I respectfully - and totally - disagree with this point of view.  Although there is no denying the West's influence in the rest of the world, it doesn't mean they like or respect it or wouldn't prefer to play a character with looks, values and culture they share. 

It depend how sympathetic the world is to the Vietcong.  If the are viewed as the villain in that conflict, then such a game probably wouldn't appeal to much of the world.    Again, the West has influenced how history is viewed, whether true or false

Secondly the Vietcong army is small potatoes compared to the perceived "glamour" of the Spartans/Greeks, Romans, Crusaders, US military might, etc.  I'd see a game focused on the Mongols or Japanese samurai having broader appeal than the Vietcong.

Yeah but such games don't really have a main character and celebrities are above the realm of normal. Even blatant racists forget that the running back is Black when he makes a TD!

fixed thread

-ssj12

I think this is just because most of the games are usally made in the west and targeted towards a certain demographic (mostly Europe and US). The games that are made for Japan only have more Japanese looking characters (usually but not always so please no flaming).

The stories in games are also usually inspired from literature and the stories they are taken from are generally from the west as well. Even when they are not they need to make changes to appeal to a wider audience.

If the changes are not made it takes away some of the enjoyment. I am sure that all of us have experienced it first hand, when a character does something that we would never do simply because it was not logical for us but normal or at least understandable for someone in Japan.

 Right...

I blame american schooling, teaching every little brat that they "deserve to be heard" and generally pumping up their ego.

Well unfortunately most people notice and race has a huge impact. I live in the racially diverse Wash. DC area (my high school was about 25% white) and even though there is a lot of races living together everyone still notices.

As for the topic, the United States is 75% white. I'm going to go out on a limb (because I don't know) and say that Europe is close to that as well. I think in many cases the choices aren't concious in the minds of game developers (western), it is simply natural to them. And some fellow made a good point about Europe taking a lot of limelight in history.

And you're probably right Pristine, a purely Japanese/African/Indian cast might not sell as well in these heavily white populations. As sad as that may be, racism is still far too prominent.

I'd say 2-3 main reasons.

1) Because Western Culture is kinda dominant at the moment. Even in countries like Japan Western culture plays a huge influnce. I mean look at a lot of Anime characters that just look... well white... due to anime being influenced by some western animation (Disney i believe.)

2) It's safe. What happens when San Andreas happens? Why it's racist cause a black guy is doing something negative. A lot of characters are Antiheroes. Also a number of videogame developers really aren't mature. Very few of them would what to do with a game set in an African or South American setting without resulting to offensive streotypes. Also you've got to worry that whatever game you made would be seen as a weird allegory to something weird going on right now. For example RE5 is going to be happening right near the Sudan.

3) HD Videogames tend to copy Holywood... plenty of games are even movie cash ins... so... that's more.

Everything is 99% white guys in media though.  There is the same problems with Comics...

at least in Videogames all the black characters don't have black infront of their names.

But are "they," Persians, Indians, Native americans,  making the games?  Well, asian cultures are making games, and they totally dig much of Western culture, to the point where many are willing to sacrifice their own identity to be more like the white race, an attitude I personally loathe, but then again I've never considering having plastic surgery to make any of my facial features appear more like those of a different ethnicity.  

Its true that most games have a white male main character.. and I believe its mostly the developers fault for being unimaginative. I don't think its something done purposely.

I wish its something they change.. I'd love to play a game where the main character is RubangB... That would be something original!