Who are your favorite black Nintendo characters?

I like ol' Black Baron.

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He's got a great Boss theme to fight with too.

Tho' this whole topic and this character is a bit patronizing and I'm not helping.

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How? I posted them in jest, to illustrate the lack of black characters and how the only characters that are black and playable in Nintendo games are humanoids or animals, while acknowledging here that there are a few exceptions, of course.

So you posted physically black characters (what do you mean physically? Do they represent African Americans or are they just colored black?)

If it's the former, how are Yoshi and G&W African Americans? If latter, why do you have problems against people posting characters who are colored black?
 
again anyone in dark skin in Japan must have white hair to go along with the design I must know the origins of this, what is it called?

lol

Couldn't it just be a byproduct of drawing manga in black and white? White/Gray hair is easier to contrast to darker skin after all.

lol, thread gone to places

there's also Otharon from Xenoblade

The guy reminds me a bit of Professor Badass.
Which is badass
 
Here's one (Emmett Graves). Does Nintendo have a black protagonist in a game where the main character can't be customized?

Here's one: one of 4 selectable main characters.

Dion Blaster, looks like a normal guy, is also english as opposed to generic urban american "sheeeeit" black dude and a main selectable character.

You also see him at all times rather than, say, hiding him away inside a starhawk for most of the gameplay.
 
Here's one: one of 4 selectable main characters.

You also see him at all times rather than, say, hiding him away inside a starhawk for most of the gameplay.

So a sports game? Maybe it's just me, but I think it's a bigger deal when a developer makes a conscious choice to have their game's lead represent a minority (in this case, a black person) than if the game just has a bunch of selectable characters or has the option to customize one.
 
I know that this thread is 90% jokes, but can we really attribute a race to some of the fictionalized human-like races posted here? I mean Ganondorf has dark skin but he also has pointy ears and bright orange hair. Can you really call him black if he's not a human?

I'm not white just to get that out the way.
 
So a sports game? Maybe it's just me, but I think it's a bigger deal when a developer makes a conscious choice to have their game's lead represent a minority (in this case, a black person) than if the game just has a bunch of selectable characters or has the option to customize one.

I don't disagree - and selecting a main character whos a minority and not going straight to the fucking Cole Train stereotype should be applauded.

I'm calling out the OP who apparently cares about this issue enougyh to choose to make thisthread with that OP, using those choices as examples, but doesn't have anything to say in the topic with actual discussion about problems with representation in videogames that is also on the front page right now - "why are there still so many white men in videogames" which is a shit ton less trolly in its initial premise.
 
I'm not claiming to be a Japanese culture expert, but from what I've read on their use of the golliwog image (pitch black doll with big eyes and bright red lips), it's somewhat innocent in its usage. When Americans first came to Japan, they brought along their minstrel shows and racist images of black people, but they didn't bring the context for those images.

So, you have images that are meant to depict black people, but there's nothing offensive about the character aside from how they look. Or you have that same image divorced from it's racial context and used to represent a magical creature, while characters that are actually supposed to be black people look less exaggerated.
 
Yes, because that is what Nicki Minaj looks like...blackface and all.

Like I said, casual racism up in here for the lulz...

When it comes to costumes, Nicki Minaj is a more anodyne Lady Gaga; I think the joke is referencing her proclivities to have extreme costumes.

*shrug* You would have to ask the original poster for clarification though.
 
I think this thread...or it's original intention at least, was pretty good satire. I guess Nintendo gets a pass on diversity atm while a bunch of other companies are being held accountable.
 
If I really have to explain it to you, you are missing the point. But here goes.

Nintendo has real problems having black characters in their games. As many people have pointed out the majority of the ones they do have play off racist stereotypes "mammy", big lips, etc. I posted Yoshi and Game and Watch because they were honestly the only physically black characters I could think of, in a way to illustrate the lack of playable black characters in Nintendo games, not to insight trolls to make racist jokes or to post characters who are just the color black.

And if anyone honestly thinks I'm "concern trolling" feel free to discuss it with me. I'm not a troll, and my topics are typically locked because of other posters causing problems. Do I bring up controversial topics about representation in games? You betcha. Am I an openly bisexual poly practicing guy with a beard who licks controllers? You betcha. Do I own 3DS, Wii U and every Nintendo console released (other than virtual boy)? You betcha. I love Nintendo, I love video games, which is why I have to point out problematic trends and things in them, because it can only make them better.

It is refreshing to admit that something you like is in no way shape or form perfect while being able to still enjoy it, something it seems a lot of people online have a problem doing, they would rather cover their eyes and stick their fingers in their ears and pretend they don't hear any of the criticisms or believe the truths in them.

I'm going to be honest: Your OP is shit. If you have a point to make, then actually make it instead of being vague and obtuse and then complaining when your thread gets derailed.
 
I guess Nintendo gets a pass on diversity atm while a bunch of other companies are being held accountable.

Maybe because they are a Japanese company, and Japan is racially homogenous?

And they are actually doing a better job than same western companies in that regard.
 
Damn this thread has reached Off-Topic levels of racism. I am surprised and disgusted.

I see Jynx... Donkey Kong's family... Black Yoshi.. The mammy pokemon gym leader. Wow.

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Honestly, I'm fine with all of those until the Donkey Kong post.
 
If I really have to explain it to you, you are missing the point. But here goes.

Nintendo has real problems having black characters in their games. As many people have pointed out the majority of the ones they do have play off racist stereotypes "mammy", big lips, etc. I posted Yoshi and Game and Watch because they were honestly the only physically black characters I could think of, in a way to illustrate the lack of playable black characters in Nintendo games, not to insight trolls to make racist jokes or to post characters who are just the color black.

And if anyone honestly thinks I'm "concern trolling" feel free to discuss it with me. I'm not a troll, and my topics are typically locked because of other posters causing problems. Do I bring up controversial topics about representation in games? You betcha. Am I an openly bisexual poly practicing guy with a beard who licks controllers? You betcha. Do I own 3DS, Wii U and every Nintendo console released (other than virtual boy)? You betcha. I love Nintendo, I love video games, which is why I have to point out problematic trends and things in them, because it can only make them better.

It is refreshing to admit that something you like is in no way shape or form perfect while being able to still enjoy it, something it seems a lot of people online have a problem doing, they would rather cover their eyes and stick their fingers in their ears and pretend they don't hear any of the criticisms or believe the truths in them.

Your first mistake was making the assumption that people will understand where exactly you're coming from. You don't do that in threads. If you have a point clearly address it instead of posting vague/unreadable/borderline-offensive pics to begin your argument.

And this is where I have fault in your specific argument: Posting literally black-colored characters doesn't give you a way to illustrate a lack of something in a company's design portfolio. It makes you come off as an ironic, borderline-offensive snob and adds no weight to whatever you're saying.

Nintendo has flaws. A good majority in the industry has flaws with diversity. It's important to see something wrong in a developer. It's nice to point out those flaws for everyone to see. But to be honest, you DIDNT do that.

Your argument is pretty damn poor. Let me know when you're done trying to salvage what is a bad thread.
 
That line of thinking is more problematic than you know, and is often the mindstate of an oppressor.

Also, glad your goal failed you cornball.

Yeah, i'm totally an oppressor of Nintendo and video games in general. I apologize to all the corporations and publishers I've oppressed.

Now if you want to apply that kind of thinking to a human being, of course it could be taken as being an oppressor, trying to control them. But words and messages can be twisted.
 
Yeah, i'm totally an oppressor of Nintendo and video games in general. I apologize to all the corporations and publishers I've oppressed.

Now if you want to apply that kind of thinking to a human being, of course it could be taken as being an oppressor, trying to control them. But words and messages can be twisted.

dat backpeddling

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Maybe because they are a Japanese company, and Japan is racially homogenous?

And they are actually doing a better job than same western companies in that regard.

People get upset over how jp companies portray women or consciously remove same sex couples so I don't think the cultural difference is a reasonable excuse... they are selling things to an international audience.
 
oh Japan.[/url]

Some of it is, some of it isn't. It's actually similar to why Asian characters are given different hair colors in anime and games. It's meant to add flair to characters and make sure they aren't mistaken for other characters. Also, with darker skinned characters, the contrast is really striking in the art direction.
 
Maybe because they are a Japanese company, and Japan is racially homogenous?

And they are actually doing a better job than same western companies in that regard.

Stop using this as a effing excuse. Its a horrible one. When localised and sold in the west Nintendo censors/edits/whatever the fuck they chose to "fit" the west.
 
Funny that a game like Splatoon, that has no legacy excuse, STILL has no color.

Hmm? Perhaps just fanart I've seen? Because I was pretty sure I smiled extra much when I saw some art for it featuring a kid that could be taken as my little brothers daughter.
 
People get upset over how jp companies portray women or consciously remove same sex couples so I don't think the cultural difference is a reasonable excuse... they are selling things to an international audience.

But their games, first and foremost, are DESIGNED for a Japanese audience. One that has almost no minority population.

Stop using this as a effing excuse. Its a horrible one. When localised and sold in the west Nintendo censors/edits/whatever the fuck they chose to "fit" the west.

Those types of edits take time and money. And I would hope that most here are against outright censorship.

But if the game has a character creation screen, I agree, there is no reason not to add people of color.
 
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