Preach, if you don't want to be involve in the conversation. Don't shit on it if other people want to have it.
-
Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!
Black, Minority and Ethnic Leads in Videogames
- Thread starter Lego Boss
- Start date
Preach, if you don't want to be involve in the conversation. Don't shit on it if other people want to have it.
SolidSnakex
Member
I thought CJ was interesting as he seemed to be the first time that Rockstar really took the main character in the series seriously. GTA1+2's protagonists really didn't have much behind them. Claude was just a player shell, and Tommy was still pretty thin in terms of story. But CJ had a fleshed out background and a motivation for being there that wasn't about greed. He seemed like a real turning point in the series in general for them as far as telling stories about the main character.
Again, it's a Polish game based in fantasy Poland. Geralt isn't a minority main character unless you're applying the standards of other nations where the Polish are a minority. It's like considering any Japanese character from Japanese game set in Japan a minority because in some countries Japanese are an ethnic minority.
family_guy
Member
It's sad that Lee is probably the first minority character I can think of right now that I actually enjoyed playing as. That is, one from a well made game that was also successful commercially.
Sadly.
The black guy dies in the end. Typical. 
Alligatorjandro
Banned
I would like to see more minorities as leads in games.
Damerman
Member
This is what I'm waiting for.
And i hope that the character gets designed by Yoshitaka Amano.Would be superbly badass.
His Majesty
Banned
Actually Geralt is a minority character because he is a witcher.
ShadowFox08
Member
Minority Leads playing stereotype thugs from IRL.. Gee.
The person I was talking to was not referring to that aspect.
I am the Law
Banned
There are loads of characters from all races in all sorts of genres. Topic makes no sense from an unbiased point of view.
In many RPG's you're able to create your own character, with your desired skin color, or scales for that matter. There are also plenty of black protagonists. I don't know where this mind set has come from. Perhaps OP can elaborate?
If you look at it statistically, around 65% of European gamers are male. 56% of American gamers are male. With those numbers I would say they included mobile games as well cause well.. most console/PC gamers are male. Still, there are a great number of female protagonists. Which is awesome of course. If you take the percentage of ethnic gamers into this perspective, you get a good view of what the developers market looks like. If they would have looked at it from a marketing point of view, most protagonists should be white males. Yet, this isn't the case. The gaming industry is probably one of the least race-orientated industries in the world. And gladly so.
Again, your story doesn't hold any water OP. Sorry but the only thing this topic is doing is creating dividence. And that's a bad thing in our community.
In many RPG's you're able to create your own character, with your desired skin color, or scales for that matter. There are also plenty of black protagonists. I don't know where this mind set has come from. Perhaps OP can elaborate?
If you look at it statistically, around 65% of European gamers are male. 56% of American gamers are male. With those numbers I would say they included mobile games as well cause well.. most console/PC gamers are male. Still, there are a great number of female protagonists. Which is awesome of course. If you take the percentage of ethnic gamers into this perspective, you get a good view of what the developers market looks like. If they would have looked at it from a marketing point of view, most protagonists should be white males. Yet, this isn't the case. The gaming industry is probably one of the least race-orientated industries in the world. And gladly so.
Again, your story doesn't hold any water OP. Sorry but the only thing this topic is doing is creating dividence. And that's a bad thing in our community.
John Rabbit
Banned
too early in the morning to read the entire thread?
i'm quoting this post twice because holy shit at this line.
Kid Kamikaze10
Member
"If your opinion is, “I don’t care,” then your opinion is doing nothing more than bogging down the conversation—a conversation that does nothing to hurt you you by ignoring it. The world gains just as much from your nihilism as you believe it gains from continued work on diversity: nothing."
http://www.themarysue.com/stop-arguing-against-diversity-if-you-dont-care/
PulseONE
Member
Oh my gods, yes that would be amazing
Does this count?
Jungle Book - Sega Mega Drive/Genesis
Well he was in the movie before that...but I guess so? XD
Think he was the one who was in the demo for Crackdown 3 wasn't he?
Strange how I can always remember what the black guy in Crackdown looks like, but not the white one.
I think there's something in that, especially around the 'easy identification' of black people as they appear to stick in the 'white consciousness' more.
I can't say if that's racist or not, or just an observation (I would hope it's not racist).
As others have answered, Lee from the Walking Dead.
Best thing about his character is that he's believable. Something a lot of characters miss in general.
Another game that has multiple leading characters is Eternal Darkness; while in the overarching plot you control Alex Roivas, during several chapters you'll control a dancer from Cambodia called Elia, Karim, a young man I believe of Persian decent and an afro american firefighter called Mike.
Best thing about his character is that he's believable. Something a lot of characters miss in general.
Another game that has multiple leading characters is Eternal Darkness; while in the overarching plot you control Alex Roivas, during several chapters you'll control a dancer from Cambodia called Elia, Karim, a young man I believe of Persian decent and an afro american firefighter called Mike.
ShockingAlberto
Member
Sands of Time gets soooort of close with Farah being an important character, but yeah, nothing good on the main front yet.
Jade is purposely ambiguous with regards to her ethnicity.
PsychoSoldier
Banned
The one I remember most fondly, arguably the main character of Suikoden III, Hugo
I understand your point but it doesn't change the fact that people from Eastern Europe have to deal with racism in Europe and that the representation of them is pretty much non existent here. More representation in games helps to make them more visible across Europe, even if it's a Polish game, made by Polish dudes, located in a fantasy Poland.
PulseONE
Member
Oh yeah, I'd forgotten about that...how was the one set in China anyway?
Hmm yeah, I was just assuming with the Indian influences in some of the music and settings plus with that gameplay snippet from BGE2 a few years back basically being in their version of India
Sorry, but I've got to call bullshit there. Irrespective of whether you can 'design' your own avatar, the majority of leads in VGs are white male (e.g. default Shepard in ME).
Also 'creating dividence' is a 'bad thing'. What does that even mean? Is it not possible to debate without dividing people? Blindsiding something because someone might be upset is the path to a narrow narrative.
Seriously, as adults we should be able to discuss without 'creating dividence'.
spindashing
Banned
And here we go.
No, the topic is creating conversation. It's creating discussion. It's not creating division or whatever you think it is doing. Subjects spoken about in here will, with good hope, educate people in the way they see things in the future. As a black male, I'd like to play as someone close to my own ethnic background/race/etc. I'd love to get more opportunities to see more characters in that vein. Sadly, there aren't enough positive portrayals of people of color compared to the majority. They are out there, but I'd like to see more. Where is the problem with that?
It's pretty funny though when you do run into protagonists of color and people have problems with it. See the Mafia III reveal trailer thread for an example.
Look how White E3 was (and always is) so I definitely wouldn't say they're turning a corner.
Smaller games might do a bit better, but the mainstream industry still symbolically annihilates non-White people.
Massive Duck. C.M.
Banned
Dividends tho
Mr. Poolman
Member
Nilin, Remember Me
Agreed, she is french of ethiopian mother.
Also this game is gorgeous!
GAF get into it!
NoblesseOblige
Banned
To me diversity will always be a worthy and admirable goal. So in games it's super important to see minority members gaining more representation (assuming it's done positively).
Morning y'all. Clean up has been completed, thread derail attempts neutered, and perms handed out as necessary.
Carry on with the knowledge that this is a safe space for discussion. Now it is time for waffles.
edit: despite his not fitting into the thread title's description, I'd lean towards Geralt's treatment in the Witcher series being typical of many present-day minorities as well. Celebrated/scorned for his magical powers (fast-twitch muscle fiber!), numerous assumptions made about him based on his background, a great deal of unease directed his way by the hoi polloi (how many times have I been spit at in this game? seriously)...there are a lot of parallels. Anyways.
Carry on with the knowledge that this is a safe space for discussion. Now it is time for waffles.
edit: despite his not fitting into the thread title's description, I'd lean towards Geralt's treatment in the Witcher series being typical of many present-day minorities as well. Celebrated/scorned for his magical powers (fast-twitch muscle fiber!), numerous assumptions made about him based on his background, a great deal of unease directed his way by the hoi polloi (how many times have I been spit at in this game? seriously)...there are a lot of parallels. Anyways.
Beyond Eyes that just came out stars an Asian-looking female protagonist and the only other character you encounter is Black.
Broken Age also had a Black female protagonist:
Then you have Legend of Korra if that counts.
The upcoming Mirror's Edge: Catalyst with Faith
Sunset by Tale of Tales (RIP)
And then there's the typical mentions that have already been here, like
Broken Age also had a Black female protagonist:
Then you have Legend of Korra if that counts.
The upcoming Mirror's Edge: Catalyst with Faith
Sunset by Tale of Tales (RIP)
And then there's the typical mentions that have already been here, like
- Nilin in Remember Me,
- Sheva in RE5,
- Lee and Clementine in Walking Dead Season 1+2,
- Aveline in AC Liberation,
- Adewale and the majority of the cast in AC: Freedom Cry.
Crimson_Gold
Member
If things change, then some won't be able to enjoy an unlimited number of games with protagonists that look like them. Diversity could bring about better understanding of other cultures, but games are supposed to be fun. Video games aren't social experiments. They are meant to allow the gamer to disconnect from reality and kill things.
This is a joke referencing Mike Huckabee during the first Republican debate. I do not believe this. I want more diversity.
Yep, most of not all default characters in RPGs are white males. Most cover or promos have white males.
John Rabbit
Banned
Also love Louis from Left 4 Dead and that he was the blue-collar worker type compared to the others.
white collar, not blue. blue collar workers are those who do manual labor jobs like manufacturing, sanitation, construction, or mechanical work.
white collar workers are those who work in office environments, hence Louis' shirt being white.
No, that's an American perspective. Otherwise we'd be more worried about representing Indians, Arabs, Eastern Europeans, cultural minorities such as the Basque and Aboriginals/Maori.
DiipuSurotu
Banned
Does Mario count?
Also, Bionic Commando 2009:
Also, Bionic Commando 2009:
Diversity in games is doing better in recent years. Most of it is thanks to indie developers, but a few AAA developers have stepped up and included more racial and LGBT minorities in their cast. It isn't great, but at least I can list more minorities with a large role in a game outside of Barret.
It's a fun little game to pass the time.
Yeah, this gets brought up all the time within the fanbase. While they should step it up in this regard, it's still pretty cool they started the series with a Syrian protagonist and had the American Revolution game centered around a Native American.
Wei Shen isn't a minority character as a person born in Hong Kong doing an undercover mission in Hong Kong
Edit: Unless OP meant it as "Minorities as seen in a from the perspective as someone who lives in a country where the majority is white" ?
This assumes that the player is white.
I don't see why those two things have to be mutually exclusive.
Greater diversity would not prevent this.
VibratingDonkey
Member
I know I read a thing not too long ago along these lines, but hell if I can remember where at or what exactly it said. I'll try the good old address bar history guessing.
D'arci Stern - Urban Chaos, 1999
Isaac Washington - Typing of the Dead Overkill, 2009
grandwizard
Member
Far Cry 4 is the only game I can think of to have an Indian as the main player character. Which is pretty nuts when you consider the fact there is around a billion Indians.
FWIW I liked the way they handled his one foot in his ancestry and one in his western upbringing. Nice touch about how the western and outsider contacts call him 'ay-jay' while the natives call him 'ah-jay'.
FWIW I liked the way they handled his one foot in his ancestry and one in his western upbringing. Nice touch about how the western and outsider contacts call him 'ay-jay' while the natives call him 'ah-jay'.