More Overwatch design criticisms

[Village]

i thought this was going to be about the native american costume.

 

[wildfire]

It's just a costume skin but the request makes me wonder about the underlying motivation when choosing such skins. If it ever crossed their mind that they wanted to represent these cultural distinctions to add flavor to the character you would then have to question if your character should do something that violates a sacrosanct belief for most people. (and by most I mean most of those actually familiar with the religion)

 

[Stevey]

Religion definitely exists. It's the gods existence that you mean to question. Either way that's not even a point that should be argued here.

Yeah I already cleared that up.

Yeah, you're right.

I don't believe in any religion, so these complaints are irrelevant to me.

 

[HarryKS]

Very few people care.

 

[Skinpop]

fairy tales should be trivialized as often as possible.

 

[Kindekuma]

I think that the skin just follows art and design principles of hinduism more than anything, and not meant to replicate any god(s) of the religion. I don't think it should be removed, I think it's a great skin.

 

[Village]

fairy tales should be trivialized as often as possible.

That seems, overly condescending.

 

[WrenchNinja]

fairy tales should be trivialized as often as possible.

ow the edge

/r/atheism is thatta way

 

[Angelus Errare]

He annoys me so much but he has a ever so slight point. You'll never see a game where you control Jesus Christ, it helps that because that's part of American culture developers know how far they can skate until they're on thin ice. Angels are fine because most time they're used as a symbol for like healing and rarely are they portrayed as anything else in gaming, that and they rarely if ever make reference to JC or judeo Christian God. That and I imagine many developers have Christian employees who would be uncomfortable. At there end I don't think the issue is big enough to warrant change but I can understand why some are offended.

Really it's the same reason we get alot of racist stuff in media, barely anyone from that group to check people.

I think the only reason anyone is upset about the Pharah thing is the fact Pharah herself isn't native American, which is kind of messed up given how little representation they have anywhere.

 

[caleb1915]

They deal with all cultures casually. All cultures are characterized in many ways in the game.

Besides why are we assuming that every artist that works at blizzard is Christian, white, male, and is forbidden from appropriating any sort of religious works? Trying to project some sort of malicious intent behind a character design as offensive merely because her personality is incosistent with the religious texts then you're barking up the wrong tree. Especially since you can find plenty of cultural pieces showing Devi with a voluptuous figure and scantily clad. Sometimes even shirtless.

There are religious pieces of art all over the world that gets taken and reformed by other artists. The issue seems to be that you walk around as a character in that costume, but what if it was literally just a drawn piece of 2d art? Would people be crying foul about the elements borrowed from religious art as being out of bounds unless you were that particular ethnicity, culture, religion, or expert in that field?

I'm not necessarily asking you, just in general, I agree with your points

 

[Pinko Marx]

That seems, overly condescending.

Religion on a large scale fucking sucks. I feel it's done way more harm than good, all things considered.

 

[KarmaCow]

A real simple change would just not make her have blue skin. It's like the inverse of the SMT:A issue.

 

[boinx]

ow the edge

/r/atheism is thatta way

plenty of edgy things have been done in the name of religion and still are so throwing a little jab at their direction shouldn't be that upsetting tbqh

 

[Woo-Fu]

I don't understand why the casual violence is OK but the character isn't. I'm not Hindu but the meaningless violence that takes place every round of Overwatch seems like a bigger issue than a Devi skin/model.

ow the edge

/r/atheism is thatta way

ow the edge

Disbelief in one goddess of one religion doesn't make you an Atheist.

 

[Syntax]

Perfect excuse to give Symmetra a Combat Girl skin.

Do it, Blizzard.

 

[WaterAstro]

I think Blizzard had options, but opted to directly represent a religious god.

They could have just dressed up the character in traditional religious clothing, maybe just get rid of the blue skin, and it probably wouldn't be criticized.

 

[Dongs Macabre]

A lot of the skins in the game seem like they were made just because they looked cool or funny. It would be nice if Blizzard could give some insight into the thought process that went into the designs, because it doesn't really seem like they handled the use of aspects from other cultures with a whole lot of respect, which is a pretty big problem given the video game industry's overwhelming whiteness.

 

[Gestault]

I'm seeing a few comments that are assuming (projecting?) the rationale for the costume is deliberate disrespect. That's pretty slimy, whether it's true or just someone wanting it to be true.

 

[oneida]

edit didn't mean to post

 

[DrArchon]

I mean, I don't see how Blizzard couldn't have seen criticisms like this coming from a mile away when they made that costume. Same with the Native American Pharah costumes. They must be OK with these complaints otherwise they wouldn't have made these skins in the first place.

I'm personally not a fan of those Symmetra skins. They just don't look great to me.

 

[GrandHarrier]

I'm confused: The article says...

"Devi is the great goddess of Hinduism, worshiped in many different form and names since prehistoric times. While Symmetra’s Devi skin (and its recolored counterpart, Goddess) doesn’t seem to represent any one particular aspect of the goddess, it incorporates many aspects of their traditional depiction, notably Kali’s skull decoration and the blue skin associated in the faith with all things infinite."

So it isn't actually a depiction of any one thing but has elements of them? So... wouldn't that be like making someone look angelic and having a cross? Or having long hair and wearing white robes?

 

[Taruranto]

He annoys me so much but he has a ever so slight point. You'll never see a game where you control Jesus Christ, it helps that because that's part of American culture developers know how far they can skate until they're on thin ice. Angels are fine because most time they're used as a symbol for like healing and rarely are they portrayed as anything else in gaming, that and they rarely if ever make reference to JC or judeo Christian God. That and I imagine many developers have Christian employees who would be uncomfortable. At there end I don't think the issue is big enough to warrant change but I can understand why some are offended.

Really it's the same reason we get alot of racist stuff in media, barely anyone from that group to check people.

I think the only reason anyone is upset about the Pharah thing is the fact Pharah herself isn't native American, which is kind of messed up given how little representation they have anywhere.

Just by googling "Jesus Christ videogames" you can find tons of videogames that let you control Jesus Christ, lol.

Something went wrong with Lazarus’ resurrection... help Jesus and Judas to fight the zombie infection using amazing combos, divine punishments and special attacks!

wat


And Angels/Angelic themes have been a stable in jRPG and often used as enemies.

Christianity has been a free for all years now.

 

[Scientist Supreme!]

plenty of edgy things have been done in the name of religion and still are so throwing a little jab at their direction shouldn't be that upsetting tbqh

Calling ones faith a "fairytale" is incredibly shitty. No matter what shitty people have done in the name of religion.

 

[Nokterian]

Did...did people forget another game called...Smite?

I mean that game is nothing but gods from every religion in the world...

 

[SRTtoZ]

Do not take away my skin please

 

[WrenchNinja]

plenty of edgy things have been done in the name of religion and still are so throwing a little jab at their direction shouldn't be that upsetting tbqh

One shouldn't be upset either at a little jab thrown back, unless they've got too thin skin.

ow the edge

Disbelief in one goddess of one religion doesn't make you an Atheist.

Sure. But acting like a condescending jackass is more welcome in certain parts.

 

[Lonewulfeus]

Wait till space marines get butt hurt. All fpses are doomed!

 

[Balphon]

OK, which AAA computer games let you dress up as sexy Jesus?

 

[Azure Phoenix]

Change the name of the skin and voila, problem solved. People get far too sensitive when it comes to religious references.

 

[CSJ]

When you create art based off any culture, you're going to piss off people.
Likewise, some will actually like it.

I wish I had a culture at all, I probably come from the most bland and boring fucking culture on the face of the planet, there's NOTHING. Enjoy you even have one that people can see and learn about and to be big enough to be used in such a fashion.
Or don't, be offended, we're free to do that.

 

[Kayo Police]

Change the name of the skin and voila, problem solved. People get far too sensitive when it comes to religious references.

Or just remove the skin.

 

[OdysseusVA]

This has gotten to absurd levels.

 

[Hatty]

I'd play a game with a sexy Jesus I'm not gonna lie

 

[Zeouterlimits]

There really are a few not-so-great skins in that game, but on the other hand, it feels like the best multi-cultural game in .. quite some time.

 

[Odrion]

Yeah cultural appropriation seems to be a problem with quite a few of the legendary skins.

Nobody seems to cares though.

 

[Nappuccino]

As soon as I saw the skin, I knew this would be an issue.

 

[keffri]

If they removed something as trivial as the Tracer pose. I can definitely see them removing something that can be deemed as racially insensitive.

 

[Skinpop]

Calling ones faith a "fairytale" is incredibly shitty. No matter what shitty people have done in the name of religion.

No it's not shitty, it's necessary. religion doesn't go away by being treated with respect. it needs to be under constant attack.

 

[Mobius and pet octopus]

If they removed something as trivial as the Tracer pose. I can definitely see them removing something that can be deemed as racially insensitive.

They didn't remove the pose, they altered it. And by alter, I mean they just improved it. It's not like it is less sexualized. This is also about religion, not race.

 

[Odrion]

If they removed something as trivial as the Tracer pose. I can definitely see them removing something that can be deemed as racially insensitive.

they replaced the butt pose with a butt and boob pose

they ain't giving shits

 

[Scientist Supreme!]

No it's not shitty, it's necessary. religion doesn't go away by being treated with respect. it needs to be under constant attack.

Your joking or just a joke but either way I don't care anymore.

 

[vivekTO]

I think Blizzard in good faith, should change the Name of the skin as it literally means GOD, or atleast change the color of the skin , as Blue colored skin relates it to our mythical gods.

 

[Village]

No it's not shitty, it's necessary. religion doesn't go away by being treated with respect. it needs to be under constant attack.

....are you serious dude?

 

[FunkyDealer]

How dare Blizzard make an awesome looking skin inspired by a religious character that can act as a positively reinforcing representation of foreign culture!

 

[Crossing Eden]

I understand how the costume could be considered insensitive. And it would be harming no one if it was removed. The people saying "well they may as well have featureless husks as characters" lack a lot of self awareness. Because presenting a completely implausible scenario whenever there's a controversy has LONG since stopped being tolerable to read in threads featuring race or sexism controversies.

How dare Blizzard make an awesome looking skin inspired by a religious character that can act as a positively reinforcing representation of foreign culture!

Lol no, cultural appropriation is not positively reinforced representation of foreign culture.

 

[Orayn]

No it's not shitty, it's necessary. religion doesn't go away by being treated with respect. it needs to be under constant attack.

You're operating under the assumption that "constant attack" will somehow dissuade people from religion instead of encouraging the religious to circle the wagons and feel justified in their notion of culture war.

 

[O.v.e.rlord]

I don't think they should change anything! Keep on doing your thing billzard!

 

[Skux]

If anything, they at least need to fix the belly button placement.

 

[Einchy]

Please remove Mercy, it trivializes angels.

I understand how the costume could be considered insensitive. And it would be harming no one if it was removed. The people saying "well they may as well have featureless husks as characters" lack a lot of self awareness. Because presenting a completely implausible scenario whenever there's a controversy has LONG since stopped being tolerable to read in threads featuring race or sexism controversies.

They'd be harming me since I have that skin.

Don't remove my skins, yo.

 

[PAULINK]

i bought this skin, she looks much better without her stupid headset.