Comments on: Characterization as Sameness in Final Fantasy http://www.tannerhiggin.com/2009/11/characterization-as-sameness-in-final-fantasy/ Race, Gender, and Power in Videogame Culture Sat, 24 Jul 2010 08:59:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Tanner http://www.tannerhiggin.com/2009/11/characterization-as-sameness-in-final-fantasy/comment-page-1/#comment-138 Tanner Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:45:46 +0000 http://www.tannerhiggin.com/?p=256#comment-138 Yes, I think that would be a fair definition of what I mean by sameness here. I am concerned with how race and difference are either dealt with in games through overt stereotype or, as discussed here, by just sidestepping it often in favor of a pervasive whiteness that functions as the basis for this notion of “the same.” And I would agree that part of the problem here has to do with games as commodities, and more specifically commodities that some still consider incapable of being “art.” As a result we see productions that are in large part designed to be less politically challenging and more comfortable for the typical consumer. Productive difference is a hard sell in the marketplace. Yes, I think that would be a fair definition of what I mean by sameness here. I am concerned with how race and difference are either dealt with in games through overt stereotype or, as discussed here, by just sidestepping it often in favor of a pervasive whiteness that functions as the basis for this notion of “the same.”

And I would agree that part of the problem here has to do with games as commodities, and more specifically commodities that some still consider incapable of being “art.” As a result we see productions that are in large part designed to be less politically challenging and more comfortable for the typical consumer. Productive difference is a hard sell in the marketplace.

]]> By: chuk http://www.tannerhiggin.com/2009/11/characterization-as-sameness-in-final-fantasy/comment-page-1/#comment-136 chuk Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:11:04 +0000 http://www.tannerhiggin.com/?p=256#comment-136 What does sameness mean here? Characters who are basically not different, although they may be superficially? I wonder how games produce colorblindness, and if they might encourage it? It is not just we, bad people talking about games wrong, who make games seem close-minded and raceless, but the games that are actually designed to be racist. It seems like an easy-to-justify decision for developers. Especially given how the industry runs at this time, where risk must be avoided, clones sell well, and the product must be finished with anything complex ultimately cut out for the Christmas deadline. Anyway, I'm preparing an abstract for PCA/ACA, where Voorhees helps organize the gaming section. You should come! Blackless fantasy was wonderful, and makes me kind of want to explore the fantasy tradition a little further, to get more depth on the connection of orcs & africans, and more traction on ways fantasy worlds can include race in productive ways. (eg the variety of elves, the middle-eastern tribe-like characters with Olliphants and whatever else) c What does sameness mean here? Characters who are basically not different, although they may be superficially?

I wonder how games produce colorblindness, and if they might encourage it? It is not just we, bad people talking about games wrong, who make games seem close-minded and raceless, but the games that are actually designed to be racist. It seems like an easy-to-justify decision for developers. Especially given how the industry runs at this time, where risk must be avoided, clones sell well, and the product must be finished with anything complex ultimately cut out for the Christmas deadline.

Anyway, I’m preparing an abstract for PCA/ACA, where Voorhees helps organize the gaming section. You should come! Blackless fantasy was wonderful, and makes me kind of want to explore the fantasy tradition a little further, to get more depth on the connection of orcs & africans, and more traction on ways fantasy worlds can include race in productive ways. (eg the variety of elves, the middle-eastern tribe-like characters with Olliphants and whatever else)

c

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