Admiral Woofington
Member
Amir0x you are once again doing the lords work. First with no man's sky and now this. Give this man a medal.
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Mafia III and Race: An in-depth discussion
- Thread starter Amir0x
- Start date
I'm assuming that the people with the problem don't think he's "Italian" enough.
Yes, that is a component of most of these discussions at the moment. There's plenty who are excited as well like I am, but this issue is starting to drown on reasonable discourse on the subject in certain corners and I'd like to evaluate why.
ShutterMunster
Junior Member
I'm worried about this game. If they're not careful they will rub a lot of people the wrong way. These are very serious topics and you can't afford to deal with them in a cartoonish or half assed way. They already sound petrified of the waters they're stepping into. I wonder how many minorities are even on their dev team.
I'm not even going to get into the mixed race protagonist thing.
Whatever, kudos to them for sorta doing a black lead in a video game. I hope they nail it, maybe other teams will start showing the brothers some love too.
Props to the OP too. You did damn good work in the first post. Brave man.
I'm not even going to get into the mixed race protagonist thing.
Whatever, kudos to them for sorta doing a black lead in a video game. I hope they nail it, maybe other teams will start showing the brothers some love too.
Props to the OP too. You did damn good work in the first post. Brave man.
Fantastapotamus
Wrong about commas, wrong about everything
Mafia 1 was awesome, 2 not so much. 3 looks pretty cool so far, very interesting decissions.
Also, fantastic OP
Also, fantastic OP
Damn good write-up, Ami.
I don't know what else there is to add, except that personally, I really like where they're taking this series - both narratively and thematically. Another Italian-American mafia story would have been expected, but putting the focus on a half black protagonist and incorporating the civil rights issues of the time period makes it all the more interesting. This is still a game about the mafia, the criminal underworld and people doing terrible things; but Hanger 13 is trying something different than what we've come to expect and I couldn't be more excited.
I don't know what else there is to add, except that personally, I really like where they're taking this series - both narratively and thematically. Another Italian-American mafia story would have been expected, but putting the focus on a half black protagonist and incorporating the civil rights issues of the time period makes it all the more interesting. This is still a game about the mafia, the criminal underworld and people doing terrible things; but Hanger 13 is trying something different than what we've come to expect and I couldn't be more excited.
Mutanthands
Member
Unfortunately, I'm not. It's funny, there have been many accusations of developers "shoehorning" minority characters into games. with the justification that "there weren't any black/minority people around" or "there weren't any black/minority people involved." This sort of viewpoint is informed by whitewashed media, which hasn't acknowledged any minority presence for years, to the point where it's accepted as the reality that should be perpetuated.
It 's pretty clear that the characters are perfectly appropriate to the time and place, and to the type of story being told. Still won't stop people from pulling the dreaded "SJW" line.
That's because pretty much the only mafia shown in popular culture is the Italian version.
Death Metalist
Member
Man, some people will make a drama about anything. All I got from the previews is that it looks cool and fun.
HighResTomato
Member
But unfortunately the issue is still the same,.
A lot of gamers pull the "I can't relate" card to dismiss characters like this and Franklin, CJ. People need to understand that when a developer makes a game with a non editable character. They don't give a shit, they are trying to tell a story and if people can not "relate" to a character because of the tone of their skin they have a bigger problem which they should reflect on.
This is a game about hardened criminals, who in this hobby could really relate to it? Regardless of race.
well, I believe you, but I havent really seen it here, which is kinda cool
and believe me I laugh and shake my head as most with the "can't relate" argument to a mass murder simulator, lol
Ingueferroque
Banned
Yeah, I'm shocked.
I also want to note another thing. The very first thing they decided to reveal about this game in the CG trailer was a man very clearly discussing the problem of feeling orphaned by the very country you come from - because of race.
When he talks about family, he talks about how he had to go to Vietnam and form bonds in blood just to feel like he had brothers. The implication is obviously that his own country never accepted him, because he's black.
I find it hard to believe they are not intending to touch the subject in any head on fashion when the first trailer is basically all about that.
When he talks about family, he talks about how he had to go to Vietnam and form bonds in blood just to feel like he had brothers. The implication is obviously that his own country never accepted him, because he's black.
I find it hard to believe they are not intending to touch the subject in any head on fashion when the first trailer is basically all about that.
The Smoking Bun
Banned
Disgusting. How can Off-Topic decry police officers shooting non-white people for no good reason but then come into the Gaming section and go, "EWW! Black people!"
To be perfectly honest I had a problem with Franklin, the problem was that he was go damn one note and stereo-typically 'gangsta'
Admiral Woofington
Member
Might even have to do with being a mixed race. Where neither community fully accepts you.
Pyrrhus
Member
For their own sakes they'd have better thought this out pretty well. They will burned to a crisp before they know what's up if they touch a live wire.
For my part, I think it's cool. Kind of odd that they have moved to a real city instead of the fictional ones they cultivated in the first two games. My main concern is that they're going to lean too hard on cliched music and imagery about the '60s, specifically Vietnam and the counterculture, which they seemed to do in the cinematic teaser.
For my part, I think it's cool. Kind of odd that they have moved to a real city instead of the fictional ones they cultivated in the first two games. My main concern is that they're going to lean too hard on cliched music and imagery about the '60s, specifically Vietnam and the counterculture, which they seemed to do in the cinematic teaser.
this is why im more inclined to believe the interview I posted
this is big studio bucks. they're not gonna risk that kinda thing.
it'd be great, sure, but I doubt the race part of it will be much more than a side thing of the era that is maybe alluded to or drawn comparison to some stuff in terms of social commentary; but it won't be the game's MAIN theme
kind of like how Bioshock Infinite (2k as well) dealt with racism
maybe if it was an indie game
hope im wrong tho
Well that was 2004.
One would think, but the reveal thread proved otherwise. Shocking, really.
All I saw with the trailer and gameplay is a refreshing change of pace set in a period of time that ironically stood for a force of change and the breaking of repressive chains. We could still stand to learn a few things from the 60's and what it all was supposed to have meant, apparently.
Spring-Loaded
Member
I didn't even know the protagonist was black when I first assumed people would do the "can't relate" thing based on the location alone. Now there's no hope they'll ever relate to this character 
There are very few games set in this era period it feels like.
OK. Now I'm interested. This is the sort of thing I want from games. More intricate subject matter. Less GANGSTER NINJA ZOMBIES SPACE SHIP ELVES.
Speaking of GTA...
GTA V's first few hours (at least, didn't get far) seemed like a white person wrote Franklin in the game just so they could have an unlimited pass for using the n word. It's GTA, which is crude and clumsy in general, but still. Clumsy.
Speaking of GTA...
GTA V's first few hours (at least, didn't get far) seemed like a white person wrote Franklin in the game just so they could have an unlimited pass for using the n word. It's GTA, which is crude and clumsy in general, but still. Clumsy.
The Smoking Bun
Banned
Good point, but have we changed for the better? I hope so.
If I can relate to a 7 foot tall monster in green armor who fights Alien Catholics then I can relate to the Neo Orleans Black Mafia
Yeah, I can't recall any games set in the 60's in a town like good old NOLA. It's going to be great.
Imagine if this forum weren't moderated though
Neogaf is one of the only gaming communities that seem more open minded towards the matter. Many other communities seem to be still stuck in the 'rap is missing a (c) in the front ' era.
im just really excited about the music aspect of this game and it seems to play a big part
it's funny cause I totally can relate that way
big part of why I loved San Andreas is cause I love 90s Hip Hop. Kinda looking at this the same way in that aspect.
Given the setting and what looked like a Baron Samedi bobblehead I wonder if we'll see any exploration of voodoo type stuff. Not the actual "magic" uses of it but that there were often powerful people in communities that were supposed to be witches and whatnot that were really just smart people using superstitions to their advantage.
It's bound to happen in this generation. Someone is going find something to take offense about to and make a page long complaint on their tumblr. I'm just getting ready to cringe at this point.
I've never played a Mafia game(will change when I catch it on sale) but this game has me very interested in its theme, setting and subject. I really hope this game pans out for the developers because I'll be there day one.
soundscream
Member
No, just no.
I could get into a huge long discussion on why this isn't the case but I have to step away for a few hours.
Well, compared to now, it hardly was back then.
But you're right, the worst of youtube and news comments would show up here even now.
You think being mixed race didn't present problems with acceptance by both blacks and whites in 1968 in the south? Or were you making some other point?
Marvel
could never
I know, kinda sad.
Imru al-Qays
Banned
I'm pretty interested to see how this game comes together. Can't say I'd feel the same way if it were just another Italian mob game.
FunkyPajamas
Member
Great OP Ami. I wish I could say I can't believe people are making a fuzz about this, but there you go. American Gangster anyone?
*high five*
Vulcano's assistant
Banned
Some people just want the previous game again but with current graphics. It happens in a lot of franchises.
digitalrelic
Banned
I'm honestly super confused why this even needs to be a discussion. It truly didn't even occur to me that it would matter at all that the new protagonist was black. Ya'll are weird. This is 2015 and the protagonist being blacks fits perfectly with the story.