Within every video game character is an untold story resembling original ideas or those that mirror reality. Imperfect worlds composed of complex characters that come in all shapes and sizes, with complex beginnings and ends, deliver in feeding the gamer’s wonders. Gaming used to be one-note with shooting, fighting, or jumping, but the future came with deeper, captivating realms of narration. Clicking a few buttons became more challenging, realizing it could drastically change where your character was headed and who they became. Storytelling in video games can be as impactful as movies and television shows, sometimes more. Games such as The Last of Us, Telltale’s The Walking Dead, and Dragon Age created re playable moments that left an everlasting impression on a vast number of people. The Last of Us even made its way to streaming, gaining a larger audience. Today, gaming is more story-driven than ever before, but is there anything still missing? Perhaps more can be done for games to appeal to everyone?
Where do I see myself in the game of life?
It’s no secret that representation is still limited in video games. Most are produced for and by young white men. Shooter video games typically focus on male story-lines and game-play, while other marginalized groups aren’t given as much attention. Imagine getting absorbed inside a video game only to slowly realize that you’re an outlier amongst your peers who have more in common with the video game stories than you do. An outlier who gets less enjoyment from the game because of the feeling of exclusion that may not be intentional, but hurts nonetheless. Progression has been made significantly over the years with games like Mass Effect and Skyrim, where their fictional people are anecdotal to real life. Different made-up races are shown to be mistreated because of their background, while others are shown to demand superiority over others. Such games are subtle in portraying how certain people face discrimination and alienation, while others crave power over all else. One play-through through Skyrim as an “Argonian” or “High Elf” can give people a good read on how those characters reflect our society. The fantasy elements, detailed eye-watering visuals, and impressive controls are the icing on the cake. The best games make you feel more than just the controller. They make you feel like a missing piece to the quest.
Playing a Stereotype
Play a stereo, type the controls, and let the projections of one’s own biases ensue. The more you play certain games, the more you realize their portrayal of certain cultures is derogatory. Racially stereotypical, story-driven games such as Grand Theft Auto depict an off-putting stigma about people of color. The game is entertaining, the dialogue is hilarious, but to the wrong audience, the characters can appear to be true to life. One may excuse its satire, but when can it go too far? White protagonists have more complex stories than people of color, who are portrayed to be stuck in a life of crime. Consistent stereotypes embedded into games can leave room for insensitive assumptions to be seen by many as universal truths. It’s all fun and games until you’re being painted as a criminal by looks alone everywhere you go. Even games people may enjoy too much to realize have noticeable stereotypes, like Mario and Street Fighter. People are not defined by just one or two characteristics, and overdoing it puts a target on vulnerable groups. Instead of ignoring biases, developers should minimize their own, do thorough research on portraying different cultures, and aim to make a game that all types of people can enjoy.