Since I've already discussed homophobia in video games this morning, I thought I'd continue the social criticism with a look at racism in games. The Houston Chronicle's game blog recently brought up the subject with a post about the moral aspects of Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood.
See, the protagonist in COJ is a Confederate solider during the Civil War trying to rescue his brother from those damn Yankees, so of course along the way, much Union blood must be shed in the name of the South. Playing the game means inhabiting the persona of a rebel during the Civil War, and this gives some people pause.
The Chronicle's blogger suggests Ubisoft might have allowed players to have a choice between the union or the Confederate, so you wouldn't be "forced" into killing other characters for the crime of being a member of the army that freed the slaves. Here's how it was put:
"Shooting Union soldiers really just made me pause the game and walk away for a few minutes. As a minority, had the South won, I wouldn't be in this position I am today. They were content to keep things the way they were -- no need to free their slave labor, no need to give minorities the right to vote. It wasn't until the 1960s -- and the threat of military force -- that the Old South buckled and let blacks vote -- a hundred years after the end of the Civil War."
It's easy to think something like, "Hey, lighten up! It's just a game!" but imagine for a moment, a video game that had players to take on the role of a Nazi tank commander blitzing through Poland in 1939. Obviously, that game wouldn't ever be made -- Nazis are for shooting, not being heroes -- so why is it okay to lionize the Confederate army during the American Civil war?
The Houston Chronicle's blog also mentions the similarity in imagery between Valve's upcoming Left 4 Dead 2 and the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. Setting the game in New Orleans so shortly after the deadly storm seems a strange decision. After all, it was only a few years ago that the city was decimated, and there actually were corpses moldering in the streets. Sure, a zombie invasion is different than a killer storm, but the point is the visuals might be disturbing to people who actually suffered through that tragedy.
I think gamers are often pretty cavalier about racism and homophobia in games... but it's generally white, straight people who exemplify the "It's only a game! Get over it!" attitude. It's easy to dismiss racism (or borderline racism) when it's not directed at you specifically. It reminds me of telling someone you just insulted, "Ah, you should have more of a sense of humor when I'm making fun of you."
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jeanpaulvalley
this is coming from a non-white gamer's opinion on the subject. CHILL it's game. a work of fiction based on some historical facts, without the story it's just plain running around and blowing things up. some of you are way to sensitive. get your head out of your ultra sensitive a.r.s.e. and enjoy the game. if you dont like it then stop playing it and trade it.
EKG
This whole topic just makes me angry. First, these people call RE5 racist because I am Killing African Americans. But No one said a thing about Crackdown, where I played a African American shooting all kinds of races. Or Left 4 Dead, where I played an African American killing Whites for 5 hours. I am Italian, and I loved the Godfather Games, and I don't sit there and get angry because I know that the game is portraying Italians in the wrong way. I understand it is just a game, and the Developers didn't set out to purposely become Racists or Bias to a certain group of people. No, it is just for entertainment. I can sit here and write a list of about 5,000 Books and Movies where a Black Man Killed a White man, and where a White Man Killed an African American, and where people from all races were used as bad guys killing other Races of people, but nobody said a thing about those. It's only when it is a Video Game does everyone start "Caring".
arod95
@down311 So you'd equate people like the Tuskegee Airmen, with people making shells in factories? I was talking about people of color who actually fought in WWII, which by most people's assessment makes for pretty fun games. And while we're at it, yeah, there have been women through out history who have done their part for war efforts, on the field of combat. Maybe not in America (and I hesitate to say this since I'm not all that well versed on the history of women in the military), but women have fought in combat situations for other nations. My point isn't that we absolutely have to make a game from everyone's perspective, but that we need to stop marginalizing people in games.
Also, don't give me that "we're in a post racial society crap". Ignoring people of color and not seeing race are two completely different things. And while you may think most people do the latter, I know that a helluva lot of people do the former. There are way to many problems in this country and the world, where the underlying cause is racial, ethnic, gender, religious, etc. discrimination for us to pretend like everything is hunky-dory.
Also, are there racist people of color? Yeah, sure. The difference is these people aren't in a position to pay white people less for the same job, or to deny them housing or employment opportunities. I don't see too many black people with the power to underfund predominately white schools or a whole lot of Latinos with the ability to set cultural norms that permeate nearly every facet of American society. And more to the point we are underrepresented in the video game industry, and I realize this isn't the fault of white people. Frankly I'm hoping to encourage more people of color to go in to the industry (hell all parts of the entertainment industry) so that maybe in the future we'll be able to develop more games by and about people of color. So I'm not blaming anyone for that, all I can really ask of white developers is that they think about what they make and that video game journalists and bloggers, call them out when they see something amiss.
And I apologize if I'm coming out a little aggressive, but I've been visiting G4 for a while now, and the staggering amount of ignorance (this isn't directed at you, I don't think you're ignorant) has finally pushed me over the edge.
So once again, I'm sorry for the aggression, just needed to blow off some steam.
EKG
This whole topic just makes me angry. First, these people call RE5 racist because I am Killing African Americans. But No one said a thing about Crackdown, where I played a African American shooting all kinds of races. Or Left 4 Dead, where I played an African American killing Whites for 5 hours. I am Italian, and I loved the Godfather Games, and I don't sit there and get angry because I know that the game is portraying Italians in the wrong way. I understand it is just a game, and the Developers didn't set out to purposely become Racists or Bias to a certain group of people. No, it is just for entertainment. I can sit here and write a list of about 5,000 Books and Movies where a Black Man Killed a White man, and where a White Man Killed an African American, and where people from EVERY race were all used as bad guys killing other Races of people, but nobody said a thing about those. It's only when it is a Video Game does everyone start "Caring".
SlickyFats
Hate to tell everyone but the Civil War happened. It is part of history. Sorry no take backs. Get over it.
Fullarr
What is today Awareness day or something? I'll play any game no matter how derogatory or hurtful it is to any group of people as long as it has great gameplay, and a somewhat entertaining plot. However, that's all assuming that I somehow bought the game without knowing anything about the subject matter, which I really don't remember the last time I wasted money like that.
Is there racism in the world? Yes, of course. But most of the ideas I've heard for solving the problem are futile and ridiculous. It's far easier to ignore it and as someone said earlier vote with your dollar.
arod95
@djboogymonster
Let me ask you this. What about the economy made fighting necessary?
Or better yet, what type of labor system was the southern economy based on?
Also, more on states rights. You know who really infringed upon state's rights? The south, by pushing for fugitive slave laws that tried to do away with the Northern State's rights to ensure liberty to ALL Americans, not just white Americans like in the south. That's infringing upon state's rights, not that "return our property" crap the south was trying to pull.
Also, if you guys really want to talk about states rights, you need to reevaluate one of the south's biggest heroes Andrew "I'm gonna kill me some Injuns" Jackson. He was the one who shot down nullification...that's right, one of your own heroes.
down311
Hey ARod - Let's have a WWII game from the woman's perspective where they helped build airplanes and tanks. Doesn't that sound fun ?
You are too wrapped up in all this BS, times have changed and alot of people don't even see color. Many people love periods of history just for the amazing battle stories and they don't think about color. There are plenty of other collored people that are just as racist as the Nazi's were and the KKK.
djboogymonster
There's the hot button again.
Racism is a matter of the heart and mind.
Who's so freaking concerned? Geez, people relax. What, we can't tell a story set during the Civil War? It happened right? There were people there, good and bad on both sides. So let's look at their stories. So we don't repeat their mistakes. This game is not promoting mistreatment of minorities. The war itself is just the setting. so there are effects from it. There are no hate crimes, or racial slurs in the game (that I know of). So just chill, if this is your thing buy the game, if not, fine its your deal. The game looks great, will I buy it? Probably not. Why, because I'm black and therefore offended? No. I'm just waiting for Batman Arkham Asylum to come out.
And media people (not just G4): This topic is only making people scared to talk, and creating more racial division. The "What's racist this week." headline is getting old. I would rather talk about what is personally offensive than have the press decide for me. So how about asking me BEFORE printing the article?
zitler
The Civil War wasn't just fought over Slavery, that was a very small part of it. It was mostly fought over states rights vs. Federal rights. Black people act like every Southern person owned a slave when in fact it was a very small percentage. It was wrong what they did but it was over 150 years ago, get over it.
nightsnipe
can you guys stop with the double posts
arod95
@Slaytanic40oz and what right was the south fighting to uphold? You guys kill me with this misrepresentation of history. The south was pissed, not because the north wanted to end slavery, but because they were trying to stop the spread of slavery in to the new territories. They feared they'd lose power in the legislature and thus be at the mercy of the industrial north. Don't try to spin this as being primarily about states rights, because the only right that really mattered was the right to 1) own slaves and 2) allow new territories to enter the union as slave states.
I don't know who started spreading this lies about the civil war being about the principle of states rights, but if you look at attitude the south had to the expansion of the US, Lincolns election, etc. it's pretty goddamn clear why they left the union. Also, how do you account for the number of plantations per state having a positive correlation to the desire to leave the union?
What are they teaching people in our schools?
arod95
@Slaytanic40oz and what right was the south fighting to uphold? You guys kill me with this misrepresentation of history. The south was pissed, not because the north wanted to end slavery, but because they were trying to stop the spread of slavery in to the new territories. They feared they'd lose power in the legislature and thus be at the mercy of the industrial north. Don't try to spin this as being primarily about states rights, because the only right that really mattered was the right to 1) own slaves and 2) allow new territories to enter the union as slave states.
I don't know who started spreading this lies about the civil war being about the principle of states rights, but if you look at attitude the south had to the expansion of the US, Lincolns election, etc. it's pretty goddamn clear why they left the union. Also, how do you account for the number of plantations per state having a positive correlation to the desire to leave the union?
What are they teaching people in our schools?
IBloodstormI
Everyone likes to demonize the confederates. not all confederates were slave owning, plantation running villains. More then not, they were just guys who felt that they weren't being fairly represented and treated by the north.
Just like WW2, not all soldiers that fought for the Germans were evil, jew haters. some were men in positions they didn't choose. some were just guys who thought they were on the right side, and I'm sure there are many of them who wished they could have never been part of what they were forced to do.
you cant demonize everyone in those situations like people do.
people just need to stop looking for things to be offended by, that's when our country will truly solve the problem of racism. like a bully at school, they stop messing with you when you stop feeling like they want you to feel.
Smartguy81
Hmm...all of you who think this game is racist need to grow some balls and get some brains.
If you think that everyone in the south was a racist then you are sadly mistaken. If you think everyone owned slaves you are once again sadly mistaken. Damn near all of the confederate troops were dirt floor poor. They couldn't afford slaves. That war was about states' rights people.
I won't play CoJ because i just don't care to play it. I find it really funny that a black man writes an article about a confederate soldier being inherently hateful to him. People like him are nothing more than race pimps.
arod95
@fghjkl no offense to you or you ancestors, but STFU. I'm sorry, but anecdotal evidence isn't really evidence. So your granddad didn't own slaves, does that rectify the white supremacist ideology that permeated the CSA? No, it doesn't. I'm sure there were German soldiers doing WWII who were "just following orders" and outside of the context of the war they were probably nice tolerant guys, but you can't take a handful of soldiers and use their stories as a basis to disregard the major problem of the Nazi Germany war effort.
Similarly just because your great great granddad wasn't trying to "keep the black man down", that doesn't mean that Stephen Johnson was wrong when he made "generalization" about confederates. Want to know why? Because the confederacy was built upon white supremacy, racism, and slavery, regardless of what your grandfather and 9 other random southerners actually believed vis a vis slavery. You're right, fighting for the south doesn't automatically mean that the a person was a racist, neither does owning a confederate flag. But in both instances there are symbols at work. And for me and many other people in this country and around the world confederate symbols, be they flags or military uniforms, represent a reprehensible side of American history. And if you don't understand what the confederacy was really about, then you need to learn your damn history.
@CMDLuke: Let me ask you this. How many stories told from the perspectives of people of color do we see in video games? What GTA: San Andreas? Oh yeah, there's a heroic depiction of a person of color. Even in RE 5, a game SET IN AFRICA, the main character is a white man and the "African" sidekick is lighter than a goddamn manila folder. So hey, sure let's tell the story of a confederate soldier, I've got no beef with showcasing all types of perspectives in video games. Hell even though I've got some issues with the game COJ looks kind of cool. But we really need to think about the groups of people who are marginalized in video games. Which brings me to my main point about the issue at hand...
There's no inherent problem with showcasing different perspectives in the world of video games. But we these perspectives shouldn't stop with the heroic mythology of the white man. Fine, have your confederate protagonists, but what about video games that represent the people of color who fought in the civil war? Or the revolutionary war? Or WWII? Or every War that America has fought? And instead of having the black side-character be some hulking ex-football player (I'm look at you Cliffy-B) why can't we you know, add some depth and and complexity to these people?
And you know for those of you who play are in the "lighten up, it's just a game" stand point, I hope you'll invest in my new project "Toussaint!" in which you play as Haitian rebels who massacre European colonizers.
djboogymonster
Why is everybody so worried about things being racist. Racism is a choice, a lifestyle, a matter of heart and mind. For the love of everything green and lovely, would you people relax? Yes, I said "you people". Meaning everybody. (Geez!)
racist -
1. a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
2. a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.
3. hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.
I don't believe this game is NOT racist at all. The Civil War really happened and people, on both sides really died. There's quite a story there. I (being a black man) do not, for one instant believe the Civil War was only about slavery. I believe it had much more to do with economy, like almost every other conflict.
The game, in its mechanics, is also not encouraging mistreatment of minorities in anyway which would by definition be racist. The war itself is more of a backdrop than a focal point. I've endured less than agreeable actions in games before (joining the Covenant in Halo, killing innocents in GoW) and I put the Confederate action, in the game, in the same category. This story itself never really happened.
Maybe, this walks the line by virtue of the setting, but, as I've said many times before, there are bigger injustices happening everyday. And frankly, there where good men fighting on the Confederate side, there where black men fighting on the confederate side. I would much rather talk about that, than act like nothing happened.
Wow, that was long...
GOOBZILLA
@lBloodstorml
i wasn't really saying confederate soldiers and union soldiers were/were not racist. it depends on the soldier. and i only used nazi's as an example because it apparently got my message across: in war, your own opinions don't matter. no matter what you're personally fighting for, it is ultimately the regime you are fighting for that matters. and, probably with perception in mind, that is what people will look back on and, ignorantly, pen to an individual's personality.
the overall idea of the regime you are fighting for is what will be instated during the conclusion of the conflict.
also, i know plenty of people who are racist and are completely oblivious to the fact.
Samm24f
Im Sorry but we are all ready playing as Nazi's in games like Call of Duty's multiplayer, and we have fought for the South in the History Chanell's Civil War games. There was probably a disaster game that resembled a disaster.
Valve got heat when there werent any black zombies in L4D and Capcom got heat when there Wasn't white zombies in RE5. Now that valve attempts to put all races of zombies in a game people find a different reason to hate on it.
My friend likes playing as the Nazis in WW2 games but that doesn't make him evil. he simply likes the look and feel of the guns. Just because someone is playin a game and they are playing as the bad guys that doesnt make them evil.
And just because someone fought for the Nazi's or they fought for the South doesnt mean they had the same beliefs as everyone else. Many GERMANS who fought in the Nazi Army didnt believe in the killing of jews. They fought and followed orders cuz they were forced to. TO me it sounds like the character in CoJ Bound in Blood wants to rescue his brother more than anything. Maybe he joined the army to rescue his brother. Who Knows.
Nobody puts racism in games on purpuse. Valve certainly wouldn't and neither would any other game developer cuz it has to et by so many people to be approved. This is just another case of people taking things out of context.
Written by me, who is a 14 year old white boy who lives in New Jersey.
Samm24f
Im Sorry but we are all ready playing as Nazi's in games like Call of Duty's multiplayer, and we have fought for the South in the History Chanell's Civil War games. There was probably a disaster game that resembled a disaster.
Valve got heat when there werent any black zombies in L4D and Capcom got heat when there Wasn't white zombies in RE5. Now that valve attempts to put all races of zombies in a game people find a different reason to hate on it.
My friend likes playing as the Nazis in WW2 games but that doesn't make him evil. he simply likes the look and feel of the guns. Just because someone is playin a game and they are playing as the bad guys that doesnt make them evil.
And just because someone fought for the Nazi's or they fought for the South doesnt mean they had the same beliefs as everyone else. Many GERMANS who fought in the Nazi Army didnt believe in the killing of jews. They fought and followed orders cuz they were forced to. TO me it sounds like the character in CoJ Bound in Blood wants to rescue his brother more than anything. Maybe he joined the army to rescue his brother. Who Knows.
Nobody puts racism in games on purpuse. Valve certainly wouldn't and neither would any other game developer cuz it has to et by so many people to be approved. This is just another case of people taking things out of context.
Written by me, who is a 14 year old white boy who lives in New Jersey.
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