Criticism of racial stereotyping in games

Everybody needs to go watch or listen to Chris Rock's "Bring the Pain".

Since it's BLACK HISTORY month and most of you think you know about Black People. If you all would just GOOGLE Inventions by BLACK people you would be AMAZED. However, BLACKS were not allowed to take credit for thier Inventions.....HUMMMMMM

The MEDIA rules your mind.
-----------------------------------------------

1872 Elijah McCoy, was the inventor of a device that allowed machines to be lubricated while they were still in operation.
1881 Lewis Howard Latimer, a pioneer in the development of the electric light bulb, was the only Black member of Thomas A. Edison's research team of noted scientists.
1887 Granville T. Woods developed his most important invention - a device he called Multiplex Railway Telegraph, it allowed for messages to be sent from moving trains and railway stations.
1896 George Washington Carver’s scientific discoveries included more than three hundred different products derived from the peanut, some one hundred from sweet potatoes, about seventy-five from pecans, and many more from Georgia clay.
1923 Garrett Augustus Morgan, is best known for his invention of the automatic traffic signal. He also is the inventor of the gas mask, used by firemen in the early 1900s and by soldiers in World War I.
1940 Dr. Charles Richard Drew was the first person to develop the blood bank. His introduction of a system for the storing of blood plasma revolutionized the medical profession.

Everyone here knows that there is still a lot of racist people in this country and that white people are the reason blacks,latin's,asian try to point out stereotypes because up until about 1964 a black person or a non white person could not even walk down a street peacefully without getting hurt or murdered,and that was not a long time ago.This county was built off of racism and even today as i type this there is a person teaching someone to think of black people as lazy gang bangers welfare
handout wanting ni**ers which is not true, generally speaking.Think about it,everything rap music is doing as far as the negative stuff white rock has been doing it for decades even before rap
but do you here anybody say "HEY THATS HOW WHITE PEOPLE LIVE AND ACT JUST LIKE OZZY THEY EAT DOVE HEADS" no so dont just sit here and say black people just wanna complain about everything that has to do with race, do your history and stop being so bias towards another race concerns. we all know who made things the way they are in this county so just stop it with the black people need to shut up crap!

To all those people who say it's simply idle complaints by the african-american community...

"Them" black people actually are doing somthing about it.

Joe Saulter Isnt just talking, He's doing things.

I've been lucky enough to work with him for the last 3 and a half years, and the things I've seen accoplished by this man are amazing.

while many other men would have been content with only a few of the things he's done. He never is. He's still going.

Joe is a figgen hero, and I'll be damn sure to let him know on monday morning.

@ The1

Why the hell did you feel it was necessary to post inventions by black people? Who cares?

Who is Joe Saulter? What has he done? I really am curious.

This is for you number 48.First i wanna say that its people like you who lie to your own people not jesse jackson.You actually believe all of that economic crap that you just typed and if you did your research you would find out that even though a higher percentage of black people earn less when compared to whites it does not mean that there is actually more because blacks only make up a small piece of the pie,whites make up the majority of the pie so if 10% of whites are poor{which by the way is alot higher}then that means that your economic
comments should be reversed because there are more
poor whites in this country than you want to believe and about GTA it is a big stereotype so is MARIO but just because somebody points out that they are stereotypes they are accused of attacking
it wow!!

@51
He’s a co-founder of the UVGA (urban video game academy)

He's become a chairman of the IGDA's diversity board, and has used the position for great things.

He got video game design development programs to two Atlanta colleges where they weren’t previously offered.

He's putting together his own game development company.

But above all else, he's an excellent and inspirational teacher. It doesn’t matter if you’re a student learning skills for game development. You’re stepping out of that classroom with a lot more than something new to add to your resume. You’re stepping out a better person.

"1940 Dr. Charles Richard Drew was the first person to develop the blood bank. His introduction of a system for the storing of blood plasma revolutionized the medical profession."

Yes his invention did help alot of people but unfortunately he was unable to take advantage of it. Because you see when he was injured he was taken to the nearest hospital. Unfortunately it was a whites only hospital. They would not admit him and he bled to death as a result of his injuries.

There is still racism in the world but I don't believe that it is in video games or movies. I also believe that some people will look for it anywhere they can just to get attention.

im not a racist thats what so insane about this

This post should have come with the disclaimer: Idiotic, insensitive, ignorant, & unnecessary comments to follow.

Being a Black gamer. In all honesty I do grow tired of these stereotypical games (which is in part why I don't play many of them), but I would still liket to play them due to my gaming nature. Why is it so wrong for me to want to be portrayed in a different light? Must one always be a gangster? I'm sure there are some games out there, but they are few-and-far between. Sure there is a Black man in Gears of War, yet he still falls into that athlete category. And even though Kratos is voiced by a Black actor, many would still identify him as a white male. I'm sure there are many in other underrepresented ethnic categories (races) that would also like to be presented in games as well, why is that so wrong?

My suggestion to the industry would be for all games have customizable characters (gender, ethnicity & hair mostly)as this probably would not take much code to write for.

The majority of the comment of this post are a prime example of why racism exists. For those that say racism will go away when people stop talking about it are dead wrong. The opposite of racism is understanding... until people (all people) begin to at least try, we won't ever get anywhere.

Oh... while there is still a soap box to stand on.

Stereotypes (for those that don't know) are: A generalization, usually exaggerated or oversimplified and often offensive, that is used to describe or distinguish a group.

also

Black culture is not what you see in GTA - that would come from the conclusion that the majority of Blacks in America are gangsters. I nor any of my black friends (all of which are college graduates) are gangsters, but we don't see that game on the shelves do we?

Sessions:
Minorities Group Gathering
Speaker: Joseph Saulter (CEO, Entertainment Arts Research)
Date/Time: Wednesday (March 7, 2007) 4:00pm — 5:00pm
Location (room): IGDA Booth, North Hall
Track: IGDA
Format: 60-minute Group Gathering
Experience Level: All

Session Description
Group Gatherings are a chance for like-minded developers to get together for networking and open discussion at the IGDA booth. Come to meet your peers and engage in deep dialogue over your area of specialty – or just partake is witty small talk.

Idea Takeaway
Networking and discussion with your peers is a casual setting. A sense of community.

Intended Audience
Minorities of any stripe or walk of life.

Diversity: The Window of Opportunity (Day One)
Speaker: Joseph Saulter (CEO, Entertainment Arts Research)
Date/Time: Thursday (March 8, 2007) 9:00am — 10:00am
Location (room): Room 112, North Hall
Track: IGDA
Format: 60-minute Roundtable
Experience Level: All

Session Description
With the video game industry moving at the pace of Moore's law, nobody has the time to take a serious look at the diversity issue. The window of opportunity is wide open for video game industry leaders to make considerable progress in the inevitable inclusion of a diverse culture. A culture filled to the brim with innovation and creativity. Do you really think that the only story in the African American, Latin American, Caribbean or Asian community is Grand Theft? Well excuse me, but as an African American Game Developer I am amazed at the breadth and depth of the content that has crossed my desk. The modelers, programmers and creative agents that blend a symphony of magical chords in game design. If you don't look at it (Diversity) you won't see it (Diversity) and if you don't see it (Diversity) you may never know what you are missing out on (Diversity). Together we can blend a new horizon for the video game industry an international podium that speaks the same language of revenue as Hip Hop, Fashion Design and Sports.
Some statistics: The Selig Center estimated Hispanic buying power will be $863.1 billion in 2007, an 8.1 percent increase over 2006, while black buying power will reach $847 billion in 2007, a 6 percent increase. By 2010, the combined buying power of African Americans, Asian Americans and Native Americans will exceed $1.7 trillion; more than triple the 1990 level of $454 billion. That's a gain of almost $1.2 trillion or 268 percent.

No businessperson in their right mind would continue to leave this revenue off the table. With a culturally sensitive game developer the window of opportunity will increase the sales potential of the video game industry and that's diversity.

Idea Takeaway
Developers will come away with strategies to employ diversity that empowers new revenue streams and builds on the idea that diversity is a window of opportunity.

Intended Audience
All video game developers and industry leaders who want to find diversity leaders at their creative best. All professional game creators and their teams who ask the question where can I find a qualified candidate?


Diversity: The Window of Opportunity (Day Two)
Speaker: Joseph Saulter (CEO, Entertainment Arts Research)
Date/Time: Friday (March 9, 2007) 10:30am — 11:30am
Location (room): Room 112, North Hall
Track: IGDA
Format: 60-minute Roundtable
Experience Level: All

Greetings All,

This is Joseph Saulter, and I appreciate everything that you all have contributed to the initiative. If we critically analyze the comments posted on this site we must balance and give equal consideration to the two sides black and white. (smile) is that raciest? My intention is not dig up the undeniable past but to open the door to a brighter future of the video game industry. There is no doubt in my mind that our industry is the best arena for creativity and I would not want people of color to left behind. The contribution of people color to the United States is undeniable and our contribution to entertainment is a legacy that continues to contribute to the Gross National Product (GNP) of our nation. So why is it so hard to fathom that we would love to contribute to the industry as video game developers, publishers, programmers, 3dmodelers and the other areas of opportunity in the industry. From this post you can see how difficult it is to understand the parameters let alone uncover the financial opportunities necessary to even get into the video game field. What we are speaking about is inclusion. Inclusion incorporates all the things that make the video game industry a great business. Let’s stop the bashing and see the real picture. Bashing does not move us forward.

Collective collaboration and open and honest dialogue will move us closer to the day when people of color are able to creatively contribute to the video game industry and don’t worry guys that’s not going to happen over night even if the vortex opens there will be many challenges. We still have to figure out how to get invited to the financial table and then we have to be prepared when given the chance. Hell, there is no game developer in this industry who has not cried his or her eyes out over the development of a triple A game. Believe me I might seem like a strong man but my heart aches when I think about the mountain we have to clime to get to the table. The real issue is not the bickering bull s*** but the creative contribution that a rich culture can bring to the table. Think of it this way and some of you may be too young to understand. You may be required to do some research. However, think of it this way. What if Michael Jordan was never given a basketball, we will call the basketball technology for lack of a better analogy. What if Miles Davis was never given a trumpet, we will call the trumpet technology for lack of a better term. What if Bessie Smith was never given a microphone yes, we will call the microphone technology for the lack of a better terminology and we can go on and on adding Latin American and Native Americans. Now let’s move into the arena of the video game design and development 2% African Americans, 2.5% Latin Americans 1.0 others. How many of the 5.5% are video game developers. All we want is to be included on the cutting edge of technology in the video game industry as designers and developers. We could go on and on with this conversation. Let me do one thing how many of you will be attending the GDC conference next month. I challenge each of you to join us at the Diversity Roundtable to further the conversation. I will post the information below. For now let me get back to Gears of War you guys make my head hurt.

Peace,

Joseph Saulter

most of you guys are white and will never understand what blacks go thru everyday if you lived in a all black city then you could say something but most of you are white young kids that never have or never will what it's like to be black here

Could any of you imagine playing a black character in a game not featuring "black culture"? Can you imagine Solid Snake being black, or Link? I know I sure couldn't.

I don't think GTA:SA is all that bad, especially if you look at the series as being influenced by films.

GTA 3 = GTA: Godfather
Vice City = GTA: Scarface
SA = GTA: Boyz In Da Hood

The developers just needed a different kind of crime film to draw inspiration from. Maybe the next one will be something like GTA: Snatch.

Anyhow, the portrayal of blacks in SA isn't the problem, it's more the fact that criminals, athletes and rappers are pretty much the only roles you see blacks in when it comes to video games.

I agree that a big part of the problem is the lack of black people creating these games. With film, you'll get at least one Pursuit of Happyness for every three or four Soul Planes (maybe the ratio is a bit off, but you get the point). There are also some pretty famous black actors as well as directors. In gaming, I can't really think of any prominent black person heading up any development team, or in a high level role at any publisher.

Hopefully as the games industry grows, more black people will decide to go for careers in development.

Just out of curiosity, how many games have a lead character that's a positive role model regardless of what color he/she is?

I don't understand what genre of games it is that the black community is claiming that there should be a black lead character for?

I've already read in this thread that black athletes are a stereotype so that eliminates around 30% of all games. In many game you don't even see the character (like shooters) so those are out. In Japanese RPGs the lead characters rarely have a sex never mind a race and most other Japanese games star Asian looking characters. In most FPSs the lead is usually killing people, isn't that a bad example?

I guess I'm just not understanding what is being looked for here.

Post number 61, your comment represent a major problem in society right now. It should not be any major issue to have a Black Solid Snake. What about that game setting would prohibit having a main character that is Black, Asian, Hispanic, etc?

Nothing, that's what.

The problem is that this society is too focused on its limited view of what certain cultures are. How many Mexicans do you see in video games that aren't drug dealers? Except for Prey, how many Native Americans do you see in video games?

GTA:SA would not be pointed out so much if it didn't exist in ISOLATION. To have one of the few games with an African American lead be a glorified rap video says a lot about this country ...

Maybe first they should worry about removing the black stereotypes from my sidewalk.

@44 The Middle East doesn't hate us because we are "stupid"... it's there religion,
from the koran:
""9.29" : Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor
do they prohibit what Allah and His Apostle have prohibited, nor follow the
religion of truth, out of those who have been given the Book, until they pay
the tax in acknowledgment of superiority and they are in a state of
subjection.
"

Also for anyone who's ever seen the commercial "without african-americans... we wouldn't have traffic signals" and shows the cars crashing and "we wouldn't have light bulbs" and shows the confused white man sitting in the dark...
this is a quite interesting read:
http://www33.brinkster.com/iiiii/inventions/

What the video game industry needs is a Bishop, from X-Men. I know, sad to put it in so few words but let's put it this way.

Whenever you have someone with the clout to throw themselves into a video game, it's often done supporting negative stereotypes rather than fighting them. Snoop Doggy Dog? Well, let's put it this way. Look at what role Snoop played in True Crime. 50 Cent? Look at the game he dropped. Point is, the people who have the power to put an end to the stereotypes prefer to embrace them, to sell their albums to all the suburban thug wannabes that are SOLD the image of black culture. If you want to complain about the common misconception of black culture, quite selling the lies. When little Billy Furlongs only exposure to African American culture is 50 Cent videos, can you blame him for getting the wrong idea?

Of course the ultimate goal is to actually get more african americans into the industry but what would this ultimately solve? Game designs are no longer created by a single person but rather a commitee. Only a very small amount of people in the industry have the clout to create the games they want and even then, it's a long series of begging and checking in (just check David Jaffe's blog sometime, or Hideo Kojima). Truth be told, if more african americans enter the industry, the effects would be subtle and gradual and, unfortunately, most people are clammering for a revolution, not an evolution. Changes can be made, people just don't want to wait.

And finally, the whole Phoenix Wright thing was ilarious to me. You want to know why? Because it was developed in Japan. Here's the dealio. You cannot blame the Japanese for being racists. I know, it's confusing but bear with me. As a whole, their culture only knows about our culture based upon the products we sell and the crap we produce. If what we are sending over there is the shit like 50 Cent, you can't exactly blame them when their culture spits out shit like Afro Samurai. Phoenix Wright ending up asian has everything to do with it being a game developed in asia.

@67

I wholly realize Pheonix Wright is developed in Japan and so is Trauma Center, and many other games outside the ordinary, which is my point. That's why I brought up the point of Western developers producing a courtroom comedy text adventure or medical simulation starring a representative of a minority character because the West is America and Europe, which are most familiar with 'diverse' ethnicities, yet game development remains a homogenously (sp) white affair. Yeah, it probably won't be solved until we see more African and Hispanic Americans in game development.

Goober says, "how many games have a lead character that's a positive role model regardless of what color he/she is?" Not many. Video games are too linear right now, built upon a shallow good vs. evil model when there are countless other avenues to pursue.

Finally, the amount of ignorance in response to this post... it's just bullshit. Just because Black Americans possess what can be considered the most pull in public opinion and are most vocal on issues that offend them doesn't mean they're "complaining" or that they are the only minority to ever get offended. EVERY MINORITY OFFENSE DOES NOT MAKE NATIONAL HEADLINES. Stop showing your ignorance and/or immaturity.

In 2005 Activision released Gun, an action-adventure based in the 19th century American West that drew criticism from Native American groups for the depiction of the practice of 'scalping,' where the player has to forcibly remove the hair off of an Indian to complete a goal.
http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/action/gun/news.html?sid=6143508

Shadow Warrior, a game with a villian of nondistinct, stereotypical asian descent:
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6154591.html?page=3

Ethnic Cleansing: The Video Game:
http://www.adl.org/learn/extremism_in_america_updates/groups/national_alliance/national_alliance_video_games.htm

Here is what I think. I am a 19 year old black male living in Detroit. I don't even think about how blacks are precieved in GTA:SA, or any other game for that matter. In my point of view, I think we blow things way out if proportion with race in Video Games, Movies, Music, and everything else. Next we will be talking about how their needs to be more black NASCAR drivers when the black community does not even embrace NASCAR in their culture. Give it a Break, play the game and stop complaining about how the black man is being put down.

How could the portrayal of Carl Johnson offend the black community.

The main character in San Andreas and Vice City Stories are both black. However, they aren't necessarily stereotypes as far as I can see. Anyone ever heard the old "Blacks can't swim" stereotype?

It's been said that a trauma in childhood stays with the child through the rest of their lives. If that's true, then the trauma of America's childhood was slavery, and as a nation we may never be able to cope with the damage that was done. While I understand the point above that not talking about race won't make racism go away, there's also a point where you stop picking at the scab. No one is asking anyone to forget the injustice of the past, but we can't be looking around for reasons to be offended all the time. Sometimes, a game is just a game.

Am I the only white guy sick and tired of blacks complaining about EVERYTHING? Please spare me the self righteous indignation in relation to how your race is portrayed in a videogame. A videogame is fantasy!

You are mad about how blacks are portrayed in fictional media, but what about the way the blacks portray themselves in real life? You claim that these videogames portray blacks in an incorrect and unfair way, but reality begs to differ with your assertion. In real life, blacks commit heinous criminal acts at a rate far greater than that of whites, as evidenced by the prison population.

I wish that blacks would care about stopping this real life perpetual crime spree instead of complaining about a fictional character committing a fictional crime spree in an entertainment medium. Which is more harmful to society?

"A videogame is fantasy!"

then

"In real life, blacks commit heinous criminal acts at a rate far greater than that of whites"

Great job nullifying your own point.

@ 73
"In real life, blacks commit heinous criminal acts at a rate far greater than that of whites"

That would be your own perception... Don't see too many black people blowing up buildings (Timothy McVey) or eating people in their basements (Jeffery Dalmer) or burning crosses...

The fact of the matter isn't what one group does over the other, humans in general are fucked up!

Read a book sometimes and you'll understand why it is important for people to see themselves represented in the media that they partake in. Although, I wouldn't expect you to truly understand... considering that you've probably never had that problem...

You're sick and tired of hearing them complain about injustice and inequality? I suppose your world would be a much better place if we all just keep quiet and continued to be pushed to the side and stepped on.

I'm willing to bet my entire gaming collection that more than 90% of the comments here that are negative to the topic would never be spoken in front of a black person...

I love how people think Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are the voice of the black community. I also love how black people should "give it a rest" when it comes to discussing racism.

I agree that BlackVoiceNews should shut the hell up, but that is because GTA is a game built on stereotypes. GTA takes a specific criminal group and takes the most cliched, stereotypical approach to that character. GTA uses the most generic "gangster" image from a given era and that becomes it's lead character. If people who are playing video games think that the lead characters in video games represent an actual group of people, then they are idiots.

Racism.


Until everyone on earth is the exact same color, it will exist. Period. Why? Because think about it. What is the easier thing to say? "I can't get a decent job and make good money because I'm too stupid to go to school, get a degree, work my butt off and earn it" or "ZOMG some1 is holding me down!!1one! Not my fault! Pluz u owz me monies! Reparations FTW!"?

Allow me to express how I feel about this whole thing. By the way, cudos to Sliwinski for posting this article. Anything dealing with racism GUARANTEES you high comments in today's society of "It's not my fault, it's HIS!".

I'm white. Everyday I turn on the news, I hear about how so-and-so is the first black this-or-that and how it's so great. I hear about black history month. I watch my favorite TV shows and sit through commercials that glorify black people. Here in Texas, we hear about how the Katrina refugees are "evacuees!" from that idiot Jesse Jackson, who is no more a preacher than I am. If they are evacuees, then what the hell do you call the people who were smart enough to actually leave New Orleans when they were told? Think about that. Then, I come to work, were I have a job thanks to a college degree. However, if some suit someplace higher up sees our "minority employee percentage" drop too low, I can be canned and replace by some black person who has no education and will be paid more money thanks to Affirmative Action. I have to hear about how the NAACP has accomplished this or that...do you see an association for the advancement of white people? Nope. Because that would be racist. I get to hear about how rough the "African American" (screw that...you are American, that's all you get. You're not so damn special that I'm going to place you higher than an Asian American, White American, Hispanic American, or anyone else. If you're here, you're American. And to argue against that point makes YOU a racist.) community has things, while some of the best-paid citizens of this country are black. NBA stars, NFL stars, rap artists who are so held-down by the man, yet can buy a Lamborghini and still collect that monthly check and food stamps (I'm looking at you, Busta Rhymes..btw..your "music" sucks) that I, and everyone else, help pay for. Do you know why there is so much Hispanic on Black violence here in Texas? I'll tell you. Because in Mexico, there are no frills. Every day people come from Mexico to the U.S. to live a better life. Many of them want it so bad, they come in illegaly. And when they get here, what do they see? Black people in mansions, driving Mercedes-Benz cars and bitching about how bad they have it. News Flash - America is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, so quit whining about your status, be a little less self-centered, and do something about your life if you aren't happy with it. Don't have your so-called leaders out there trying to say, "Oh, well the white man owes us money because 200 years ago blah blah blah." Ok, well, I am 25% Native American (Cherokee Indian). So, if you want to play that game, then all of you get your asses off my land! See how stupid that sounds? We will never get rid of racism. Because everyone needs a fall back. For minorities, racism has been that fall back for years. I have no quarrel with any minority. But people who use their race to try and get them special advantages and move themselves through life without actually applying themselves and following a hard work ethic make me sick, I don't care who you are, whether you're a white supremecist, Jesse Jackson, or whoever. Get over yourself. Nobody owes you jack. You want something, go get it through hard work and diligence. Then maybe, just maybe, you might just get some respect. But nobody respects a whiner, which is all a racist is when it comes down to it.

/rant

//last post on topics like this...I get all ticked off when this kind of thing is bought up and I try my best not to get involved but I'm at work and I'm bored.

///Create-a-character won't work for a lot of games because the story typically is hard to weave while considering the vast differences in cultural/behavioral patterns of different races of people. Developers should not force create-a-character on the creative minds that they have working for them. If someone told Picasso he couldn't use red, he may not have painted at all. Think about it.

////I'm not a racist. I'll inevitably be labeled as one because my views don't coincide with everyone else's, thus inherently making an adversary of, at the minimum, one person. So be it.

@ 73 Helngrem

See, its ignorant views like this that people need to address.... You are only making comments like this because you are exposed to only a limited view of black society....

So tell me white man, how are blacks portrayed in real life.... You wouldn't have a clue because real life to you is what you see on the news.... You probably take all your views and opinions from what you see on the news and MSNBC "lock up" and HBO "the wire" Everything seen on the news and on these TV shows happens in the White Community also....

Yes I too don't take video games so seriously to say this is how black people are being portrayed. But the point is that this is the only type of exposure that most white people have of black culture and its has been shown a countless number of times in some of the responses in this blog alone. Example.

"In real life, blacks commit heinous criminal acts at a rate far greater than that of whites"

Are you really serious with this statement...

Another example by Laughing Target

"I understand there are racial disparagies in income levels, but the problem is the Jesse Jacksons of the world tell them it isn't their fault and to wait around for someone else to fix the problem." When has Jesse ever said anything like this....

Are you telling me that TV and video games are not the cause for these views... Those two statements alone shows that most of you have no clue, no exposure to the real world and its really sad....

Im not saying that problems don't exist in our community, Im just saying that it occurs just as often if not more in the White community also. Wake up World.... AND NO VIDEO GAMES IS NOT THE CAUSE OF IT....

Ok, when I grew up my mother always taught us against stereotype. However as I started going to college I found out that stereotypes are out there because some people give the rest a bad image. Now I know that Black/African American people are not like what they are portrayed as, however when someone only sees people that fit into that stereotype it does hurt them. On my campus there are many male black people who fully embrace the stereotype, however my room mates that are black don't... So ya I might not like the stereotype but some people embrace it to the point where when people look at them they get it reinforced which hurts the entire community as a whole. Now if people were to break away from the mainstream and be them self then we would not have that. I might even see more people who don't look and act completely stupid. And this does not go for just one group or community. When people break away from the stereotypes and actualy prove that they are not like that then the media and related fields will change, but it will take time. If everyone was to change now I would assume that by the time people of my age, 18-24, have children and those children grow up that they could land the jobs in the media that will forever change society... Or even my generation now after they get out of college and start getting jobs... But that is idealist of me because people conform to what the media wants and the media wants to continue doing what makes money, not find the smart and intelligent people who don't fall into the stereotypes.

FROM #74
"A videogame is fantasy!"

then

"In real life, blacks commit heinous criminal acts at a rate far greater than that of whites"

Great job nullifying your own point.
__________________

No more videogames for you! You have a major problem if you think GTA is not fantasy.

FROM #81
""In real life, blacks commit heinous criminal acts at a rate far greater than that of whites"

Are you really serious with this statement..."

FROM #75
""In real life, blacks commit heinous criminal acts at a rate far greater than that of whites"

That would be your own perception"
________________

It is not perception, it is reality. It is a fact, and you know it is true, so do not act like it is not. Like I said before, look at the prison populations.

I see this issue over racism as a childish vanity...
Immature people all over the world live solely to
point out the faults in other people. Those who see
past those said faults and behold the greater
qualities shall open themselves to a world where race
matters not and experience and understanding rule.

Some of these comments are so ignorant it's scary. These same ignorant statements that you are making on this website will one day be passed on to your kids and that is why things will never change. Too bad.

hei·nous: adj.:

utterly evil: shockingly evil or wicked

[14th century. < Old French haineus < hair "to hate" < Germanic]

hei·nous·ly adverb
hei·nous·ness noun

According to the 2003 statistics labeled under "hate crime," released by the FBI, "with regard to the attribute of race, among the 6,934 reported offenders, 62.3 percent were white, and 18.5 percent were black. The race was unknown for 10.7 percent of offenders, and the remainder were of other races or were members of a group composed of offenders of varying races."
http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/defenseandsecurity/a/hatecrimes03.htm

If you want to continue with your argument Helmgren, consider using a different adjective.

Anyway, back to the nature of the article. Ricard O. Jones is stating the facts, and among other things I having a hard time understanding why this can just be taken as it is. More blacks and Hispanics need to be involved in the production of electonic entertainment because even more than other forms of media, games are linear in their story presentation. Books, movies, and television were all at this point once before. If we want games to evolve into a viable medium for story presentation, more characters representing the nation's, and more often than not the player's, background have to be made available.

But instead this post has attracted the most polarized, closed-minded shut-ins on the Internet, who spend their whole lives around those of the same color. Every other minority is just supposed to "shut up complaining!!!1" and be content with their in-game depiction as the villians or the victimized, because that's what they are in "real life".

@80
The only stereotype I get from television is that all blacks are computer geniuses (I've seen FOUR different television shows today that center on this theme). Other than that I see doctors, lawyers, etc.
Now I step outside of my house, at the busstop I see three black gentlemen with t-shirts past their knees, 'bling', and sideways hats.
On the bus itself a black girl calls the bus driver a 'stupid bitch' when the bus driver tells her to please talk quieter on her cell phone.

The stereotypes are not coming from television, they are coming from our day to day lives. I'm sorry but if you really want to solve the problem it's not at the media end, it's at the culture end.

@86
Nationally, blacks are imprisoned an average of 9.1 times as often as whites. Also black-on-white violence is much much higher than white-on-black violence, however, black-on-white violence is almost never classified as a 'hate crime'

ok, so gta san andreas would be the same with a white guy?

Thing is, I remember reading on the internet that people wouldn't buy gta becase you play a black guy, now thats racism, but the game involving a black guy, hows that racism? its just a portraying a story, is samual L jackson racist against the blacks as he's in the game, also he's played films ware he's the bad guy (and he's black!!!!)