Hello Everyone! This is a raw conversation the popped up with two of my favourite people. Please read, enjoy, share, comment.
Hi gamer friends! I’ve been asked about video games that are not racist and even maybe anti racism. I’ve shared my off-the-top-of-my head ideas, and I wonder what yours are? Monty, David, Matt, Peter, and anybody else?
- David Owen That’s a good question! Many games deal with race in their narratives but the games that I felt dealt with the subject of race on the level where the game allows you to make the decision to play as an anti-racist (or racist) are the Mass Effect games, Fallout 3, Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag, Skyrim. You meet a lot of racist characters but your character has the choice not to be. …As opposed to games that assume your character is racist or powerless to behave otherwise like GTA or Wolfenstein among others. …I was impressed with how smart the last Assassin’s Creed was regarding race as well as homophobia.
Peter Kuling Even games with non-humans characters (Odd-world, Rayman) still play up racial tropes. The same applies to Mass Effect’s alien races. Tough question. I’ll have to mull it over. Dave’s right. The player has some personal choice in the matter… but its troubling that they can also endorse a racist slant in the game play if they so choose. Not sure right now…
18 hours ago · Edited · Like
David Owen I agree with Peter. The pivotal choice in Bioshock Infinite near the beginning with whether you throw the baseball at the announcer or the captives is a good example. That game makes the player deal with the issue of race in a very overt way. Allowing you the choice to throw at the black captives could be seen as endorsing as Peter described above.
Peter Kuling These choices are usually one way or another; they aren’t “open world” choices. That’s my major concern with issue to build upon Dave’s great example from Bioshock Infinite.
17 hours ago · Unlike · 1
Cassandra Silver Larry – that’s great! And Peter & David, you’re tackling the idea like proper academics. To add a bit more context, the hunt is for games to be given to an 11-year-old boy: http://www.cbc.ca/…/torrence-collier-11-says-he-faces…
Torrence Collier, 11, says he faces racism, extreme bullying in Westport
An 11-year-old boy on Newfoundland’s Baie Verte Peninsula is the victim of racis… See More
10 hours ago · Like · 1
- David Owen I REALLY enjoyed Child of Light. Kyla and I played it together. It is beautiful and the story is like a Grimm’s fairy tale. That is my recommendation.
5 hours ago · Like · 2
David Owen Oh, and my daughter (who is 8) LOVES Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare, Minecraft, and Sonic.
At the same time I turned my suggestions to be specific for Torrence, I realized this conversation may be of worth and interest to others. Thus, I post our raw conversation here for you to carry on with your comments. Thoughts?
The One True Dave 
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