The constroversy keeps pouring in…

African Zombies in Africa

In their endless search for brains, the zombies of Resident Evil 5 have accidently shambled in a firestorm of controversy.  The Resident Evil series is famous for letting gamers blast zombies back to their virtual graves, but thanks to what some consider racially insensitive imagery, the next game in the franchise is making headlines for all the wrong reasons. 

The trouble began back in 2007 when game publisher CAPCOM released a trailer of the upcoming Resident Evil 5 depicting hoardes of African zombies being shot by caucasion protaganist Chris Redfield.  The imagery incited a wave of backlash from notable African-American bloggers and journalist, who claimed it was offensive and in poor taste. 

Most gamers, however, stood by the game’s artistic merits, charging that the game’s African location inevitably leads to African zombies, and pointing out that no one made a fuss over the killing of Spanish zombies in the critically acclaimed Resident Evil 4. 

“in order to quell rising concerns over Resident Evil 5, all ‘African’ zombies have been replaced. Players may now shoot at Belgian zombies, because let’s face it, nobody cares about Belgium.“

Perhaps if they said that they were just zombies of really really really well-tanned white guys it would be okay.

What…what other kind of zombies would be in Africa…?
Wouldn’t it be more discriminatory if there were NO African zombies?

I CANNOT Wait for this game! If it is Anything like RE:4, it’ll be great. And it comes out the day before my Birthday! 

Back on topic, I heard about this awhile ago, and I agree with the previous posts. In RE:4, you killed Spainards, and now you kill Black people, and they whine. I understand that White people have been Absolutely horrible to People of color in the past, but that was like, what, 50 years ago? I’m not saying to act like it never happened, but there is Black Music, Black tv channels, etc etc, and If you went into a store with a sign that said “Black” Music, and a Sign with “White” Music on it, I can bet you ANYTHING that the retailer would get sued over the White sign Because it is more “racist” then all the “Black” Ones. Another point is that somehow, People of color can use ethnical slurs and it’s “Okay” While if anyone who is Light skinned or white would get yelled at ecause it is wrong.

I say, Never forget, and keep the horrible stories and tales of the segragation open, keep it public, but stop using it as an excuse.
/rant

Let’s go into this point by point-

1) Resident Evil 1-3 (well basically all of them except 4) are set in the US. There are Caucasian zombies a plenty in the mansion.

2) RE2 is set in Racoon City. There are Black zombies. Because they are the zombies of the Black population.

3) RE4 is set in Europe. It has European peasant zombies (OK they’re not really zombies but you ge tthe drift).

4) RE5, being set in Africa, would make no sense without Black zombies. If it was set in Tehran I would expect Arabic zombies.

Some people need to chill. I bet if it was a Black character in RE1 shooting the WHITE zombies in the mansion nobody would give a hoot.

Hasn’t many from the US showed that they are over a lot of the historical racism?  Not all of it just a lot of it

I am an ex associate - 09 November 2008 08:09 PM

Hasn’t many from the US showed that they are over a lot of the historical racism?  Not all of it just a lot of it

There are still plenty of people out there, though, who feel that they are “owed” something by other people simply because of skin colour.

Accipiter - 10 November 2008 07:40 AM

I am an ex associate - 09 November 2008 08:09 PM

Hasn’t many from the US showed that they are over a lot of the historical racism?  Not all of it just a lot of it

There are still plenty of people out there, though, who feel that they are “owed” something by other people simply because of skin colour.

Exactly.

They won’t say the word “reperations”, but they want the same end result…

When do we, as a society, let the sins of the past 300 years or so, go?

*sigh*

Zyphos - 09 November 2008 01:23 PM

I CANNOT Wait for this game! If it is Anything like RE:4, it’ll be great. And it comes out the day before my Birthday! 

Back on topic, I heard about this awhile ago, and I agree with the previous posts. In RE:4, you killed Spainards, and now you kill Black people, and they whine. I understand that White people have been Absolutely horrible to People of color in the past, but that was like, what, 50 years ago? I’m not saying to act like it never happened, but there is Black Music, Black tv channels, etc etc, and If you went into a store with a sign that said “Black” Music, and a Sign with “White” Music on it, I can bet you ANYTHING that the retailer would get sued over the White sign Because it is more “racist” then all the “Black” Ones. Another point is that somehow, People of color can use ethnical slurs and it’s “Okay” While if anyone who is Light skinned or white would get yelled at ecause it is wrong.

I say, Never forget, and keep the horrible stories and tales of the segragation open, keep it public, but stop using it as an excuse.
/rant

*Clap*
I use these points all the time. I also believe that the Rap/Hiphop culture permeating America is spreading the use of racial tags like cracker and the N word. All of this because everyone wants to be *gangsta*.