KillerIsJed
Member
Edit: Those of you that are personally attacking people that I've quoted here are disgusting. You really think being racist and homophobic towards someone makes them less sensitive to these issues? It must be a miserable life spending all your time hating people online.
Original Post
I couldn't help but feel concerned when I saw Far Cry 4's released art and turns out other people had other issues with it as well.
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My initial thoughts on Far Cry 4's art, and how I hope the antagonist isn't gay
A few months after the Far Cry 3 writer said "we won’t see gay protagonist in AAA game for a while over sales fears" comes the announcement of Far Cry 4.
The moment I saw the picture below, I felt my heart sank. An evil character, wearing all purple, having an edgy stylish modelesque haircut, hand resting on a guys head...I instantly thought they could be making a gay antagonist.
While there is nothing inherently wrong with a gay antagonist, it worries me that it might not be done right. Also if the only time we have gay characters in games as main characters that are bad guys, what message does that send to people? All gay people are bad, or it will just fuel their hatred they already have towards gay people. I can see it now, people thinking "Finally, I can call a character in a game a faggot and he will actually be one."
Maybe I'm being pessimistic, or maybe I'm being fearful, heck maybe I'm stereotyping a bit myself (more so hoping they themselves didn't create a stereotypical gay character), but I just wanted to voice my initial feelings on the matter.
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Twitter reacts to Far Cry 4 art calling it racist
When I voiced my opinion on Twitter I had a few responses come in with other concerns:
After Veeren tweeted at Ubisoft a few people replied to him, and backed what he had said, including a PhD Candidate in Media Studies named Austin Walker. Austin also provided some advice to Ubisoft.
Anthony Burch of Gearbox and lead writer of Borderlands 2 weighed in on the art as well.
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The Art (Note: the boxart appears to be different, at least for the Limited Edition)
Force to hold a grenade in the dirt with your privileged hand on my head if old.
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Edit: For those of you asking why I assume he is gay or what not, I don't. Just the words of Far Cry 3's writer, mixed with the way he is depicted makes me concerned that he will be a gay stereotype. So often are gay and trans people only shown as villains or punchlines in games, so you can see how this could be problematic.
Original Post
I couldn't help but feel concerned when I saw Far Cry 4's released art and turns out other people had other issues with it as well.
-----
My initial thoughts on Far Cry 4's art, and how I hope the antagonist isn't gay
A few months after the Far Cry 3 writer said "we won’t see gay protagonist in AAA game for a while over sales fears" comes the announcement of Far Cry 4.
The moment I saw the picture below, I felt my heart sank. An evil character, wearing all purple, having an edgy stylish modelesque haircut, hand resting on a guys head...I instantly thought they could be making a gay antagonist.
While there is nothing inherently wrong with a gay antagonist, it worries me that it might not be done right. Also if the only time we have gay characters in games as main characters that are bad guys, what message does that send to people? All gay people are bad, or it will just fuel their hatred they already have towards gay people. I can see it now, people thinking "Finally, I can call a character in a game a faggot and he will actually be one."
Maybe I'm being pessimistic, or maybe I'm being fearful, heck maybe I'm stereotyping a bit myself (more so hoping they themselves didn't create a stereotypical gay character), but I just wanted to voice my initial feelings on the matter.
------
Twitter reacts to Far Cry 4 art calling it racist
When I voiced my opinion on Twitter I had a few responses come in with other concerns:
Joseph Ben Unkle III said:"The first image I was drawn to was a white dude lording over a native, which made me go "Wow, Ubi learned nothing after Far Cry 3." - @jbu3
Veeren Jubbal said:"The Far Cry 4 box art is racist. You all see that, right?" - @Veeren_Jubbal
"Colonization, white privilege, white supremacy, systemic racism, and white saviour role to name a few." @Veeren_Jubbal
".@UbisoftToronto @UbisoftMTL @FarCrygame Hello. How are you doing today? Hope you are all well. Just wanted to say--the box art is racist." @Veeren_Jubbal
After Veeren tweeted at Ubisoft a few people replied to him, and backed what he had said, including a PhD Candidate in Media Studies named Austin Walker. Austin also provided some advice to Ubisoft.
Austin Walker said:"Follow up on Veerender's important tweet: I know FC3 was hugely successful, but a number of the game's fans were put off of a game they would've otherwise enjoyed b/c issues of colonialism, racism, homophobia, and ableism. From the infantilization and othering of native peoples, to the decision that framing male-on-male rape as "especially" villainous, FC3 is filled with troubling content. Please engage with these critiques during FC4's production. This art makes a bad first impression. It reads, at best, as misguided & undercooked. Don't trust the artist or writer who says they're not [whatever]ist. Get consultants. Put in work." @austin_walker
Anthony Burch of Gearbox and lead writer of Borderlands 2 weighed in on the art as well.
AnthonyBurch said:"Oh please god don’t make that villain as analogous to homophobia as FC3 was to white saviorhood" @reverendanthony
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The Art (Note: the boxart appears to be different, at least for the Limited Edition)
Force to hold a grenade in the dirt with your privileged hand on my head if old.
--------
Edit: For those of you asking why I assume he is gay or what not, I don't. Just the words of Far Cry 3's writer, mixed with the way he is depicted makes me concerned that he will be a gay stereotype. So often are gay and trans people only shown as villains or punchlines in games, so you can see how this could be problematic.