Press Start: Token diversity doesn’t belong in Call of Duty: WWII

Including diversity in a video game for diversity's sake is disingenuous and, frankly, dumb, writes Gazette gaming columnist Jake Magee.

[SaveFerris]

Tokenism doesn't belong anywhere in my opinion.

[boomtube1987]

Single Player campaign doesnt belong in CoD aswell. Seriously , im 101% seasonal CoD player. Everybody i know wouldnt call themselves a gamer if it wasnt for CoD Multiplayer. If i want a story id watch a movie. If i want gaming. Ill get CoD, Fifa or GTA. Games over all are for nerds. Casual gaming on console with CoD is for casuals non nerds. Take story and SP out of CoD. If CoD devs spent 3 years on MP instead of campaign, we would have real big innovation.

[SegaGamer]

What a load of nonsense. You have a backwards view on gaming and gamers

"Games over all are for nerds" what is this, the 90's ? You heard this kind of rubbish a lot in those days. If gaming is for nerds, then the majority of us must be nerds because most people are playing games these days.

[Goldby]

@Boomtube

From your name alone it sounds like you are a 30 year old noob tuber in cod.... and you are calling gamers the nerds.... learn that gaming is a medium to tell a story, just as books, radio, tv and movies are as well. and some people buy Cod for the SP so dont act like no one plays it.

Some people like depth in their games, others it seems just enjoy the weed leaf paint jobs, flashing words popping up on the screen and constant screaming from 12 year old who have raped each and every mother that has ever existed on this earth.

[Eulderink]

1 year is enough, but they need to listen to the gamers xD not the profit model :P

[AnubisG]

Wow, what a hatefull anti-gamer, selfish point of view.

So let me get this straight boomtube1987, CoD has to be made in a way that you like it (MP only) or it's crap? I have never heard anyone complain that they are getting more of a game. To me an mo only game is 50% of a game and what will you do with that game once the servers are shut down?

Gaming isn't just for nerds. Hundreds of millions of people of all ages game on various platforms today. From super models, to top atheltes, movie stars, CEOs, to teenagers and the elderly....we all game.

I'm sorry, but you are a very closed minded hateful and selfish person.

[EatCrow]

You act as if being a nerd is an issue??
I dont mind having been able to outperform my classmates in reading, comprehension and many other subjects because of videogames.
Especially since English is my second language. It truly amazed me how I could read better then my entire class because of reading text dialogue and notes in video games.

[wannabe gamer]

you do realize that most of the cod games in recent times have been developed by 2 dev houses or at least 2 separate teams right? One of them works on the MP and the other on the SP.

[rando]

@ boomtube1987: you sound old asf... lol smh

(your comment) "Games over all are for nerds."

you do know gaming makes more money than TV, movies AND music right?
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/r...

[ziggurcat]

@saveferris:

it's not tokenism if it actually happened...

[EatCrow]

As long as it happened a lot. If not..then its rare and its making it seem normal when it wasn't.
Id rather they tell history accurately. Its already bad enough kids aren't retaining anything in school. We don't have to teach them false history as well.

[EatCrow]

For instance ...did they fight together in the same units...where did they normally fight, etc. divisions may have been kept segregated in some wars as well. so...there you go. All I want is good characters in their element that make sense for the times and wars.

But this is COD i doubt theyll keep it authentic.

[Chaosdreams]

It'll depend on how it's implemented. But hey, clearly people like to get outraged. If the game was out and it was clearly just a checklist, then criticism and complaints make sense. But right now? It's ridiculous - since we don't know what/how they are going about it.

[Allsystemgamer]

I agree. We don't know yet how the women or black soldiers are being implemented.

If you can just run around in MP as a woman or black soldier it's going to kill the immersion/historical accuracy. Which they keep harping on about trying to achieve.

Ghosts had this issue. Nearly everyone played as a woman because they thought they'd have smaller hit boxes. As a result the game sounded like an orgy porn shoot. That was the least of that games worries however.

If you choose to be a sniper and are on the USSR then sure make the option available. American frontline? No.

[annoyedgamer]

You just outlined one of the reasons I never bought Ghosts.

[LexHazard79]

After reading alot of these moronic comments..all I can come up with is most need a history lesson. The fact is that if you can run around as a black soldier in mp it perfectly fine and dont see how you lose immersion or historical accuracy! Black soldiers did in fact fight in WWII though limited.

[rdgneoz3]

@Lex That's the key though, "though limited". Women were not on the front lines for the US (some nurses and later on pilots for cargo / refueling I believe, while in other countries some did fight [though not many]), and blacks were not a huge percentage. According to Wiki, around 10% (army, navy, etc), while whites were around 85%.

"Blacks were an important source of manpower for the armed forces in World War II as is shown by the fact that a total of 1,056,841 Negro registrants were inducted into the armed forces through Selective Service as of December 31, 1945. Of these,

885,945 went into the Army,
153,224 into the Navy,
16,005 into the Marine Corps, and
1,667 into the Coast Guard.
The African African inductees made up:
10.9 percent of all registrants inducted into the Army (8,108,531),
10.0 percent of all inductions into the Navy (1,526,250),
8.5 percent of all Marine Corps inductions (188,709) and
10.9 percent of all Coast Guard inductions (15,235)."

[CorndogBurglar]

People freaked out about a playing a black character in Battlefield 1, even though there were black people in World War 1.

Nothing will make everyone happy. If people truly didn't care about race, then it wouldn't be an issue what color your character's skin is. But that clearly isn't the case.

[Allsystemgamer]

IT didn't make sense on the German side. There were some black soldiers fighting for other European/American/British outfits but there wasn't a lot.

I didn't care for it tbh. Just seemed a little out of playing seeing a bunch of black Germans.

[Liqu1d]

@Allsystemgamer It did make sense on the German side. Germany had black people fight for their side as well.

[EatCrow]

People dont care unless as someone stated, its tokenism. Then it bothers people because the agenda is clear not because of the skin color.

During the civil war for instance it should be more prominent. Dont know why they havent made a game covering that war.

Or some fictional game or not about black underground rebels fighting against slavery or something.

As long as the characters make sense im okay with it. Problem is when they dont...its like your game suffering frame drops...its quite jarring.

[Eiffel]

@Liqu1d Yes, however those were German colonies in Africa. In mainland Europe(where a majority of the war was) they were not present to any large degree. Their military attire was also different from what the ethnic Germans wore in Europe. If DICE had maps that took place in those colonies then sure, it'd make sense. But for maps in mainland Europe or otherwise on the German side, it's pure tokenism.

[ziggurcat]

@eiffel except the one black person you play as in BF 1 was on the French side, so...

[Eiffel]

@ziggurcat Hence why I was talking about Germany specifically in response to Liqu1d talking about Germany.

[Eonjay]

Its pre outrage. Now we got people bitching about the unforseen future. Never chage internet...

Oh and if it were a white only cast, that wouldn't make sense either so then maybe we should have a preemptive SJW article. The truth is simple:

You quite litterly can't have an all white male world war... like in reality or historically. My grandfather is black and he fought in WWII as an American solider, not a token... but outrage away...

[RememberThe357]

What?! Black guys and women in WWII? That was fake news.

[Allsystemgamer]

This is true. However there were very few. If your grandfather is still around shake his hand on my behalf.

The issue with BF1 was the German side had far too many. Germany was fighting with very nationalistic beliefs after all.

Are people going to complain that there aren't black Nazi soldiers in CODWWII? Probably.

[Bigpappy]

@Allsystemgamer: You are wrong about the very few part. Many blacks fought in WWII for the U.S.A

[Elwenil]

Many African Americans did play a part in WWII but for the US side, it was a very small fraction. Out of almost 18 million troops, a little over 900k were African American. The majority of those were rear echelon troops in support roles due to the segregation of the day. Was it right? No, but that is how it was and if a WWII based game is to attempt an accurate portrayal, it would be very rare to see an African American on the front lines. There are obvious exceptions, such as the 761st Tank Battalion, which served with Patton's 3rd Army. To me it would be more respectful to those who served, both African American, Caucasian and other minorities to truthfully show what part they played and the sacrifices made by these soldiers rather than cheapen the whole portrayal by caving to over-sympathetic foolishness.

[Tankbusta40]

I can turn on the TV between 7-10 pm and see all the artifical diversity I can handle, or listen to a Democrat preach about it while living in a white only gated community. I don't want it in my video games.

[annoyedgamer]

That elitist talk occurs all over the world (not defending it), its not tied to any party. Its one of the prime reasons the UK is leaving the EU and other nations are discussing the same path.

[Tankbusta40]

I'm sure it does, I was just focusing on my circumstance, I have to directly go out of my way to observe what's happening in the world since most US news outlets are solely focused on American politics.

[bluefox755]

Sure, but how can you say it's not really tied to party? Corbyn won't even acknowledge there's a problem while Theresa May has made it one of the central issues.

[CorndogBurglar]

Do they still have white only communities? Thats messed up.

[AnubisG]

I don't know why people are disagreeing with you. What you said is 100% true.

[Bigpappy]

I don't know why you are focusted on Democrats. They have the most diverse membership of the 2 parties? Charley Randle surely doesn't live in a white only community, neither did the Obamas. You know they are Black right?

[IanTH]

What about those Black Democrats...do they preach about it living inside of a white only gated community? Just wondering...

[Antifan]

Because even Democrats know most black neighborhoods are cesspools (non biased, real truth, not racist)

[annoyedgamer]

Well at least someone had the balls to say it.

[RememberThe357]

The balls to say it? Say what? That the equalization of women and minorities is threatening to you? I'd love to see a fictionalized WWII with females and all sorts of skin colors in the fight. I doubt that's what they're going for, but after what BF1 was able to pull off, I'd love to see an other attempt at an altered history, or one that tells the hidden stories of the war.

[JimmyBoy83]

You know tens of millions of white men died during this war right? How many women and blacks died. This was a whites mans war and people should treat it as such. If they are going to show women and blacks, it should be in a setting that actually makes sense.

[RememberThe357]

This was a white man's war? WTF are you talking about? Do you know anything about this war that you haven't learned in videogames? 10s of millions of Asian men and women died as well, along with Africans, and middle eastern peoples. It was literally a world war. And what do you actually mean when you say white men? Because thats a group of different ethnicities. Just because you think all white people are the same doesn't mean they are.

[Antifan]

Equality is an illusion based on wishful thinking. No one equal, not even individuals within a group. So what makes you think racial and gender groups are equal? They have equal of opportunity, but not equal in ability and culture.
Video games are pretend and make-believe, fictional universes. Wake up little boy, you're living in a dream world. Take the blue pill.

[RememberThe357]

An other one with a God complex. There are no red or blue pills, no one is sipping the lemonade, no one is blowing sunshine or whistling dixy, or whatever other metaphor for blind liberalism you want to use. Equality is reality and value is a contrived animal concept necessary for evolution. The reality is that no man is worth more than any other man, or planet, or grasshopper, or anything else.

You need to step out of your ego and see the reality outside your copper pipe perspective.

[rdgneoz3]

@RememberThe357 He was blunt, but somewhat right. Europe didn't really keep books on the different statistics for ethnic groups fighting, but the US did. Blacks made up around 10% of the forces, while whites made up around 85%. Millions of Asian men and women died because Japan was fighting in WW2, not to mention it had a Little Boy and a Fat Man dropped on the country...

"Inductions into the Army of Selective Service registrants from other racial and nationality groups up to December 31, 1945, included:

13,311 Chinese,
20,080 Japanese,
1,320 Hawaiians,
44,000[13] American Indians,
11,506 Filipinos, and
51,438 Puerto Ricans.
*250,000 and 500,000 Hispanic Americans"

[Wallow]

That's a very subtle user image /s. It truly is amazing that our predecessors died fighting nazis. Only for a bunch of whiny enitled white boys to embrace it because they feel threatened that they are losing their privlege.

[EatCrow]

What does this privelage look like exactly? I've yet to see anyone that has it or is losing it?
Everyone suffers, everyone has hardships and everyone struggles.

[CDbiggen]

Here comes the "privilege" bullshit...

[RememberThe357]

You guys are complete morons, and I mean the personally.

priv·i·lege
noun
1.
a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group of people.

All you need to do is go look up federal data (i.e. FBI, Census), the privilege is clear as day. And honestly I don't think anyone is going to do the work for you. Social science is complex and nuanced I'm not surprised such ridged minds are upset and confounded by it.

[Summons75]

As long as they stick to history, being inclusive is fine...being WW2 that makes it a bit harder but easily basic middle school research can teach you a lot. Since this is COD we are talking about, well you can guarantee they don't care about the actual subject they are tackling and it will be an SJWs wet dream.

[CorndogBurglar]

People complained about a black main character in Battlefield 1. Even though there were black people that fought in WW1.

Logic goes out the window sometime.

[ziggurcat]

there were black divisions in the military during WWII as well.

[DefenderOfDoom2]

Okay, if want a accurate WW2 mp video game. You should only have 1 life per game . Also no re-gen health .

[Cy]

Token diversity is such condescending crap.

[IanTH]

I agree token inclusion is a poor form of inclusion. However, I think the question that needs to be asked is: Is the diversity inclusion actually token? Because in this case? No one knows. Literally all those complaining right now have no idea. I think any outlet defining the type of inclusion as "token" without talking to developers or seeing the game themselves have already made their minds up before facts are even present, and thus the reality of the situation ultimately means nothing to them. And if that's the case, then their opinion means little to me.

[LoveSpuds]

How is the game 'shoe horning' anything in if the intention is to tell different stories based in the WW2 theatre of war?

COD games have leapt between different characters in previous games, so what is so different here? The sacrifices made by that generation were almost beyond comprehension, but the sacrifices weren't only made by white Americans.

Women did fight in the French resistance and faced awful torture and execution when caught, why is their story not as relevant as the infantry man storming the beaches on DDAY? It was labelled as a world war because of the huge variety of nations, and therefore races, that were caught up in it. Why shouldn't the gurkha's story be told, they are highly revered here in the UK and are famous for their bravery to tnis day, why shouldn't the story of the Indian soldiers known as 'chindits', who again were famously ferocious warriors, be told?

The point I am making is, people like this self proclaimed games journalist are making assumptions about a game they know nothing about. COD clearly isn't going to include the Normandy landings with women fighting alongside the men, they have already stated that they are committed to producing an authentic experience. If they decide they want to tell the story of women fighting in the French resistance however, or fighting on the front line in the Russian army, then that is historically accurate and moreover, I think, more interesting than just another 'infantry unit' based story. Similarly, if they want to tell the story of the bravery of the various African, African American, Indian, Burmese or any other nations servicemen and women then I am definitely interested.

[IanTH]

Hear-freaking-hear! It heartens me to see informed, level-headed discussion can exist on this site.

[EatCrow]

We will see once they release the game...somehow I doubt they'll keep any authenticity.

[ziggurcat]

Apparently people don't seem to understand that WWII didn't consist solely of white men... there were African American divisions in WWII, there were women as well.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...

[NotanotherReboot]

Agreed. The worst of example of this was in Horizon; I'd never witnessed such forced tokenism in one certain part of that game.

[Liqu1d]

Explain.

[AnubisG]

Actually, I think they did it really well in Horizon. I don't think it was forced at all. I liked how they had all kids of races, it was well done.

[IanTH]

I played the entire storyline, and about 50 hours or more to this point of the game overall. I cannot recall one time where I felt a nationality or skin color was just "shoehorned in" for diversities sake. Perhaps it was in a side mission I missed. I'd like to hear what you thought was forced tokenism.

(And I'm extra curious since this is a fictional game so many years in Earth's future that our current racial situation may have already homogenized further even before a bad AI created an extinction level event...Aloy's story is 1,000+ years after the civilized world of Elisabet Sobeck, so the face of wildlife and genetics would change to a nearly incomprehensible degree. At this point, this is a world of the devs making, so I can't imagine it was "realism" that made this token inclusion stand out)

[OC_MurphysLaw]

Decent read and quite honestly this line in the article sums up how I look at this game right now:

"But who knows Sledgehammer's true intent for the game's diversity? Is it mere virtue signaling, or does it serve the story's purpose in a meaningful way? As of Polygon's writing, not even its own critics knew."

Polygon cried foul, Arthur Gies slammed the game for having a boring lead white character and maybe they are right....but even he admitted he doesn't know during the Rebel FM podcast. I just wish we as a society could take a few beats and stop rushing to judgement and crucifying everything that doesn't meet our approval on first glance. Too much to ask for I know... just something to wish for I guess.

[ShadowWolf712]

...it doesn't affect the story? They're in the multiplayer?

[OC_MurphysLaw]

My response...I don't know. And to be honest, nobody does except Sledgehammer who is making the game. I am willing to hold any judgement until we actually get the game and can legitimately critique it.

[ginganinja]

Hollywood has played fast and loose with historical accuracy when depicting WWII for years, I'm not sure why video games should be held in any higher regard.
I wonder if those crying about tokenism have the same objections to, for instance, Steve McQueens character in The Great Escape - who's main reason for being there was to sell the film to US audiences.

[Captain_Tom]

Alright someone help me out here: What is this article talking about?

I just watched the trailer, and I have seen a few screenshots; but I didn't see anything...

[ziggurcat]

It's a misguided article about tokenism is the upcoming CoD title. The misguided part of the article is that it's arguing that those groups are being included into the game just to check off some box in a diversity checklist. The reality is that women, and African Americans were quite involved in the military during the war, so their inclusion is actually historically accurate.

[Captain_Tom]

What groups though?

I don't remember any abundance of women or black people in the trailer.

P.S. Yeah a metric f***-ton of black people fought in WWII. Some of the most decorated units were all-black units.

[CDbiggen]

Please, not this again...

[Puertorock77]

This is a stupid argument. Now gamers demand historical accuracy in a franchise where people are hoping for a zombie mode. There have been movies where WWII was completely reimagined. It's all entertainment. If you're really interested to see what role women played in WWII than actually read about it. Don't rely on a videogame to teach you WWII.

Did most of you use the movie Pearl Harbor starring Ben Affleck as a way to learn about Pearl Harbor? Enough with the nonsense always crying about women videogame characters being used.

[rando]

@ Puertorock77: this can't be the real puertorock... the real puerto rock wouldn't be out here sounding like an SJW lol

[rando]

inb4 ziggurcat sjw rant... lol smh