Should miHoYo/Hoyoverse add more diversity into their character (playable) design in Genshin Impact? by Zifeng Huang

Controversial Question

4zhua177 — 2024-03-06 21:21:47 UTC

Source #1

4zhua177 — 2024-03-06 21:21:59 UTC

- Genshin Impact, developed by miHoYo, faces criticism for its lack of racial diversity in character representations.

- The game has been accused of using derogatory terms to describe characters of color, perpetuating racist connotations.

- Indigenous communities are portrayed as "primitive humanoid monsters" in the game, reinforcing stereotypes and prejudices.

- Implementing better research and accurately representing people of color or indigenous communities could avoid causing pain and bring pleasure to players.

- From a utilitarian perspective, the game's current representation is deemed unethical due to the imbalance of pain caused versus pleasure generated.

- Virtue ethics principles highlight inclusivity, justice, humility, and sincerity as virtues that miHoYo could uphold through better diversity in Genshin Impact.

- Neglecting diversity infringes upon virtuous behavior, making the lack of representation immoral from a virtue ethics standpoint.

- Ethical rationalism supports the argument for diversifying Genshin Impact, as a linear, one-dimensional cultural world in the game could impact real-world perspectives on race and identity.

- The lack of diversity and representation in Genshin Impact is considered unethical from utilitarian, virtue ethics, and ethical rationalism perspectives.

Source #3

4zhua177 — 2024-03-06 21:22:27 UTC

- Currently, among the 63 playable characters in Genshin Impact, only a few, like Xinyan, Candace, and Cyno, exhibit noticeable racial diversity.

- The established setting of Teyvat in Genshin Impact features regions inspired by real-world counterparts, such as Germany, China, and Japan, with characters generally resembling the majority populations of those regions.

- The newest region, Sumeru, is confirmed to be based on Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Northern African cultures, but the character representations do not align with the demographics of these regions.

- Unreleased regions like Fontaine, Natlan, and Snezhnaya present an opportunity for the developer to introduce more racial diversity, potentially reflecting Spanish or West African cultures in Natlan.

Pros & Cons

4zhua177 — 2024-03-06 21:22:58 UTC

Argumentative Paragraph

4zhua177 — 2024-03-07 22:13:57 UTC

After carefully analyzing the issue of skin diversity in Genshin Impact, it's clear that the game's lack of racial representation raises significant ethical concerns. Despite its widespread popularity and appeal to a diverse player base, criticism has been directed towards the game for its limited portrayal of characters from different racial backgrounds. This criticism includes accusations of perpetuating stereotypes, such as portraying indigenous communities as "primitive humanoid monsters," and using derogatory terms to describe characters of color. From multiple ethical perspectives, including utilitarianism and virtue ethics, this lack of diversity is seen as unethical due to the discomfort it causes players and the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes. While efforts have been made to introduce diversity, such as with the introduction of new regions like Sumeru, there remains inconsistency in accurately representing the demographics of these regions. Unreleased regions like Fontaine, Natlan, and Snezhnaya provide opportunities for the developer to address these concerns and introduce more racial diversity, potentially reflecting Spanish or West African cultures in Natlan. Therefore, it is essential for miHoYo to prioritize inclusivity and accuracy in representation to ensure a positive and ethical gaming experience for all players.

Should miHoYo/Hoyoverse add more diversity into their character (playable) design?

4zhua177 — 2024-03-07 22:24:31 UTC

Source #2

mtam21 — 2024-03-11 21:03:33 UTC

- Cultural practices influence gamer preferences in China and the West, highlighting differences in gameplay and monetization.

- Chinese games focus on player-versus-player, while Western games lean towards player-versus-environment content.

- Genshin Impact, a Chinese-developed game, achieved international success with revenue mainly from outside China.

- The game features anime-inspired characters appealing to diverse players, blending Chinese and Japanese elements.

- Challenges in localization include language nuances and cultural references, impacting player experience worldwide.

- Genshin Impact's success signals a shift towards multicultural gaming, embracing Chinese, Western, and Japanese influences.

2024-03-11 21:47:27 UTC

2024-03-11 21:47:38 UTC

Pros

4zhua177 — 2024-03-12 06:51:39 UTC

Multicultural Influence: Genshin Impact blends Chinese and Japanese elements in its character design, appealing to a diverse player base.
Success and Revenue: Despite being a Chinese-developed game, Genshin Impact has achieved international success, generating revenue mainly from outside China.
Shift towards Multicultural Gaming: The game's success indicates a positive trend towards multicultural gaming, embracing influences from China, the West, and Japan.
Potential for Representation: Unreleased regions like Fontaine, Natlan, and Snezhnaya present opportunities for the developer to introduce more racial diversity, potentially reflecting Spanish or West African cultures in Natlan.

Cons

4zhua177 — 2024-03-12 06:51:46 UTC

Lack of Racial Diversity: Genshin Impact faces criticism for its lack of racial diversity in character representations, with only a few characters exhibiting noticeable diversity.
Perpetuation of Stereotypes: The portrayal of indigenous communities as "primitive humanoid monsters" perpetuates stereotypes and prejudices.
Ethical Concerns: From utilitarian, virtue ethics, and ethical rationalism perspectives, the game's lack of diversity is considered unethical due to the imbalance of pain caused versus pleasure generated.
Negative Impact: The game's portrayal of characters of color using derogatory terms and reinforcing racist connotations could cause harm and discomfort to players.
Inconsistent Representation: While new regions like Sumeru are confirmed to be based on Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Northern African cultures, the character representations do not align with the demographics of these regions, indicating a lack of accurate representation.

Address

4zhua177 — 2024-03-12 06:58:50 UTC

No. 100 Qinzhou Rd, Bldg 1, Room 1012, Shanghai, Shanghai, CN