Mercs ethnicities, needs more POC representation

(AssortedStuff) #1

Since London plays such a big role in this FPS’ background story I am surprised there are no Asian mercs (what Americans would call Indian, not to be confused with Oriental).

There seems to be different nationalities but most of them are Caucasian.
There are 2 Black mercs and 2 Oriental (assuming Kira is Oriental, not quite sure).
Aimee and Sawbonez just look like tanned caucasians.

Due to Asians being such big part of the UK it’s a bit strange not see them represented in this game.
So, at the moment there’s 15 Caucasian mercs out of 19.

It would be good to see more variety.

(.FROST.) #2

Right at the moment I’m drawing a variety of portraits of Proxy(expression studies) and she appears to be at least a quarter asien(far east, not orient), but even some caucasian women have this almond shaped eyes, that’s why I’m not entirely sure about that.

PS: It’s really funny, that you started this thread basically at the same time when I was thinking to start a similar one myself.

Just look at her eyes.

Proxy.jpg2214×2952 817 KB

(Mustang) #3

I wonder if it’s anything to do with wanting to make the mercs look badass.

From my cultural perspective I can’t think of any Asians that I’ve been exposed to in the movies, TV shows, media, etc. that would be considered scary.

If fact if anything they are always the nice guys that everyone welcomes with open arms.

(.FROST.) #4

You obviously never watched Bolo Yeung doing what he does best… playing a complete and total badass :wink:

(chippy) #5

As long as you don’t bring in his actual acting skills you’re definatey right. :wink:

(PixelTwitch) #6

[QUOTE=Mustang;499635]I wonder if it’s anything to do with wanting to make the mercs look badass.

From my cultural perspective I can’t think of any Asians that I’ve been exposed to in the movies, TV shows, media, etc. that would be considered scary.

If fact if anything they are always the nice guys that everyone welcomes with open arms.[/QUOTE]

It could actually be (seriously) due to the accent…

(PixelTwitch) #7

[QUOTE=AssortedStuff;499621]Since London plays such a big role in this FPS’ background story I am surprised there are no Asian mercs (what Americans would call Indian, not to be confused with Oriental).

There seems to be different nationalities but most of them are Caucasian.
There are 2 Black mercs and 2 Oriental (assuming Kira is Oriental, not quite sure).
Aimee and Sawbonez just look like tanned caucasians.

Due to Asians being such big part of the UK it’s a bit strange not see them represented in this game.
So, at the moment there’s 15 Caucasian mercs out of 19.

It would be good to see more variety.[/QUOTE]

I would not be surprised to see this come as a skin option actually because there is already a proxy skin (not in game now) that has a completely different face model. (think its proxy) its in one of the sprint videos.

(.FROST.) #8

I don’t think that the mercs are generally meant to look/be too over the top badass, in this game. Most of the girls look more like the girl next door instead of a Vasquez from Aliens. And even the guys don’t necessarilly look too mean overall. And Arty is, btw., obviously of asien descent. He actually reminds me a bit of Glenn from TWD; Maggie could also be a merc, even the fragile Beth could be a merc; some kind of swift recon/sniper. Actually you could implement 95% of TWD’s multicultural cast into DB. You have all sizes, ages, genders and ethnicities in that show.

(prophett) #9

Moar irish.

(DB Genome editor) #10

Play around with the VSAY, especially things like “Thanks” and “Hi”, and you’ll get a better idea of what nationality each merc is supposed to be as many use other languages than English here and there. Some obvious ones:

  • Arty = Chinese
  • Kira = Japanese
  • Aimee = French
  • Nader = German
  • Phoenix = Spanish
(xdc) #11

[QUOTE=AssortedStuff;499621]Since London plays such a big role in this FPS’ background story I am surprised there are no Asian mercs (what Americans would call Indian, not to be confused with Oriental).

There seems to be different nationalities but most of them are Caucasian.
There are 2 Black mercs and 2 Oriental (assuming Kira is Oriental, not quite sure).
Aimee and Sawbonez just look like tanned caucasians.

Due to Asians being such big part of the UK it’s a bit strange not see them represented in this game.
So, at the moment there’s 15 Caucasian mercs out of 19.

It would be good to see more variety.[/QUOTE]

lol sawbonez a “tanned Caucasian”? hes defiantly African
aura doesn’t look full Caucasian, neither do a few other mercs, unless they are “tanned” as you say.

i wonder if the racial demographics of London fit the game? they probably do

(DB Genome editor) #12

It shouldn’t matter of the mercs demographics match those of London or not: they are mercs, hired guns paid by the highest bidder to plunder the abandoned city, not some of the original citizens struggling to survive.

(Protekt1) #13

It takes place in London where everyone has fled the city due to a dirty bomb, am I wrong? So what does London’s ethnic diversity have to do with anything :stuck_out_tongue: Like djiesse said, they are mercs not Londoners.

(xdc) #14

so why does ethnicity matter? its obviously placed in Europe not south africa

send link to the story of dirty bomb… wasn’t aware it had its own novel

(DB Genome editor) #15

Location doesn’t limit the ethnicity of the characters if the storyline is that they are mercenaries. South Africans can fit in just as much as any Europeans.

From http://dirtybomb.nexon.net/:

“London is a post-apocalyptic wasteland with no law and no order, it’s time to call in the mercenaries. Suit up and go toe-to-toe with other soldiers of fortune as you battle it out for riches and bragging rights.”

That pretty much sums up all we know so far…

(xdc) #16

then put more skins / faces / models in the game, as long as it doesn’t effect performance, most players(me) will have it on low quality. you can’t see your own model unless your dead, and some mercs wear a mask. it is all purely cosmetic, this isnt an issue in a closed beta game that has hundreds of technical / map / gameplay issues

(Exedore) #17

I happen to agree, and it’s something we’ll be improving on as the game continues to develop.

(PixelTwitch) #18

I look forward to seeing the blond proxy with the new face!

(DJswirlyAlien) #19

Just don’t do a Doctor Who on the whole minority roulette thing. I don’t think I will ever be able to take any Indian Space Agency after Doctor Who’s version.

Definitely more minorities and particularly ones that break the stereotype moulds.

(.FROST.) #20

Just don’t forget to include a Danny Trejo throwing-knife mexican merc :wink: