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Rockstar, Obama Put Latinos Front And Center

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Frologic
08/02/09

In reply to Research Notes Lack of Diversity, Latinos in Games
The fact that many games aren't even willing to address this issue is one of many reasons why non gamers don't take video games seriously.

Someone brings up an issue about diversity and the majority of gamers throw a hissy fit like irritated nine-year-old's getting their toys taken away.

People like to see identifiable characters in all entertainment mediums - from movies, to books, to sports. Why should video games be any different? AND why are gamers getting so agitated whenever this issue is brought up?
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dreamfall
08/02/09

In reply to Research Notes Lack of Diversity, Latinos in Games
I'm still waiting for my female protagonist in a new Rockstar game. My Saints Row 2 character just couldn't cut it.
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Pyrefly
08/02/09

In reply to Research Notes Lack of Diversity, Latinos in Games
I know that being a white male i am in the majority represented but the thought of race really never crosses my mind when i'm playing any game. Perhaps if games were directly making statements about race i could understand the on going discussion about it but as they really don't it boggles my mind why so many get up in arms about such trivial things.
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Rilo-Andy
08/02/09

In reply to Research Notes Lack of Diversity, Latinos in Games
I know it sounds corny to most people, but as a Latino, I find it appealing when I can be represented as a character in a game. Especially in games with character creation. Same thing goes for being a gaymer. A game like Fable really made me feel like I was a part of that "world" of the game. I finally belonged instead of being ignored.
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Char Aznable
08/02/09

@Rilo-Andy: I thought people played games to escape, now they're doing it to 'belong'?
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dreamfall
08/02/09

@Rilo-Andy: that's not corny at all- I love character creation in which you embody different aspects of your persona into the character. It makes the experience feel much more immersive - I respect that entirely!
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dreamfall
08/02/09

@Char Aznable: why can't it be both?
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coalhalo
08/02/09

@Rilo-Andy:
Thank you for the refreshing comment. You explain exactly why diversity is needed and why there is a need for something besides the same old shit we have been playing for decades.
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SnoopyFish
08/02/09

In reply to Research Notes Lack of Diversity, Latinos in Games
Bullshit. It's more like fewer than three percent of video game characters are even human.
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deanbmmv
08/02/09

@SnoopyFish: okay, apparently the promoting thumb has gone, so I'll reply.
Thats something else to take into account. You probably have more representations of Orcs, Elves, locusts n elites than humans.
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Pyrefly
08/02/09

In reply to Research Notes Lack of Diversity, Latinos in Games
I really don't think it is a missed sales opportunity at all. I can't see any gamer or general consumer for that matter not buying a game because of races represented.

Off topic, is this site being really slow for anyone else?
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deanbmmv
08/02/09

@Pyrefly: slow for everyone. Gawker must be using the weekend as a time to update there servers.
But I agree, no one isn't going to be buying a game because of the sub cultures represented in it.
Most games all you see are your hands, and there's alot of games that now let you choose your character, so apart from being a different racial type you can be a completely different species too.
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gold163 (° д° )
08/02/09

In reply to Research Notes Lack of Diversity, Latinos in Games
Well heeere weee gooo agaiinnn!!!
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Wargamer234
05/26/09

In reply to Rockstar, Obama Put Latinos Front And Center
"Hispanic" or "Latino" is not a race
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blurayforever143
05/26/09

@Wargamer234:

Exactly, as I posted up in the thread, there are several characters of Spanish and/or Latin decent in games but no one realizes because people always think skin color when they try to identify a race

But Hispanic and Latino are racist generalist terms..there are BLACK people of Spanish or Latin decent, there are WHITE people of Spanish or Latin decent, in fact, I'd say a good 50 percent of Mexican citizens are actually caucasian and then the rest native indian.

But seriously..technically Latino should include Spanish people and Italian people and the Portuguese but really those terms are just racist brandings to put people to the side as minorities....
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choral_music
05/26/09

@blurayforever143: Americans are so ethno-centric. It's so funny - I did a little pro-bono college study showing many different students a picture of a black man. I asked each student to name his race. Every single one said "African-American."

He was French.
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DigitalHero
05/26/09

@choral_music:

Hahaha, nice one.
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Orionsaint
08/29/09

@blurayforever143:

My dad is white with blue eyes and he's from Argentina.
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dry-roasted-peanuts
05/26/09

In reply to Rockstar, Obama Put Latinos Front And Center
Ohhhhh, an important characteristic like geographic ancestry! My lord, look how far we've come. Next thing you know we'll be talking about equally important factors like hair color and height...
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I_Hate_This_Place
05/26/09

@dry-roasted-peanuts: Lol. It's so true.
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lolgreg
05/26/09

In reply to Rockstar, Obama Put Latinos Front And Center
Latino Achievement Unlocked
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Venix
05/26/09

In reply to Rockstar, Obama Put Latinos Front And Center
So as a Latino, is this supposed to make my life any better? ...Oh yeah, the pride, Latino and proud yo! Represent. Too bad my state of mind is way different from that. [For the better or worst]

Btw, I'm sure Lopez stays on top by drinking lots of Mama Juana. Fantastic.
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Bubbleman!
05/26/09

@ArJay: The problem is the community you come from. The verbal majority only accepts you as one of their own if you live up to the ignorant achetype they see as being "latino".

So basically, if you dont listen to jungle music or have the intelligence of a 3rd grader, you're not good enough to be down with the clique......yo.
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Venix
05/26/09

@Bubbleman!: I know and have lived exactly what you are saying. In my group of friends there is one who, while he can understand plenty of english, he refuses to completely accept or to put it in plain english, accept that English in the official language of the United States. Every time we bother to talk some sense into his head, he give us the, "But Spanish: the language of Romance, the language of Miguel de Cervantes [Don Quijote], etc." That's why he is doing so great, NOT.

I'll never deny my Latin-heritage and I do hold it very close to me; but I can't let that foul mentally, that many Latinos come to the US with, hold me down and let it prevent me from enjoying Life.

Anyways, as long as we all understand that "Latinos" is not just people from Mexico, we have an understanding lol.
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doubtful
05/27/09

@ArJay:

...English in the official language of the United States...

Actually, the US does not have an official language, but every couple of years, right around election time, some jingoist will propose a bill seeking to make English the official language.
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(Zombie) Jölan
05/26/09

In reply to Rockstar, Obama Put Latinos Front And Center
GTAV: District of Colonia, featuring Bannock Orama, a black politician who takes to the streets to clean up the nation, one thug at a time.
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Matthew Lynagh
05/26/09

In reply to Rockstar, Obama Put Latinos Front And Center
Where's my Irish protagonist??!!
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excel_excel
05/26/09

@Matthew Lynagh: Coming soon ya wee boyo!
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geiko
05/26/09

In reply to Rockstar, Obama Put Latinos Front And Center
This comes with the unfortunate news for the gay community following the courts decision to uphold prop. 8.
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excel_excel
05/26/09

@geiko: It sucks for them alright. Why the hell shouldn't they be allowed to marry again?
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geiko
05/26/09

@excel_excel: That's what the people running the country don't see. Who are they to tell people how to live they're private lives, so long as no laws are broken, and it affects (effects?) no one? It's like civil rights all over again. We just don't evr learn do we. Why the hell do we have history class, if we don't learn from our previous mistakes.
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QualityJeverage
05/26/09

@excel_excel: Because Jesus said so and if they could all just find him in their hearts and discover the Bible, we wouldn't have these problems.

...

End sarcasm. What's truly depressing is that, without this disclaimer, it'd probably be hard to tell I was kidding.
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excel_excel
05/26/09

@geiko: amen. one of the arguements I've heard against gay marraige in this whole Prop 8 thing is that it would result in "public schools teaching our kids that gay marriage is okay". All I can say is what the fuck? Where do they get that?
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excel_excel
05/26/09

@QualityJeverage: ha so true!
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aw3str1k3r
05/26/09

@geiko: They weren't ruling on gay marriage. They ruled on the validity of prop 8 itself, finding that it was an amendment and not a revision (which would have required additional steps to being placed on the ballot)
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dreamfall
05/26/09

@geiko: ah, I am so angry. you'd think california of all places, it's just disappointing really.
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Demonbird
05/26/09

@excel_excel:

I'm cool with it so long as they would not receive any tax benefits from marriage.
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excel_excel
05/26/09

@Demonbird: Wouldn't really be a big issue with them!
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Demonbird
05/26/09

@excel_excel:

Don't be too sure. I threw that idea out here in California in an open debate and I was called a nazi.
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choral_music
05/26/09

In reply to Rockstar, Obama Put Latinos Front And Center
Is Luis Lopez the first Latino to star in a game?
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Hamsfork
05/26/09

@choral_music: Manuel Calavera from Grim Fandango!
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