Racism and Cybertyping

Game developers are constantly exploring new ways in which they can enthrall their sales market. Whether it is through ground breaking graphics, high budget cinematics, or through captivating and complex storyline, developers are constantly having to evolve as their market becomes too spoilt, and thus more critical.

On the topic of racism within the gaming format; we are constantly being exposed to the stereotyping and "cybertyping" of minority ethnic groups. In no way do I consider myself a racist; sure, I have adopted discriminative traits from generations of imperialistic European settler conditioning, but not to the point where I actively sort to repress any one particular ethnicity, hell I'm as centre-left as they come. However in the business of gaming, from a marketing point of view (the business/money-making point of view), I can understand why developers continue to push the already blurry boundaries of "subliminal" cyber racism.

Most of us are oblivious to it as it has become ingrained into our everyday lives through exposure to various platforms of media who exaggerate different cultural traits. While this may appear to be too small and insignificant, it is the "casual othering" that produces this rasist psyche, the blasé dehumanization, the casual mindless slaughter of archetypical characters because they are 'different' to you and therefore you are unable to create a emotional affiliation with them. We find it easier to kill characters that aren't white - we do not have as stronger feelings associated to "baddies" who are of black or Arabic decent. Even when they're not "baddies", developers are restricted when trying to customize black characters to the confines of stereotypical black styles. Obvious examples of this are Sazh Katzroy from Final Fantasy XIII, a wise-cracking black character who talks in African American slang and dons a large afro. Sheva Alomar from Resident Evil 5, the highly sexualized female African American who also offers a large deal of sarcastic wit in-amongst her hyperaggressive, violent, "unladylike" manner. Dee Jay from Street Fighter, the professional Jamaican kick boxer, cocky, violent, huge set of shiny white teeth underneath big red lips and surrounded by either dreadlocks or corn braids - typical.