GamerNode's Dan Crabtree writes:
"Arguments about racism in any media form suck. One person is offended, and then the offender defends their right to offend while fending off offense from other offenders. That's not at all what I'm talking about. This is not a piece meant to incite feelings of anger about racists or races, but rather a look at the complex issue of racism as it pertains to video games. To be clearer, it's also not about online multiplayer experiences where racial slurs are tossed about as casually as frags. This is about the products that developers create, and what can be learned about race and identity from them. Disclaimer over."
EA has hired ex-military personnel in order to help shape the next Battlefield game as part of the Hiring Our Heroes (HOH) program.
Why don't you Hire Your Old Dev Team who brought us the brilliance of Battlefield Bad Company 2 while you're at it. It was more exciting than anything recent in the Battlefield series. It just needs to be updated to reach modern times, but it was so great at its core.
It's what made zipper and slant six awesome. They had military vets working for them, no just as consultants, but as developers as well. I wish Sony never closed them, MAG 2 or an update to MAG and a new socom is much needed.
There are no thoughtful ads in Video Games, EA. Leave them be.
I think the only type of games that can gets away with it would be sport games, having those sponsors ads on the side like on real life.
But don't put freaking Doritos ads in Star Wars or something, it breaks the immersion. If it is a pop-up ads, then big no.
EA coming back for the crown of being perceived as the worst company in gaming.
One of my favorite series is the THPS franchise, and it was packed with ads, but it didn't bother me. Posters for skateboard companies, JEEP, and Nokia phones. It did sort of fit in with the game world, but that was the past, these days ad would be intentionally intrusive or unskippable loading screen type of imagery. Ugh, I know EA would do it in a horrible fashion. Screw them.
EA senior staff has been investigated for sexual misconduct involving female coworkers, and these said people have been named publicly.
Aye just call Phil, i mean he somehow made Bobby Kotick's scandal disappear and gave him a few million dollar high five on the way out.
EA about to go down like Activision and then Phil saves the day saying.this is good for the industry and consolidation will help create competition. /s.
What's up with all these horny creeps. You gon be horny, fine. Just not at work take care of that shit before you go in. Rub one out if you have to. Don't be a creep at all. ESPECIALLY at work. But don't be one AT ALL.
"it seems that according to EA, given the events transpired outside of work between two adults, and the fact that once investigation has started that the alleged perpetrators didn’t do it again, the investigation is considered closed. [...] The victim still has to work with the people that harassed her."
Yep, EA is disgusting.
Great article Dan. I'm comfortable with games handling sensitive issues like racism as long as it's not included just to create buzz about the game. Often times it's essential to the time period/characters, like you pointed out with Mafia II.
Developers definitely need to use more uncomfortable subject matter in order to deliver messages in a mature way like other mediums such as film and literature.
Good read. I agree with you on how racism being used in games in a mature way to flesh out characters and time periods as well as teach a lesson of how hurtful and morally wrong it can be is great.