Point being, your still arguing your cause, from a computer on an anonymous forum, why don't you grab some picket signs if it bothers you so much.... EDIT: YES A HEMORRHOID COVERED ASS WOULD INDEED SUCK. SEE WE AGREE!
you got me... are you using that broomstick handle? thanks... ok, pass the magic markers! People don't have to be picketing to add to a discussion... That's like saying a crime reporter better be a vigilante at night.
Sorry I was assuming you actually believed half the sh#t your saying....obviously your not that offended, as was conveyed in your initial post.
But yeah... they are kinda speaking the truth. Maybe just to test the waters, there should be a Borat game "running of the jew" starring Borat himself of course, in a sideways papi river kinda gameplay. Sad but true that will cause a bigger fiasco, probably CNN level news rather than just a minor news snippet from new zealand.
offended... Personally, no, I'm not THAT offended... but I do have a problem with people saying "it's just a game." That's a TERRIBLE excuse for why it's ok... Like, I don't feel that the Baby Shaker app is that big a deal (though it's in INCREDIBLY bad taste), but I never have, nor do I know anyone who's shaken a real baby...(even on a long-haul flight) But it doesn't mean I don't understand why they pulled it. I'm not from the south pacific, but I sure as hell understand why they might be offended. And you just don't want to offend people with a history of cannibalism... <---- See? For example, right there, I crossed the line. No one's perfect.
I love pocket God. I find it hilarious. And as I've stated before, I am a Pacific Islander. And none of this occured to me until now because, well, I'm from a very different place. When I look at racist cartoons of the early 30s, even Bugs Bunny cartoons that have since been recolored, I can't help but draw comparisons NOW that this has come to light. Will I still play it? Yeah, actually, I will. I'm still searching for ways to actually benefit the islanders in the game - the closest thing is a coconut you have to crack on their heads. The cartoon always looked like a cartoon to me. And playing God always felt like playing God to me. But now I feel dirty. I feel like I'm dealing with an old sambo caricature of my people. I can definitely see where the racism comes from. As to why it wasn't mentioned before - perhaps it has to do with the iTunes ratings in Australia and New Zealand - it hasn't had as much exposure until now.
All this being said - it was clearly NOT the intent of the developers to be racist. It's why a mixture of prehistoric stereotypes fit in - including the Easter Island statue, the bones in the hair, and the grass skirts. They're stereotypes of culture long past - but it happens to resemble the "natives" that "sacrificed virgins" many years ago - and it's obvious to me that was an accident. An art change or art options may be appropriate, but it is expensive.
Why would people find this offensive its a cartoon for gods sake.It has no meaning and while i have played it i never once felt the urge to go to an island and drown people.
Actually, it's torture both ways. That would be the wrong. Telling someone that they are inferior because of their race is racism.
Solution: Make the islanders look customizable. Have them have different eyes, skin color, clothes etc. That way, it makes fun of everybody and not targeted to one group. Although I'm not offended by it.
Ha! That's hilarious. Still, I could imagine people will be offended - why - because they will now be able to target THEIR group I say change the color from just brown. Range from white to yellow to brown to green. All 6 of different colors.
So what then? Turn the islanders into blobs of square? People here say they're not offended or can't feel the reason to because it's not them. If PG is universally diverse, I don't see a reason why anyone would still complain.
Where in Pocket God does it say that anyone is inferior based on race? PG implies that CARTOON PYGMIES (not real people by any stretch of the imagination) are simple minded folk without a whole lot to do that happen to have an equally bored 'God' (played by you). I see absolutely NO racism. Can racism be inferred? I guess - hence all the discussion this morning but there is no direct racism in Pocket God. People are looking at the cartoons and making their own comparisons. If anything, more arguments could be made that the pygmies are incredibly primitive 'humans' (like BC, like a long, long time ago) and devoid of specific race at all. In that case they are cavemen-ish and we all know they're ok to make fun of. Is it the hair color? Does all this come down to the artist's choice of hair color??
What I meant was that NO ONE seems to have a problem with the "torture" part, but some people do seem to have a problem with WHO is being tortured. OK, so Pacific Islanders are offended now. Would they be placated if the "islanders" were depicted as stereotypical Italians? Sure, they would! They have NO problem with the cartoon torture of Italians. They, like everyone else, are just looking out for number one. And according to your above definition of "racism", I don't really see any going on here. Who is saying that the PG pygmies are inferior?
It's like saying Resident Evil 5 is racist, it is just a setting, games need settings and this is set in the pacific. I'm black and i love resident evil 5 and think it is just fun, in my opinion this is no more racist than that. "If this was an African or a Jew or someone, people would be jumping up and down; but because Pacific Islanders are inconsequential, as it were, people are allowed to do it" This just makes me think that the writer wants something to complain about, also i wonder if he has even played the game. It shows a statue (not racist) some islanders (not racist) wearing straw skirts (not racist)
To be fair, Pocket God uses a "Islander" theme out of necessity. The gameplay requires a small track of land on which your inhabitants can live, but cannot escape from. An island is the best/only solution. Since the game's mechanics require an island, PG chose "Pacific Islanders" to be the villagers. Now that the pygmies had a race, thematic elements followed. There's a stone tiki head (like Easter Island), a volcano, a coconut tree, fishing, etc. And it is implied that they worship a mystical deity who requires constant human sacrifices. All of these thematic elements are coming from America's stereotypical understanding of the Pacific Islander culture. And so, Pocket God utilizes racial stereotypes for its content. However, that is the only racially offensive part of PG. What "islander-themed" things in America aren't racist? Bobbling hula dancers, island-themed restaurants, "islander music", and hula hoops are all as offensive as Pocket God. If you want to see true racism against Pacific Islanders, watch the original King Kong. The issue isn't being fixed because it's too soon after acquiring Hawaii. (Read about the European/American overthrow of Hawaii for some perspective. That action took a lot of forced racism to make it seem okay to the public. That's not something we'll get over any time soon, and I don't expect Pocket God is going to change anyone's opinion of "islanders" one way or the other. Sorry for the American-centric post, but I can't speak for other countries.
