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[crimilde]

This is great, I hope more developers follow their lead and we get even more diversification going forward.

Not really any that I know of.

Prince of Persia?

 

[HStallion]

I do not understand this
Do the gender and color really make a difference?
For me it more about a well written character who we can connect with. Don't care about the gender or race

If you come into a topic like this and say something like that it seems like you do indeed care.

 

[Mass Effect]

It's inevitable. As some demographics start to get more representation (women, black people, LGBT), other people start asking "what about me?" and of course there's nothing wrong with that at all, but it comes with some saying things like what SnowFlake said. And it's unfortunate.

 

[Toa TAK]

No love for latino leads I see.

Spoiler

/s

Eh, we'll get there one day homie. We already saved the White House in MW2.

But really, in the sea of military shooters, I would much, much rather see:

Would love to see some Arab leads as well.

Maybe in a hundred years.

I think it would be very interesting to see the reception to. Arab leads would be great.

 

[platocplx]

I fundamentally disagree with this- if you have this in every game, it lets someone just straight up avoid playing as anything other than themselves.

For instance: given the option, I run a dude every time. All my Diablo 3 characters are male. Yet in D1/D2 I mained Rogue/Amazon.

A mix is great- but you need just that, a mix of pre-fabs and full customs. Otherwise everyone gets to self-segreate and live in a bubble, and that brings its own issues with it.

Didnt mean for the comment to come off as an all or nothing. But I def understand where you are coming from and agree. There are cool prefabs in games like overwatch. Then in games like destiny you can self create.

 

[ShockingAlberto]

To be honest, I never understood why people wanted to connect/identify to the game character.

I play a lot of games. I don't need to connect to the fiction in all of them. I do want to connect to the fiction in some of them.

Moreover, sometimes it is the intention of the designer to make the player connect with that character and use them as their avatar, even as a designed character, to interact with the world. There are times where I am not getting that feeling with games even though the designer expected me to.

 

[EloquentM]

Great to see. Would love to see some Arab leads as well.

Maybe in a hundred years.

I want to say assassins creed 1? I can't be sure though. Doesn't really matter though as they white washed him with a predominately white protagonist playing "through" his memories.

 

[Dahaka]

Now we need some epic lead in a Hindu Mythology (google this, it's very exciting) game, a Shaka Zulu game, a game from the eyes of a native that experiences the first colonialists in South America, a game in ancient Sumer where you lead a revolution against Babylonian oppressors.

The beauty of diversity for me lies in the myriads of rich stories that you could tell from so many perspectives.

 

[ShockingAlberto]

Were there any besides Altair?

Altair was only middle eastern on paper, really. Ubisoft seemed to be in such fear that white players wouldn't connect with him that he was just Desmond on screen.

 

[The 18th Letter]

I do not understand this
Do the gender and color really make a difference?
For me it more about a well written character who we can connect with. Don't care about the gender or race

Considering most characters aren't well written anyway, let me a poorly written hispanic for once instead of another poorly written white guy

 

[TheHater]

If you come into a topic like this and say something like that it seems like you do indeed care.

I don't care.
Just wanted to know why others care. I can see why now but not changed for me personally.

 

[Brocken]

Maybe i don't get the problem because i'm not from Usa, but it's so important if a protagonist is male/female white, black or asian ?

 

[Condom]

Really cool. Diversity is fun, why stick with one ethnicity when you can enjoy all?

 

[HStallion]

I don't care.
Just wanted to know why others care. I can see why now but not changed for me personally.

You keep saying you don't care but I suspect its much the opposite. When someone has to keep repeating themselves over and over it gets a bit suspect.

 

[Toa TAK]

Altair is staright up an Arab lead.

But we need a lot more.

Ubisoft has done well creating some diverse leads, sexual orientation, gender, and race. But if everyone can pitch it it would provide for some interesting scenarios.

 

[GhostTrick]

I play a lot of games. I don't need to connect to the fiction in all of them. I do want to connect to the fiction in some of them.

Moreover, sometimes it is the intention of the designer to make the player connect with that character and use them as their avatar, even as a designed character, to interact with the world. There are times where I am not getting that feeling with games even though the designer expected me to.

Yeah, I see what you mean. But I think in many case, this is more due to how the character is wrote rather than its ethnicity. So I dont see how or why people want to identify themselves on these aspects.

Although, let's not misunderstand me: I'm all for more diversity in character leads.

 

[jwhit28]

Representation absolutely matters. The industry is utterly dominated by white male protagonists, to a ridiculous extent. Part of it is because the developers making these games are largely white and male, but another is just a rigid refusal to put other types of people in the lead slots. And pubs and developers have a monstrous list of excuses to hide behind when called out on it.

Does having minority leads and women leads get minorities and women into positions making these games though? I'm having trouble believing there would be more women or minorities in those jobs if Cloud, Ryu, or Link looked like them when they were growing up. It all feels like the current makeup of developers just finding a way to Pat themselves on the back.

 

[HStallion]

Maybe i don't get the problem because i'm not from Usa, but it's so important if a protagonist is male/female white, black or asian ?

Its important no matter where it happens. People wan't to play as someone other than old grizzled white dude or bald/crew cut space marine.

 

[Orayn]

Maybe i don't get the problem because i'm not from Usa, but it's so important if a protagonist is male/female white, black or asian ?

Have you seen the old GAF thread where it was announced that GTA San Andreas had a black main character and some people were getting mad about it?

 

[EloquentM]

Altair is staright up an Arab lead.

But we a lot more.

Ubisoft has done well creating some diverse leads, sexual orientation, gender, and race. But if everyone can pitch it it would provide for some interesting scenarios.

Altair was but Desmond was the real focus point of the series until ezio came into the picture. Ezio is white though so that's probably why they weren't afraid to give him the reigns.

 

[Alienfan]

yea i don't see any ones from the big AAA games coming out this year

but far cry 4 and sleeping dogs! so those games do exist and they'll come around again i think

Mirrors Edge 2?

 

[TetraGenesis]

hey remember the time you entered the "women's teams being added to fifa" thread and asked about boob physics?

Hahahahahaha! TKO.

Anyway, it's great to see the expansion of representation, even if it is relatively minor. Keep going, industry! You can do it!

 

[EloquentM]

Does having minority leads and women leads get minorities and women into positions making these games though? I'm having trouble believing there would be more women or minorities in those jobs if Cloud, Ryu, or Link looked like them when they were growing up. It all feels like the current makeup of developers just finding a way to Pat themselves on the back.

So you're saying these black protagonists are shoe-horned in therefore why even try?

 

[AGITΩ]

Meanwhile in the Latino community....
...

I mean yeah, I'm all about diversity, but in Gaming and Movie industry as a whole, its always either about White or Black when it comes to race. It's like other races don't exist. But that's always been my feelings about it, especially as a Latino.

 

[Kinyou]

I have been trying to decide for a little while how I feel about the option of Corvo. I am settling somewhere on being happy Emily is clearly the real star, but also disappointed that Corvo needs to be there, and that appearance taking away from Emily (even if only a little bit).

I'm happy that they offer diversity by giving us two fully developed characters. I find it a bit odd that this is taken as negative.

 

[Raven77]

As i always said if it makes sense for the game devs should take whatever race/gender they wish and ignore a vocal minority demanding all white male characters

My thoughts exactly. The writer / creator should make the character whatever they want to make it. They should not feel pressured to make it something they don't want just to please a vocal minority and they also shouldn't feel forced to make a character that has "mass appeal" whatever the hell that means.

This is the reason I was so mad to see people pissed about no female Link yesterday. They are the creators and as the creators they can do whatever they please...

 

[Puck Beaverton]

Have you seen the old GAF thread where it was announced that GTA San Andreas had a black main character and some people were getting mad about it?

The Mafia 3 announcement thread gave me nice flashbacks to that time. Good memories.

"I just can't relate to him."

 

[benzopil]

Lord Saladin from Destiny: Rise of Iron (Activision) is black. He's not a lead character since you create one, but he will be the main questgiver. Don't know if that counts.

 

[CambriaRising]

I'm super interested in the places Mafia III can go due to its protagonist. I might not be as interested in it otherwise.

 

[Mass Effect]

I do not understand this
Do the gender and color really make a difference?
For me it more about a well written character who we can connect with. Don't care about the gender or race

Let me ask you this: Do you really believe something like what they're trying to do in Mafia 3 could be accomplished well with a white male lead?

 

[The 18th Letter]

Maybe i don't get the problem because i'm not from Usa, but it's so important if a protagonist is male/female white, black or asian ?

It's important because anytime it's not a white male, you always hear "diversity for diversity's sake" and "i don't care about race, i just care about well written characters"

White females, Hispanics, Blacks, Indians and Asians all need a reason to exist. The more games and movies that cast more than just white men can maybe get people to move passed their closet racism so that Lincoln Clay isn't just diversity for diversity sake

 

[Orayn]

The Mafia 3 announcement thread gave me nice flashbacks to that time. Good memories.

"I just can't relate to him."

1000000 White Male Leads: "Who cares it's just pixels on a screen."

Lead is literally not human: "It's fantasy, you don't need to relate."

Lead is not white: "FORCED DIVERSITY WHAT THE FUCK"

 

[Toa TAK]

Altair was but Desmond was the real focus point of the series until ezio came into the picture. Ezio is white though so that's probably why they weren't afraid to give him the reigns.

Yeah, but even then I'm fine with Desmond because even though he's Cacuasian on paper (according to ACIV) dude doesn't look like it at all. His ethnically ambiguous look really helps sell the fact that he has this incredible and varied lineage. I thought that was neat.


But yeah, 3 games of Ezio killed me.

 

[El_Cinefilo]

So you're saying...I'm a minority?

Seriously though, this is cool. I'm looking forward to all those games.

Edit:

Great to see. Would love to see some Arab leads as well.

Maybe in a hundred years.

This too.

 

[jwhit28]

So you're saying these black protagonists are shoe-horned in therefore why even try?

No just that the problem runs much deeper, and changing the gender or race of a fictional character seems like the easiest way to deflect some of the criticism.

For all the junk Nintendo took for keeping Link a male, the treehouse team looked like one of the most diverse groups at any presentation at e3. And they actually worked for Nintendo full time. Not just hired presenters and entertainers.

 

[ShockingAlberto]

Yeah, I see what you mean. But I think in many case, this is more due to how the character is wrote rather than its ethnicity. So I dont see how or why people want to identify themselves on these aspects.

Although, let's not misunderstand me: I'm all for more diversity in character leads.

I wrote an article about this a while back: https://www.pastemagazine.com/artic...ntification-the-secret-strength-videogam.html

My work is, hilariously, blocking my own article, but the tl;dr is this: white people get this, I don't, and I want it, too.

 

[TimeEffect]

Nice. I dont mean to sound ungrateful, but I feel like black leads are completely within the realm of possibility for games. We often see them as secondary characters and we have a handful of black leads in Hollywood, and black people are part of American culture.


I'm curious if we'll ever see Indian characters, or Muslim characters as leads, in ordinary scenarios like modern open world games. I think a hacker game like Watch Dogs is pretty perfect for minority leads. I've never seen an Indian man be a main character, I feel like they are even less likely than black or Asian leads, both in games and Hollywood.

Regardless, it's all good progress/race representation

 

[zewone]

What about asian leads?

Mirror's Edge Catalyst.

Or do you only mean male leads?

 

[kodecraft]

Isn't Kratos also black?

No and the new GoW PS4 clearly shows he's not. He's never been.

 

[TetraGenesis]

Meanwhile in the Latino community....
...

I mean yeah, I'm all about diversity, but in Gaming and Movie industry as a whole, its always either about White or Black when it comes to race. It's like other races don't exist. But that's always been my feelings about it, especially as a Latino.

This is true. The gaming industry's idea of diversity is still very broad. It's making slow progress but it still has a lot of growing left to do in the representation department.

I can't wait until game casts look like the photos in college recruitment pamphlets.

 

[Heshinsi]

I believe you will also play as a female Bedouin in Battlefield 1 as well.

 

[Sparkedglory]

I do not understand this
Do the gender and color really make a difference?
For me it more about a well written character who we can connect with. Don't care about the gender or race

It's nice to have some kind of diversity. I do get very tired of playing generic white dude #10,000 in a lot of games. If the character is well written then that's fine too, but having representation for as many people as we can get is a plus. So soon we should hopefully get some Latino and Asian leads too, male and female.

 

[RoboPlato]

Noticed this myself and thought it was very cool. Was going to start a thread after the E3 Storm calmed down since I figured it would be considered a reaction thread

Good to see. I'm really looking forward to when this sort of thing isn't news any more.

Mafia 3 is an especially interesting case since there will be parts of town where you're treated differently for being black, which is a step farther into where his racial identity actually matters instead of just a different skin color and voice actor.

 

[stryke]

Mirrors Edge 2?

Forgot about that game.

Too bad it's not one I find interesting. Didn't enjoy the first game.

 

[AyaisMUsikWhore]

Thanks for the OP. This is something that makes me happy immensely. Just to see some recognition for POC , in this case , black character's. I can't wait for other POC to also have this same representation because it means a lot to everyone. It's starting somewhere and the best part of this is knowing that all 3 of these games are my favorite games lol.

But I'll say this, while it's awesome to see the men get their share, I hope women of color are also represented the same in the future.

 

[Memory]

What about asian leads?

Isn't Faith from Mirrors Edge asian?

 

[Gold_Loot]

Isn't Faith from Mirrors Edge asian?

Yes, and the game is pretty great as well.

 

[LiquidMetal14]

How dare the scoundrels pull the wool over our very eyez?!?!

I se nothing wrong with it especially if it makes sense for the story. It don't matter if you black or white.

 

[Tal Shiar Agent]

This is great, I hope more developers follow their lead and we get even more diversification going forward.



Prince of Persia?

Persians aren't Arabs.

 

[ishibear]

Meanwhile in the Latino community....
...

I mean yeah, I'm all about diversity, but in Gaming and Movie industry as a whole, its always either about White or Black when it comes to race. It's like other races don't exist. But that's always been my feelings about it, especially as a Latino.

I don't know if it's much consolidation, but that we've made it to this point, that means there's nothing holding devs back from using other races. This is why diversity is so important in gaming -- it opens the door for more than just black people. If a black lead can finally have their chance, so can an Asian in a non-fighting game, a Native American, an Indian and a Latino. Keep your head up and stay vocal about your need for representation. That's what makes these things happen.