As a story-telling medium, video games are as susceptible to the same issues that movies have with their story-telling, one of these issues being stereotypes; racial stereotypes to be specific. Writers resort to stereotypes, either knowingly or subconsciously, because it’s easier to write characters in ways that everyone will already identify, regardless of who might be hurt by said stereotype.
More popular games like “Elder Scrolls” and “Mass Effect” allow you the freedom to edit your playable character, so that they are whatever race you want.
However, I cannot name a single video game where there is a set-in-stone main playable character who is black. And the characters you do meet that are black are usually drenched in stereotype. Cole from Gears of War is probably the most notable character to name.
The only nameable main playable black character is C.J. from “Grand Theft Auto,” who is a gang member. Not the best representative of black characters in games.
I feel there is a glimer of hope in the fact that there are black characters in a few nameable titles who are rising above the sterotypes.
Captain David Anderson from the “Mass Effect” games is a great character to reference. He shows total dedication to the human race as he gives you advice and helps you along anyway he can.
This game has muliple endings, but one of the endings can involve you helping him become the representative to the human race in the counsel of intergalactic species that governs our galaxy. He completely deserved the position.
Another great character is Baurus from “The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.” You meet Baurus at the beginning of the game. Eventually you run into him again and he befriends and helps you out through the rest of the story. His conversations with you are articulate and serious, lacking any negative stereotypes that would be involved with a black character.
At one point, there is a battle that Baurus can die in, depending on the difficulty. If Baurus dies, the player might feel the loss of their closest ally and greatest friend in the game. If he lives, the player can continue to converse with him and talk about all the events that take place from that point on.
The developers of these two games are usually pretty open to presenting the same level of character development and intelligence in all their characters, regardless of skin color.
I think that that type of dedication to the characters they create is the beginning of fixing the problem. It also falls on the gamers to appeal to the developers.
It is not fair that only one race can usually relate to the main character, but if fans give their voices to the developers, we can see more games that allow for the main character to be whatever race we, as the gamer, choose him or her to be.
And in time, see more black characters that rise above the stereotypes.