Ok now, on a serious note there are many theories and this isn't the first time a topic like this has come up so...

I'll start with the crazy conspiracy guy theory by saying that the american government sponsors game developers to create over the top violent games that feature protagonists in situations where they are fighting the good fight for their country in an effort to gain new recruits. By the way, in real life your health recharges in 4 seconds after being shot and America is always right... ALWAYS!

Theory number 2: The Socioeconomic factors
I hate to say it but white people make up the majority of the gaming population because it's a expensive hobby. When someone makes a game, they obviously want it to appeal to the broadest potential audience possible which is part of the reason why the wii is so much more successful than either of the HD consoles. Anyone can play or buy one. Also many of the games use looney fictional characters that would never be believable in the first place; therefore, it's not more or less appealing to any ethnic group. Do you think a Nicaraguan would want to play a game like Ghost Recon where he is shooting Nicaraguans? White gamers tend to be a bit more egotistical and go for games like and CoD4 Splinter Cell where they are playing a white protagonist who is doing good for his country by senselessly killing. It's almost like a subliminal ego-boost.

Theory #3: Stereotypes don't magically appear
Be honest with yourself. Who do you usually see fighting in wars? White people! But the question is why. Is their some sort of genetic factor that causes them to cling so closely to their guns? Why are they married to the second amendment? Has anyone really threatened them aside from themselves? No. White people are in charge of most governments throughout the world and it seems like they like being in a position of power more than anyone else. When slavery was abolished, Black people didn't threaten them, they simply enjoyed their freedom. But up until the 1960's 100 years after slavery was abolished that they finally let Black people sit together on the bus with everyone else. I'm not going to condemn an entire group of people because that would make me just as bad as the original offender, but if only goes to show the dangers of a mob-mentality.

P.S. Look at my avatar, I'm white.

Soleron said:   Why does anyone care? It's a skin pigment - genetics; no indication of any other attribute of a person. No one should even notice just like eye colour. Real racial equality advocates should just realise the large proportion of incidentally melanin-sparse skinned people in video games doesn't matter. It's not a deliberate attempt to discriminate, nor does it harm anyone. Also, the fact the population is in ration X:Y doesn't mean video game heroes have to be in the same ratio. 1 in 6 people in video games MUST be Chinese. 1 in 10 video game movie sidekicks MUST be in wheelchairs.

Well said - this is exactly what I think.

 

Pristine20 said: ArtznCraphs said: Seeing how the white race has figured so prominently in written history, and game plots and concepts are rooted in that history and also Western literature and archetypes, it's not surprising. Consider this rundown: Militarism: Western nations have dominated almost exclusively Fantasy themes: Mostly rooted in Western mythology and literature. Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, etc. inspired by Western computer games (Ultima, Wizardry) Science fiction: Pretty much a Western oriented creation. The concept of the heroic journey: Again...    So you think a militaristic game showing how the Vietcong routed the US despite having lesser weapon tech would sell? This is why I think its about appeasing western audiences

Haha, the vietcong didn't beat the U.S. military.  In fact in any direct conflict the United States military completely dominated killing thousands of them in a single battle while taking relatively few casualties.  The United States left Vietnam because of all the protests back in the home front and the unpopularity of the war.  If the U.S. military had invaded North Vietnam Vietnam would have been screwed.

The U.S. military never made any attempt to enter North Vietnam because the Presidents at the time did not believe they should do an all out war against communism but simply attempt to hold the South Vietnamese government as being a non-communist state.  Unfortunately for their plans a large number of people on the home front were highly against the war because they were a bunch of hippies so to appease to the public Richard Nixxon made the decision to begin troop reductions in Vietnam and then decided to just pull out with not even engaging the North Vietnamese once as the NVA invaded the South.

So that would not be a reasonable game to make because its not like they were beating the U.S. in battles or anything like that.

 

Clearly not because Americans are racist and won't allow allow minorites in sports. Have you EVER seen a basketball/baseball game?

60% of all basketball players and many NFL players are black
In Baseball some of the best players are Japanese and generally there are many hispanics.

Its questions like this that make people who see racism behind everything look stupid.

And why are Asians are not playing in the NFL? Why do Asians have higher academic degrees than the average white guy? Who knows. Surely not because they are discriminated against. Different social values and interests perhaps. Japanese like Baseball so there are quite a few great Japanese Baseball players. Americans don't like soccer so Americans suck at soccer. Asian families highly value academic success so asian kids are academically successful and so on.

People who see racism behind everything are annoying. There simply exist different values in different groups of societies. It would be pretty boring if it were otherwise.

shenmue is asian character i believe he is japanese, so 1 out of a million video game will be a different race.

Kyros said: . I haven't seen an asian person play in the NFL. Why? I want an answer. Clearly not because Americans are racist and won't allow allow minorites in sports. Have you EVER seen a basketball/baseball game? 60% of all basketball players and many NFL players are black In Baseball some of the best players are Japanese and generally there are many hispanics. Its questions like this that make people who see racism behind everything look stupid. And why are Asians are not playing in the NFL? Why do Asians have higher academic degrees than the average white guy? Who knows. Surely not because they are discriminated against. Different social values and interests perhaps. Japanese like Baseball so there are quite a few great Japanese Baseball players. Americans don't like soccer so Americans suck at soccer. Asian families highly value academic success so asian kids are academically successful and so on. People who see racism behind everything are annoying. There simply exist different values in different groups of societies. It would be pretty boring if it were otherwise.

Then using your logic you are a racist because minorities aren't Americans. 

It's funny how you can look at that sentence two ways. I knew what you meant but reword things. 

 

Gamerace said: In related news in RE5 you will get to play as a black female (at least some of the time) which, come to think of it, may be a first for video games. http://ps3.ign.com/articles/887/887351p1.html At least I assume she's black since she's African.

 

Nope, there was a black female police officer in Hunter: The Reckoning that you could play as =)

Because the majority of gamers are white, especially American, gamers. Not to mention the majority of devs are white as well.

However this isn't to say that other audiences aren't supported. I mean Japanese gaming audience is widely supported as well. But it's the next most abundant race that plays games. It's really just about where the developers are located as it's a culture. White American developers are going to make games catered to themselves haha. Japanese developers are going to make games that are their culture. Just need more devs of their own race to create games more catered to their culture I suppose.

However I don't see how you can cater to a certain race considering we are all human beings that share the same needs anyways. Differences in cultures due to race are so tiny that saying a black person can't play a game with a white character is silly. Normally most of your cultural differences will be based on nationality. Which is why Americans tend to like shooters, and Japanese are more into RPG's and fighters.

Zucas said: Because the majority of gamers are white, especially American, gamers. Not to mention the majority of devs are white as well. However this isn't to say that other audiences aren't supported. I mean Japanese gaming audience is widely supported as well. But it's the next most abundant race that plays games. It's really just about where the developers are located as it's a culture. White American developers are going to make games catered to themselves haha. Japanese developers are going to make games that are their culture. Just need more devs of their own race to create games more catered to their culture I suppose. However I don't see how you can cater to a certain race considering we are all human beings that share the same needs anyways. Differences in cultures due to race are so tiny that saying a black person can't play a game with a white character is silly. Normally most of your cultural differences will be based on nationality. Which is why Americans tend to like shooters, and Japanese are more into RPG's and fighters.

 

I think the biggest question no matter what territory you're from is why 80% of games have you killing things. I love games like Halo and Ratchet but why do I find killing things fun?

LongLiveTheBeatles said: Zucas said: Because the majority of gamers are white, especially American, gamers. Not to mention the majority of devs are white as well. However this isn't to say that other audiences aren't supported. I mean Japanese gaming audience is widely supported as well. But it's the next most abundant race that plays games. It's really just about where the developers are located as it's a culture. White American developers are going to make games catered to themselves haha. Japanese developers are going to make games that are their culture. Just need more devs of their own race to create games more catered to their culture I suppose. However I don't see how you can cater to a certain race considering we are all human beings that share the same needs anyways. Differences in cultures due to race are so tiny that saying a black person can't play a game with a white character is silly. Normally most of your cultural differences will be based on nationality. Which is why Americans tend to like shooters, and Japanese are more into RPG's and fighters.   I think the biggest question no matter what territory you're from is why 80% of games have you killing things. I love games like Halo and Ratchet but why do I find killing things fun?

It's a psychological and philosophical thing.  I mean we know from the days of the Romans, that people have always liked to watch others die.  Funny how our society is so awful when ours are only killing simulators while they watched the real thing.  And the Greeks loved to dramatize plays about blood and gore and death. 

Why are humans so caught up with blood and death and insanity?  Well it has to do with the need of wanting to discover and realize the unknown, especially something we fear.  We all fear being dead thus we want to understand why see it in someone else's eyes.  Thus we like to be entertained about something that is deemed awful but are allowed to do it.  Just a mixture of curiosity and overcoming a previous fear.  Thus humans since the beginning are fascinated with the death and gore of others because it helps them realize their own mortality and limitations.