There are some black, asian and other minority characters in games, but typically, most game characters are white. They're also usually male. How come? The answer may seem obvious, but there's more to it, as explained by USC assistant professor Dmitri Williams at DICE 2010.
It's the fault of game developers. But why?
"You make games that look like you," said Williams.
The majority of game developers are, in fact, white and male. One way to help encourage diversity in the output of video games is to place more diversity in the development staff.
"The kind of characters featured in games are reflective of who is making them," he continued.
Prey was actually brought up several times during the panel, being one of the few examples in the entire history of video games that featured a Native American as a main character.
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thegreatODEN
i'm black and i don't care if i play as i white guy,i never think about, come on people lets not bring politics into games leave that to the politicians
Klok
Pretty dumb, since the vast majority of players are also white males.
Lucifer6972
You want flavor? You f--- Liberals, :)
Lucifer6972
Take your Liberal website and use it somehwree else like the Huffington Post, don't ike it? Then Ban me! :)
darkchaos_1000
OK i think that everybody has a good point im black and i am a game designer in college and a comic writer but there is a reason that i dont use my own race often in comics or games i would like to design its the reason cuz its hard to satisfy every race cuz every race can get offeneded easily i mean think about it in the past if u put the race if the person in the place where ur character wont have a problem adjusting to the area and if u think about it even on t.v, movies, and any media white people are most likely not to cause a big reaction cuz there everywhere but The main reason is cuz We kno how the White Male(remember this!!) will act in each situation cuz sorry there predictable thats y we put them in so many games cuz we kno them that well! I 4 1 would like to see alot of game that has the main characters in mixed races and diffrent sex bt im srry to the ppl complainin bout there not bein many gay ppl in games but i dont think america is ready for that kinda change witout making a large dispute!
Yasac0
Idk...there's no way master chief was white, just sayin.
dantastic4
This indeed is a very good topic.My question has alway been why in aspecially with Japanese developers is why is there a fascination with white metro sexual boys and big breasted white women?When the hell are we gonna see a sexy Asian/Black or Latina chick featured in a video game? The only one I can think of was Mirror's Edge and the was made by western developers strangely enough.I just think to myself how cool it would of been if GTA 4 would of featured a hot Asian women or African American women with a sword going around and slicing criminals,drug dealers and hookers.This could of added a much better stealther fighting mechanic to the game.The story could of been about her family being kidnapped and held for ranson by a corrupt politician.There just seems to be not enough good diversity in video games for some ridiculous odd reason considering all people of ethic back ground enjoy playing em.
Moore21
Then why aren't more video game characters fat and unshaven? OH RIGHT, because developers make video game characters based on how they WISH they looked. = )
T_Rexx
Who really wants to take that risk of having Blacks or otherwise being the main character in games? I say a handful if so much. The majority of gamers are white and the developers are white, not to mention shareholders sponsors....the list goes on, so what does one expect the hero or heroes to be? White!!! I wld say maybe 60% or more whites purchase games and the dev's are catering to that as well...$$$$$. At the end of the day the dough is what counts, literally. As for me I really wld like to see more reversal of roles, but to be honest I don't really care. Until the minority get more opportunity as dev's and the financial backing then maybe we'll see more role switching, but for now I don't see it happening. Let's just game on.
RockieOllie
Skin color is not gonna make a game GOTY...
BigPoppaChunk
is their something i am doing wrong when i try to reply.i click reply i am signed in ,i type my comment hit post and nothing am i doing it wrong or is it just broke.
ozziekun
I think people are reading too much into this and making an issue out of nothing. I am black and I still choose to play with the white characters in games that you can alter their race and gender such as fallout 3 and mass effect.
Some games are taken from historical points and some from myths such as God of War and the cultural differences are kind of hard to place into a game with that type of settings. I love GTA San Andreas with Carl being the main character, but I loved Vice city more because Tommy was a lot funnier.
I believe that we are all losing sight that these are just games, games that most of us play to relax and unwind after a hard day at the office. And I don't need any body trying to mess with my head or my beloved game developers; who by the way have a hard work of keeping me and others entertained with their fresh titles.
So cultural differences are one thing in real life but in my fantasy world of gaming I really don't care.
ozziekun
I think people are reading too much into this and making an issue out of nothing. I am black and I still choose to play with the white characters in games that you can alter their race and gender such as fallout 3 and mass effect.
Some games are taken from historical points and some from myths such as God of War and the cultural differences are kind of hard to place into a game with that type of settings. I love GTA San Andreas with Carl being the main character, but I loved Vice city more because Tommy was a lot funnier.
I believe that we are all losing sight that these are just games, games that most of us play to relax and unwind after a hard day at the office. And I don't need any body trying to mess with my head or my beloved game developers; who by the way have a hard work of keeping me and others entertained with their fresh titles.
So cultural differences are one thing in real life but in my fantasy world of gaming I really don't care.
Curare
Character editor option for all videogames! Argument over I m going to bed!
thesilentmole
Turok was Native American.
kujel
I've got prey, it's a decent enough game.
Dreadlocks88
I meant color in that last sentence lol
Dreadlocks88
The fact that white males are the ones making games is a really lazy answer, the real question is why can they never see a black/mexican/asian as the main character? I am a black male and yes I would make black characters but I would still include other races and sex as main characters in various stories. I love games that allow you to create your main character for the exact reason that I can make the character look like me and relate more to him.
I think it has to do more with the demographic I had a discussion about this about a year ago on another forum and it was not as nearly civil as this. All the posts went along the lines of I will not buy a game with a black main character, I could not play it because I could not relate if there was another race, and my favorite there are enough black characters in NBA Live and Madden. It's really just reflective of people's thoughts and society as someone already posted this is not limited to games and if developers cannot sit back and ask themselves why they only see the hero/anti hero as white then that is a problem within itself.
Don't get me wrong I do not want to see a slew of new games with token main characters which is something else that is wrong. Almost every time we do get a person of character they seem to be some kind of stereotype.
napkinshower
"The kind of characters featured in games are reflective of who is making them,"
doesnt seem like a good/valid reason. sounds like a random statement.
but i dont really see any games advocating racism/ suppression of cultures etc (not obviously). just games advocating having fun hehe.
Deez182
Everyone remembers Prey for featuring a non-white protagonist, but does anyone remember Shadow Warrior (also by 3D Realms) which had a rather offensive Asian stereotype as the main character.
Thanks 3D Realms! Too bad about Duke!
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