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[IbizaPocholo]

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/artic...ont-want-to-take-a-stance-in-current-politics

Being overtly political in games is "bad for business", according to Ubisoft Massive COO Alf Condelius who said The Division developer avoids taking a stance with its games.

"It's a balance because we cannot be openly political in our games," he said. "So for example in The Division, it's a dystopian future and there's a lot of interpretations that it's something that we see the current society moving towards, but it's not - it's a fantasy.

"It's a universe and a world that we created for people to explore how to be a good person in a slowly decaying world. But people like to put politics into that, and we back away from those interpretations as much as we can because we don't want to take a stance in current politics.

"It's also bad for business, unfortunately, if you want the honest truth.... but it is interesting and it is a discussion that we have, and it's an ongoing discussion we have with our users, of course, because people want to put an interpretation into the universe that we create and they want to see their own reality in the fantasies that we give them, and the stories that the games are."

Check the link for the avatar part.

 

[Vlightray]

Good.... Go woke get broke.

Others developers can take a few hints we buy games for entertainment and that is ALL.

 

[CatCouch]

It's a bit unfortunate because I do want developers to have the freedom to tell a story with politics if they want but we are in this weird cultural moment where everything is viewed as personal politics which makes doing anything divisive. I think we read too much into these these days. I was really bothered by how some game journalists piled on The Escapist for not wanting politics to override their game coverage.

I want games to be entertainment while being open to express what the creators want, not a fight over politics. If people, particularly game journalists, didn't try to shape gaming and therefore the culture through subtracting everything that didn't fit their personal views we'd be in a much better place. Now we have acceptance of censorship and big battles being waged over digital entertainment as if it was a political campaign.

One of the comments on the article has a line that sums up part of my feeling quite well:

"Preaching answers and/or belittling 'opposing perspectives' not only makes for less effective product, but less effective art as well."

 

[Orta]

Good. Let games be games ffs. We get enough one sided politics forced down our throats 24/7 without it poisoning our favourite pass-time.

The day blatant politics infects the gaming industry as it has so many others, I'm done for good. It's already rearing its ugly head via cretinous games journalists and a select few developers, it needs to be kicked to the kerb and fast.

 

[Ulysses 31]

Guess certain branches didn't the memo with the diversity awareness presentations that have been going around. >.>

 

[MMaRsu]

Good. Let games be games ffs. We get enough one sided politics forced down our throats 24/7 without it poisoning our favourite pass-time.

The day blatant politics infects the gaming industry as it has so many others, I'm done for good. It's already rearing its ugly head via cretinous games journalists and a select few developers, it needs to be kicked to the kerb and fast.

But there are so many games that involve politics.

That doesnt make them bad.

Maybe just because you cant see the current political climate in the US seperate from fake ass game politics, that's your issue.

 

[zenspider]

Good.... Go woke get broke.

Others developers can take a few hints we buy games for entertainment and that is ALL.

I have more problems with thier internal behavior regarding subconcious bias training and the like than with being overtly political in game narratives.

The kind of politicization of the hobby that's an issue is not really an issue about overt political narratives, but they way everything -from design choices to labor to representation - is distorted by identity politics on the right and left.

 

[Fuz]

I just want devs to write and design the stories in their vision, without feeling the need to pander to some political agenda.

Politics aren't always bad.

 

[Grimmrobe]

b-b-but isn't everything political?

 

[LOLCats]

oh man trying to clean up that PR mess. Its too late bro!

 

[Valonquar]

Watch how quickly their lobbyists get political when lootboxes are called gambling.

 

[anthraticus]

b-b-but isn't everything political?

Only on RejectEra

 

[drunkchan]

Well... I think that's just fine.

 

[Joe T.]

Politics in video games can work if it's kept lighthearted or even-keeled and not used to pound some sort of message over your head, which is unfortunately what usually winds up happening these days.

 

[Fuz]

oh man trying to clean up that PR mess. Its too late bro!

Which one?

 

[Javthusiast]

I can already hear all the angry tweets and articles being typed about this. xD

 

[Zeusexy]

Except he's lying and there's proof. Ubisoft can't be bothered to tell the truth just one single time.
If you don't know what I'm talking about, search "ubisoft leaks the quartering". Disgusting stuff.

 

[LittleBusters]

I think there is room in the market for a Riot Simulator. You can play an antifa vs right-wing street battles, complete with police throwing tear gas grenades.

 

[Mr Hyde]

I don´t mind politics in games. There is a place for everything, and games can be both political and pure entertainment, just like movies or books. It doesn´t have to be all black and white. If it´s the creators intended vision to include political themes or statements in the their games then so be it, because if that´s what he or she wants to create then I will accept that. Do I have to agree with it? No? Do I have to like it? No. If I don´t, I´ll just cruise on and never touch that game or franchise again, because there is plenty of other games that will suit my interests.

 

[kunonabi]

This is pretty rich coming from ubisoft.

 

[Caayn]

It's good to read that he is open and honest about this while being fully aware of the hatred one can get thrown at them for the slightest "miss step" regarding this topic.

 

[mckmas8808]

Good.... Go woke get broke.

Others developers can take a few hints we buy games for entertainment and that is ALL.

Speak for yourself. I like when some games want to actually SAY something. I'm grown and I can handle it.

 

[mckmas8808]

I just want devs to write and design the stories in their vision, without feeling the need to pander to some political agenda.

Politics aren't always bad.

And sadly this is exactly what Ubisoft is doing. They are pandering to the crowd that wants no politics in their games.

 

[LOLCats]

Which one?

https://www.neogaf.com/threads/leak...tes-anita-sarkeesians-content-agenda.1466446/

 

[fantomena]

Says the company making Tom Clancy games.

 

[Danjin44]

In my opinion I don't really trust Ubisoft to give us even decent story let alone a a story that has has political stance. They also mostly about making games that appeals to everybody so their games lack any proper focus.

 

[WaterAstro]

They should tell the AssCreed team that.

 

[DeepEnigma]

This sounds more like damage control from the leak.

 

[Fuz]

https://www.neogaf.com/threads/leak...tes-anita-sarkeesians-content-agenda.1466446/

Oooooh right. Ouch. Yeah, that's bad.

 

[120v]

i'm surprised the first Division didn't cause a huge fuss... i remember the leader of the Rikers (the black lady, i forget her name) throwing out a line about another black body to throw to the pile, as she - the villain - is sending her goons to get slaughtered by you. personally i thought nbd since they're all loony escaped inmates of no particular race but i could see how that could go the other way

 

[Raven117]

Oooooh right. Ouch. Yeah, that's bad.

What Anita is saying and I think what the developers were saying are two different things. Look no further than Far Cry 5. Thats a game that could have been ripe with more overt political commentary, but instead kept it as focus on a cult. (Don't get me wrong, I really loved far cry 5). That's different than what Anita was arguing.

Ubisoft is perfectly fine being political about the inclusion of diverse characters. And that's also fine. Whatever they need to do to appeal to the broadest audience and have people by their games. That is it and that is all that matters from a business perspective. (And should be).

 

[Lastyou1]

Well, this comes from the very same software house that has the Tom Clancy's franchises rights...
And good old Tom never hid what his political leanings were...

 

[Clear]

And sadly this is exactly what Ubisoft is doing. They are pandering to the crowd that wants no politics in their games.

Oh please, you're assuming that any politics has to be your politics. Do you think you're missing out by not having Tom Clancy's politics rubbed in your face?

 

[TheWatcher]

Than why are ancient Greeks black in AC Odyssey?

 

[Thiagosc777]

And sadly this is exactly what Ubisoft is doing. They are pandering to the crowd that wants no politics in their games.

Yes, that crowd, also known as gamers. It's wise to pander to the audience you plan to sell your products to. Like pandering to audiophiles when design sound systems, or car enthusiasts when selling a new sports car.

Do car enthusiasts want politics in their cars? Do they want to see anti-Trump speeches when going to some car Expo?

 

[VertigoOA]

Good. I’m sure there may be a few loud voices demand that Ubisoft make their game blatantly anti trump however.

 

[VertigoOA]

Than why are ancient Greeks black in AC Odyssey?

I posted evidence of that here too. It’s ridiculous. I mightn’t be a darker featured Greek myself but that was totally, unnecessary.

There are no white men in destiny. It’s mostly lesbian women, or women leads berating male roles. I love the game dearly but it’s full of that shit.

However, it’s fair when games like this have a mix of everything. I’m cool with that. Don’t care what you believe in but chill out wih the damn pandering.

 

[Wunray]

They should tell the AssCreed team that.

Make Athens Great Again.

 

[Kreydo]

It's not like Ubisoft got any decent writer to create a good game with politics plot anyway...

 

[down 2 orth]

You know you're walking a fine line when you have Marxist writers doing (literal) propaganda projects for the U.S. military and civil government. But it's all about the money, and this sounds more like a message to their own staff than to the public in general.

 

[LordPezix]

In the Dystopian future... there will be a New York, but it's not our New York, a different, politically balanced New York, where you murder people for money and loot.

I'm glad the gross amounts of pretend murder I do in games gets overshadowed by politics.

 

[thief183]

It's not like Ubisoft got any decent writer to create a good game with politics plot anyway...

They didn't even try to be honest.

I always thought about Ubisoft to be quite neutral in politics department, even the recent leak sounded like "what we can say or can't say to not piss SJW off", other user found it to be pro PC but I think it was some kind of general rule to not attract some kind of actentions.

 

[Shai-Tan]

There's plenty of room to be political if you're philosophical (Bioshock) or satire (GTA). I get why they drain their games of any perceived political stance but the real problem here isn't hypersensitivity it's writing in games so bad it makes Battlefield Earth seem subtle. A plot with an overtly political stance is more often than not lazy in its characterization. A believable perspective from characters in a story can convey a message without telling you what to think

 

[AV]

Nothing wrong with politics in games. Just don't cry when you alienate the half of your audience you're criticising. Make your bed and lie in it.

 

[Red Crayon Aristocrat]

They're already pretty damn political even if they don't want to come out and say it.

Than why are ancient Greeks black in AC Odyssey?

Because in modern culture you absolutely cannot release a AAA game without an uber diverse cast regardless of any and all context of what the game itself is.

Even historical settings are not exempt from it.

I guess if Assassin's Creed 2 was released today Venice would have to have a large black population.

 

[makaveli60]

I just want devs to write and design the stories in their vision, without feeling the need to pander to some political agenda.

Politics aren't always bad.

This. And instead of forcing the propaganda bullshit down our throat, make us think and question our beliefs. Of course it's hard to do when most of humanity is so simple-minded.

 

[Viliger]

Sure, Ubisoft.

 

[klosos]

Great put politics in games , if that's the vision for the game then go for it , extreme left wing views , extreme right wing views , centrist and everything in between good luck put them all in and ill judge the game as a video game.

However the real problem is the writing in video games , it's absolutely dog shit , there is hardly ever nuanced views and themes its just shoved in your face good vs bad blah blah blah, you see good writing to me should be nuanced and that can be interpreted multiple different ways but the writers who unfortunately do write for big AAA games don't seem to have the talent or the intelligence to do this.

 

[Red Crayon Aristocrat]

There's plenty of room to be political if you're philosophical (Bioshock)

The Bioshock games are examples of political games done right.

The first Bioshock very carefully lays out it's argument for why it thinks Objectivism wouldn't work and there's a tragic air to it all, Andrew Ryan is not a simplistic villain, you can see what he was going for, but it failed.

Bioshock Infinite doesn't do it as well, it's political messaging comes off as both more simplistic and muddled at the same time, but it still features far more nuance, like a Bolshevik style revolution becoming as evil as what it was fighting against, than you'll see with a lot of content today.

The overall message of Bioshock isn't really political at all, it's simply a statement about human nature and how no matter what politics you dress something up in, humans will always find a way to fuck things up, that's politics done right, you have to have a general message that goes beyond simple politics in order for it to not simply be propaganda.

Sure, Ubisoft.

Wow, "historical sexism", what a fucking phrase.

Tell me, why is it supposed to be better to pretend that sexism never existed? Is that not a bunch of dishonest bullshit? This seems totally ass backwards to me, they don't have writers good enough to address sexism of the past head on and instead just want to pretend it never existed?

This is flat out creepy, Orwellian rewriting history stuff, I hate this trend so fucking much.

How long until this stuff is presented as the way it really was? It already sometimes is.

Remember kids, facts are offensive, the truth is whatever we say it is.

 

[thief183]

Sure, Ubisoft.

Is this an ingame item? that is what is written on the item? Cause if it is I can see of a confirmation of the fact that UBI are trying really hard not pissoff anyone, like putting non historical accurate items in a game but make it clear that it is fiction...

I'm still not ok qith this but I can understand the motivaion (for business).