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Forums - Gaming - Gears criticised for stereotyping

elnino334 on 10 April 2008

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=131229

News by Ellie Gibson

Today 12:53

Morgan Gray, senior producer at Crystal Dynamics, has said he's fed up with all the stereotypical black characters appearing in games - singling out Gears of Wars' Cole Train as a prime example.

His comments came in an interview with MTV Multiplayer, currently running a series of features about black professionals working in the games industry.

"I am sick of playing the average white dude character. I’m just done with it. And I’m sick of playing a black stereotype," Gray stated.

"There's no reason that Marcus Fenix in Gears of War couldn't have been a black guy... Cole Train on his own, no harm no foul. But what is Cole Train? Cole Train is basically like every other effin’ black character in a video game. Like here comes the urban stereotype.

"Where is this 1990s - not even 2000 - black slang, where does this fit in this futuristic world that doesn’t even take place on Earth? They go really far to do a lot of fictional justifications for this culture that they’ve built, and they go right back to this urban stereotype for the black character."

Gray was keen to point out he was not attacking Epic Games, saying he thinks Gears of War is "fun and gorgeous". However, he added, "It’s just a lack of thought, right? All it does is reinforce dumb stereotypes and it sort of reinforces casual racism. It’s almost like, 'Cue the drum beat, here comes the black character.'"

He also had a few things to say about the work of Japanese developers: "Their take on black folks in games has generally been poor. It’s either been here’s this ’70s pimp, here’s ultra hip-hop dude, or here’s a straight-up thug.

"F***ing Barret in Final Fantasy VII - they put a gun on the guy’s arm. It’s just like, 'Yeah, black guy with built-in gun.' Okay, that’s really, really weird. So it’s generally been s*** characterisations that are way racist or way just hokey racist."

For more from Gray, including what he thinks about Grand Theft Auto San Andreas and the Resident Evil 5 trailer, read the full interview.



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MaximusOptimus on 10 April 2008

This guy needs to not complain about evry little thing. Sure it might be a stereotype but that is what appeals to gamers at this point in time in those genres. This stereotype fits that game, it probably wouldn't work in other type of games. It seems the only people complaining about these type of things are not the general masses but rather people who have a lot of time on their hands.



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tabsina on 10 April 2008

I agree with him to some extent.. they do generally get the stereotypical roles.. i think the Barret thing is utter bullshit (Gray's opinion that its stereotypical, that is), but other than that, he makes a good overall point.



mrstickball on 10 April 2008
elnino334 said:

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=131229

News by Ellie Gibson

Today 12:53

Morgan Gray, senior producer at Crystal Dynamics, has said he's fed up with all the stereotypical black characters appearing in games - singling out Gears of Wars' Cole Train as a prime example.

His comments came in an interview with MTV Multiplayer, currently running a series of features about black professionals working in the games industry.

"I am sick of playing the average white dude character. I’m just done with it. And I’m sick of playing a black stereotype," Gray stated.

"There's no reason that Marcus Fenix in Gears of War couldn't have been a black guy... Cole Train on his own, no harm no foul. But what is Cole Train? Cole Train is basically like every other effin’ black character in a video game. Like here comes the urban stereotype.

"Where is this 1990s - not even 2000 - black slang, where does this fit in this futuristic world that doesn’t even take place on Earth? They go really far to do a lot of fictional justifications for this culture that they’ve built, and they go right back to this urban stereotype for the black character."

Gray was keen to point out he was not attacking Epic Games, saying he thinks Gears of War is "fun and gorgeous". However, he added, "It’s just a lack of thought, right? All it does is reinforce dumb stereotypes and it sort of reinforces casual racism. It’s almost like, 'Cue the drum beat, here comes the black character.'"

He also had a few things to say about the work of Japanese developers: "Their take on black folks in games has generally been poor. It’s either been here’s this ’70s pimp, here’s ultra hip-hop dude, or here’s a straight-up thug.

"F***ing Barret in Final Fantasy VII - they put a gun on the guy’s arm. It’s just like, 'Yeah, black guy with built-in gun.' Okay, that’s really, really weird. So it’s generally been s*** characterisations that are way racist or way just hokey racist."

For more from Gray, including what he thinks about Grand Theft Auto San Andreas and the Resident Evil 5 trailer, read the full interview.

 

The pot shouldn't call the kettle black, Mr. "We make Tomb Raider and big-breasted Lara Croft, since that's all women are good for"

 



Back from the dead, I'm afraid.

kirby007 on 10 April 2008

does anyone really care?? LOL



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Omac on 10 April 2008

He sounds like an fool. Complaining about stereotypical black guys in video games. But through out what he said he was using the words sh*t and f**king.



Mistershine on 10 April 2008
mrstickball said:

 

 

The pot shouldn't call the kettle black, Mr. "We make Tomb Raider and big-breasted Lara Croft, since that's all women are good for"

 


Touché.
Also, I don't think you should have said black, the dude will prolly call you out now for being racist.



Rock_on_2008 on 10 April 2008

These sort of people complaining about these sort of things need to get a life. A game is a game and Cole Train in Gears of War is a cool character.



johntonsoup on 10 April 2008

I agree with him, but to lighten the mood here's my favorite quote on the subject (warning: obscenities!):
Hooper - "For years in this industry, whenever an African American character, hero or villain, was introduced - usually by white artists and writers - they got slapped with racist names that singled them out as Negroes. Now, my book, 'Whitey-Hating Coon,' don't have none of that bullshit. The hero's name is Maleekwa, and he's descended from the black tribe that established the first society on the planet, while all you European motherfuckers were hiding out in caves and shit, all terrified of the sun. He's a strong role model that a young black reader can look up to. Cause I'm here to tell you, the chickens is coming home to roost, y'all. The black man's no longer gonna play the minstrel in the realm of comics and sci-fi fantasy. We keepin it real, and we gonna get respect by any means necessary."



Kenology on 10 April 2008

I think the dude is entitled to his opinion and he brings up a valid point.