The cultural bias of gaming
Pacal of the Mayans in the game "Civilization V" Photo: giantbomb.com
I am both a history major and a gamer. My field of interest as a historian is the Mesoamerican world of the Mayans and Aztecs. Because of my interest in those civilizations, I have spent a considerable amount of time looking for games that are set in the New World before the arrival of Columbus. My findings have been disappointing because, they don't really exist. Similarly, I have been unable to find virtually anything on games about Africa or Polynesia.
In my an entire gaming library, I can count the number of games that include these cultural groups on one hand. The 'Age of Empires' franchise offers the Mayans and Aztecs, but only after the arrival of Spanish conquistadors. 'From Dust' features a pseudo-Polynesian culture along with its incredible gameplay. I've played some games set in Africa, like Ubisoft's 'Far Cry 2,' but that game doesn't even let you play as any African characters. Instead, you are forced to choose one of the foreign mercenaries coming into the war torn African state that serves as the setting.
Not every game has to feature nonwestern and non-Asian cultural groups, but it would be nice if they had more representation. The only game series I've played that actually offered relatively equal representation of the various areas is Sid Meier's "Civilization.' There, civilizations from every conceivable corner of the globe rub shoulders as equals. While that is fantastic, and I have always loved the 'Civilization' games, they do not offer a uniquely Mesoamerican or African experience.
I do not think that the gaming industry needs to retract and make fewer games set in the traditional Eurasian world, rather, I think that the industry needs to expand. Pre-Columbian America, Sub-Saharan Africa and Polynesia deserve representation in games. The histories, cultures and ideas of those various disparate groups deserve time in the spotlight too. The imagery and ideas of those groups contain thoughts that are so unique and different from the mainstream, they would be a refreshing break from the norm.
As gamers, the best way to convince the gaming industry to broaden its horizons is to the show our interest. There are a few games available that highlight different cultures such as 'From Dust' or 'Theocracy,' to show that we want different options. Unfortunately, our choice to demonstrate that we want something different are limited.
Thankfully, we live in an era of indie gaming, where risky options are more likely to happen. Indie games tend to have lower development costs, allowing developers to take bigger risks and try new things. The best bet for games about Africa or the Pre-Columbian Americas are those independent companies that are willing to listen to their fans. Reach out to your favorite indie developers and ask for a broader array of gaming experiences.
