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Have you ever felt uncomfortable playing a character of a different skin color?

Walpurgis

Banned
I got uncomfortable playing as Kirby. I got a huge boner and i don't know why.
halolz-dot-com-kirbysepicyarn-pubertymotivational.jpg
 

Corpekata

Banned
no, who does?

Not that hard to find. Go into the "female characters at E3 thread" and you'll find a few people talking about how they don't like playing as women because they can't relate.

Or go look through game forum reactions to CJ in San Andreas.
 

Walpurgis

Banned
Too bad. I was hoping for the gaffers who feel this way to enter this thread for a proper discussion but I guess they don't want to be quoted by 30 people.
 
No.

I treat games like movies i can control, not as a virtual-me experience. Its not about what i would personally do but what i want to see happen.

Otherwise every game would involve my character calling the police then looking for a safe place to hide.
 

Ke0

Member
Why would anyone admit to this, they'd get quoted and made fun of (and rightfully so) then probably banned.

Just simply look through threads in which the character isn't a white male, there's your answer OP.
 
i mean if im being honest im very tired of seeing generic white males the protagonists of most AAA games. this e3 was a nice change with developers/publishers having more upcoming games staring female protags , but they are all white females except Faith from ME: C. as a person of color id just like to see more representation in gaming. its a little annoying to invest so much time into a hobby by playing, watching, and talking about games, but then seemingly have your demographic ignored by the developers and publishers as if you did not exist. there were still a lot of games this e3 that had white male protags that were generic and impact-less on the story or world of the game by being white, so its disappointing that developers/publishers would rather push a tired character type instead of choosing to make their protags people of color for a change.
 

Walpurgis

Banned
Why would anyone admit to this, they'd get quoted and made fun of (and rightfully so) then probably banned.

Just simply look through threads in which the character isn't a white male, there's your answer OP.

You're right, it's basically ban bait and only someone clueless would say yes. I was in the Horizon thread yesterday and was one of the 30 people who piled on this dude who was uncomfortable playing as a strong female character. Looking back on that, I don't think piling on him did much to change his mind. It's hard though because everyone wants to get their piece in.
 

Morrigan Stark

Arrogant Smirk
You're right, it's basically ban bait and only someone clueless would say yes. I was in the Horizon thread yesterday and was one of the 30 people who piled on this dude who was uncomfortable playing as a strong female character. Looking back on that, I don't think piling on him did much to change his mind. It's hard though because everyone wants to get their piece in.
I think people piled on him because of how ridiculous not only the premise of his post was, but how he phrased it. If he had said "yeah I don't like it, sorry, just how I feel" and left it at that, people would probably still criticize but not on that level. But I mean, the testosterone bit and "tits and a vagina"... that's just too funny and fully deserving of ridicule.
 

Nesotenso

Member
no, not really. And if developers don't want to include character creation as a part of their game, then that is their prerogative. I actually don't like character creation in rpgs.
 

SuomiDude

Member
I think I've played as a black character only in Eternal Darkness (a game like FFVII doesn't count as you don't actually control Barret other than in battles) and it didn't bother me at all. Can't think of other example of other races in games that I've played.
But I would never create a black character in a game that allows character customization as I want to create an avatar resembling me or something else my color.
 

Walpurgis

Banned
I think people piled on him because of how ridiculous not only the premise of his post was, but how he phrased it. If he had said "yeah I don't like it, sorry, just how I feel" and left it at that, people would probably still criticize but not on that level. But I mean, the testosterone bit and "tits and a vagina"... that's just too funny and fully deserving of ridicule.

Lol what?! I must have missed that!
 

Sesuadra

Unconfirmed Member
You know, I do not care.

As long as I like the character I play, can identify with his actions..he/she/it can be anything. From a cat girl to a wolf to a human with different skin colour.
 
I don't generally project myself onto the game character unless I create my own, so no. I always like it when there is variety in character design though, it keeps each game from feeling "samey".
 

NahaNago

Member
I mean I play as a white guy in nearly every game and I've never felt weird

pretty much this.

no, not really. And if developers don't want to include character creation as a part of their game, then that is their prerogative. I actually don't like character creation in rpgs.

yeah i'm not big on character creation rpgs as well i always feel like the story is gonna be a bit weaker cause of it. I honestly just want the developer to create a more focused character and story he or she feels like they want to make.
 

BocoDragon

or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
I guess I'll check in and say no... Wtf?? What a silly question. And I'm not saying the OP is silly for asking, but he is passing along a very silly question.

Gender, ethnicity, species... Don't care.
 
No, never. In RPGs I sometimes play characters of different skin color. In fact I'm currently playing Fallout 3 as an asian woman.
And I hope that more games would go away from using a white middle-aged brown haired male main protagonist
 

Chariot

Member
I guess I'll check in and say no... Wtf?? What a silly question. And I'm not saying the OP is silly for asking, but he is passing along a very silly question.

Gender, ethnicity, species... Don't care.
I don't know, I feel uncomfortable playing dwarfs and halflings. It just feels weird.
Maybe it's because I am already a small cookie in real life.
 
You're right, it's basically ban bait and only someone clueless would say yes. I was in the Horizon thread yesterday and was one of the 30 people who piled on this dude who was uncomfortable playing as a strong female character. Looking back on that, I don't think piling on him did much to change his mind. It's hard though because everyone wants to get their piece in.

While I agree with your overall point, I can't help but feel that specific guy's post was a stealth brag that blew up in his face. A significant portion of his thread history is basically him bragging, stealthily or otherwise, about his sex life. Him trying to brag that he is such an alpha male that he is literally incapable of seeing things from a ferminine perspective seems pretty much in keeping with the tone of his past threads.

Edit: I should probably add his past threads are similarly quotable. At one point, "vagina aroma" was a thing that was said.
 

Walpurgis

Banned
While I agree with your overall point, I can't help but feel that specific guy's post was a stealth brag that blew up in his face. A significant portion of his thread history is basically him bragging, stealthily or otherwise, about his sex life. Him trying to brag that he is such an alpha male that he is literally incapable of seeing things from a ferminine perspective seems pretty much in keeping with the tone of his past threads.

That guy wasn't alone in that thread. I was actually referring to another, more reasonable guy. But lol at the guy. At least he got a tag out of it.
 

LQX

Member
90% of Western games it seems normally stars a white male so most gamers that are not white and male should pretty much be used to it by now as most times there is no alternative unless the game features a character creation option.
 

foxbeldin

Member
No, i really don't give a damn. Same with girls. Just give me the character that fits the most to the story and art style, it doesn't need to look like me.
 

Walpurgis

Banned
90% of Western games it seems normally stars a white male so most gamers that are not white and male should pretty much be used to it by now as most times there is no alternative unless the game features a character creation option.

This is why I get offended whenever I read someone answering no to the thread title.
 

mclem

Member
The only place I really have a problem with a character is when the character is forced through the game's interpretation of their personality to act in ways I feel are inappropriate to the personality I've mapped on them, which is generally my own personality modified by their own traits.

I had a problem with Connor in AC3, and I'm having a roughly similar problem currently with Aiden in Watch_Dogs, because the game tries too hard to paint jerkish behaviour in a noble light, and fails. I don't like characters who are too relentlessly gung-ho, so "BOOYAH" in a COD makes me wince, but the same terminology in Splatoon amuses me.

So I don't have an overwhelming need to play characters physically like me, but I do have a problem if they're not reasonably what I'd do in such a situation.
 
I often timed find myself wanting to create black and women characters, and as a white guy, sometimes I feel uncomfortable with it. It feels appropriate-y, as in cultural appropriation. I question where I'm coming from in wanting to play these characters, and I'm not entirely sure. I don't worry about it too much, but I definitely wonder.


Simply choosing a skin color or gender doesn't equate to culture appropriation. Imitating elements from a culture is culture appropriation, skin color and gender has nothing to do with culture.

Why would anyone admit to this, they'd get quoted and made fun of (and rightfully so) then probably banned.

Just simply look through threads in which the character isn't a white male, there's your answer OP.

It isn't what is said exactly it is "how" it is said and the reasoning behind it that gets discussed. Again like that guy from the horizon thread. People actually pointed out to elements of his post (the wording) and not his reasoning. Which was he wanted to feel empowered. Then again to talk about testosterone males with a blanket statement and the "big tits and vagina" part was much.

I have no problem with playing a female character but when given a choice, it is not something I would chose because as a male I cannot directly relate to my avatar. It is a preference.
 

Shredderi

Member
Nope, never. In fact I love the freedom to make your own character in games that allows that and I like to make all kinds of different looking characters and that includes other skin colours than my own.
 

Bad_Boy

time to take my meds
thread makes me wonder how some games would be recieved if the races on major classic characters were different.

like a black solid snake
an indian space marine
a native american mario
or an asian serious sam


i dont think it matters too much these days, because i think we welcome diversity more than ever. but for classic games from our childhood, would they have sold as well?
 

BocoDragon

or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
thread makes me wonder how some games would be recieved if the races on major classic characters were different.

like a black solid snake
an indian space marine
a native american mario
or an asian serious sam


i dont think it matters too much these days, because i think we welcome diversity more than ever. but for classic games from our childhood, would they have sold as well?
When is your childhood? No one really noticed that Ryu Hayabusa was Asian, Mario was Italian or Karnov was Soviet middle eastern....
 

jesu

Member
No, and if there is a choice of characters I won't necessarily pick a white one either.
Creating a character is always based on myself though.
 

igor

Member
I'm white and if anything, I get tired of the same bland white buff guys in most of the games. i couldn't care less about someone's skin colour - I'm more interested in the character, looks, style than just a skin colour.

If the game offers you to create an avatar I usually go for a (fantasised) approximation of myself though in some games I make darker skinned characters, depending on the vibe. I just wish the skin colour also equated to a different face structure, mainly in Japanese games. Japanese devs really need to start being criticised more openly about the race and female representation in video games.

That being said, playing Bayonetta 2 recently (and the first one back on PS3) felt so fresh. But I guess not everyone felt this way.
 

verbatimo

Member
Small correction. Playing Trevor in GTA5 made me feel somewhat uncomfortable.
That guy is a fucking psychopath and watching those in game cutscenes where he goes ballistic made me sometimes almost wanna puke.

No other GTA or character has made me feel that way and even Witcher 3 stuff was tolerable. Strange...
 

airjoca

Member
Never even crossed my mind. I've also played as animals, monsters, plants and aliens and it doesn't bother me either.
 

Chariot

Member
Small correction. Playing Trevor in GTA5 made me feel somewhat uncomfortable.
That guy is a fucking psychopath and watching those in game cutscenes where he goes ballistic made me sometimes almost wanna puke.

No other GTA or character has made me feel that way and even Witcher 3 stuff was tolerable. Strange...
But that's his character, not his race or bodily features, right. It's totally ok to hate a character for, well, his character.
Heightism :(
Luckily games and mainstream media are pandering to us normal heighted people.
(Nah, there isn't really a game where you play a dwarf by default, thus mostly in character creation games, where everything is set for character of normal height, so everything feels a bit off if you play someone that's smaller. Would probably better in a full dwarf/halfling game)
 

Caronte

Member
I usually enjoy it more if I play as a character I feel attracted to (it doesn't matter if it's a man or a woman). Since I'm not attracted to blacks or asians I prefer to play as white (or arab), but I wouldn't go as far as saying I feel 'uncomfortable' playing as one.
 
Why would anyone admit to this, they'd get quoted and made fun of (and rightfully so) then probably banned.

Just simply look through threads in which the character isn't a white male, there's your answer OP.

Would they really be banned if they said it's because of being into hardcore role playing or something though? It's not hard to believe there's some tiny portion of people that take that stuff very literally and seriously. As long as they don't present it as being hateful of other races, I don't think they should be banned because they take a different (albeit extreme) approach to games.

Unless the aforementioned people in the San Andreas/CJ threads were all banned, I don't think the above example would either. And some of the aforementioned had some BLATANT racism.
 
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