Category Archives: Game Philosophy

Ubisoft’s Yasuke Kerfuffle in Assassin’s Creed Shadows – And What Could’ve Been

Posted on by

Other than Assassin’s Creed Black Flag (pirate vibes, anyone?), I’ve never been a huge fan of the Assassin’s Creed series. But when I heard about a Japanese-themed Assassin’s Creed Shadows—ninjas! samurai!—I got hyped. It’s totally my alley. Then came the controversy storm over Yasuke, a Black historical figure who rolled with Oda Nobunaga in ancient Japan. Was he a samurai? A retainer? History’s fuzzy on that. Thing is, Shadows already had fan gripes—like that dual-protagonist mechanic—but Yasuke’s inclusion blindsided a lot of gamers. People, especially Japanese fans, were rooting for a homegrown male hero. Rumors flew about why Ubisoft zeroed in on him (George Floyd influence? DEI push?), but it’s all speculation. Still, the noise is loud enough to risk tanking this release—and Ubisoft can’t afford that hit right now.

I’m not deep into Assassin’s Creed to care about the social politics swirling around it. What I see? A missed shot at something epic. Imagine this: a cyberpunk dystopia where megacorps rule the streets. Enter Yasuke, a badass techno-samurai—honor-bound, high-tech, and combat-augmented to the teeth. The story practically writes itself! Option one: Yasuke’s framed by his boss’s enemies, disgraced, and goes full-on quest mode to clear his name and restore his honor. Option two: he’s a top-tier protector, so foes target his family to break him—unleashing a revenge-fueled rampage. These are the tales gamers devour—gritty, gripping, and perfect for late-night grind sessions.

I follow some Black gamers online, and they’re starving for a strong, cool hero like this. Recent releases? They’ve been stuck with stuff like Concord’s Bazz—a goofy, transgender Black female merc with running shoes—or Emari, an overweight tank character whose design screams anything but cool. Where’s the badassery? I asked an AI to whip up some characters, and dude, they’re fire—sleek, powerful, shelf-worthy. I’d snag those action figures from GameStop in a heartbeat. Pair that look with a killer backstory, and you’ve got iconic characters gamers crave. Bonus: mix it up with a female Yasuke—beautiful, fierce, Black, and unstoppable. Diversity done right, not forced.

Here’s the deal: people want fun and cool. No one’s here for activist devs sneaking personal politics into their heroes. Gamers want to be the badass—rock a character’s tee or flex an action figure on their desk. It’s not rocket science. Veer from “cool” to push your beliefs, and you shrink your audience fast. Maybe one day we’ll get that cyber-infused samurai Yasuke—high-tech, honorable, and proud. Maybe one day we’ll go back to cool. Peace out.

Backlogs: The Bane of Gamers Everywhere

Posted on by

If you’re a gamer, you’re likely familiar with the curse of the backlog. I’m no exception; statistics suggest that PC gamers only complete about 35% of the games they own. Those killer Steam sales are just too tempting, adding to the pile of unplayed games. As we age, life’s responsibilities and commitments increasingly chip away at our gaming time, leaving our backlogs to grow.

This year, I’ve decided to tackle my gaming backlog head-on. Here are the first three games on my list:

  • Mirror’s Edge: You play as Faith, a courier who uses parkour to navigate through a futuristic cityscape, delivering data physically across rooftops. Unlike typical shooters or hack-and-slash games, Mirror’s Edge focuses on dexterity and skill. Your only weapons are your fists and well-timed landings. I’ve struggled to find my groove with it; the linear levels can feel restrictive, but the game’s distinctive red and white aesthetic and detailed cityscapes are captivating.
  • Eden Crafters: This is an automation game similar to Satisfactory, though less refined. The mission? To rejuvenate a barren planet. It has an early access feel, yet its charm lies in its designs, particularly the base structures which evoke a retro 70s-80s space vibe. The game’s pace is engaging without being a grind. A highlight was watching the planet come to life as I built seeding and fertilization machines; grass and trees sprouted, transforming the air quality in that area. However, I’m at a crossroads with this game, perhaps due to automation game fatigue.
  • Disco Elysium: This RPG stands out with its deep narrative and decision-driven gameplay. You’re a detective with amnesia, piecing together both a murder case and your own identity in a city that blends new and old aesthetics in a way that’s neither contemporary nor steampunk, but uniquely intriguing. The fully voiced dialogue is top-notch, making every interaction memorable. It also has one groovy soundtrack. I’m committed to finishing this game and will offer a full review soon.

Until the next time I dive back into my backlog, keep gaming happily!

Rediscovering the passion of video gaming when AAA has lost it’s way.

Posted on by

Video gaming has lost its way. There was a time not too long ago, when gaming was about the simple things. Getting from point A to point B, solving a puzzle to get to the next level, or winning or losing a match. This was true from the 1970s to the early 2000s. From arcades, to consoles, and PC, games tested dexterity, problem solving skills, and more. Playing video games was a great way to pass the time, or compete with your friends for fun. Back in 2019 I felt a disturbance in the force, but I could not put my finger on it. Unfortunately now I have a better picture of what’s going on.

Classic gaming

Over the years gaming has gained more popularity than the movie and music industry combined. Unfortunately this grabbed the attention of soulless corporations. Game design went from a handful of passionate guys who focused on making the next great thing, to bloated corporate development teams whose focus is to please investors and not the consumer. Large financial institutions are pushing their progressive social agenda in exchange for funding. New developers have replaced the legendary ones who had a passion for making games. Activists and narrative consultants are the new creatives, all pushing “their message” into games. I’ll get more into that in another post, but the rot in the industry runs deep and the only way out of this mess is for a total collapse of the modern AAA gaming industry.

Bad games

It’s no secret modern games are failing, people do not want this garbage. Changing a game’s essence and expecting people to blindly consume it, just doesn’t fly anymore. People recognize that the current trend of gaming narratives and representation feels forced. It stems not from genuine passion, but from imposed ideologies. Games are no longer about getting from point A to point B, they are now about social narratives and checking boxes. Corporations obsessed with the new modern audience, turn their backs on the existing one. But in their effort to court this new audience they have alienated everyone..

What we’re up against

Progressive consultant grifters such as Sweet Baby Inc have convinced corporations there is this whole other audience of consumers out there. They convinced them this customer base exists, and that they are missing out on that untapped revenue. This aligns with the agendas laid out by banking investors like Black Rock. But this new modern audience has not shown up yet. AAA releases are losing massive amounts of money. Tens of thousands of developers have been losing their jobs. Several major releases flopped this year and that trend doesn’t look like it’s going to end, unless there is a huge shake up. I fear these companies are too far gone to be helped.

Good games

How can we make it better

But it’s not all gloom and doom. There are a lot of great games in this sea of soulless corporate cash grabs. Around 10,000 to 12,000 video games are published every year, offering plenty of mainstream choices. The same way the indie scene has saved movies and music, it is also saving gaming. A lot of gamers have extensive backlogs of games they can use to ride out this mess. There are also game developers who haven’t sold there soul and have made hits like Space Marines 2, Black Myth Wukong, and The First Descendant. These titles have been delivering the experiences gamers want, and coincidentally are selling very well.

I on the other hand have been exploring some real obscure indie games. They may be rough around the edges but they make up for it in other ways with heart, passion, and originality, but most of all fun. So I’m going back to 1984 with some Retrowave Racing.

Retro wave racing

Gaming should spark your imagination and be the escape it was meant to be. Video games should be timeless and fun, not a representation of current year politics or propaganda. And don’t let this trend of corpo-gaming get you down, gaming will find it’s way back to its roots. There are plenty of fun and exciting alternatives out there. Explore indie developers on twitter. See what they are creating and get excited again. Until next time, keep having fun and reject corpo-gaming!