Race & Animal Crossing

[monochrome]

I saw this brought up on another animal crossing forum and thought it would be an interesting topic of discussion here as well;

Why do you think animal crossing has yet to make a way for us to be able to choose our race at the beginning of the game? How do you think they could incorporate it into the game in future titles?

Yes, there is a way to tan yourself to the darker skin colors but that should not be something that you would have to work toward and maintain.

Some argue that there would be no way to do this in the way animal crossing does this (like ask weird ominious questions to get eye shapes and hairstyles) but I'm sure if they had one of those strange questions and included a instructional in the booklet that comes with the game on what to say to get what race, it could be done.

I believe that it may be because Japan not as diverse of a country as say America is. But regardless of that, every race should be allowed to be represented. The lack of customization with race is a little odd.

An interesting idea would be to have "patterns" for race. So just like you have patterns for clothing you could change your skin by making a pattern. Then again, that would require effort which defeats the original purpose--but its something to think about.

 

[Prof Gallows]

Because it's a Nintendo/Japanese game.

A lot of games don't let you pick your race. I don't think there is any reason behind it other than it would take up time and resources for something that isn't really needed to enjoy the game completely.

 

[monochrome]

Well of course a lot of other games don't let you pick your race. But then again, a lot of other games are story based. You're playing the character, not playing yourself. The difference between those games and this one is your character on animal crossing is supposed to be a representation of you.

I can imagine it being uncomfortable especially for a little boy or girl arriving at their new town excited to play the game only to discover that they have no choice and must be white, again. This kind of thing causes identity issues in young children and its really sad to see. Especially with nintendo being regarded as sort of a more "family gaming" company you would think they may consider this. So I think in some cases, it would intervene on enjoying the game completely for some players.

 

[Kabune]

imo, they should allow a way to pick your race/color. Im black, and even though we will most likely get a mii face feature again, i don't want just my face and skin color then not be able to use accesories. I rather they gave us skin colors, cause the people who are white don't have to try and do something like tanning everyday.

 

[Officer Berri]

I've wondered this for a while, myself. But I really don't see how they could do this without just giving us the ability to customize our appearance completely from the beginning of the game. Unless Rover asked us a question like "How much sun do you like?"

"I want to be in the sun all day every day!" -very tanned
"I like a little sun, but not too much." -lightly tanned
"I like to stay out of the sun as much as possible." -no tan

But even that feels awkward.

 

[Dustbunnii]

I've wondered this for a while, myself. But I really don't see how they could do this without just giving us the ability to customize our appearance completely from the beginning of the game. Unless Rover asked us a question like "How much sun do you like?"

"I want to be in the sun all day every day!" -very tanned
"I like a little sun, but not too much." -lightly tanned
"I like to stay out of the sun as much as possible." -no tan

But even that feels awkward.

I think that would be a good way to do it... but that's just me.

I also think it's a bit odd that they haven't added skin color to the character creation...
With the island, it would be relatively simple to keep your skin dark, but like other people have said, it shouldn't really be something that one should have to work towards...
I also feel like the addition of skin color choices from the beginning might make tanning irrelevant unless each skin tone could get darker and lighter...
Either way, I don't think it's really fair that they don't have skin-tone options outside of tanning... oh well.

 

[Bambi]

Officer Berri, I don't think your idea sounds awkward at all. How is that anymore awkward than answering random questions for certain eye shapes and hairstyles?

Of course its easy for white people to say "Nah, it's not necessary." For me though, If I was black or brown or anything I would probably be P.O.'d. The character is supposed to be a representation of yourself. The more you feel like it's a little "you" running around doing these things, the more fun IMO.

I think I mentioned this before that I would love to make a character of my bf, who is brown but I can't since no little white boys will be relatively close. As you said Monochrome, it affects enjoying the game completely. If I HAD to be dark skinned in the game I wouldn't be as happy as being white and vice versa.

 

[Officer Berri]

Well, I only mean awkward because there would be people who have natural dark skin and don't like going out in the sun at all, and people who love going out in the sun bug for one reason or another cannot get a tan at all. I dunno.

 

[Bambi]

Well, I only mean awkward because there would be people who have natural dark skin and don't like going out in the sun at all, and people who love going out in the sun bug for one reason or another cannot get a tan at all. I dunno.

Ahh I see what you mean

Although I highly doubt it will be incorporated as its a Japanese game not an American or Canadian game where our population is much more diverse. Still would be nice for people to have the option though.

 

[Officer Berri]

I just wish we had the option to choose our skin tone and have an option to pick so we don't have to worry about tanning. I have the ability to get very tan (comes from my native american genetics. I was a really tan baby. xD), but I like the way I look without a tan. I'm really pale now and have been most of my life since I tend to stay ou tof the sun. I just don't like the way really super tan skin looks that much. I want my character to match me! :3

 

[monochrome]

People I notice are also mentioning that it shouldn't take up extra resources for the game to create these skin tones...but when you think about it--how could it be more complex than say adding another type of furniture ready to buy at r-parkers? It would require a bit more dialogue for Rover to say, and a few more options created. I don't see how this could be a real strain on Nintendo's coders especially since they program all kinds of much more complicated features for the game. Not only that, but they already have most of the skin images for the players already made.

Sure, this game is made for japan. But they have to recognize how popular it is statewide as well. If they didn't think it was popular enough, they wouldn't go through the trouble of importing it. So if they can go through importing it, they can make this minor change. Sure, its too late for New Leaf (unless this feature is whats taking them the extra time, but i highly doubt it) but this can be implemented in future games.

 

[oath2order]

Identity issues? Are you kidding? It's a game. I'm pretty sure most kids realize this.

Just because they don't have interracial options in the game doesn't disqualify them from being a family gaming company.

I mean, it's very clearly not an issue because as far as I'm aware, Nintendo hasn't gotten major complaints about it.

 

[Mary]

Ever noticed how some people might react, though? You mention one thing about race and you're declared racist. I can understand where you're coming from, but i must say I think it's better left as-is.

 

[Sora]

Identity issues? Are you kidding? It's a game. I'm pretty sure most kids realize this.

Just because they don't have interracial options in the game doesn't disqualify them from being a family gaming company.

I mean, it's very clearly not an issue because as far as I'm aware, Nintendo hasn't gotten major complaints about it.

I 100% agree with you.
As soon as Nintendo gets a complaint that AC is giving children "identity issuses" they will change it. But right now, I think it is just fine. I mean, if some of you really want to get into it, why are there no dark skinned Mario franchise characters? I mean wouldn't that also give children these "identity issues"?

 

[monochrome]

Identity issues? Are you kidding? It's a game. I'm pretty sure most kids realize this.

Just because they don't have interracial options in the game doesn't disqualify them from being a family gaming company.

I mean, it's very clearly not an issue because as far as I'm aware, Nintendo hasn't gotten major complaints about it.

Sure it's "just a game" but just because Nintendo hasn't received major complaints about it doesn't mean it's not important. If you don't think these type of things are affecting kids you should google the Clark experiment.

I also never said that Nintendo should be disqualified as a family gaming company, just that they might want to concern themselves with this since they are a family gaming company.

And likely the reason why they haven't received complaints is because people of color who play the game might not know that they can. Lack of resources is why a lot of things that should happen don't. Either that or they have become so repressed by the clark experiment type of living that they would rather be a character who is not representative of themselves. Maybe there has been an amount of outcry that Nintendo has either ignored, or has not prioritized as something that needs to be addressed quickly amongst the other tasks they need to preform within the company.

Ever noticed how some people might react, though? You mention one thing about race and you're declared racist. I can understand where you're coming from, but i must say I think it's better left as-is.

I fail to see how this helps the situation, or how my comments could be construed as racist. I could care less of what people would say because making this change is in the best interest of the population of gamers as a whole. Support and activism is something that transcends race and ethnicity. I can't imagine Nintendo making the change to have more skin tone options looked at as a bad development from any interest group that isn't a hateful one.

I 100% agree with you.
As soon as Nintendo gets a complaint that AC is giving children "identity issuses" they will change it. But right now, I think it is just fine. I mean, if some of you really want to get into it, why are there no dark skinned Mario franchise characters? I mean wouldn't that also give children these "identity issues"?

It sure wouldn't hurt to add more diverse characters to franchise titles like that, but that is not really the point. The kids go into the game knowing that they are not Mario, but they are playing Mario.

In animal crossing this is different, you are a resident in a fantasy town, but the game makes it obvious that the character you are playing is supposed to be a representation of yourself. But people of color don't have that option because they literally do not have that customizing option within the game.

 

[Bambi]

I don't see why people wouldn't want this option. It wouldn't affect the current gameplay it would only ADD to others gameplay experience.

Those of you saying "oh it's fine like it is", "They don't need to change anything" etc.... Are you light skinned?

 

[oath2order]

I don't see why people wouldn't want this option. It wouldn't affect the current gameplay it would only ADD to others gameplay experience.

Those of you saying "oh it's fine like it is", "They don't need to change anything" etc.... Are you light skinned?

Yes. I am.

Are you and the other supporters darker-skinned?

 

[Sora]

I don't see why people wouldn't want this option. It wouldn't affect the current gameplay it would only ADD to others gameplay experience.

Those of you saying "oh it's fine like it is", "They don't need to change anything" etc.... Are you light skinned?

I am light skinned.

The reason I don't think it needs to be added is because if you feel it is necessary to really make the character a representative of yourself, why not just tan on the island? It doesn't really make sense to add the option to a Japanese based game.

 

[Enyeto]

All of this has got me thinking!

In the recent Nintendo Direct, they said there will be an exclusive feature for the North American versions of New Leaf. A lot of people seem to think it will have to do with the StreetPass houses thing, but is it possible that the 'exclusive feature' could be skin color selection?

 

[Officer Berri]

I certainly hope that the exclusive feature involves the street pass. |: While the tanning is a great option for those who want their skin to match real life, I'll never be able to get any street passing in order to even use the streetpass housing...

): I r lonlies n stuff!