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[NipplesAndToes23]

Saw this pop up on my tumblr feed today and while these tweets are a few months old, they still resonate with current problems that I and other black gamers go through.There are multiple frustrations when it comes to representation in games and when discussing about rep with non-black gamers. People arguing about fictional creatures being more realistic than an actual human in a game for example. Just a little something for those who relate.

Here's the link to the rest of the tweets.
http://the-real-eye-to-see.tumblr.com/post/150447326911/video-gaming-while-black
Direct link to the tweets.

 

[Akronis]

Saw this pop up on my tumblr feed today and while these tweets are a few months old, they still resonate with current problems that I and other black gamers go through.

There are multiple frustrations when it comes to representation in games and when discussing about rep with non-black gamers. Just a little something for those who can relate.
Here's the link to the rest of the tweets.
http://the-real-eye-to-see.tumblr.com/post/150447326911/video-gaming-while-black

That first one is def true in a lot of games.

 

[Rizzi]

What is a black hairstyle?

 

[Omega Kirby]

What is a black hairstyle?

 

[Stumpokapow]

What is a black hairstyle?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afro-textured_hair

 

[brinstar]

That sigh of disappointment every time I open the hair options in a game with character customization

 

[poodaddy]

What is a black hairstyle?

Come on man don't do this.

 

[User 73706]

What is a black hairstyle?

"To me, it's a human hairstyle 😃"

 

[nailbombxx]

What is a black hairstyle?

really

 

[Rizzi]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afro-textured_hair

Thanks.

Come on man don't do this.

Was an actual question.

 

[Intheflorsh]

#allhaircutsmatter

 

[- J - D -]

Oh thank goodness this wasn't about a black person getting shot by cops while playing games. I got that vibe when I read the thread title.

 

[Infinite]

What is a black hairstyle?

hairstyles that are achievable with black hair textures and hairstyles that are associated with black hair. Think afros, braids, twists, twist outs, locs etc.

 

[Sai-kun]

"To me, it's a human hairstyle 😃"

hahaha i thought the same.

 

[Psychoward]

As a white guy literally the only game I've felt like it was hard to make a convincing white guy was NBA 2K10.

 

[Storm Chamber]

This thread won't last but:

This is the most etherous. Ya'll eat that shit up too, but it's whatever.

 

[BlackProdigy]

yeah its ridiculous

 

[Dereck]

 

[Infinite]

I too despise that ashy look you get when you pick the darkest available skin tone in western games with character creation. Devs need to discover undertones.

 

[Servbot24]

This thread won't last but:

This is the most etherous. Ya'll eat that shit up too, but it's whatever.

yup that one rings the most true

 

[NipplesAndToes23]

I've been long waiting for a black woman in a FF game or a JRPG with multiple ones in general. Doubt Square would do it, so looks like I'm on my own for seeing that happen.

 

[privitsan02]

Well at least we have black characters. 2nd largest population in the world, yet the Indians are MIA from video games.

 

[Mass Effect]

The thing I miss least about game chat.

 

[Unspeakable Evil]

Why does it the feel like the older I get these younger these kids are?

 

[Deleted member 465307]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afro-textured_hair

Seeing all those images makes me seriously disappointed in character creators. There are some really wonderful styles there. Video games need to figure out a way to let players essentially sculpt their character, including the hair, or move to more slider levels of detail for the hair (texture, thickness, styles, etc.). It's amazing how much control I remember having in some character creators for the size and placement of facial features and body parts, yet I didn't have that for hair apart from some already pre-made styles and color.

But I also haven't messed with a character creator in a while, so maybe things have changed. This thread makes me think otherwise, though. Most recently, I started Divinity: Original Sin, and the hair options there were really disappointing.

 

[Ronin Ray]

I just hope in the last of us part 2 a black character survives.

 

[Tavernacle12]

I've shared this story before, but the moment I realised just how bad this sort of thing was involved Zasalamel from Soul Calibur. I saw a topic on some forum talking about the roster of the first game he was cut from, and a poster lamented, heartbroken, how there had finally been a character who kinda looked like him in his favourite series and now that character was cut and he had no one again.

 

[Psychoward]

.

might wanna spoiler that

 

[poodaddy]

Thanks.

Was an actual question.

Oh I'm sorry man, thought you were doing the whole "all lives matter" thing. My bad, I do apologize.

 

[poodaddy]

might wanna spoiler that

Normally I can't stand spoiler culture and find it incredibly annoying but yeah on this one that is a rather big story spoiler for potential newcomers.

 

[Rizzi]

Oh I'm sorry man, thought you were doing the whole "all lives matter" thing. My bad, I do apologize.

It's cool.

 

[freeofgreed]

might wanna spoiler that

Unless he edited it, what's so spoilery about that?

 

[Professor Beef]

I just...just can't relate ;(

 

[allenpergallon]

And here I am wondering if GTA V/GTAO ever added afros yet.

 

[NipplesAndToes23]

I just hope in the last of us part 2 a black character survives.

OMG, YES!!!

 

[Kinsei]

Unless he edited it, what's so spoilery about that?

Spoiler

They said that every black character in The Last of Us died

 

[Sai-kun]

Oh I'm sorry man, thought you were doing the whole "all lives matter" thing. My bad, I do apologize.

*augs lives matter FTFY

 

[PixelatedBookake]

This is so true. I spend so long in games with character creators to make my character have black features (nose, lips, hair) it drives me up the wall. I don't just want a dark skinned white person. We have specific features, dammit!

 

[Neptonic]

Spoiler

I just hope in the last of us part 2 a black character survives.

Spoiler

tbh, barely any supporting characters survive right?

 

[Messofanego]

I've shared this story before, but the moment I realised just how bad this sort of thing was involved Zasalamel from Soul Calibur. I saw a topic on some forum talking about the roster of the first game he was cut from, and a poster lamented, heartbroken, how there had finally been a character who kinda looked like him in his favourite series and now that character was cut and he had no one again.

And now that breaks my heart. Representation matters.

 

[RRockman]

All I wanted was an afro in Sun and Moon. Mirror B got one! Why cant't I?

*Cries in corner*

Spoiler

I'm not at all bothered by a lack of diversity in Japanese games because of their culture, you draw what you see after all. I was however pleasantly surprised by how diverse the denizens of aloa were compared to past games. It really felt like they were trying this time around. I feel hairstyles is a complaint that will be addressed as things continue to improve. However, western games have no such excuse in this matter.

 

[Ashtar]

This thread won't last but:

This is the most etherous. Ya'll eat that shit up too, but it's whatever.

It burns slow, mafia 3 thought featured black writer, de md had at least one as well, if have to claw through watch dogs 2s credits but given how big the teams are no way they could have avoided having a brown fella on their
Terrible character creators with horrendous hair selections though. I have to give s shoutout to sunset overdrive I was able to make a reasonable facsimile of my wife with the character creator which was truly something unique usually it's only jacked up fade, Afro and poop locks

 

[Kwame120]

The character creator problem is always an issue, if you somehow manage to find your skin colour, hair-style isn't representative at all. The latest Fire Emblem games are notorious for the character creator issue, especially as in Awakening

Spoiler

Your father is black, but there's no dark skin tone options

.

 

[Inuhanyou]

I'm peanut butter colored and have short hair so its pretty easy for me to replicate myself in games.

I feel for you though OP, the blacker of us don't have genes to be uniquely represented in gaming. The darker your skin is and rougher your hair is, the less people care about your situation or seeing things from your point of view in most areas, not just looks.

 

[Kthulhu]

I feel bad for laughing at that second tweet.

I had a friend and a youtuber I watch complain about how their is only really one black skin tone as an option in Pokemon S&M.

Link to the youtuber: https://youtu.be/bbApZJwfLxo?t=166

Spoiler

They said that every black character in The Last of Us died

Oh god, it's true. That's kinda fucked.

Edit: Also this thread is further proof that Saints Row 3&4 are the most inclusive games in regards to character creation.

 

[Naked Prime]

In some 1st person ganes & VR titles, its the hands that kill it for me. RE7 recently and Batman VR. Though the latter its when you look in the mirror. Its unavoidable in a title like that, but I could've' been Batwing.

 

[NipplesAndToes23]

All I wanted was an afro in Sun and Moon. Mirror B got one! Why cant't I?

*Cries in corner*

I'm not at all bothered by a lack of diversity in Japanese games because of their culture, you draw what you see after all. I was however pleasantly surprised by how diverse the denizens of aloa were compared to past games. It really felt like they were trying this time around. I feel hairstyles is a complaint that will be addressed as things continue to improve. However, western games have no such excuse in this matter.

Being Japanese is no excuse really though. They pull from cultures other than their own all the time. Look at Castlevania, Metal Gear, Final Fantasy, Shin Megami Tensei, etc.

I was mad disappointed when I looked up the hairstyles in Sun & Moon and the only black hairstyle they had was cornrows. And why was that shit spoilered? I thought that was a spoiler for the game.

 

[RRockman]

The character creator problem is always an issue, if you somehow manage to find your skin colour, hair-style isn't representative at all. The latest Fire Emblem games are notorious for the character creator issue, especially as in Awakening

Spoiler

Your father is black, but there's no dark skin tone options

.

This bothered at the time too. I didnt even bother trying to customize him and just played Robin as how he appeared in smash 4.

 

[LionPride]

All of those tweets are the truth

 

[Kwame120]

Being Japanese is no excuse really though. They pull from cultures other than their own all the time. Look at Castlevania, Metal Gear, Final Fantasy, Shin Megami Tensei, etc.

I was mad disappointed when I looked up the hairstyles in Sun & Moon and the only black hairstyle they had was cornrows.

If I remember back to X & Y, it is getting better though. Certainly not good, but there's definitely improvement each gen. Hell, the fact that the first time they introduced customisation they had skin tone options is something.