Racist! A look at games accused of bigotry

Total Overdose
After being criticized for perpetuating racial stereotypes in its Mexican-based combo shooter Total Overdose, Deadline Games' CEO, Chris Mottes, defended videogames and their continued use of racial stereotypes inthis article on GameDaily Biz. In his piece, Mottes writes: "While we did employ stereotypes we considered light-hearted and humorous, our intent was most certainly not to cast Mexican individuals in a derogatory light."

Providing a counter-argument to many of Mottes points - and the issue of racism in gaming in general - is apost on blog site Racialicious. In it, special correspondent Latoya Peterson writes: "The reality is that no stereotype can be considered light-hearted and humorous. A stereotype is defined as 'an often oversimplified or biased mental picture held to characterize the typical individual of a group.' Stereotypes are negative. Even 'positive' stereotypes are ultimately detrimental to the groups that struggle to find a sense of self within the narrow parameters of society’s vision."