Games massively lack ethnic and gender diversity, discuss!

" @Gargantuan said:

" @KaosAngel said:

" Why we ain't got no Arab heroes? "

Isn't Altaïr an arab? "

I stand corrected, forgot about him. "

I play games to entertain myself, I don't worry about the race or gender of the character I'm using. I encourage everyone else not to give a shit as well.

" The Limbo dude is black. "

 I think it's partially a demographic thing. They assume it'll sell more - and whether it would make a difference is difficult to tell as nobody has really tried and tested it any other way. That, or it's assumed a "default" person is white (or Asian for Asian games, which can come across as looking like white) for whatever reason (I'd guess it's to do with the ethnic majority of the country the developers are from, but that's a guess).
 
I think ethnic minorities and women in games also tend to be shoehorned into being rather stereotypical. Heck, you get it in voice casting (or film casting) sometimes. Is a character a drunkard? What's the likelihood they'll be cast as being Irish? They are less characters in their own right and more of a representation, if that makes sense, and not necessarily an accurate one. It's an assumption on the part of the developers. 
 
I see it a lot with women in games. There are plenty of women in games who are there to look sexy and sell copies. They don't have a character beyond that, or beyond being a love interest or whatever. It's pretty sad really as far as I'm concerned. As a girl, I've yet to see a woman in a videogame I've been able to relate to - yet I have with a few male characters. Funny, that.  
 
As for women... how many women older than in the mid twenties do you see in games? Not many. 

It's kinda Western Culture. Yes, it is a demographic issue as well, but in Western Culture, the hero is almost always tall, fair-skinned, and has brown hair.

I didn't realise its that important, and to be honest, I don't give a shit either.

It comes down to the fact that there are more white males making games than anyone else in the Western games industry. People tend to create characters who they can identify with.

" @ryanwho:   It is certainly a self-perpetuating problem.  However, I don't see why it should be incumbent upon the generally white artist to initiate change.  Why should they trade their artistic integrity and preference to suit future potential developers?  It may not sound sensitive, but I think that the diversity will change (slightly) when a sufficient number of minorities get over it and enter the field.  If they dismiss it as a "white people job," then it's their damned problem.    Look at the makeup of a university, and then look at the science, mathematics, and design programs.  There's clearly a substantially lower interest among women and minorities in these fields.  As such, game development will continue to be a white male field.  This won't be solved by trying to force diversity where there is none.  It has to happen on its own.  Furthermore, while minorities have more cohesive tastes in most art that set them slightly apart from whites, this doesn't really hold for video games.  Publishers and developers lose nothing by writing what they choose to.  Forcing a minority lead isn't going to increase sales. "

" I play games to entertain myself, I don't worry about the race or gender of the character I'm using. I encourage everyone else not to give a shit as well. "

" I didn't realise its that important, and to be honest, I don't give a shit either. "

This becomes clearer when you consider non-white art in western society.  Quite often, it's incredibly ethnocentric.  As whites lack so cohesive a racial identity, few books, films, games, etc. that feature white characters revolve around race.  Black American films seems quite wrapped up in their being black, which doesn't exactly have mass appeal.  Same goes for Hispanics, though to a lesser degree.  Women are often in the same boat.   

• As Whites lack a racial identity;
• Therefore media featuring leading white protagonists are lacking in a racial identity, and therefore racially "neutral";

Minorities have a more homogeneous culture, and they frequently have stronger ties to that culture.  To write a black character and ignore that is often criticized and seen as inappropriate (which I disagree with, but what can you do?).  Centering a game around "black" culture can often scale back the target audience significantly, and such games tend to 1) suck and 2) be very similar.  About six or seven years ago, it seemed that every other game was some nonsense about gang shitheads with "nigger this" and "nigger that" supplanting dialogue.  Of course "black" culture goes beyond this, but when it comes to a fun game, shooting cops will always have more draw than the other aspects.   

American whites have no distinct culture, so there's a much greater level of freedom.

 Also, many organized minority groups have ridiculous notions of what should be done 

Many groups expect minorities to play bigger roles in art, and they demand that the overwhelmingly white artists make this happen.  If they write a "normal" character just make them black, they'll face criticism for failing to incorporate black culture.  The character is often seen as suggesting that blacks have to "act white" to be accepted.  If they write with "black" culture in mind, then they run other risks.  Not often being a part of that culture, the writing might suffer, and they might end up with a minstrel show.  While these unreasonable advocacy groups do not represent the opinions of all minorities, they are enough of a pain in the ass to have a chilling effect. 

The majority of people making games are white or asian and male.

Hamz pic is awesome lol.
 
I kind of don't care. I'm playing the characters story not mine. Their gender/race is nothing to me. Being able to customize a character is a nice bonus though!

To, me best female character to this day is the white wolf Amaterasu from Okami.  
 
Strong, powerfull and kind. All without the useless tits and machoness most girls in games have. 
 
Also, Alyx Vance. Brains and guts - and a sense of humour. 

This website is run by white men in their 30's. It needs diversity.

Does it really matter? Would racial minorities be portrayed in a non-stereotypical way if there were more of them in video games? (hint: no) Somehow, I think that would make the political correctness people more crazy than the absence thereof.

An internet argument is nothing until the terms ad hominid, strawman, and slippery slope are thrown around.

" Glad to see it.  Last thing I want to watch for 10 hours, is the back of a black guys head or the ass of a fat plaid wearing bull dyke.    Not to mention how Italians, Irish, Russian and all other European immigrants are treating in modern movies and games.  They are no more "White," than I am an albino crab cake.  Your retarded is you think a Russian mobster is "white" or an Italian American is corn bread.    Just ask Scorsese.  The fact that you agree and give out sweeping generalizations on white people, only proves your ignorance and racist patterns.     Grow Up Giant Bomb and 4/10 to OP for taking advantage of this sites impulsive and ignorant nature.    Anyone else care to cherry pick? "

" An internet argument is nothing until the terms ad hominid, strawman, and slippery slope are thrown around. "

It isnt just games MOST media is minimally representative.
 
Ever think about gay characters? what do we got, That dude from MGS, and the horrible fucking guy from enchanted arms.  Great . 
 
 At least women have Lighting and Jade from Beyond good and Evil. (which need to be duplicated)

" I play games to entertain myself, I don't worry about the race or gender of the character I'm using. I encourage everyone else not to give a shit as well. "

" I didn't realise its that important, and to be honest, I don't give a shit either. "

" It isnt just games MOST media is minimally representative. Ever think about gay characters? what do we got, That dude from MGS, and the horrible fucking guy from enchanted arms.  Great .   At least women have Lighting and Jade from Beyond good and Evil. (which need to be duplicated) "