3 ms·

> But given the relative size of video-game markets, it isn’t hard to see why that decision might have been made [to include anachronistic ethnicities] Is anyo

> But given the relative size of video-game markets, it isn’t hard to see why that decision might have been made [to include anachronistic ethnicities] Is anyone seriously believing that the lack of Africans limiting the market of, say, Samurai games? Why would it limit the market of Viking games?

Shmebulock 6y ago
I think most people that waste their lives with video games and "make you feel good" fantasies of this kind don't care about historical accuracy; it's not about understanding reality but about feeling good and "engaged". That's what sells. And yeah, the makers of samurai games definitely consider the marketability of their games with regards to races portrayed. Consider the samurai game "Nioh" which takes place in feudal Japan, has a white protagonists and includes a black character.
- himinlomax 6y ago
  The question is not whether someone did in fact include black samurais, but whether not doing so would negatively impact the market for the game. > "make you feel good" fantasies of this kind don't care about historical accuracy; Similarly irrelevant.
  - Shmebulock 6y ago
    The example I provided shows that people with actual skin in the game think that it impacts the market which to me is one of the best indicators that it actually does. The impression that I have of people that play such games makes it seem plausible to me. What would be a comment to your question that you wouldn't consider irrelevant? Should I conduct an experiment and let it be peer reviewed?
- krapp 6y ago
  >Consider the samurai game "Nioh" which takes place in feudal Japan, has a white protagonists and includes a black character. You do know they were based on actual historical figures, right?
  - Shmebulock 6y ago
    Huh, I didn't know that. Still, I think it says a lot that they picked these particular historical moments instead of the probably overwhelming history of Asian people doing samurai-ey things
fareesh 6y ago
To be fair the title of this website is a collection of unmitigated pedantry, so in this particular case I can sort of understand why such things are explored and discussed. On this topic in general though, as a "POC" (as I am told this is the category to which I belong), I find the obsession with race and representation in video games, movies, TV, etc. to be quite disturbing and reminiscent of the worldview put forward by identitarian organizations of the past. It comes across as tokenism primarily. As far as marketability is concerned, I can't relate to someone who will use this as a criteria for buying/not buying a game. I have never met a person like this in my life who wasn't otherwise mentally troubled.
rosmax_1337 6y ago
I don't think they make decisions like this based on market-analysis. Rather, they toe the ""party-line"" set by shareholders in some cases, but more often the news media outlets. I suppose not getting good response from shareholders or receiving less cooperation with various media outlets is tangentially a market-analysis, but it's not a consumer based analysis in any case.
- pferde 6y ago
  Yes, they're essentially minmaxing their income, consumers be damned. They know that people will buy their games no matter what, so they don't even bother optimizing for them.

Shmebulock 6y ago

I think most people that waste their lives with video games and "make you feel good" fantasies of this kind don't care about historical accuracy; it's not about understanding reality but about feeling good and "engaged". That's what sells. And yeah, the makers of samurai games definitely consider the marketability of their games with regards to races portrayed. Consider the samurai game "Nioh" which takes place in feudal Japan, has a white protagonists and includes a black character.

himinlomax 6y ago
The question is not whether someone did in fact include black samurais, but whether not doing so would negatively impact the market for the game. > "make you feel good" fantasies of this kind don't care about historical accuracy; Similarly irrelevant.
- Shmebulock 6y ago
  The example I provided shows that people with actual skin in the game think that it impacts the market which to me is one of the best indicators that it actually does. The impression that I have of people that play such games makes it seem plausible to me. What would be a comment to your question that you wouldn't consider irrelevant? Should I conduct an experiment and let it be peer reviewed?
krapp 6y ago
>Consider the samurai game "Nioh" which takes place in feudal Japan, has a white protagonists and includes a black character. You do know they were based on actual historical figures, right?
- Shmebulock 6y ago
  Huh, I didn't know that. Still, I think it says a lot that they picked these particular historical moments instead of the probably overwhelming history of Asian people doing samurai-ey things

fareesh 6y ago

To be fair the title of this website is a collection of unmitigated pedantry, so in this particular case I can sort of understand why such things are explored and discussed. On this topic in general though, as a "POC" (as I am told this is the category to which I belong), I find the obsession with race and representation in video games, movies, TV, etc. to be quite disturbing and reminiscent of the worldview put forward by identitarian organizations of the past. It comes across as tokenism primarily. As far as marketability is concerned, I can't relate to someone who will use this as a criteria for buying/not buying a game. I have never met a person like this in my life who wasn't otherwise mentally troubled.

rosmax_1337 6y ago

I don't think they make decisions like this based on market-analysis. Rather, they toe the ""party-line"" set by shareholders in some cases, but more often the news media outlets. I suppose not getting good response from shareholders or receiving less cooperation with various media outlets is tangentially a market-analysis, but it's not a consumer based analysis in any case.

pferde 6y ago
Yes, they're essentially minmaxing their income, consumers be damned. They know that people will buy their games no matter what, so they don't even bother optimizing for them.