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Capcom Will Add More White Characters To Resident Evil 5

June 25, 2008 in News comments 25

Despite Capcom claiming that Resident Evil 5 was not redesigned after Racism claims, it seems they have now bowed under pressure and decided to add more white characters to the game. It is especially noticeable that the racism claims got to them, as the game is set in an area of Africa where it wouldn't be likely to see white villagers.

(Discuss in the forum)

It seems that Capcom may finally bend to the politically correct pressure and toss in some differently-pigmented zombies for their upcoming survival/horror death-fest, Resident Evil 5.

The game is set in Africa, so of course, there are plenty of African-Americans. Therefore, when the village gets assaulted by a nasty virus that turns them into zombies, logic tells us that we get a lot of African zombies. Sounds perfectly logical to us, but it certainly created a lot of negative backlash, and here's some evidence of that:

"...gunning down mobs of angry Africans could be subtly racist...Its not just that these zombies are black, but that the uninfected black villagers are zombie-like too. See all those spooky shots of the villagers before they get infected? Its as if race itself were a disease. The white protagonist has to fight back or be infected." (Source- GameSpot)

And now according to TalkPlayStation, the latest issue of OPM says Capcom will be including more white people and zombies in Resident Evil 5.
Miss Razz via psxextreme.com »
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Most recently commented on by on Jun 30, 2008

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  • -1
    Final Blade Jun 26, 08
    Wow, who gives a crap what they think. I mean if they had intentions to release more white characters in the game thats fine, but don't do it because of idiots claiming its racism.
  • 2
    Armed Rebel Jun 26, 08
    Pussies. asdfadfasdasdfasd
  • 2
    Silent Storm Jun 26, 08
    "The game is set in Africa, so of course, there are plenty of African-Americans."

    I lol'd...
  • -1
    ragnarok414 Jun 26, 08
    this is terrible, another example of political correctedness going way too far. RE5 has a legitimate reason to have mainly African-American zombies....ITS IN AFRICA! It's not racism, its *bleep*ing geography
    • 2
      HawkMan Jun 26, 08
      its all also geography to know they're not African-Americans since its set in Africa. dumbass
  • 1
    VeGiTAX2 Jun 26, 08
    Hopefully this turns into a non-stop fest of foolishness as white people then stand up in disagreement and protest the game for being racist against white people.

    I mean given that the devs are Japanese they're pretty much out of luck no matter what they do at this point unless they change all the characters to Japanese and relocate the entire game. Once they bowed down to the pressure they opened the flood gates for anyone to say anything about it with controlling interest in mind.
    • 1
      Miss Razz Jun 26, 08
      quote
      I mean given that the devs are Japanese
      This is what I don't understand about the whole racism issue ... I suppose I could see their point if Resident Evil 5 was being created by a mostly white company. But it's not... It's being created by a Japanese company, so the argument that it's racist having a white man kill black men is void, since the creators are neither white or black.
      Were white people offended when Yoko (the Japanese protagonist) went on a white-zombie killing spree in Racoon City? Nope, not a word was uttered against it.

      I feel a bit sad that Capcom felt the need to change their game to "please" the nitpickers who probably won't even play it.
      • 2
        Armed Rebel Jun 26, 08
        Hense the ridiculousness of some of these people who cry racist. There isn't even any logic to it - they see black people dieing in a video game, and think nothing in their blind rage other than racist. Unfortunately Capcom doesn't have the stones to call dumb shit like this out and tell them to worry about something that actually matters.

        Jesse Jackson 1, Capcom 0
      • -1
        HawkMan Jun 26, 08
        I must've missed the memo that stated only white people can be racist.
        • 2
          VeGiTAX2 Jun 26, 08
          You missed the memo also where this is a video game, a work of fiction.

          Apparently by your logic in this case RE5 should consider strange multi-color blobs that have no physically recognizable characteristics so as to prevent any sexism or racism.

          Where were you again when RE4 debuted? Oh that's right, sitting back ignoring this magical "issue" that jumped fourth.
  • 0
    Newcloud Jun 26, 08
    WHAT!!!! where going to shoot white people thats recist!! (joke)
  • 0
    HawkMan Jun 26, 08
    On one hand I can see why people would find the game racist. A white dude going into Africa and pretty much taking all of the black folks out. I'm sure this wasn't Capcom's intention, but in hindsight not so much of a good idea. It's pretty much a case of indirect racism. I can actually see the KKK having a field day with this game. Also some of you need to look up the racist comments over at youtube and wham you pretty much have a reason why folks might have a problem with this game. This issue goes deeper then political correctness. and the issue at hand isn't the fact that its set in Africa, but the fact that redfield is a white dude gunning down black zombies.
    • 1
      Miss Razz Jun 26, 08
      None of that really applies to a Japanese company though.
      Japan never had issues with the black race, Africa, slavery, or the KKK. There is no "taboo" surrounding 'black imagery' or depicting black people as 'savages'. (heck, most Japanese people haven't ever seen a black person in their life). These are concepts that a Japanese company would probably never even think of. It just doesn't come up. It's hardly indirect racism if the game is coming from a country that has never come across the "white vs black" racism issue before.
      • -1
        HawkMan Jun 26, 08
        Wow, you really need to research your facts before coming out and posting them. To go and state that Japan doesn't have any racial issues,is F'in *bleep*. Almost Everything you said in your post is completely wrong. Japan has plenty of experience with racial imagery and and what is to percieved to be taboo. Its not as prevalent as it is in America but it surely exist. You're clearly misinformed on the matter. Next time do some research.
      • -1
        HawkMan Jun 26, 08
        My repsonse stems from your post seeming to imply that theres no racism in japan.
        • 1
          ali3n Jun 27, 08
          Her post doesn't imply that. She simply said that the typical 'white vs black' racism found in the western countries would not be found there not that there is no racism at all.
        • 1
          Miss Razz Jun 27, 08
          quote
          Wow, you really need to research your facts before coming out and posting them. To go and state that Japan doesn't have any racial issues,is F'in *bleep*.
          I've been to Japan, honey, and witnessed their racism first hand. Read comments properly before assuming things.
      • 2
        RabidChinaGirl Jun 30, 08
        General response, inspired by this chain of comments:

        Actually, there IS racism in Japan, as well as the rest of Asia, even toward blacks. If you asked me how this was possible, I honestly would not be able to explain it to you in any rational way because I have no clue. Being rooted in Taiwan, I will tell you that despite being an Asian country that appears to have so little diversity from the outside, racism towards other peoples exist. Darker skin is frowned upon in most societies, and you can see that based on the workers/labor hierarchy in developed nations. There is a tiny fraction of blacks residing in Taipei from what I have seen, though I'm not sure they're actually African; there are Asian/Pacific Islander peoples with darker skin as well, and despite the stereotype that we all look the same, there's plenty of strife between the Asian groups.

        It isn't true that racism doesn't exist in such places, but it IS more accurate to say that racial issues do not, at least not the way we understand it.

        However, I STILL agree that the racism and Resident Evil 5 issue is just plain ridiculous.. for all the reasons people have already listed. I guess Capcom just wanted to drop this stupid controversy once and for all, thinking the PR just wasn't worth it.
  • 0
    Bale Fire* Jun 26, 08
    They should have some white zombies (I'm sure they'd be at least a couple of travelers there) but I will honestly turn the game off if the level opens up saying Africa and then the the first wave of zombies are white
  • 2
    ali3n Jun 26, 08
    I find it racist that white people insist on being in every game, it makes me feel they still want to prove their superiority over other races when they insist on being in every game no matter how absurd the situation.
  • 2
    Zerpent Jun 26, 08
    I think the entire 'racist' thing is completely idiotic. This is a freakin' game! It's about shooting zombies, not black people. How the hell is it possible for some people to misunderstand this? -_-
  • 0
    kik36 Jun 26, 08
    If there are 1,000 white zombies and 1 black it will still be called racism now. Capcom has gotten themselves in a trap by backing down. Unfortunately the people who were screaming racism most likely would never play the game in the first place, so the only ones who will be affected by this will be the gamers.
    • 0
      ali3n Jun 26, 08
      Gamers won't be affected in the slightest, I doubt anyone playing the game is actually going to care whether the zombie trying to eat you alive is White or Black or Hispanic. People are just 'outraged' by how absurd the situation is.
  • 0
    King Bubsgonzola Jun 26, 08
    I suppose they could say it is South Africa.
  • 0
    pwned227 Jun 26, 08
    god some people really over react to stuff.

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