Newsweek's Croal on RE5: 'Wow, clearly no one black worked on this game'

by James Ransom-Wiley { Apr 11th 2008 at 1:52PM }

Usually, an early glimpse of gameplay from a high-profile title stirs gentle butterflies of excitement. But after perusing Capcom's newly translated Resident Evil 5 video interview this morning, more than a few of us were feeling uneasy; not fluttering, but squirming, like worms in our guts. It's the same feeling some of us had when we watched RE5's first trailer (and again when it was extended). It's the same feeling that burst into a heated discussion about racism, about how RE5's imagery relates to historical and contemporary issues of race -- even if these African villagers are more "zombie" than human, like the Spaniards in RE4. Newsweek's N'Gai Croal argues, "It's not as simple as saying, 'Oh, they shot Spanish zombies in Resident Evil 4, and now black zombies and that's why people are getting upset.' The imagery is not the same. It doesn't carry the same history, it doesn't carry the same weight. I don't know how to explain it more clearly than that."

MTV Multiplayer has published some important commentary on the first RE5 trailer by Croal, whose first reaction was simply: "Wow, clearly no one black worked on this game." Croal is not proposing censorship, but a need for context and an understanding that the imagery in RE5 is not just a palette swap. "This is why it is important to whoever works in the American office of a company like Capcom to be able to show this is the history, this is where this comes from, this is where we need to be more sensitive. I'm not sure they've done that yet."

Tags: capcom, re5, resident-evil-5

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 8)

OMGOMG @ Apr 11th 2008 1:57PM

I see this going at least 200 comments.

samfish @ Apr 11th 2008 2:00PM

200? Shit, Kotaku cleared 1,000 on this story.

Fernando Rocker @ Apr 11th 2008 2:03PM

Yeah, but Kotaku > Joystiq...

*Kidding =p

Phranctoast @ Apr 11th 2008 2:19PM

your fired Imus!!!

Phranctoast @ Apr 11th 2008 2:19PM

*you're

T3KK9 @ Apr 13th 2008 3:43PM

Either Croal has to big of a stick up his ass, (I mean come on yes the topic is a little sketchy but seriously , its still a game.) Or this man clearly has too much free fucking time on his hands to pine about this.

Neebs @ Apr 11th 2008 2:27PM

160.

Neebs @ Apr 11th 2008 3:03PM

With this comment, I lose.

BananaBoat @ Apr 11th 2008 3:09PM

Screw you N'Gai Croal, for bringing this up. You are WORSE than the politicians and "concerned" parents that bring up violence in video games. Why? Because you KNOW BETTER.

Let's look at this from another angle. How many games that featured red necks from Kentucky (sorry Kentucky) that had buck teeth and could barely speak English? Quite a few I'm sure, and did we ever play the "That's racist!" card? No, no we did not. How is showing Africans, in their native environment (Africa), acting like zombies because they are infected with a DISEASE, racist? It's not, and you should be ashamed of yourself.

Here's hoping the next Resident Evil isn't set on the neutral planet, where you get your choice of either maiming or slaying the gray neutral menace, because it won't choose a side (and thus must be evil).

Hashbrown Hunter @ Apr 11th 2008 3:09PM

Wow now we're at 174! This is big.

Hashbrown Hunter @ Apr 11th 2008 3:25PM

200!

samfish @ Apr 11th 2008 3:28PM

This is the most shameful thread ever.

Well, Kotaku has us beat with the aforementioned 1,000+ post, BUT I KNOW WE CAN BEAT THEM!

Zertoss @ Apr 11th 2008 3:37PM

Hey guys, what do you call a a black man flying an airplane?

A pilot, you racist.

Tiptup300 @ Apr 11th 2008 3:49PM

Judging from the past of resident evil, clearly no one white worked on those games.

ApolloIV @ Apr 11th 2008 4:15PM

You mean over 9000 right? Cause, that's what all the "cool" people would say.

AK @ Apr 11th 2008 4:59PM

This is crap.
Any zombie enthusiast knows that the reason why zombies are mostly one race, is because the government only tests zombie inducing drugs in third world countries.

It's simple zombie science...

TheOverlord#2(Toon Link FTW)(1461-5875-9923) @ Apr 12th 2008 2:35AM

IT'S OVER 90---
*reads ApolloIV's post*
Dammit...

Kye - NDF Sniper @ Apr 12th 2008 9:10AM

Late to the post, but, Neebs, Samfish, put me down for 500 please.

Kye - NDF Sniper @ Apr 12th 2008 9:13AM

The real question is; how many black people work at Joystiq?

rockintom @ Apr 12th 2008 11:24AM

I'm sure no human has worked on any violent videogame/movie/anything ever. Eh?

I Love Bowser @ Apr 12th 2008 12:15PM

You people disgust me. What a waste you pathetic people are. I would also like to say that I'm posting on the front page so people can see my outrage.

Saria the Cat @ Apr 12th 2008 5:39PM

I think the real hate issue we are overlooking here is human on zombie violence. They are an oppressed minority that has been treated unfairly by the human race for far too long. Just because we eat brains doesn't make us any less of a people! Zombies unite against racism!

Eric @ Apr 12th 2008 6:03PM

I think that all the RE games are racist towards zombies. All the zombies are depicted as blood thirsty, brain eating, mindless automatons when in reality many zombies are educated, productive members of society.

To constantly show them in this light is a horrible slight to all the law abiding, non brain eating zombies in the world and all the RE games should be banned and burned immediately.

t_m @ Apr 13th 2008 12:17AM

EVERYONE PLEASE READ THE ARTICLE BEFORE POSTING...

This is simply a public service announcement... since he addresses the "were previous games racist because the zombies were white" issue, and the "they are only zombies" issue, and the "its being made by japanese people" issue, and infact he doesn't say its racist, doesn't say it should be banned, and doesn't say most of the things people seem to assume he said in the comments.

After you read the article you are free to disagree with what he DID say. If you want.

hvnlysoldr @ Apr 21st 2008 1:35AM

It's over 369 now. I totally agree with above sentiments that the developers of Resident Evil mostly being Capcom Japan would leave few minorities working there compared to how many Japanese work there.

ZenGaijin @ Apr 11th 2008 1:57PM

I'd advise all other African American Joystiq readers to just stay outta this one. Nothing will come of the following discussion...

upz @ Apr 11th 2008 2:06PM

Hey! That was racist!

copa @ Apr 11th 2008 2:16PM

Like N'Gai says, different people are going to bring different things to the table on this depending on their background and experience.

But yeah, clearly he's put a lot more thought into this than the commenters on these pages.

THE WICKER MAN (BWF) (GT: Dalek Prime) @ Apr 11th 2008 2:24PM

lol. :0

FraGNeM @ Apr 11th 2008 2:44PM

More thought, you say?

His references are ambiguous. His fundamental argument is that it isn't the same as another zombie-infused minority.

How is this anything more than gut reaction? His comments do nothing other than fuel the stereotype of "playing the race card".

Let the game be. There's no sense tweaking the content in a game release to appease a small, over-sensitive, insignificant portion of the demographic.

kbomb1upc @ Apr 11th 2008 2:44PM

@ZenGaijin
You made some really good points in the Cole Train discussion over at Kotaku...I might have to take you advise and stay out of this...People really don't know what's it like until the shoe is on the other foot...

Skitch_ @ Apr 11th 2008 2:56PM

You speak the truth, I really can't be bothered with this discussion anymore....

Haon @ Apr 11th 2008 3:17PM

Great. Now I feel kinda awkward here eating a bucket of kfc and a slice of watermelon.

Mr.ESC @ Apr 11th 2008 3:48PM

Let's burn those naggers and with naggers I mean the people working on newsweek,lololololol.

Fernando Rocker @ Apr 11th 2008 1:59PM

Racism and stereotypes is stupid...

Phranctoast @ Apr 11th 2008 2:01PM

Irony of the day post.

Fernando Rocker @ Apr 11th 2008 2:02PM

I think that people who gets offended is wrong too... I could not care less of people insult me for my color or my race.

My cousins are white and sometimes we play and we say some "racists" things, but is not different from, for example, when you call someone fat, or other thing.

jynxycat @ Apr 11th 2008 2:05PM

are stupid

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Apr 11th 2008 2:09PM

Don't be pricks. You know what he's saying. NO need to be nazis about it.

copa @ Apr 11th 2008 2:13PM

This space reserved for Wii Sports Machine to post:

"I can't stand it stereotypes are applied to large groups of people. Especially those buck-toothed cousin-fuckers who live South of the Mason Dixon line."

Zertoss @ Apr 11th 2008 2:15PM

He's only half right. Racism is absolutely stupid, but stereotypes are funny, especially when you catch people living them.

It's all cool as long as you don't hate someone because of their skin color or nationality. There are plenty of other reasons to hate people.

Fernando Rocker @ Apr 11th 2008 2:16PM

This explains my relation with my cousins and friends:

"If black people (and any other race) want to be treated equally, then you guys gotta be treated equally in ALL areas and not just when it's convenient for you."

StrangeBum @ Apr 11th 2008 2:22PM

I understand what you all mean. Stereotypes can be seen as humorous at times, but what I don't understand is when it's a largely negative stereotype why don't people try to rise above it? That bothers me to a small degree.

Oh and, copa, excellent comment my good sir!

And Zertoss, exactly, hate people for their bigotry, naivety, ignorance and whatever else suits your fancy. But in the end, we're all part of the human race. Will it take extraterrestrials to unify all of us?

rv @ Apr 11th 2008 2:31PM

"If black people (and any other race) want to be treated equally, then you guys gotta be treated equally in ALL areas and not just when it's convenient for you."

The reason why they are favored in some areas is because that they weren't being treated fairly in the first place. Besides, its not like the law of Fernando is the law for everyone. There will still be people who are biased, whether it is conscious or not.