bkwill

Racist Video Games Sending Hidden Messages

I've been playing the Wii a lot lately. One of the fun parts is that for some games you can create your own character and take them with you where ever you go. Recently I bought a tremendously fun game called Carnival Games. It offers you the ability to play over 24 games you can find at any given carnival. The concept is great and the game is fun.

One of the best things you can do with the Wii for some game titles is create your own character. In this game however you can only create a white character either male or female either as a child or an adult. It is not possible to create a character of color or ethnic diversity in any way shape or form.

Ok, looking past that I created a character and continued on with playing the game. I thought well maybe the game is made in Norway or someplace where people of color don't live or play video games. JK - It's the year 2008 how can you make a game that doesn't take that shit into account. Anyhow, upon playing the game the carnies are all ethnic and/or black. WHOA

So you are making a video game that is saying to little kids that white people can play the games and that ethnic people can work them? Thinking about this game, and what it takes to develop a game, the time the energy, the resources, etc.. I don't see how this is an accidental oversight. The game prides itself on character customization as written on the package and on their website.

So was this a deliberate action or a gigantic failure? Thoughts anyone?

I feel like this will make a great story for an investigative article.