Why are all Main/Playable characters White?

I really don't think i've seen a non white main/playable character. Most of the main/playable characters are white people, like gears 1&2, killzone2, uncharted 1&2, dark sector, assassins creed, etc. Even with comic book super hero's they are all white too, whats the deal?

More white people buy games? in japanese games most character looks japanese. I think its more to do with the people buying the games and the developers. Most USA developers are white.

GTA: San Andreas says hello :P Oh yeah and Spawn :)

I was reading some stuff about Matrix Reloaded and people were like, "there's alot of black people in that movie." LOL, lie 4/20 characters are black and all the others are white, but thats considered to be a massive amount. If you had a game with a non-white lead, I think the majority of americans would consider it to be a "race x" game. Similar to how any movie with a black lead other than Will Smith is considered to be a black movie. The only race that could skate by is Asians, but only if the game takes place in china town or involves Ninja. It'd be ok then. But if it was just the story of somebody was asian, I think most americans would be like, "Oh, this is a game for Chinese people (regardless of the actual country of origin) and would avoid it.

Spawn totally doesn't count at all. GTA: San Andreas does... but LOL, the only game with a black lead is one about doing drive bys, having sex with a bunch of different women, smoking weed and drinking 40s.

GTA: San Andreas says hello :P Oh yeah and Spawn :)

Epak_

GTA: San Andreas says hello :P Oh yeah and Spawn :)

Epak_

[QUOTE="Epak_"]

GTA: San Andreas says hello :P Oh yeah and Spawn :)

Lto_thaG

And Afro Samurai :P

Okay you've named one video game, and one super hero. hmm... out of all the video games and super heros out there you could only name one for each.

GTA: San Andreas says hello :P Oh yeah and Spawn :)

Epak_

I was reading some stuff about Matrix Reloaded and people were like, "there's alot of black people in that movie." LOL, lie 4/20 characters are black and all the others are white, but thats considered to be a massive amount. If you had a game with a non-white lead, I think the majority of americans would consider it to be a "race x" game. Similar to how any movie with a black lead other than Will Smith is considered to be a black movie. The only race that could skate buy is Asians, but only if the movie takes place in china town or involves Ninja. It'd be ok then. But if it was just the story of somebody was asian, I think most americans would be like, "Oh, this is a game for Chinese people (regardless of the actual country of origin) and would avoid it.Senor_Kami

cause that the way the game designers made, its entirely up to them

HOWEVER, I am seeing more and more main characters that are black, asian european and middle eastern

like Carl and Neko from GTA

and im not white, im a Persian in the US

I really don't think i've seen a non white main/playable character. Most of the main/playable characters are white people, like gears 1&2, killzone2, uncharted 1&2, dark sector, assassins creed, etc. Even with comic book super hero's they are all white too, whats the deal?

redskins2156

GTA San Andreas and The Green Lantern say no to your observation, also Sheva in RE5. The majority of the population in the Western world is Caucasian. It would be nice to see more varied protagonists though, or in GTA's case, antagonists.

Okay you've named one video game, and one super hero. hmm... out of all the video games and super heros out there you could only name one for each.[QUOTE="Epak_"]

GTA: San Andreas says hello :P Oh yeah and Spawn :)

redskins2156

Spawn has video games too :P

Wasn't the main character of The Suffering black?

Okay you've named one video game, and one super hero. hmm... out of all the video games and super heros out there you could only name one for each.

redskins2156

Actually they're both videogames.

There's a Spawn game on the Xbox :)

Edit: Too late :(

and im not white, im Persian in the US

GTR_FX

Wasn't the main character of The Suffering black?

cloudff7tm

cause that the way the game designers made, its entirely up to them

HOWEVER, I am seeing more and more main characters that are black, asian european and middle eastern

like Carl and Neko from GTA

and im not white, im Persian in the US

GTR_FX

[QUOTE="GTR_FX"]

cause that the way the game designers made, its entirely up to them

HOWEVER, I am seeing more and more main characters that are black, asian european and middle eastern

like Carl and Neko from GTA

and im not white, im Persian in the US

Mckenna1845

[QUOTE="cloudff7tm"]

Wasn't the main character of The Suffering black?

Lto_thaG

Actually I think he's right.

Torque wasn't exactly white from what I remember.

[QUOTE="GTR_FX"]

and im not white, im Persian in the US

Lto_thaG

[QUOTE="cloudff7tm"]

Wasn't the main character of The Suffering black?

Lto_thaG

Looks like he is to me.

GTA: San Andreas says hello :P Oh yeah and Spawn :)

Epak_

Yeah, I know the only black guy lead character "CJ" from GTA, is a drug dealer who has sex, does drive bys. Afro samurai does count, but my point is that I wish they would make more games with different lead characters, instead of having the usual white guy take out a whole nation all by himself.

I was reading some stuff about Matrix Reloaded and people were like, "there's alot of black people in that movie." LOL, lie 4/20 characters are black and all the others are white, but thats considered to be a massive amount. If you had a game with a non-white lead, I think the majority of americans would consider it to be a "race x" game. Similar to how any movie with a black lead other than Will Smith is considered to be a black movie. The only race that could skate by is Asians, but only if the game takes place in china town or involves Ninja. It'd be ok then. But if it was just the story of somebody was asian, I think most americans would be like, "Oh, this is a game for Chinese people (regardless of the actual country of origin) and would avoid it.

Spawn totally doesn't count at all. GTA: San Andreas does... but LOL, the only game with a black lead is one about doing drive bys, having sex with a bunch of different women, smoking weed and drinking 40s.

Senor_Kami

[QUOTE="Mckenna1845"][QUOTE="GTR_FX"]

cause that the way the game designers made, its entirely up to them

HOWEVER, I am seeing more and more main characters that are black, asian european and middle eastern

like Carl and Neko from GTA

and im not white, im Persian in the US

Lto_thaG

Go to South Africa though and there are white people... it's not all black in Africa

[QUOTE="Lto_thaG"][QUOTE="cloudff7tm"]

Wasn't the main character of The Suffering black?

50u1r34v3r

Actually I think he's right.

Torque wasn't exactly white from what I remember.

[QUOTE="Mckenna1845"][QUOTE="GTR_FX"]

cause that the way the game designers made, its entirely up to them

HOWEVER, I am seeing more and more main characters that are black, asian european and middle eastern

like Carl and Neko from GTA

and im not white, im Persian in the US

Lto_thaG

the majority of games are purchased in the west

the majority of games are aimed at the western market

the majority of people in the west are white

it's not racism is common sense

(ignoring japanese games here for a moment)

[QUOTE="Lto_thaG"][QUOTE="cloudff7tm"]

Wasn't the main character of The Suffering black?

cloudff7tm

Looks like he is to me.

COD 4 Jackson is black. Just Cause you are Latino. Crysis Nomad is black (i think). Stranglehold you are Asian. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. you are Russian. Godfather you are Italian. Prey you are Native American. Scarface you are Cuban. This is not even mentioning all of the games where you can choose race. Also as previously mentioned GTA SA and 50 cent games.

[QUOTE="Lto_thaG"][QUOTE="Mckenna1845"] true. although after what happened with resident evil 5, which was a joke, considering were the game is based, the trend of white/asian characters isn't going to change.lundy86_4

Go to South Africa though and there are white people... it's not all black in Africa

Why does it matter?

[QUOTE="Lto_thaG"]Were there actually complaints about FarCry 2?lundy86_4

Go to South Africa though and there are white people... it's not all black in Africa

look at street fighter, it has a figher from almost every major region in the world

COD 4 Jackson is black. Just Cause you are Latino. Crysis Nomad is black (i think). Stranglehold you are Asian. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. you are Russian. Godfather you are Italian. Prey you are Native American. Scarface you are Cuban. This is not even mentioning all of the games where you can choose race. Also as previously mentioned GTA SA and 50 cent games.

Jade_Monkey

Crysis Nomad is black (i think).

Jade_Monkey

the majority of games are purchased in the west

the majority of games are aimed at the western market

the majority of people in the west are white

it's not racism is common sense

(ignoring japanese games here for a moment)

Enosh88

[QUOTE="Epak_"]

GTA: San Andreas says hello :P Oh yeah and Spawn :)

Animal-Mother

LOL. Basket Ball game.

[QUOTE="50u1r34v3r"]

[QUOTE="Lto_thaG"] I don't think so :PLto_thaG

Actually I think he's right.

Torque wasn't exactly white from what I remember.

Yeah, that's Torque.

He looks a little pale here but I still think he isn't white.

No white guy is that cool :lol: j/k j/k

Why does it matter?

GeoffZak

I guess if games don't put black characters in they are racist. just like if you shoot black people in games they are racist.

[QUOTE="lundy86_4"]

[QUOTE="Lto_thaG"] Were there actually complaints about FarCry 2?Lto_thaG

Go to South Africa though and there are white people... it's not all black in Africa

Of course there werent... I mean there's no way it's anywhere near as popular as RE... I mean common sense is one thing few of these people have when complaining :P Guaranteed the majority of people who were complaining probably weren't black

So you are saying white people that play games like to play as white playable characters?

the majority of games are purchased in the west

the majority of games are aimed at the western market

the majority of people in the west are white

it's not racism is common sense

(ignoring japanese games here for a moment)

Enosh88

[QUOTE="Lto_thaG"][QUOTE="lundy86_4"]

Go to South Africa though and there are white people... it's not all black in Africa

lundy86_4

Of course there werent... I mean there's no way it's anywhere near as popular as RE... I mean common sense is one thing few of these people have when complaining :P Guaranteed the majority of people who were complaining probably weren't black

So basically the developers are scared of the minority of racists in the west, so they make sure it gets bought by making the lead white every time. The minority would prefer a white lead being a hero instead of a black lead, so they give the market what they want.Coolio10

/facepalm

it's easier for someone who is white to relate to a white main character

So you are saying white people that play games like to play as white playable characters?

redskins2156

mostly yes, just look at games where poeople can make their own characters like MMOs (GW or WoW (well wow human)) most characters are going to be white, it's hard to find a white guy playing a black character, or a black guy playing a white character

it's human nature

Someone seems bitter...not that you're wrong. A majority of game characters are caucasian, however considering those who are ethnically not caucasian are considered minorities in the US because they make up a smaller percentage of the population. In addition developers make games for themselves, but mostly for their audience. And if you look at most of the video game developers in the world they are located in the US, Canada, Europe and Japan. And while Japan's common and inexplicable habbit of characterising western looking characters, it makes sense that the most common ethnicity in a game's country of origin is featured if for anything to relate to it's audience's frame of reference.

To be honest, I have never noticed, and looking at the collection of games I have on my shelves, it doesn't look like ther eis more games with white lead charecters than there are ones with non white lead charecters.

.