We have all heard the huge uproar of anger that a lot of people have expressed in regards to the trailer released of Resident Evil 5, where it depicts an African Village and a "White Man" is..you guessed it, shooting the "ZOMBIFIED African Man". Now as gamers we don't really think much of this because it is a game centered in Africa and they tried to be realistic with the settings and way of life. Is that wrong? Have some developers crossed the line?
I recently read an article on kezins.com where the author interviewed Ragnhild Mogren, teacher at Stockholm University, about the effect that games like Resident Evil 5 and Grand Theft Auto IV could have on the public -- particularly young minds. But it all boils down to have the developers crossed the line? Personally in my honest opinion I don't think they have. Yes some people see the trailer as "OMG Racist" but how is it? Yes you have a white man shooting a black man, there are plenty of games that have that same scenario and even more movies that have that same concept. But why do some people see this as wrong? Thats simple: KIDS.
Yes we are all sick of people complaining about the youth being exposed to things like drugs, sex and violence (Thank you GTAIV). But now these concerned adults see games such as Resident Evil as a huge influence on kids because of the racism issue. Why should developers try and hide the sad truth about how the people in these types of towns in Africa live? Yes I know that some kids now a days don't sit down a learn about history of not just our country but how people live in other countries. They sit there and watch television which constantly shows tons of negativity with a 1% shower of positivity, so why don't we hear people complaining about what is depicted on the news and television?
It all comes down to the main people in a child's life that can depict to them the difference between right and wrong: their PARENT(s). People say that reading has gone way done since video games have gone to become the main medium of entertainment, this in turn leads to the constant argument that games have a huge influence on a young child and their developing minds. Yet who controls all this? The PARENTS. We have come to a day and age where the old school baby sitter has been replaced with video game consoles and games that these kids definitely shouldn't be getting their hands on.
A few of you might be wondering what the problem is with kids seeing how a culture lives --of course minus the zombie part. Absolutely nothing. I think that the developers where right to stay with the scenery that they chose because it makes a lot more sense to at least stay somewhat true to the essence of the location. But one of the main issues that people are having besides the obvious of "racism", they feel that the developers are portraying the African people in the game as mindless Neanderthals and the White man as All Powerful. Maybe if they give you the option at the beginning of the game to choose who you play as the main character then people wouldn't complain much...wait nevermind..they will complain anyway because that is the nature of people.
Grand Theft Auto IV has also seen the shining light of hatred from many different directions due to its obvious use of: Drugs, Sex and Violence. With a nice "M for Mature" rating on it there are still tons of kids who have gotten a hold of this game but I don't see them running up and down the street acting like their shooting someone. Nor have I heard them talk to a girl called them a "Bitch" or "Slut", or beating up girls for their lunch money. A few women feel that this series is really degrading of women because it promotes prostitution and that we are just a tool to be used. But have these women actually played this game and followed the storyline? Have they seen how the main character, Niko Bellic, acts towards certain women in the gaming? Particularly the lovely Miss Kate, sister of one of your friends in the game, whom he treats with complete respect. This game is all about Moral Choices, it gives you the option to kill a person or spare their life and all of the decisions you make effect you throughout the game including the final mission. So what is bad about that?
Racism and the Degrading of women in video games will always be a topic discussed for a long time to come. But the way someone views these things in not only video games but also movies depends on how the main person in their life teaches them the difference between entertainment and the real world.
Click to read: Why we should care - Racism and Sexism In Games. Part 1 of 2 Why we should care - Racism and Sexism in Games. Part 2 of 2
