Games Fail To Portray Gender and Ethnic Diversity

eldavojohn writes "A new study has found that game characters tend not to reflect cultural diversity. According to the paper from researchers across four universities (PDF): 'A large-scale content analysis of characters in video games was employed to answer questions about their representations of gender, race and age in comparison to the US population. The sample included 150 games from a year across nine platforms, with the results weighted according to game sales. ... The results show a systematic over-representation of males, white and adults and a systematic under-representation of females, Hispanics, Native Americans, children and the elderly.' The researchers also note that games 'function as crucial gatekeepers for interest in science, technology, engineering and math,' and that without these groups represented properly, 'it may place underrepresented groups behind the curve.'"

Comments

Why should subjugated people want corporate games?

[delirium of disorder]

[video] games 'function as crucial gatekeepers for interest in science, technology, engineering and math,' and that without these groups represented properly, 'it may place underrepresented groups behind the curve.'"

Bullshit on that one. I know a lot of boys think they are "good with computers" because they spend a lot of time gaming, but reality rarely lives up to their self perception. The more the white male middle class and upper class potential professionals and potential elites spend their childhoods addicted to games the better. They'll give up their places in the socioeconomic order and unconsciously undermine their own privilege. Let the spoiled pale brat boys squander their minds. Let the female, transgender, people of color, etc feel alienated by corporate developed video games. Maybe they'll pick up a book, join a discussion group, or code their own self-empowering games.