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Black female (non-stereotypical) protagonists in videogames?
- Thread starter Vermillion
- Start date
Chezzymann
Member
She doesn't look black at all, though.
Good luck finding it in the wild, it's quite rare.
Screaming Meat
Unconfirmed Member
Nuts... not on GOG.com?
Yes, that is a very fancy back story they came up with to cover up the fact that they RE5'd her entire being.
It is kind of racist, you can still like her though.
BlackLagoon
Member
Kim Evans from Call of Juarez: The Cartel
She does talk like a black stereotype I guess, but she's the one playable character in that game that's not a selfish asshole, and gets some decent characterization as she tries to deal with her superiors screwing her over. I actually rather liked her by the end of the game, and was bummed out with how things turn out for her.
RockmanWhore
Member
There are tons of beautiful black girls all arround. I find it depressing how the only "beautiful" black girls in the media are either mixed or they do everything they can to not look like black girls (makeup for the skin to look lighter, hair straightened, etc...), not that I don't like the look of these kind of girls. But I wonder how that impact the self confidence of black girls.
Hoya Destroyer
Member
She looks black to me.
If I saw her walking down the street, I'd say "ohhh, hot black girl".
Screaming Meat
Unconfirmed Member
Didn't know about that. Ta.
Host Samurai
Member
Yes shes black. People even ask if her father is Lee multiple times
Angelus Errare
Banned
If anything I think this thread shows we have a long way to go as species on ethnic and cultural understanding.
This thread has also taught me that in the videogame world, white and asian chracters can look like anything, but a character isn't black until they're "black"
This thread has also taught me that in the videogame world, white and asian chracters can look like anything, but a character isn't black until they're "black"
Black Republican
Member
Most of Gaf doesnt have much contact with us in the real world,lol
VanillaCakeIsBurning
Member
I can probably take a guess but I fear I would be banned for doing so.
This is a thought I've been trying to illustrate for a long while. Thanks.
The Faceless Master
Member
so basically... just D'arci from Urban Chaos
Sheva = not main protagonist
Aveline = mixed
Nilin = mixed
Jade = ambiguous
games with character select = not main
everyone else = not even close to the requirements
and i hope Vanessa cures dat vitiligo in VF6
Sheva = not main protagonist
Aveline = mixed
Nilin = mixed
Jade = ambiguous
games with character select = not main
everyone else = not even close to the requirements
and i hope Vanessa cures dat vitiligo in VF6
ViewtifulJC
Banned
Reminds me of that hot black women thread in OT, where every woman who didn't have Whoopi Goldberg's skin complexion was "nah Zoe's not black she's part somethingsomething"
Black Republican
Member
EscoBlades
Ubisoft Marketing
Some people in this thread don't seem to understand what a protagonist actually is.
VanillaCakeIsBurning
Member
When it comes to caucasians no one ever brings up their ethnical background to say "no he/she's not white, he/she's actually [insert combination here]". The idea of being "black" is considered a negative in many parts of the world. I think that's why you see so many people who try to convince others that they themselves or someone they have seen or talked about is not "black".
Mister_Bubbles
Member
Man, it really is criminal that game was so overlooked. It was ahead of its time in so many areas.
Vermillion
Banned
Zoe
Member
Kat, for the most recent example.
I'm only a quarter Asian(/Pacific Islander depending on who you talk to) and I'm darker than her.
Zoe
Member
That's why I said being black is more than just skin tone.
ChamplooJones
Formerly Momotaro
Funny enough, her VO (Wendee Lee) also does Yoruichi in Bleach.
Out of curiosity, how many black VOs are there?
The Bankslammer
Member
the best
not playable BUT STILL
VanillaCakeIsBurning
Member
SO what is black?
Does anyone have a concrete and solid definition?
I have a feeling everyone is using different definitions for it so having it lay out would go towards clearing up misunderstandings.
Does anyone have a concrete and solid definition?
I have a feeling everyone is using different definitions for it so having it lay out would go towards clearing up misunderstandings.
This and the apparent ambiguity over what constitutes black are the only things I'm taking away from this thread. Mind boggling.
I don't think Shantae's blackOn some pictures she's more white skinned, but certainly Shantae could be called black (brown?).
But mainly she's a genie.
I mean who the hell knows, because WayForward hasn't identified her as anything other than a genie, but black isn't my first guess
I feel like we shouldn't even be using "black," but it's being used the same reason it (almost) always is: it's easier than getting specific.
Especially when we don't even know half of these characters' heritage
Black Republican
Member
Here is one solid definition:
i have that Hershey chocolate skin
Look it's Halle Berry!
Rashida Jones is a goddess, and is an example of the perfect white/black mix. She looks like a Fusion character from Dragon Ball Z, expect she doesn't look weird as fuck.
It would be nice to see a female black protagonist who is obviously black, or hell more blatantly black female characters in general. The ambiguous racial guessing games grow really tiring. Not saying there's anything wrong with mixed characters, but why is that all I nearly see? That one character in Tomb Raider for example was a complete bitch, but she was a sista. It probably all comes down to sales and demographics at the end of the day I guess. Doesn't make it any less sorry.
Also wish I'd see more female black characters with natural hair, ie. coarse texture. Fucking "good hair" is just as pervasive in games as it using real life!
Also wish I'd see more female black characters with natural hair, ie. coarse texture. Fucking "good hair" is just as pervasive in games as it using real life!
GungHo
Single-handedly caused Exxon-Mobil to sue FOX, start World War 3
I often create black protagonists, of either sex, in create-a-player games like RPGs, etc. The only time I sometimes shy away from it is if the skin tones make it look weird (sometimes there is no alternative between caramel and "you can see stars"), if the hair looks weird (sometimes the only options are shaved head, giant 70s afro, or straight hair), or if the vocal qualities don't match up at all (and, yes... some voices just don't have an "everyman" or "everywoman" quality and it can be offputting... has nothing to do with use of language but tone).
In recent memory, I've done this in Skyrim, Fallout 3, Saints Row, WoW (technically, it's Roy Greenhilt), GW2 (Roy Greenhilt again), SWTOR (Roy Greenhilt as a Sith). Not really any reason I do it (I'm white)... I just like to create all kinds of folks. My New Vegas guy was Hispanic, and one of my SWTOR guys is Sammo Hung.
In recent memory, I've done this in Skyrim, Fallout 3, Saints Row, WoW (technically, it's Roy Greenhilt), GW2 (Roy Greenhilt again), SWTOR (Roy Greenhilt as a Sith). Not really any reason I do it (I'm white)... I just like to create all kinds of folks. My New Vegas guy was Hispanic, and one of my SWTOR guys is Sammo Hung.
The question isn't what I think she is or what you think she is, it's what she thinks she is. If she doesn't identify as preta and you insist on calling her that, you're gonna make enemies. Same goes for all sorts of places down in the Carribean and South America. It doesn't matter what you think they are, or where they came from. If they tell you they're not black but Dominican, or Puerto Rican, or Cubano, or pardo, or moreno, I suggest letting it be.As a black person I'd say it is. If your skin color is dark then I consider you black. Black Brazilians are just that, Black Brazilians. They are originally of Sub-Saharan descent, just like me. What exactly do you consider black? It's not just African Americans, it's a multitude of people all over the world. Race is a ridiculous notion anyway, we're all one race, the fucking human race.
If you don't see her as a black woman, then I just don't know.
Take it up with them. I think they'll fight you harder to be called what they wish to be called than you will fight to call them what you want to call them. Good luck.
We played this game last year.
Not necessarily true. Some of the voice sets (e.g. the British voice set, the "black" voice set, and the Latino voice set) react to different situations differently. For example, in SRII, the voice set recorded by the black VA specifically gets after Pierce when he's singing along with a Ne-Yo song.
I don't think so unfortunately. Tanya from MK comes to mind.
That's on Brazil and their own unique racial issues. She looks like my fucking sister without a weave, she's Brazilian but she is also black. I could really not care less about making enemies or offending someone on this. The whole thing is asinine when you think about it anyway, race is mostly a social construct. If she has a problem being called black, then that just tells me a lot about the racial dynamics in Brazil. Being considered black has a negative connotation in Brazil, that is a problem in and of itself.
staticneuron
Member
This is getting ridiculous. Puerto Rican is not a race it is a nationality. When a consensus is tallied the will eventually be asked if they are white or black and then broken down eve further to hispanic and non-hispanic. Puerto Rico is a US territory.
Basically most places recognize it if you have genealogical ties to the specific race.
Since it is a social construct it is different for many nations. For most countries that had institutionalized slavery the term black is used to describe any and everyone not only with a traceable genetic history to Africa (mainly the sub Saharan regions) but also to describe people who have similar facial structures and skin tone. For some countries like Brazil, they recognize mulatto's as a race, where as in America they would be classified as black. In Australia the Aboriginals are considered black. In certain countries they would be recognized as a "native" which would have a different race classification.
So on and so forth. It is perception issue and depending on where you live, your society may simply have a different view on the subject.
The issue here is, there are dark people who are not black, and there are people like my brother who are light as hell who are.
Again you do not get to decide that.
What does that have to do with your light skinned brother? He would also be black nothing invalidates it, that woman is black as well. She is black because she is of African descent, she is just as black as you, me or members of my family. If I see someone who looks like me, same facial features, similar skin tone why would I not call them black? I'm black, but I'm not 100% African by any means, doesn't matter still black. My view is based on how things are in the US admittedly, and here in the US she would definitely be considered black. If being called black is something to be offended by over there, well that is fucking offensive in and of itself.
OldAsUrSock
Banned
Nilin from RM
She does not look black dude.