Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Racism In Gaming
So, my story begins about a year and a half ago. This is when Resident Evil 5 was first announced, and a trailer was shown. The Trailer depicted a setting in a south African town, where people were infected with a virus that turns them into zombies. (You all know this game series has been around for about 10-15 years, right?) The protagonist of the story is chris redfield, which is a tall white guy. See anything wrong? Well, it turns out many people did. Many news outlets and gamers alike, begain throwing allegations about how "Racist" RE5 is. This personally offended me (People saying it was racist.) Due to the fact of it being that RE4 was based in a Spanish town, and no one cared? All the other resident evils in the past had all white zombies and NO one cared? So what is the big deal now? The funny thing is, the people that made the game are JAPANESE! Now, to a more present time. I just rented a game titled "50 Cent: Blood on the sand." Yes, as the title shows it is about the Rapper 50 Cent. From face value, the game is good. Good gameplay, pacing, cover system, all that jazz. There are, however, a few things that make me question the thought behind this. Let's start off with the concept of the game. 50 Cent is taking the "G-unit" to a middle eastern country to take back what terrorists have stolen from him, his money/jewels/hoes/ or whatever. 50 is now pissed and wants revenge, and his "assets" back. The combat is bloody, and you can yell taunts at anytime with the left stick. (Ex. Fuck you! Fuck off, pussy!) The game is extremely profane, and may I say it, worse than grand theft auto when it comes to the language! Now, the soundtrack does the game no liberty at all. It is all of 50's greatest hits! Which in just about all of the songs (which are unedited) say the BIG BAD N word!! OH NO! I personally dont get offended by much, but c'mon, Microsoft allowed this? If were to go on live and call someone a Ni****, I could be banned for a long time, possibly forever. Which is very hypocritical. The sad part of this story is that no one has had an objection with the game whatsoever. I have heard No-one giving THQ shit for publishing this game. Just to get to the point, I am disgusted by the reverse racism that has been goin on in the gaming industy. I dont feel violated, but people should really think twice before throwing racist allegations, on games and other media that is not. Microsoft also, should have been more responsible with this game. Games are an artform, lets please keep them that way. And, when the "lil wayne's hood rat beat down," comes out, I dont plan on buying it either!! =)
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I'll be the devil's advocate for a little bit in this...I believe that Microsoft thinks that it is probably okay for other people of race to refer to themselves using racial slurs. It becomes racism when people of other races use those slurs to suppress others of a different race. I see the game itself is rated M for Mature as well is Resident Evil 5. Here's where 9/11 plays into this whole scenario. Although both were release after 9/11 it does still play a part. Our country was built on slavery, and it just so happens that when slavery came into effect, that the slaves were African American or African. At the time of slavery we really didn't have much going on with the Middle East or the Arab Nations. Now, after 9/11, the tables have turned. It has become more respectable to be an African American than an Arab American. How many times can you go to an airport and see the way people look at Arab Americans as they get on a plane. It's not their fault that 9/11 happened, and they might of been living in the USA when it did happen, and probably had no idea that it was going to happen! That where this outrage came from. In RE 5 people were upset because it was a Black and White issue, but the Black and What issue has been swept under the rug since 9/11, although there has been an increase of some sort of Black and White issues with President Obama taking office, the general sense of things is that since 9/11 people are less offended if there is a game against the type cast of people that were involved in attacking the US.
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