RAFI KAM told me the story of how he created an avatar of me for his Nintendo Wii gaming system because his son is a big fan of mine.
*Thanks EDDIE*
RAFI KAM is singlehandedly doing what NONE of the programmers in the gaming industrial complex are capable of or care to do for that matter. RAFI is giving people of color heroic possibilities within the gaming culture.
If RAFI can do this why can’t the industry recognize and address the need to make the characters of their games, and by extension those playing them more inclusive? It isn’t just a color issue either but a gender issue as well. The representation of women in video games was proactive only as far as getting Lara Croft to be naked.
People like to play games, but people LOVE to play games where they can also relate to the avatar, gliph, first person shooter or whatever is represented on the screen. This is the message that CELESTINE ARNOLD delivers at a PSFK conference. Check it out…
that’s why Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was so ill…
Yeah, I have to cosign GTA! From the Nigerian drug cats, Jamaicans, Haitians, etc. it is definitely ill although very decadent and very American. I’m still rocking GTA Chinatown for Nintendo DS!!
DP! very related post: Super Smash Brothers: Flatbush, Brooklyn
http://scritchandscratch.com/blog/?p=401
. . . sorry I have to spam my shet.
DP,
I’m watching the video after posting my initial comment. Thanks for sharing this video. Lil homey rappin was the bizness!! Celestine Arnold’s presentation is str8. She’s also dope.
Alot of 13 year old white boys were bitching about GTA:SA in the lead up. Which was funny because their major complaint was basically that it was something they didn’t relate to. I’m sure prior to that they were all mute whte dudes or italians. It’s interesting to me that games don’t do it more. Movies get categorized a certain way once they have black male and female leads…name a movie with both that isn’t considered a “black movie”. Games don’t get that….aside from a few most people just want to know…”is it any good”.
Nobody laughed at the dude who was kicking your ass with Chun Li.
nice time crisis pic
reminds me of me
that gamer chick was awesome
and she spoke the truth heavy
Amadeo, DP,
Check out Aziz Ansari interview on Jimmy Kimmel. I really think it also relates to the issue Celestine Arnold is discussing.
http://www.kanyeuniversecity.com/blog/?em3106=231773_-1__0_~0_-1_5_2009_0_0&em3298=&em3282=&em3281=&em3161=