Character Creation Has A Race Problem

[wondergroove]

I think the problem with making this a race issue sadly coincides with why it likely happened in the first place, Japan's lack of understanding towards inclusion and race issues in the broader world. I very much don't believe it was a malicious thing, but they really don't even recognize racial differences within their own native culture. Nor are they themselves ethnically diverse with an overwhelming majority of 98.5% of the population being of broader Japanese ethnic descent.

Does that mean we shouldn't push for more inclusion? Not at all. I'd like to see more variety and believe people have a right to desire more representation. I also believe that viewing the choices of a Japanese business company through a Western lens is only going to cause headaches in the long run. That's not me excusing them, or saying that it couldn't be better, but I think we shouldn't ignore the reasons behind /why/ the lack of representation likely exists.

I never said it was malicious or even intentional. It doesn't have to be either to be wrong or worth criticizing, though, tbh.

I'm already aware of that this is a Japanese game and of the... uh, difficulties that Japan has with representation. Anime is already a great example of that. I'm not examining this through a "Western" lens; I'm looking through the lens of "human beings are extremely diverse and maybe art should be representative of that."

I understand the "reasoning" behind it. It doesn't make it any less of an issue, worth talking about, or something people should just blow over because everything else is just as bad. Ignorance isn't a good excuse for putting barely any effort into being respectfully diverse.

So yeah, I am going to ignore the reasons behind this particular lack of representation. I was aware of them before, I know them again now, and they're still not "good" enough to justify it.

[Enla]

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Except I never tried to justify it nor say people should ignore it? However I very firmly believe that sweeping aside the reasons why a Japanese company might not have their fingers on the pulse of cultural inclusion is culturally insensitive in and of itself. Wanting more inclusion and acknowledging/respecting why a culture might not immediately try to be that way are not mutually exclusive.

[wondergroove]

Except I never tried to justify it nor say people should ignore it? However I very firmly believe that sweeping aside the reasons why a Japanese company might not have their fingers on the pulse of cultural inclusion is culturally insensitive in and of itself. Wanting more inclusion and acknowledging/respecting why a culture might not immediately try to be that way are not mutually exclusive.

Except I know the reasoning behind the lack of inclusion. I said so multiple times. And, again, that reasoning doesn't mean SE or Japan is above criticism. Yes, I perfectly understand why it is the way it is. But I also know that it's an issue that can at the very least be discussed.

Acknowledging that it's an issue but understanding the reasons why it's an issue isn't "sweeping aside" anything. Lack of representation is lack of representation, and regardless of the reasons behind it, it's generally a good idea to allow your diverse, international playerbase to have more than a handful of diverse options.

I'm not asking for a riot, a game overhaul, the reformation of foreign countries, or for SE to be burned in the streets. I'm literally only saying that a lack of diverse physical traits in a character creator isn't Good, and that game designers have the capacity to do Better.

[Joven]

I never said it was malicious or even intentional. It doesn't have to be either to be wrong or worth criticizing, though, tbh.

I'm already aware of that this is a Japanese game and of the... uh, difficulties that Japan has with representation. Anime is already a great example of that. I'm not examining this through a "Western" lens; I'm looking through the lens of "human beings are extremely diverse and maybe art should be representative of that."

I understand the "reasoning" behind it. It doesn't make it any less of an issue, worth talking about, or something people should just blow over because everything else is just as bad. Ignorance isn't a good excuse for putting barely any effort into being respectfully diverse.

So yeah, I am going to ignore the reasons behind this particular lack of representation. I was aware of them before, I know them again now, and they're still not "good" enough to justify it.

I've said this before earlier in this post: works of fiction do not need to be diverse or represent anyone, respectfully or otherwise. it's solely at the descretion of the creator. I don't say this as someone who's white, I say this as someone who doesn't feel like I need to be "represented" in anything. If this game only had characters who were of African decent, if all characters were female or completely non-human I'd still play it as long as it looked interesting. My identity isn't my skin color or facial features.

[wondergroove]

I've said this before earlier in this post: works of fiction do not need to diverse or represent anyone, respectfully or otherwise. it's solely at the descretion of the creator. I don't say this as someone who's white, I say this as someone who doesn't feel like I need to be "represented" in anything. If this game only had characters who were of African decent, if all characters were female or completely non-human I'd still play it as long as it looked interesting. My identity isn't my skin color or facial features.

Interesting tale bud, but not everyone feels that way. If you don't want more diverse representation because it doesn't effect you in any way, then you don't have to talk about it or advocate it in any way.

For a lot of people, they HAVE to play as the default white dude in games. They HAVE to play as something that isn't like them because it's the only option available. Even when there IS customization available, the options are usually still pretty limited.

Also, you're right; creators don't have to try and respectfully represent people when they create something. Fans of that creation still have every right to criticize it, point out the lack of diversity, and how that may frustrate them, however.

[Seig345]

Pretty sure people offering differing opinions is not the same thing as invalidating the opinions of others.

Pointing out that something isn't practical, however nice/diversifying it would be, is not the same as invalidating or otherwise outright opposing it.

We have every right to criticize the creation we're a fan of; however, when you present that criticism on a public forum, other forum users have equal right to criticize that criticism or otherwise offer differing opinions.

[Theodric]

For a lot of people, they HAVE to play as the default white dude in games. They HAVE to play as something that isn't like them because it's the only option available. Even when there IS customization available, the options are usually still pretty limited.

Many games have a set protagonist and the developers intend to tell that protagonist's story. If people choose to turn up their noses at a particular game because they cannot 'play themselves' then they're missing out on a lot of solid titles. In a game with a character creation system, you can - more often than not - adjust the skin tone of your character to reflect your own look if that is what you are willing to do.

With that said, though, bundling all 'white dudes' together seems rather strange. There is an immense amount of diversity where Caucasians are concerned. To name but a few, there's the Irish, the British, the Scottish, the Welsh, the French, the Croatian, the Polish and so on.

It feels like some people claim that they want more diversity yet in reality they only want 'visible' diversity.

For the record, I'm a guy who likes other guys. I have no issue playing a character that is straight. Is it nice when I can play a character that is gay or bisexual? Sure! Yet it isn't a necessity...because not every story can or will accommodate every possibility.

[MsQi]

Many games have a set protagonist and the developers intend to tell that protagonist's story. If people choose to turn up their noses at a particular game because they cannot 'play themselves' then they're missing out on a lot of solid titles.

I only play characters that are exactly like me.