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Prince of Persia - Is it Culturally Irresponsible?

December 26, 2008 in Blog comments 12

Seth Schiesel has written a thought-provoking blog on the realism (or lack thereof) that appears in the Prince of Persia games. While Schiesel acknowledges that Prince of Persia's aim isn't to be realistic and that the games aren't actually set in the Persia from our world, he questions whether that is reason enough to absolve the developers from accurately depicting parts of Persian culture or a Persian's appearance (namely the prince himself)...

What are we to make of a “Prince of Persia” who talks and behaves like a 17-year-old American mall rat? A “Prince of Persia” with blue eyes, fully Anglicized facial features and what looks like a tan he picked up on spring break? Is it taking a video game too seriously to shrink in distaste from such characterizations? In fairness, the new Prince of Persia does not claim any historical or cultural authenticity; the game is set in a fantastic magical realm rather than in a rendition of any real place. But does that absolve the game of any responsibility?

Yes, there is danger and potential futility in taking works of mass fare too seriously. Yet there is also danger in employing cultural symbols of such power so blithely, with such a willful disregard for reality.

Prince of Persia is a great game, but simply being a video game is no longer sufficient to earn a pass from being held to account for shaping the perceptions and attitudes of its players. Not anymore.
Miss Razz via nytimes.com »
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  • 1
    RKRigney Dec 27, 08
    Nah. And I hate whenever people try to get people offended by pointing out stuff like this. Although he has a point. The Prince is incredibly politically incorrect.

    But who cares?
  • 3
    Ghost of You Dec 27, 08
    hes also humanly irresponsible.
    he basically flys.

    come on, people need to get a life
  • 2
    Shadow of Death Dec 27, 08
    @Ghost of You - XD LOL. That is WIN!

    Meh, you don't see people screaming at anime producers in Japan. I mean, their western styled characters are generally cliches/stereotypes. Not to mention anime characters generally don't look like any sort of real human at all >_> Proportions are often off for one.

    Some people need to get a life, yeah >_>
  • 1
    yugiRULER Dec 27, 08
    Whoever wrote that article, is an ass. I love this game. The cell shaded graphics is a nice change from normal graphics. And I like his features. Just because he has blue eyes doesn't mean he's a mall rat. And WTF is a mall rat anyway? This game is great, the only things I don't really get, is how you can never die. That was a stupid but nice addition to the game. It really lets you play the game and get in to the story without having to go through 6 loading screens every-time you fall off a cliff. Overall, I cant find anything wrong with the game. Its like I've always wanted from a game.
    • 0
      HisServant77 Dec 27, 08
      What's a mall rat? That's a term that generally means teenager. I believe it's coined due to some teens obsession with hanging out in the mall.

      Ever heard of "rug rat" being used to describe little todlers and small kids? I think that's where they deemed "MALL rat" from. Tots spend much time on the rug crawling and playing. Teens spend much time in the mall.

      Thereby ends our learning of odd information and terms.
  • 1
    Darknet Dec 27, 08
    I think it's safe to say that PoP has gone beyond the Persian realm and has just created a new universe itself. Hell, the Prince isn't even a prince in the game (OR IS HE? DUN DUN DUUUUU).
    • 0
      StarJet Dec 27, 08
      This makes me even more intrigued about this game. If he isn't a prince in this game, what is he? What is he called in-game? Ugh! I wish they'd do a PSP port like with the other two games.
      • 0
        Darknet Dec 27, 08
        He may be a prince or not. The game reveals very little about his past so he could be one. Have to see the sequels just to know. Pretty much everyone calls him "The Wander" instead of Prince.
  • 0
    HisServant77 Dec 27, 08
    Ah well, c'est la vie. People will always be eager to point out flaws, political incorrectness, and things to complain about. I think it's safe to say, that some people are just naturally like that. Not that it makes it alright of course.

    But small things like the prince's appearance (though never played the game) do annoy a little simply because it makes him seem out of place or something. But does the phrase "video games as art" mean anything? Just think of it as . . . post modernism art. That stuff makes little to no sense and yet some people . . . love it and can make something out of it!
  • 0
    Sayyed Dec 27, 08
    I hate when people try to be politiclay correct with things, now with damn video games?!

    I think what I hate more then anything is that some peopl might be offended by something like this.
  • 1
    RabidChinaGirl Dec 28, 08
    I'd like to sit this guy down and explain to him that nobody is going to play the Prince of Persia games and think that's what the Middle East is like.

    Like how someone who plays Okami isn't going to assume that ancient Japan had magical white wolves running around with a flaming disc on her back.

    I'm surprised the writer isn't pointing fingers at Assassin's Creed. Aside from the sci-fi aspect, that game clings to realism a bit more than any of the Prince of Persia games...
  • 0
    Shinobi_razor Dec 28, 08
    OMG, wow, i havent even played this game but i could care less if the Prince acts like a "17 year old punk" or whatever, or if its a historically inaccurate Persia. who gives a *bleep*? its supposed to be a fun game, its not supposed to be over analized.

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