Latoya Peterson

[GingerPrinz]

Anyone familiar with this games/race culture journalist? Writes for Cerise (http://cerise.theirisnetwork.org)and edits/writes on Racialicious (http://www.racialicious.com/), most recently she has started blogging for the Guardian (her posts so far (http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/latoya-peterson))

I invite you all to read, at least, her two stories on the Guardian website and see if, like me, you see a recurring trend in modern game journalism to either deride or champion, at all costs and with all the hyperbole you can muster, societal stereotypes in games. What I wouldn't mind hearing about is when exactly did this become such a big trend... Was it when Japanese niche sex games became known outside Asia? Was Lara the straw that broke the camel's back? CJ having too much Ghostface Killah and not enough Barak Obama?

Do any of you actually agree with the columnist that there is an endemic racist, sexist approach towards designing games?

[To0]

Dude, she writes for Bitch. How exactly did you expect her to be able to provide an unbiased view of a predominantly male environment. Honestly the sooner folk realise that guys and gals ARE different, that cultures ARE different rather than trying to gloss over that fact and create a generic, faceless, humanless, emotionless environment where we can all not compete to be completely mediocre, the better. I like my games to be hideously sexist, I like ultra violence and yes, I'm even secure enough in my morality to have simulated rape as possible gameplay element.

There is an appeal in the freedom aspect of not limiting my gaming environment in the same way that I'm limited in the real world. In the real world I have no wish to rape anyone and if given the option to do so in a game like GTA I doubt very much I'd get any enjoyment out of it, regardless of the in world benefits. I do think that there is an issue with people that want to play rape simulators as anything other than a passing curiosity - it's crap by the way gameplay mechanics are similar to C64 joystick waggling or similar era text adventures.

I don't see any difference between playing a game with a male of female avatar except from the visual appeal of seeing a female character a la Lara Croft doing her stuff. There is no inherent racisim for me to always assume that all FPS characters that I've played have been white, even if the cut scenes show them to be a different ethnic origin. In a game like RE5 I don't run around thinking:
"hell yeah!, White power mother fucker, DIE NIGGERS!"

I run around going:
"Hell yeah, mother fucking zombies gonna get some bullet therapy!"

But as I've said before, I'm one of the few (it seems) that doesn't see race, everyone is a person (or zombie) first.

But you know what? Telling folk that they are wrong in their outlook on life and that they are the cancer that is killing the world doesn't sell newspapers. What sells newspapers are extremist views about things that most folk can't be arsed thinking about.

[GingerPrinz]

I actually didn't even SEE the Bitch magazine credit until after I posted the article, but yeah it's pretty indicative. Just curdles my milk that precious games journalist positions are going to waste on headcases like this. Almost makes me want to start a blog...

[Bluepixie]

Not the first time and certainly won't be the last. At least she knows something about her subject! Most of the BBC columns/articles on gaming are a complete joke (remember that one were a guys goes to a convention, "you can feel it through eyes!"). Still comparing shit with shit is just going to give you a difference of shade.

Both articles are 'sensational' prods at a subject largely misunderstood by the public. The public rides on this crap, I was flicking through a Daily Mail recently and found a short on "SEX IN GAMING IS ON THE RISE MOTHERFUCKERS!!!" All it actually said was, "in GTAIV you can pay for sex" as said by some BBFC dude, probably last year.

*sigh*

[Hex]

Sad fact is, you're lucky to get decent journalism in the dedicated gaming press. You certainly aren't going to find any decent gaming journalism in the general press. Christ even their coverage of technology is horrible - I've read dozens of stories in the technology sections of otherwise reputable publications such as The Guardian which are simply factually inaccurate. This is something I find far worse than sensationalism or ridiculously opinionated pieces - if people want to demonise something then they're free to express their opinion on it, and however much I disagree with it I'll defend their write to print that opinion. What I won't defend is people who can't even be bothered to do their research properly and print total nonsense in the national press.

*joins Pixie in sighing*

[Fyndir]

their write to print that opinion.

Haha, Hex fucked up.

[Hex]

Haha, Hex fucked up.

I'm glad to see you felt the need to contribute something really positive, interesting and worthwhile to this discussion Fyndir. Yes, I made a mistake typing a post 5 minutes before I went to bed. Well fucking done for noticing, it's good to see that the Troll Grammar Police can be relied upon to uphold exceptional standards of language.

[Fyndir]

I'm glad to see you felt the need to contribute something really positive, interesting and worthwhile to this discussion Fyndir.

'cause repeating "Shitty writers are shitty DERP DERP DERP" would totally be interesting and worthwhile, after three different people had responded to say so.

Instead I chose to make a humorous, light hearted post because your mental confusion led to an amusing error.

[Hex]

Instead I chose to make a humorous, light hearted post
Your definition of 'humour' is clearly somewhat different from mine. I'd have described your post as small-minded and nit picking, but hey, like I said before, everyone's entitled to their opinion.

[To0]

Yeah? Well yours was simple sheep like nodding of the head. Neither was constructive. Now shut up and get back to the point.

I want more tits in games and far more blood. MAKE IT HAPPEN!

[Hex]

I give you Onechanbara: Bikini Samurai Squad (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onechanbara:_Bikini_Samurai_Squad). What? You never said you wanted tits and blood in good games...

[To0]

Sorry, I should have been more clear, I require, guns and blood. And tits. The tits should preferably not get in the way of the blood and violence if possible unless to get covered in gore which is always funny. I do not condone violence to (attractive) women.

[Einner]

More tits? Blood? Throw in a couple of explosions and a dead black dude and fuck games. We might have written a blockbuster!

I don't actually think that Res5 is actually that racist. Art imitates life and this life has been chocked full of rape, pillage, murder and the fact that for some reason, human beings aren't happy with simply comfort and life and the prospect of bettering themselves. They would rather profit from others.

Subquestion: How will I make it as a journalist in gaming (somethin I'm actually training for. taking a course and everything. joke- Whatever your sense of humour, Ive made it easy there) when cyberspace and print is filled with either deriders or champions of the cause? (quite right Gingerprinz)

Whats the middle way? career advice anyone, you like what you like, tell me what you like and I'll make my living giving it to you

[To0]

Do not, ever, pander to the fans. If you want to be a success, sell out and pander to the brainwashed masses.

[Fyndir]

Comments sections make me laugh really hard sometimes, especially when people try so hard to be intellectual and make a point, and fall flat on their face.

I agree back in the old days there wasn't much choice between playing as male and female. Could the sales demographs excuse that in a way as it was seen as whole by the majority a geeky male pastime? I dont know because sexless games such as pong also where popular.

Sonic is a good example of why racism or sexism has never truly intentionally existed in video games. Everyone played as a blue hedgehog and has the option to play as his female sidekick Tails. Genius really.

Since when was Miles "Tails" Prower a female?

[GingerPrinz]

Aye totally, I clocked that one myself. Just gutted they close comments on Guardian posts so early. Also he didn't really make any racial points despite Sonic apparently putting aside racism. In fact, you could maybe argue that Sonic persecuted that evil black hedgehog, whose name escapes me.

[Fyndir]

Shadow. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_the_Hedgehog)

[Bluepixie]

Sorry, I should have been more clear, I require, guns and blood. And tits. The tits should preferably not get in the way of the blood and violence if possible unless to get covered in gore which is always funny. I do not condone violence to (attractive) women.

MadWorld (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/46615.html)

SEGA be praised. I want a Wii.

[To0]

Yeah it's on the shopping list, I bought House of the Dead Overkill. Motherfucker Much Motherfucker lu-Motherfucker-lz.

[Bluepixie]

I bought House of the Dead Overkill

Date at your place mofo!!! I'll bring the dancing girlz......

[brialzebub]

Date at your place mofo!!! I'll bring the dancing girlz......

sorry... you _are_ the dancing girlz. enjoy your buttsecks. :mrgreen:

[Chesire Cat]

sorry... you _are_ the dancing girlz. enjoy your buttsecks. :mrgreen:

The ches would gladly dance for a chance at that Mad World game there.

[Gunder]

Apparently it's really dull and repetitive.

[Chesire Cat]

Apparently it's really dull and repetitive.

So's my dancing. ;)

[Bluepixie]

Another fine example of poor literacy review in the Guardian.

Are computer games a literary genre? (http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/mortarboard/2009/mar/27/gaming-writing-course)

[DAve]

...
Are computer games a literary genre? (http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/mortarboard/2009/mar/27/gaming-writing-course)
Does reading the subtitles on Final Fantasy VIII count? ;)