Game journalism in [current year] is awash with misguided statements accusing games of sexism and racism. Like when journos complained a game set in Medieval Germany didn’t have any people of color, or when another called Overwatch sexist for not including any old ladies (which they did later).
But this kind of politically correct lunacy is not just a byproduct of the decade. A historically-minded Redditor, SupremeReader, trawled the archives of the now defunct magazine Computer Gaming World and found shocking archeological evidence of social justice warrior game journalist in the 1990s.
Black Elves Matter (1997)
Elliot Chin at CGW praised Asheron’s Call for not including racial stereotypes pertaining to fantasy races that ruin most RPGs, as they could cause REAL WORLD HARM!
“Most games use the idea of race to create distinguishing characteristics and attributes in both player and nonplayer characters,” Chin wrote. “Yet the very use of race in this way can be divisive. Rather than serve as the underpinning for stories…such fantasy-based racism can suggest that some races are subhuman. Much as we may protest that these are only games, the idea of innate superiority/inferiority can lead to real life discrimination.”
The wrong kind of woman (1995)
Female game designer Roberta Williams made a game, Phantasmagoria, starring a female lead. Yay feminism!
Too bad one games journo chastised the game for not designing the “right” type of woman.
“William hasn’t exactly upset the apple cart with her female characters, both Laura Bow and Adrienne Delany are classic girlie-type girls, despite their good qualities,” wrote journalist Arinn Dembo. “When I tried out the ‘hot cursor’ spots in the bathroom, only to see Adrienne brush her hair, rub her hands with lotion, and put make-up, all without advancing the plot at all, I actually let out a squawk of outrage—mortally offended, both as a woman and as a player.”
Outrage met with sanity (1992)
A reader wrote in to CGW to complain about getting recommended Wizardry VI by the magazine. The reader complained that because the RPG fielded a black warrior woman as an adversary, the game was racist and sexist.
“As I cannot, even (or especially) in a fantasy role-playing setting, reconcile myself to killing half-naked Black women, I will not be able to finish the scenario,” the woman wrote. “Nor will I be able to purchase more Sir-Tech products or recommend them to my clients, unless I am satisfied that their designers and playtesters have had access to adequate anti-racist education classes.”
The magazine’s responded to the outrage with a quote from their female writer Scorpia: “I don’t understand it. In fantasy as in real life, bad guys come in all shapes, sexes and colors!”
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