Does this game have xenophobic issues with nationalities outside American continent?

[Swato85]

Said xenophobic, just to not use the more exact issue here.

To the point: I am quite deep in the game by now, have several mercs and I kinda realised that there is somekind of default definition of characters based on their cold era alignment - nationality?

Characters from America and their - call them "allies" talk normal or as pro mercenaries, some jokes here and then or strange voices but overall, nothing exceptional, but other nationalities, especialy all slavic ones (especialy those normaly affiliated with comunism) are portraid as radical, stupid, crazy or outright psychos. Indians are like talking to a call center, Slavic countries - especialy Karyna(ukraine), Omran (Russia) seem very naive (stupid). Fidel is a psycho - although I like his character a lot :-). OK Ivan is an eception, he is like Russian UBERSOLDIER - one man comando squad, but otherwise its kinda seem line one way insults of lets call tehm eastern countries.

Like I understand the jokes are intended, but it appears way too unbalanced and honestly most known American "bad behaviour properties" are missing - or maybe I simply got only the pro characters from their side :-P.

The question, is this normal for Jagged aliance series, or is there someone at the steering wheel with serious xeno-issues? Thanks.

P.S.: I kinda think Its just coincidental experience based on my choice of mercenaries, but feel free to present your point of view on this.

[zpc]

Originally posted by Swato85:

The question, is this normal for Jagged aliance series, or is there someone at the steering wheel with serious xeno-issues? Thanks.

Normal for JA, it's a parody on all those stereotypes.

[Valion]

I get your question, and yes, Jagged Alliance is glutted with cliché. But did you read the intro screen? That's exactly what it was meant to be like.

[Rhapsody]

Originally posted by Swato85:

The question, is this normal for Jagged aliance series, or is there someone at the steering wheel with serious xeno-issues? Thanks.

Maybe for the old games. Some characters hail from that background, and it loosely reflects the world that emerged from cold war era.

I have not hired Omryn, but I think in Kalyna's case they wanted to have a "witch girl" type character from Ukraine. She has low wisdom and weird thoughts, sure... but she is also very young, and most young people are not very wise. Yet.

Moving on, take a look at Livewire. She's pretty much the smartest merc in the roster of A.I.M., and she's from Pakistani refugee family. Not much more to add.

Meltdown is also a new character. She has a lot to say as well, and most of it ain't nice, but it's interesting to learn what kind of character she actually is beneath all the guts and gore fantasizing. Hurricane Norma is American.

And finally, there's Fauda, a female counterpart to Len from Iraq. She's tough and something of a zealot, but a good person, from what I could piece together from the dialogues I had her engage with.

There's little to no character development for any mercs in the game or the franchise, but some of them are more than they seem at first glance.

[Ataraxie und Aestimation]

Indeed its Cannon to the series and I guess the developers had tough times to discuss to stay true to it or update it into modern times. But how would u transport it into modern days. Even the EXPENDABLES is using the same clichees. The whole franchise of action still relies on it.
I think they could have done it in a way of highlighting much more its 2000something in the game and cold war being over but I guess they just wanted to stay true to the orgin. I would have LOVED an IVAN that learned english and speaks 50% proper english, being a smartass, or a GRUNTY still having accent but been like aged a bit, wiser and more sinister inm his dak humor...
Also its related to Voice over talents and paygrade. OFC a very good synchronization could have given more depth but also game would be even more expensive. Baaaaad ^^

I quite found the african stereotypes lacking diversity and wasn't to amused about that part, and the missing amount of bad white guys. Basically all white bad guys are Persons of power in the game. Even while thats a 80es pov and most likely somehow true to some african history with white people being the worst I'd have loved to beat the ♥♥♥♥ out of any ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ in the game, like the Legion being mixed f.e.

[Swato85]

Originally posted by Valion:

I get your question, and yes, Jagged Alliance is glutted with cliché. But did you read the intro screen? That's exactly what it was meant to be like.

Yes I udnerstand what you all are trying to say here, and I wrote that I understand it. I am talking that the scale of clischees is quite hard bent oneways so that one side inquires a lot of them, while the other just some, and miss on the best ones - and it seems to be by intent. Just a personal impression though.

[Dr.Acula]

Would you say that Fox who constantly talks like she's shooting "adult" films and steroid who is clearly a parody on Arnold Schwarzenegger are "normal"?

Personally I see all nationalities in this game assiciated with some kind of stereotype. That isn't "xenophobic". It's just how humor about stereotypes works. To many people have just forgotten how to appreciate humor. You may not like every stereotype in the game (I can't laugh about all characters neither) but still stop trying to attach phobias or -isms to games that literally are just intended to have a good time.

[Ataraxie und Aestimation]

Well I personally LOVE and enjoyed the posh talks between Scope & Sidney. UK Gentelmen and Madam at their finest and honestly Hitman harassing SCOPE and her Husband being angry about it are fun too. So I'd say those sides also received a prober beating.
But yeah, more Mercs and more Jokes on both sides would have been great in any case and maybe it could have been a bit more balanced. I always liked Star Trek Chekovs Jokes about Russians being the inventors of everything. Something similar like the US boys here being like they're the best, could have been fun. Some Jokes regarding a PRE TRUMP era f.e. ^^

Lets hope for more content in future. ^^

[Keyboard Cowboy]

Originally posted by Dr.Acula:

Would you say that Fox who constantly talks like she's shooting "adult" films and steroid who is clearly a parody on Arnold Schwarzenegger are "normal"?

Personally I see all nationalities in this game assiciated with some kind of stereotype. That isn't "xenophobic". It's just how humor about stereotypes works. To many people have just forgotten how to appreciate humor. You may not like every stereotype in the game (I can't laugh about all characters neither) but still stop trying to attach phobias or -isms to games that literally are just intended to have a good time.

What?
Steroid is slavic (he's from Poland), so what's the stereotype there?

Edit:
A stereotype would be; Russians love vodka and borsch, Mexans wear big sombrero hats and poncho's, Texans wear oversized cowboy hats and smoke cigars, xenophobes don't think there's anything wrong with a little racism.

But Polish people acting like Arnold, how is that a stereotype?

[Rhapsody]

Anyhow... in most cases the character's nationality is a secondary trait. But there are some exceptions. Grizzly, Ivan and Igor probably stand out most.

[pascal.difolco]

It ain't xenophoby, it's sarcastic parody
Youngsters often don't make the difference nowadays...

[Rhapsody]

Stereotypes are a component for discrimination, and there are some negative stereotypes presented in the game, Igor's talent, for example. But how damaging they actually are is more difficult to answer, or at least I cannot answer to that.

[NONAME]

I'm Russian and I don't find this offensive.
The developer behind this game is based in Bulgaria.
OP this is a non-issue and you are overthinking.

[Dr.Acula]

Originally posted by Keyboard Cowboy:

What?
Steroid is slavic (he's from Poland), so what's the stereotype there?

Edit:
A stereotype would be; Russians love vodka and borsch, Mexans wear big sombrero hats and poncho's, Texans wear oversized cowboy hats and smoke cigars, xenophobes don't think there's anything wrong with a little racism.

But Polish people acting like Arnold, how is that a stereotype?

Who cares whether or not Steroid is from Poland? He's an Arnold Schwarzenegger parody. If you can't see that then that's your problem not mine. And stereotypes are not just found in relation to nationalities or skin color.

It can be anything. An arrogant, greedy business man who would sell the kidney if his mother if it made him money is also a stereotype that can be found very often in media. How about we talk about the nerd stereotype that has no common sense but knows everything about Star Trek?

You can make stereotypes about pilots, sailors, janitors and so on. This is not about any -ism. It's about what you encounter in daily life and make jokes about it to make others laugh.

How about we laugh about the dumb, science denying conservatives that want to build walls and make Mexico pay for it? That is not a stereotype or is it?

[Rhapsody]

Originally posted by Dr.Acula:

You can make stereotypes about pilots, sailors, janitors and so on. This is not about any -ism. It's about what you encounter in daily life and make jokes about it to make others laugh.

How about we laugh about the dumb, science denying conservatives that want to build walls and make Mexico pay for it? That is not a stereotype or is it?

...There's a difference between stereotypical portrayal of a professional or ideological role and, for example, one's race or ethnicity.

[RasaNova]

Originally posted by Swato85:

P.S.: I kinda think Its just coincidental experience based on my choice of mercenaries, but feel free to present your point of view on this.

I think it's this, or simply a case of confirmation bias that the US/allies are "smart & professional" while former USSR/allies or communists are crazy, stupid, psycho etc. There are PLENTY of examples of it going the other way as well.

Ivan is the perfect soldier, stable and professional. Barry is pious and stoic. Kalyana isn't dumb, just young and her working class/peasant background shows. Fauda is intelligent and driven. Dr Q is calm and calculating. Igor is a drinker and a medal-chaser but nothing terribly negative.

And on the other side, I mean seriously, just look at Steroid, Fox, Mouse, MD, Meltdown, Reaper, Larry, Nails, Flay, etc...

The game embraces stereotypes and tongue-in-cheek humor, and always has.