Gears of War's Cole singled out as a racial stereotype

This particular example is a really weak one.

Case and point. Watch just about any Vietnam to Gulf war movie and all the guy in it are full of bravado and $#!t talking. They're the result of their environment and training. This represents every human character in GoW.

For Cole, he's a well known ex badass pro football player. Now, if you can prove to me the majority of african american pro football players don't talk $#!t, act like their badass or grandstand (and you'd probably have to find a couple hundred), then you can have your opinion he's a racist stereotype.. but if the majority of those people in that profession with that cultural background DO have parallels to Cole, then the character is simply representing the majority. Then the character is typecast or two-dimensional. Just like Fenix is a typecast warhero.

About the only creedence I would give to this discussion is that non-whites aren't equally represented in games, but there certainly are positive examples out there. As usual media of all types profits better to focus on the negative.

You want something to honestly whine about? There are almost no asians in American television. (I'm not asian). Now there's a medium which a much broader audience.

Anyhow,the guy was being interviewed SPECIFICALLY because he's black, which I think carries an irony of it's own (same as the Women in Gaming thing last year).

You don't want to be seen as just a woman, or just a race, then don't participate in things that single you out because you're a woman or a certain race.

Western society needs to get it's head out of it's ass.

Sorry Tony but you're wrong, in what way are the other white characters in GOW not just stereotype meat heads themselves. This is not a colour issue in my opinion, its more just bad character creation in FPS which is hardly a new topic. Why single out the black guy as being the only stereotype in video games. Why make it about race, when it isn't?!?!?!

Also quoting Taylor Barratt 'there are almost no Asians in American tv' - well i watched Heroes, lost and House last night and all 3 had asian characters faturing in the main storyline?
Not critisising your point generally though as I thought it was one of the only intelligent posts here

What about the friggin' Asian stereotypes??? I hate the fact we're all portrayed as knowing martial arts! (sarcasm, flame bait alert) Hell, every videogame character is a stereotype. Whether it's good or bad is moot; many are accurate. The fact is, a lot of (but not all) black people sound like Cole. Racist? Maybe, but the truth, yes.

Well that sounds about as ignorant as me telling you that you infact do know martial arts, I mean you must after all, you are asian. Also that stereotype in the media is so rediculously outdated, what tv and film do you watch?

The guy who called this racist is pretty clued-out. Cole was voiced by the same guy who did the 'Terrible Terry Tate: Office Linebacker' ad campaign for Reebok (look uo the vids on youtube... they're pretty damn funny). He's just playing the near exact same role in Gears... If anything it's a (very) humourous reference and not racist at all. Like I said before, that dude just ain't clued-in at all.

honestly... i wouldn't have seen this as an issue if guys like this hadn't brought it up

and no, i don't think that's a good thing

making issues out of non-issues only helps to proliferate stereotyping and racism. come on..

Does all your information and jokes come from South Park?

The real problem here is that some idiot is trying to stir up controversy. We here all have something in common, and that is enjoying videogames, whether it be xbox, ps3, wii, pc, or whatever else. Who cares about Cole, Dom, CJ from SA, we can all agree we love to game and that is good enough for me. If that is what we have in common and brings us together, leave it alone then. The last thing we need is something else trying to divide us. Lets just agree to disagree on certain issues and remember that we are not all that different. We all have common likes and dislikes and we should just accept that and focus on the good in life, not the bad, and especially not an ignorant opinion about one videogame that clearly does not prove anything.

Heh, blacks can't even act black no more. Thats funny.

Sorry, but Cole Train is arguable the COOLEST character in the game. So what do you want to do, make him a fuckin librarian?

Suck my balls if you don't want black people to be cool anymore. Fuckers.

Wow I think this whole thing got out of hand. The comment that the other guy that posted earlier about how he lives 20 min from Detroit is the most funniest thing that I read on the net. I live in Detroit and yes I am black, but I don't have a problem with the game. I think people look into this stuff too much. I think Cole Train is funny kinda reminds me of Mr. T without the gold chain but hey if everybody look into all the video games created, anybody would find some racism about it no matter what it is. But hey what do I know I just wanted to put my 2 cents in it.

ii an black and from the hood in dallas i never think abot the cole i need he was my flav hero in the game

I'm half black and half korean, all i have to say is, my family didn't get offended by Cole Train, they liked him. But when I told them about this article they did eventually see that it is stereo typical. The asian guy wasn't a martial artist or really good at math or a horrible driver and the mexican wasn't a guy that had a heavy accent nor did he really follow the mexican stereo type, the only one that really did is Fenix and Cole Train. There's some of you guys that said some seriously stupid stuff, but some of you said some valid points. The ones that are just disregarding it with stupid statements must be racist in some form or another. Don't get me wrong I have been racist before too. I don't like illegal mexicans working in jobs, but that's just our society at work. We hate each other, and it's sad.

For fuc*'s sake.... It's a video game character that for all intensive purposes was modeled after a black football player. Where was this asinine debate when NFL Blitz The League came out? Somewhere Lawrence Taylor is laughing his ass off.

Why is it when the truth is spoken, they are labeled a racist. Facts are facts. Ghetto blacks ARE loud and obnoxious. What part of that isnt true?
Why dont Gary get on the hippity hop world? They are loud and flamboyant. They help shape the way people perceive hip hoppers and blacks.
Its common sense, NOT ALL people of a certain color act like the majority of them. But the fact is, a majority of blacks that you run into or a lot of the ones that are put into the spot light, act a certain way. Its just the truth.
And atleast Cole isnt smoking crack or acting like a hoodlum. His character in the game, actually makes him very likeable. He is a little loud but seems like a fun guy.
If someone has a problem with how the people of their colored are viewed as a majority, then why dont you complain about the majority who GET the spotlight in this country and act a certain way, or preach/sing/hiphop a certain way.
Dont go after a video game company for creating a game character slightly based on blacks who are in and out of the spot light in our day and age.

Well, as a black guy who doesn't listen to rap music, doesn't play football, and doesn't curse every 3 words he says, I have to say... I did roll my eyes when it came time to meet Cole. And the ending song... "Oh, yeah, that's my Sh*T!" ..... Cole was a very "basic" black character, but yeah, he's a perfect type for this kinda game. As someone pointed out, at least he wasn't killed first.

In Final Fantasy: Spirits Within, when everyone landed from a car crash, and Doctor Cid pops up "I'M ALRIGHT!" and then the black guy says "Ugh, I'm not gonna make it" our southern (North Carolina) audience collectively let out one of the biggest group sighs I've ever heard. At least we didn't have to put up with Cole "dying first" like someone mentioned with Carmine.

To a black person who tries not to be the loud ghetto stereotype, a character like Cole is annoying. In the same way a "damsel in distress" is annoying to a strong, independent woman. No one who tries to go against a stereotype, likes to see a stereotype portrayed positively/on a wide scale.

As much as I, or this guy here, didn't care for him, I see Cole as a perfect fit into the Gears cast. You do want a big "Train" of a man on your side when fighting a war. If he was white, you'd probably have someone like Hulk Hogan of Lou Ferregno (sp) or Andre the Giant.

Character design and Stereotypes go hand in hand, unfortunately. When you design a character, you think "what kind of stimulus in his life gives him the features I want him to have?" When you think of ways to make the character talk, you have to speculate "What do the people who like this media sound like?"

In a world like Gears, making Cole a non-stereotype probably would have heard how well he was remembered. The audience Cole is aimed at appreciate him. for the context, he is a perfect character.

I'd love to see characters like Dudley from Street Fighter III brought to light in black media. The sad thing is, whenever a character goes AGAINST stereotypes, people either just ignore it, or they're reasoned away with some silly explanation. Case in point, Dudley is said not to be "Black" by Capcom, but just an amalgamation of the boxers that inspired him. That's well and good for them, but most people who see him are going to associate him to be either black or something like American-Indian. Hence, I think the media could spin him positively.

Alyx of HL2 is also pretty interesting, but she's of mixed race. Before playing the game, I often wondered what race she was... I guess that's the biggest problem with non-stereotypes. It's hard to figure out exactly WHAT audience they're speaking out to, since stereotypes unfortunately form a strong part of the majority.

Cole was my favorite character from the game.

People need to get it out of their heads that stereotyping and being racist are two in the same.

when stereotypes are more than often used as a joke, and they have become stereotypes because the same group of people have shown it to be true time and time again. Oh look, a drunken irish man, haha. An asian with squinty eyes, haha.

The difference comes into play when you hate the person for these differences, rather than laughing at them.

And besides, Cole was a professional football player, and everyone knows big dumb athletes typically like to make asses of themselves and get as much attention as possible by acting just as Cole does in the game.

I can understand where they are coming from, but in all honesty, his character adds a lot of emotion into an otherwise bleak and desolate world.

I like his character, he's fun even if he is a stereotype.
Plus, he had a kickass song in the ending credits.

ok...This whole thing is out of control...Im black and I liked Cole Train...The only only problem I had is when he flips he dosent have to make that sounds...lol And everyone who comes from the ghetto doesnt talk like that...I have examples...

Sounds like the writter is jealous hes a scrawny scrub nerd. LOL.

I'm not surprised at all the ignorant white people in here posting racist comments because this is the same thing that happens 24/7 on Xbox live. This is why i do all my online gaming on my PS3.

I did my thesis in college on the history of American popular theater and specifically minstrel shows and vaudeville. This is the source of everything we know of as "pop culture" today: pop music, television, movies, and now video games. Basically everything which involves human performance (i.e. visual art and literature excluded). Popular variety theater came up in America as a rejection and reaction to highbrow forms of entertainment like opera and Shakespearean theater. And it was molded, in the early 19th century, from the mold of two of America's most powerful and lasting cultural forces: capitalism and white supremacy. These forces, no matter how much people wish it weren't true and no matter how much South Park you watch or how many black friends you have or rap albums you listen to or how "post-racial" you think you are, continue to dominate American cultural production. We still live in a free market economy in which white males are the biggest spenders and mostly white owned corporations feed that market the images and information that it wants to see. White people enjoy seeing things that reinforces their sense of racial superiority and so that's why you get shows like COPS or Flavor of Love. It's all post-modern minstrelsy. We white folk like to think that black people are foolish and sexually voracious and stupid with their money, so white owned record labels and white owned media conglomerates push rap videos that portray black people as dandified pimps and brutish thugs. People will say, "but it's black people who make this stuff" and it's true. Just as there were black performers who used to put on the burnt-cork blackface make up and go through the old Steppin' Fetchit routines to the delight of white audiences. In short, it's the only way to make a buck in a racist and capitalist cultural environment.

Now video games are a little different because they were born with out any of this baggage. Pong and Pac-Man truly transcend race. The Japanese (who have thier own complicated history of racism) influence also diluted some of our western racist tendencies. But now that technology has advanced and video games have become more cinematic and simulate human performances more, that same cultural history is creeping in subconsciously. People should be aware of it and call it out when they see it so we can put a stop to it. If video games are going to be the entertainment medium of the future, they don't to bring with them all this racist bullshit from the past.

post script: the absolute worst thing about Cole Train is the fact that they used a truly transcendent genius like John Coltrane's name and turned it into a millitaristic athlete dumbass from Gears of War. That was the most infuriating thing for me.

I'd say the stereotypes also target, not just races and character types, but also geographical stigmas.

My home state is Kentucky. I can't tell you how many inbred and ignorant jokes I've heard about people from Kentucky (aka hillbillies).

When I see one portrayed in a game or movie I always think about the many people from Kentucky that are not 'barefoot and pregnant' or 'toothless and redneck'.

The problem is, this will always be a problem in games, movies, and books. You can't create a race, or a heritage, or traits when creating characters from anything other than 'real life'. It is impossible.

THere will always be a representation of every type of stereotype in all our media. Period. Get over it.

Help cure cancer, fight AIDS, or become a Big Brother or Big Sister- just stop with the nitpicking. It is what it is. Sorry.

I think things only become stereotypical when douchebags like this are constantly pointing it out. Get over yourself.

And while you're at it, point some fingers at Martin Lawrence, Will Smith, Tyler Perry and all the other black "talents" (loose term) who made careers off stereotyping african americans.

I guess it's ok when they do it, but god forbid a geeky white game developer follows the same path.

RACIST!

If I rolled my eyes any harder they'd get stuck that way.

Some folks entertain their differences and even enjoy them. Other point out their differences and make fun. Is the issue the person that made fun or the person that is offended? Lighten up people. Enjoy life for a minute as if you were a self-confident individual who doesn't give a hoot about what ignorant people think.

Yea, there were no stereotypes in GoW at all! Let's single out the black guy because he's black.

Why are you giving this story any attention?

Also, what's "casual racism"?

My friend and I were saying this when we were playing co-op one time. As a person of color I don't find a problem with the character since its just an ignorant character/creation I just ignore him.

I thought he fit the jock bill better. Racial stereotype in this case is a good thing. They are all beasty characters, but one happens to be black. HOLY SHIT.

As a person who is "White" and has a real brother that is "Black" I find that these "so called" prof's. need to cut it out already!! Targeting Epic games for making an AWESOME char. who is a HUGE part of the story and simply attacking that way his lines were written is obsurd!! Why not complain about how in NBA ballers the char. have "Blingage" or "Mansons" with Ho's in them, GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!! The last time I checked, games were just supposed to be fun!!!

I'm 26, of african descent, residing in Chicago.

Now that that's out of the way, let's clear up some things.

For those that think the majority of blacks act that way, you're way off base. When it comes to (ignorant) hip hop music, you have to consider what is embraced and who is embracing it. Sure, there are a lot of blacks running record labels but they are usually under the umbrella of a bigger label that is run by a white person. That person picks or chooses what will and won't be released. I see it all the time. There are good artists that are shelved constantly just so they can toss another stereotypical rapper out there. The rap audience consists mainly of white people statistically, so it is mainly white people that embrace the ignorance of hip hop. Go to hip hop sites that offer illegal downloads...no one downloads that crap. Most don't even like it. They go crazy when Lupe Fiasco or Talib Kweli or Common comes out with something new.

As far as how we act in our community, once again, you have to realize that unless you live in our community (and not 20 minutes outside of it) then you have to consider the source of your information. News in general focuses on scare tactics. It's the best way to get ratings. Look at what happened on Fox (Faux) News recently. At an Obama rally, an 8 year old black boy was in the front row, EXCITED, and jumped up and down waving his arms to get Obama's attention. He did. He got to ask Obama a question. "How do you run for president?" Well, the reporter thought it was cute. This 8 year old black boy was inspired. But that reporter all of a sudden asked "Well, didn't you also want to be a gangster? Your granny told us." She just destroyed his cute image. Now he's a future thug in everyone's eyes. Why not make it a story that he used to want to be a gangster because that's all he sees but then Obama broke the mold and gave black youths across the country hope? Nah...let's just do what's easy.

What does that rant have to do with video games? Once again, I consider the source. I look at ALL the extras on the limited edition discs because I'm into video games heavily. I RARELY see a black face. On the Halo 3 disc, I saw ONE black person in Bungie. Volition, who did Saints Row....I saw NONE. The same goes for all these companies. Their perception is limited to wherever they get their source material on blacks. It inspired me. I want to add some authenticity to urban games & characters in the industry so I immediately started going to school for game design. THAT'S how you make a difference.

Cole train is badass simple as,Hes a cracking character for gears of war.

I am so tired of this crap. Stop with the color of skin. WHO CARES!!!! N’Gai Croal you're an idiot. Cry to mommy.

When I heard Cole Train from the game, it reminded me of Dukes of Hazzard. Say it with me, "Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane". Remember him? EXACTLY!!!

We all know Cliffy B is Marcus Fenix so this is why he's white, this is why, this is why, this is why he's white.

How many black guys are out there in Cliffy B's possition? EXACTLY!!! I know the executive is not telling the black lead developer, you better make him white!

As soon as people stop worrying about this petty crap, the world will be ok. Soon we'll all be one color anyway. It's called "cross-breeding"!!! LMAO!

Remember my friends. YOU can only interpret what the world is showing YOU. If YOU find something wrong then it is YOUR problem and the way YOU think. Not others. Look beyond the color of skin, and it only starts with YOU!

Did anyone consider that the character of Cole Train is influenced/designed around the actor who does the voice? It's his energy and character that comes through. Just look on YouTube for the Terry Tate: Office Linebacker commercials for Reebok.