vestan

vestan

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Dec 28, 2017
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Yes, OP. I agree completely. We need more diverse creators making games. I'm really glad indie dev has become so accessible to allow anyone to make their own games. I'm doing my part, but I'm not expecting much as far as representation goes in the AAA space even though it has gotten better these past few years.
 
vestan

vestan

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Fat4all said:
luckily one of the only romani characters in games is a relatable character for kids to play as

marvel_vs__capcom_3__razputin_aquato_by_kingoffiction-dbnwav2.png
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I love this cheeky little shit. Raz is the fucking best. I only played through and completed Psychonauts for the first time three months ago, but I'm fucking excited for Psychonauts 2, especially with it exploring Razputin's Romani origins with his family.

pJYBdht.jpg


jokKqcg.jpg


KplBlvJ.jpg
 
JoJo'sDentCo

JoJo'sDentCo

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Oct 25, 2017
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Just look at all the studio team photographs to see why diversity in games still sucks. Most of the time the large majority of studios are white men. It sucks.
 
thetrin

thetrin

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Oct 26, 2017
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Atlanta, GA
Hell yeah it's important. I've told this story a whole lot, but when I was a kid growing up, I used to love MASK. MASK only had one Indian character, and he was a sidekick character named Ali Bombay, but I thought he was the coolest shit in the world, because I'd never seen another Indian dude on TV kicking ass.

It always made me sad that he wasn't the protagonist though. It made me feel like I could never be the leader, or the hero. I'd always be a sidekick.

I grew out of it, and gained a lot of confidence in the process, but I don't want any other Indian kid to go through what I did. I want Indian kids growing up with an awesome Indian hero that represents all the positive qualities that heroes like Superman and Spider-man represent.

Phantom Thief said:
Can't argue with anything you said man. I'd kill to see proper representation for Indians and south Asians in the medium, and the development of the medium.
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Yep, agree 100%. I feel like in American media, we're often times totally forgotten (until a taxi needs driving).
 
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