Representation and Diversity in Games

The bestsellers of 2014

Super Smash Bros.

Pokémon: Alpha Sapphire & Omega Ruby

The Last of Us

White

1. Joel
2. Ellie
3. Bill
4. Earl
5. David
6. Ethan
7. James
8. Robert
9. Maria
10. Malick
11. Sarah
12. Tess
13. Tommy

POC

1. Henry
2. Sam
3. Riley Abel
4. Marlene

N/A

White

1. Mario
2. Luigi
3. Peach
4. Toad
5. Daisy
6. Wario
7. Waluigi
8. Baby Mario
9. Baby Luigi
10. Baby Peach
11. Baby Daisy
12. Rosalina
13. Toadette
14. Metal Mario
15. Baby Rosalina
16. Mii
17. Tanooki Mario
18. Cat Peach
19. Link
20. Villager

POC

1. Yoshi
2. Bowser
3. Donkey Kong
4. Koopa Troopa
5. Shy Guy
6. Lakitu
7. Larry
8. Morton
9. Wendy
10. Iggy
11. Roy
12. Lemmy
13. Ludwig
14. Isabelle
15. Dry Bowser

N/A

Far Cry 4

White

1. Hurk

POC

1. Pagan Min
2. Ajay Ghale
3. Amita
4. Sabal
5. Noore Najjar
6. Yuma
7. Bhadra

N/A

Halo: Master Chief Collection

Watch Dogs

White

1. Aiden Pierce
2. Ciara Lille
3. "Defalt" Markowicz
4. "T-Bone" Kenney
5. "Lucky" Quinn
6. Damien Brenks

POC

1. Jordi Chin
2. Maurice Vega

N/A

Assassin's Creed: Unity

Shadow of Mordor

Hyrule

Warriors

White

1. Link
2. Impa
3. Zelda
4. Lana
5. Sheik
6. Agitha
7. Ghirahim
8. Cia
9. Volga

POC

1. Ganondorf?

N/A

1. Darunia
2. Ruto
3. Midna
4. Fi
5. Zant
6. Wizzro
7. King Dodongo
8. Gohma
9. Manhandla
10. Argorok
11. The Imprisoned One

Who's
Making
Games?

85% of game development workers are white,

According to a 2005 study,

7.5% are Asian,

2.5% are African-American.

Although...

As one developer says

Diversity, in my opinion, will always net gains, in that it makes content creators more aware of when they are being exclusionary. I don't believe this is intentional, but people have a tendency to not look outside of their own demographic. When you are the one creating content, you will seek to add yourself, if only to feel like you are being represented as well.

David Brothers, video game critic

True story: That stretch of The Walking Dead game you're talking about actually took place in my old stomping grounds. I feel like they countrified it up some and made Macon more of a Mayberry than it's been since I was a kid, but getting to play a game set in a place that's near and dear to my heart was a lot of fun. There's a thrill in there, right? You sit up. You pay more attention. You start looking closer, seeking out things that only a local would recognize or neat shout-outs to things you know. I live in Oakland now (it's Atlanta Hawks 'til the death of me, but the Golden State Warriors are still cool), and I still get the same thrill when I watch a movie set in the area. Dirty Harry and Book of Eli both end up or take place in the Bay, and it's a treat to get a chance to be like "I know that corner!" or "Ahh, I've been there!" Everyone does that, right? Makes those connections? I feel like we instinctively seek out representation in the media that we consume, usually without even thinking too deeply about it. It's not a race thing, though race is definitely a part of the equation. It's an us thing, a human thing. We like to see things that remind us of us, things that we know, or things that we wish we could do. I connected in a major way to Malcolm X, Richard Pryor, and Muhammad Ali as a kid, and for different, but related, reasons for each one. I never thought, "Oh, I need some black heroes. Who's on deck?" I just gravitated toward them.

So, now what...

Never Alone

Never Alone, also known as Kisima Inŋitchuŋa ("I am not alone"), is a puzzle-platformer video game by Upper One Games. Swapping between an Iñupiaq girl named Nuna and her arctic fox companion, the player completes puzzles in a story based on Alaskan indigenous stories told in eight chapters. The game also known as Kisima Inŋitchuŋa was developed by Upper One Games in conjunction with the Cook Inlet Tribal Council, a non-profit organization that works with indigenous groups living in Alaska's urban areas.

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