Character Roster is culturally uneven

Status
Not open for further replies.
Norik said:
There's no racist like a liberal racist.

Anyways, this is more of a Japanese design issue than anything else. Mostly because:

Kind of. The Japanese have never felt like they belong with the rest of East Asia (cultural thing), so they design themselves like westerners. Because of this trend and it's evolution, nowadays it's common to see all Asian characters with large brown eyes, light hair, and pale, pink skins (and sometimes even ASIAN FUCKING REDHEADS). So how do you distinguish that from real westerners? Well, they use the only stereotype they know: Europeans are blond and blue eyed. This is why we get Danish-looking Greeks, Swedish-looking Frenchmen, and fucking German-looking Ottomans. Conversely, stereotyping of African characters gives us a Nigerian-looking North African.

So to answer OP's question: Japanese game designers can only make western-looking characters. As this series moves further away from its historical-stereotypes roots and closer to medieval fantasy (which is absurd, as this game takes place during the height of colonialism), you can expect even fewer non-European characters.
Click to expand...

In summary, it's like fast food restaurants like McDonald's and Taco Bell. It serves you the "supposed" stuff, but don't question what you eat. Chances are they may not be authentic food.
 
Norik said:
There's no racist like a liberal racist.

Anyways, this is more of a Japanese design issue than anything else. Mostly because:

Kind of. The Japanese have never felt like they belong with the rest of East Asia (cultural thing), so they design themselves like westerners. Because of this trend and it's evolution, nowadays it's common to see all Asian characters with large brown eyes, light hair, and pale, pink skins (and sometimes even ASIAN FUCKING REDHEADS). So how do you distinguish that from real westerners? Well, they use the only stereotype they know: Europeans are blond and blue eyed. This is why we get Danish-looking Greeks, Swedish-looking Frenchmen, and fucking German-looking Ottomans. Conversely, stereotyping of African characters gives us a Nigerian-looking North African.

So to answer OP's question: Japanese game designers can only make western-looking characters. As this series moves further away from its historical-stereotypes roots and closer to medieval fantasy (which is absurd, as this game takes place during the height of colonialism), you can expect even fewer non-European characters.
Click to expand...

So they're being lazy and racist? My hopes for SCVI are steadily decreasing now.
 
Thaeonblade said:
So they're being lazy and racist? My hopes for SCVI are steadily decreasing now.
Click to expand...
Not sure where you're getting that from. I wouldn't call them lazy; just untrue to the roots of the series (whether or not that's a bad thing depends on who you ask). I mean, look at Viola, her design is pure fantasy but her style is about as inventive as can be.

I also fail to see the racism in the absence of black men when the game set in 17th Century Eurasia.
 
Mage said:
It's not racism, people are looking into things way too much.
Click to expand...

It's likely not intentional, but as I said in my OP, it makes the game a bit dull and less like Soul Calibur and more akin to generic European Fighter with a few guests from Asia.

It wouldn't be as big of a deal if previous games were more centered on European styles, but those games had consistent diversity with their cast and combat styles. Which is why SCV has the accusations of having racist/sexist undertones in it's cast. Are they true? I'll give PS the benefit of a doubt and say that it wasn't their intention.

But it's hard to deny evidence to the contrary.
 
People keep watching at the 50% of Namco fault and absolutely ignore the 50 composed by the shit audience

SC was essentially an awesome ancient swordindaface Street Fighter, the clash of nationalized characters
Was awesome because as simple it was, was something that add strenght to the overall atmosphere

Today will never born a new "Street Fighter"

You will just end up with

The kidz bored because they don't get herp derp wannabe cool fantasy anime characters

The fat virgin wierdo mad because the cast of that fight game have too many fighters and not enough little anime girls (poor guy, he need it for his fan-fiction, he's a writer!)

The pussy, hypocrite, globalized 2013 (western) world ever ready to feel offended about how racist is X, how sexualized is Y, how racist-sexualised-not-politically correct is Z.
D45403FAF.gif

This in combo with japanese awkwardness when they have to handle western idea of racism/sexism/politicallyshit?
No surprise they play safe and stay away from esotic/ethnic characters if they can
Lol, USF4 is not even out and yet peoples are whining about Elena's "tribal" alt (the concept of it, there are not even pics)

In theyr mind if you do a bunch of 15-25 herp derp white-looking generic anime characters most of theyr audience will approve. And guess what, they're right

Blame "our" 50% before
If "we" was better, we will still get classic SC

Why SF in 2013 can keep being SF?
Rock-solid loyal big fanbase
Outsiders can whine as much they want, SF will keep being SF

SC don't have it, and without it you have to play under 2013-world rules

If 8wr can be take as mirror of current SC fans, is not hard see why PS do things in that way

Easier
Safer
Marketable

Sound like most of stuff we have seen in VG industry during these PS360 years
Is the way business go today, like or not you have to deal with it
 
Norik said:
Sexist? A fighting video game?

Not even once.
Click to expand...

What I meant by sexist was that the majority of female veterans were absent due to "age", but most of the male ones get to come back even though some are pushing 60. Looking at you, Voldo.

Alright, Gatsu. You probably have a good point, but this my initial honest response:
 
Yeah, the roster mainly consists of characters from either Europe or Asia, but when Soul Calibur III came out and brought in Zasalamel, the roster started to look a little diverse. I was hoping for a characters from Mesoamerica (modern day Mexico), Arabia, Polynesia, Siam, Africa (Zulu tribe), Egypt, and India, but we didn't. I wouldn't mind seeing Bangoo in the roster, too.
 
Thaeonblade said:
Anyone notice that most of the people missing without explanation in SCV were non-whites?

Zasalamel: African/Mesopotamia
Rock: European/Native American raised
Talim: SE Asia
Yunseong, Hwang and Seong Mina: Korea
Setsuka: European/Japanese raised
Click to expand...
Setsuka doesn't count as such, and if we're going by birthplace (aka technicality), neither does Rock.

Norik said:
snip
Click to expand...
You and that hot-linking. Don't ever go to zero-chan again. lol
 
Ah come on guys. Everyone has different takes on it. Even if people nit-pick the game, it doesn't mean they hate it per say. It's usually just for the sake of discussion lol.

I mean, I'm black myself and even though it sucks that there isn't a black character in Soul Calibur V, I'm not automatically screaming their racist. I'm sure they have their reasons and even if they were racist, what can you do about it? And like another person said, create a soul can help remedy the problem (though I wish they had more native clothing lol).

It would be cool if SCVI introduces some more ethnic character but if they don't, as long as CAS is there, I'll be satisfied. And that way, if I do want to see some more diverse cultured characters, Tekken helps this out as this game has bit of everything in terms of aesthetic.

If I ever get into the game industry and get to make my own fighting game series, I know I'd include all ethnicity characters. :)
 
Robert_J_King said:
Are people just getting restless and actively looking to nitpick things in this series or what...?
Click to expand...

Lol apparently!!! xDD I'm still waiting for the 2009 topics about "is it proper that Amy can be displayed in a sexual way??" Or Dead or Alive "does this game promote women abuse"? Lol, most of those topics are just funny to read, it feels like I'm reading some bad Morning News station while still half awake and on cat nip!!
 
Thaeonblade said:
What I meant by sexist was that the majority of female veterans were absent due to "age", but most of the male ones get to come back even though some are pushing 60. Looking at you, Voldo.

Alright, Gatsu. You probably have a good point, but this my initial honest response:
Click to expand...
Yet Hwang, Li Long, and from the looks of it, Rock, were omitted as well.
 
Such bleeding heart first world problems. This is one thing I respect Japanese developers and designers for, they won't be browbeaten into a quota-filling politically correct character roster.
 
Norik said:
Viola, her design is pure fantasy.
Click to expand...
I think that alone is where everything people once understood is being thrown off. The minute the stopped their inspirations from fictional history into anime-fantasy is where the rules cancel out. That doesnt thrill me, even if its their idea of an artistic enhancement. Though Viola can still get away with being a romanian Gypsy with some tweaks.
Thaeonblade said:
What I meant by sexist was that the majority of female veterans were absent due to "age", but most of the male ones get to come back even though some are pushing 60. Looking at you, Voldo.
Click to expand...
You mean Maxi right? The ageless, failure at life, babysitter's pretty boy? He was a priority for some stupid reason. HE of all characters. Voldo at least has eternal story relevence.
 
Last edited:
Gatsu said:
People keep watching at the 50% of Namco fault and absolutely ignore the 50 composed by the shit audience. SC was essentially an awesome ancient swordindaface Street Fighter, the clash of nationalized characters. Was awesome because as simple it was, was something that add strenght to the overall atmosphere. Why SF in 2013 can keep being SF? Rock-solid loyal big fanbase.
Outsiders can whine as much they want, SF will keep being SF.
Click to expand...
Exactly. The real reason why I just never invested anything into SCV was because of the drastic directional change that diverged from the classic roots into the temptations of what was mainstream right now. As a purist for this series I'd say SCV ruined the image of the franchise thanks too all the outsourced influence from a fanbase that doesnt give a shit about ours anyway. Its the same crisis that Resident Evil's COD envy that eventually destroyed the image of the franchise because it wanted to be something else it was jealous of instead of trying to be true to itself when Crapcom decided that just being Resident Evil wasnt enough. They wanted to an outer cater to an audience they never had. I just feel like SC too is slowly losing its classic feel straying so far from it's roots. To me SC looks like its turning into a Tales game.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back