Kotaku: Stereotypes

Envisioning a World Without Racism With Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Mike Fahey — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:20:00 EST

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It might be seven years old, but that doesn't mean commenter Cheese Addict can't find a positive racial statement lurking in the back alleys of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. It's never too late to Speak Up on Kotaku. More »

Which of These 27 Gamer Classifications Do You Fall Under?

Mike Fahey — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:20:00 EST

In today's extremely lengthy yet entertaining edition of Speak Up on Kotaku, commenter Nightram details 27 different types of gamers he's observed over the years, and wonders where you fall in the list. More »

A Girl Gamer Is Not A Tomboy

Mike Fahey — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:30:00 EDT

As seen on Grace-elizabeth1's excellent "Stereotypes" Flckr photo set. More »

If Nintendo Made Halo 3

Owen Good — Sat, 10 May 2008 18:00:00 EDT

Click to view More »

GTA - Where Are All The White Gangs?

Mike Fahey — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 11:20:24 EST

The Brooklyn high school teacher who writes the NYC-themed Big Smoke Street Corner blog has some interesting things to say about racism in the Grand Theft Auto series.

Having played pretty much the entire series (being, sadly, the resolute gamer I am) and basically noting how much they've pulled from such sources as The Godfather, Scarface and New Jack City, I can not remember a single positive image for Blacks, Mexicans, Cubans, Jamaicans, Colombians, Haitians, Italians, Puerto Ricans, Chinese, Japanese, one Jewish lawyer (!) and soon in the upcoming game, Russians and Serbians; not to mention the constant lampooning of liberals and homosexuals. Mind you, of course, there are never any white gangs.

DAMMIT! When is a game going to come along and accurately depict the epidemic of white street gangs! Running around in their leather jackets, with names like Ponyboy and Sodapop. Until S.E. Hinton is brought on as a consultant this racism will continue unabated! More »

Take Two's Zelnick Testifies On Media Stereotypes

Mike Fahey — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:20:40 EDT

Representative Bobby Rush from Illinois thinks stereotypes are a serious problem in today's media. To that effect, he's chairing a special hearing entitled "From Imus to Industry: The Business of Stereotypes and Degrading Images" before the House Commerce Committee's subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection next Tuesday, bringing together executives from all facets of the entertainment industry, including Strauss Zelnick, the chairman of Take Two Interactive. Zelnick will be joined by representatives from Warner Music, Viacom, Universal Music, Radio One, and quite possibly rapper Master P. Sounds like a party to me! The hearing will explore the way the media portrays people in general, possibly finally clearing up the popular misconception that prostitutes replenish your health. More »

Women Getting Pigeoned Holed in Gaming World - AGAIN

Kim Phu — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 14:40:00 EDT

Charts, graphs, statistics, I love them all. It's how I learn who I am in the gaming world and that person is, apparently, a pathetic little lamb who wants to play Bejeweled on my mobile phone while watching reruns of Allie McBeal in my cold, lonely bed with my four cats. Yeah! Perfectly described. More »

Racial Stereotyping in Video Games

Mike Fahey — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 13:48:14 EST

Writer Richard O. Jones has a lengthy article up at Black Voice News, where he discusses the dangers of racial stereotyping in video games. Citing examples like Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, he contends that young Black and Latino children who constantly see themselves portrayed as thieves and killers are more likely to emulate them. More »

Insurance Commercial Presents a Newer, More Noble Stereotype

egauger — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 18:40:16 EDT

Highfalutin' intellectual blog Terra Nova wonders if this commercial from Farmer's Insurance Group is the beginning of a new positive stereotype, ushered into the public consciousness by an aging gaming community and the push of game advertising into public media channels: More »

Gender Stereotypes in Oblivion

brownlee — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 13:40:44 EDT

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From the "people will complain about anything" department, this just in: female gamers are taking a break from their panty/tickle fights and making me dinner to complain about gender stereotypes in Oblivion. More »