Lesson 10 Resources

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Welcome to the resources section for Lesson 10, a lesson that looks at the understudied topic of race in
video games. Race is present in almost all games, even if race isn't mentioned at all. It plays a particularly
important role in strategy games, where the conflict between parties is usually framed as a race war
almost always a war of extermination.
Like the topic of sex before it, race is a complicated topic to understand on its own, never mind as part of
video games. The concept of race is almost entirely culturally constructed and has little or no basis in
scientific discourse when discussing various groups of humans in biological terms. In the nineteenthcentury, people used the term to distinguish cultural groups for political and social ends. In games, the term
is used widely to encompass conceptions of ethnicity and speciation, so well continue to use the word race
as well, despite its problems.
Game designers and game players frequently rely on abstractions of the complexity of racial and ethnic
differences as a stand in for those complexities. These often devolve in to stereotypes that frequently
reflect preconceived misconceptions. This is not an easy conversation to have sometimes, so games will
often substitute imagined races in order to address a particular issue. So, instead of talking about genocide
in the 20th century amongst humans, game designers might use a war between orcs and humans (most
fantasy games), or Klingons and humans (Star Trek), or reapers and humans (Mass Effect). They may
even leave humans out of it altogether, such as the case between the Geth and the Quarians (Mass
Effect), and many more. These substitutions allow for conversations that might be too sensitive if a direct
parallel is drawn. In fact, if the parallel is too obvious, many of the subtleties of the conversation may be
lost.
We talk about how race is use in games in a number of ways:
Race a narrative framework, meaning how race is used to set up the story, such as in the
aforementioned race war in many strategy games;
Race as aesthetic, meaning how the depiction of race shapes the affective player experience;
Race as default, meaning how games privilege perceptions of the designers and assumed audience as
to what is a normal or default race; and
Race as mechanic, meaning how assumptions (frequently stereotypical assumptions) about races
change the game state and the opportunities for action;

Sorter Question:
For the sorting question in the section called Race as Narrative Framework, youll need to know
something about these five games. Use our links to get you started and then follow up with additional
research if you need to help you answer the question:
Borderlands 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCFjzfmZQBM
Donkey Kong - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrhNsgboKOA

StarCraft - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVvWsq4MPRY
Civilization - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIP44q3JQ8o&t=4m15s
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYivmoJb8Gg&t=1m40s

Required Reading:
The reading for this lesson focuses on two great computer role-playing games and how those games draw
on conceptions of race in fantasy settings. Christopher Warnes touches on many different historical
sources to present his argument, which extends many of the themes we discussed in the lesson. I think
you should pay particular attention to the discussion about the choices players make in whether to be good
or evil, and how those choices relate to race in games.
Warnes, Christopher. Baldurs Gate and History: Race and Alignment in Digital Role Playing Games.
Proceedings of DiGRA 2005 Conference: Changing Views Worlds in Play. http://www.digra.org/wpcontent/uploads/digital-library/06276.04067.pdf

Additional Resources:
If you are interested in the topic of race in games, here are three more resources to get you started:
Poor, N. Digital Elves as a Racial Other in Video Games Acknowledgment and Avoidance. Games
and Culture. 7(5).
Leonard, D. (2006). Not a Hater, Just Keepin' It Real: The Importance of Race- and Gender-Based
Game Studies. Games and Culture. 1 (1).
Dymek, M. and Lennerfors, L. Among pasta-loving Mafiosos, drug-selling Columbians and noodleeating Triads Race, humour and interactive ethics in Grand Theft Auto III. Proceedings of DiGRA
2005 Conference: Changing Views Worlds in Play.

Games We Mention in this Lesson:

Here are some of the games we mentioned in this lesson. If you don't know a game we mention, follow one
of the links we provide below. Again, we dont control these files, so some of the links may expire. Help us
keep the links fresh by letting us know if one goes down. Also, you can find play-throughs, trailers, and fan
sites for just about any game you can imagine, so a quick google search will give you a taste of how a
game works.
Star Trek
Gameplay where the player is supposed to destroy all Klingon enemy vessels. (Watch first minute or two).
You might want to mute the music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oR_QE803PO0
Mule
Gameplay.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWqTYKgGx54&t=13m00s

Dune II
Introduction video that describes the war between three races over the spice resource. Shows some
gameplay as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tppjzT-su0Q
The Ancient Art of War
The start of a scenario shows how race plays a central role in the game. (Watch to 2m00s)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrWqS8l80Qo
Archon: The Light and the Dark
Gameplay.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lUAr7xgwew&t=20m00s
Mass Effect
Some general gameplay to show the mechanics, dynamics, and aesthetics of the first game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6HLWreoBEo
Dragon Age: Origins
Trailer that shows the background of the elven race.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjAr3zj5fRk
Warcraft: Orcs and Humans
Orc campaign gameplay, showing one side of the war between the Humans and the Orcs. (Watch to
2m00s)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAeGIZxZ1BI
Shadowrun
Gameplay shows the selection of a race and side (multiplayer skirmish). Note at 1m25s - goal to eliminate
the other side "The Lineage". Watch to 3m00s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_uY0qCokiM&t=52s
Warcraft: Orcs and Humans
Orc campaign gameplay, showing one side of the war between the Humans and the Orcs. (Watch to
2m00s)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAeGIZxZ1BI
World of Warcraft
Cinematic trailer that illustrates the intensity of the battle between the Alliance (blue, Human) and the
Horde (red, Orc) (and the initial neutrality of the Pandaren).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvYXoyxLv64
Ultima VI: The False Prophet
Ending of the game shows the Humans and the Gargoyles working together united to read the codex.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qseK5pR7OJk
Tiger Woods: PGA Golf
Character creation in PGA Tour 2014. (Watch to 1m00s)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eU23xQ2b79E
Ultima
Gameplay demonstrating how difficult it is to determine player skin colour (changes from town to overworld
view). (Watch to 1m00s).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFh0ILCeWos
Ultima VI: The False Prophet
Character creation. Note how the default male has blond hair and blue eyes. (Watch to 30s).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYB11cFi-ls
Ultima VII: The Black Gate
Speedrun showing the default blond hair, blue eyed avatar (note that there is a portrait selection). (Watch
to 10s).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOpHUzG8OnU
Ultima VII: Serpent Isle
Gameplay (with commentary) that shows the return of the character portraits. (Watch to 1m00s).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EV_iWq41DXM
Ultima VIII: Pagan
Intro and gameplay - the only character customization choice here is now the name. (Watch to 1m35s).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHgl60ZuDRc
Ultima IX
Gameplay (with commentary) - player automatically starts in the blond hair, blue eyed male body. (Watch
to 2m00s).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-c5LgyPzjo
Elder Scrolls: Arena
Gameplay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGfTIiaUHbk
Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall
Gamplay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvfY25GqHJ0
Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
General gameplay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPgO4XDVoXE&t=37m50s
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Character creation overview with commentary - shows the different default faces (male) of each race, and
describes their attributes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt9zIhilW4c&t=07s
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Gameplay video showing open world exploration.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6h0By1fEnQ&t=20m45s
Sid Meier's Civilization
Gameplay showing the civilizations that the player has to choose from. (Watch to 5m15s).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIP44q3JQ8o&t=4m15s
Civilization III
Gameplay that shows battles with barbarians (note the camp in to the north of Leipzig). (Watch to 2m00s).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFQAoiKjN44
Civilzation IV
Gameplay - battle based on "us vs. them", single civilization domination.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdJqSBd2Om8&t=6m00s
Borderlands 2
Compilation showing the different characters - note the various stereotypes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCFjzfmZQBM
Donkey Kong
Single screen platformer gameplay of Donkey Kong
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrhNsgboKOA
StarCraft
Compilation showing the different backstories of each of the races. (Watch to 3m25 for one overview or full
video for comparison)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVvWsq4MPRY
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Shows a successful date (without the hot coffee mod, which, when installed, explicitly shows what happens
in the house).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYivmoJb8Gg&t=1m40s
North and South
Gameplay demonstrating the 'over the top' 'us vs them' aesthetic - note the Native and the Mexican waiting
on the side, on the left of the screen. (Watch first few minutes to get the idea).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHcoemBuUZ0
Super Street Fighter Turbo
Follows the career of Brazilian fighter Blanka - note the stereotypes of the opponents. (Watch to 12m00s)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXX4iuSrWdY&t=9m23s
Dragon Age
Intro video and character creation shows the differences between the three playable races. (Watch to
4m00s)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn_kw2cPX9w

Eye of the Beholder

Intro video and character creation shows the different skill point distributions of the different races. (Watch
to 5m18s).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZ-wkepwtK4
Fallout
Ending video that shows Fawkes, the super mutant, entering the highly radiated chamber, due to his 'racial'
radiation resistance ability (he survives).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ac-taerYGJo
Fire Emblem
Character class trailer for Fire Emblem Awakening: note the morphing races in the 'special classes' section.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4n_iMoXkO7A
Arcanum
In-game dialogue where the player is a half-ogre - dialogue is blurry, but the reaction of the NPC is what is
important here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvlMud4ZXQo&t=07s
Colonization
Gameplay (from the colonization expansion) shows the Spanish colonists meeting the Sioux and Aztec
civilizations, and looting an ancient burial ground.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eizi-Q38wVM
Age of Empires III: The War Chiefs
Gameplay, playing as Native Americans, note the building of a ritual fire and the assignment of a villager to
dance around it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZOYUgW1srg

Created Wed 27 Aug 2014 2:40 PM PET

Last Modified Wed 10 Sep 2014 2:40 PM PET