Why is Predatory Instincts in ROR2 show as a Feathered Headdress?

[Nicodemus Pendragon]

As an indigenous person, I would simply like to see this item model changed (feathers removed or an over all changed) or some respectful context added to the items description speaking about Indigenous peoples. I love the game and the company is obviously beloved also but this is just a stain on this game and Hopoo games as a company to me. I feel this is an act of cultural appropriation that can easily be corrected.

Any one else have any thoughts about this change taking place?

https://riskofrain.fandom.com/wiki/Predatory_Instincts_(Risk_of_Rain_2)

[Raisin Brandxn]

eat the garbage out of my butt brown boy

[AlabasterSXS]

OP master baiter

[BlahBlah]

Escrito originalmente por AlabamaSXS™:

OP master baiter

Did you forget what year it is, or is this your first time seeing an american online? Yanks have rioted over less.

[scram]

Escrito originalmente por AlabamaSXS™:

OP master baiter

Poe's Law makes it so hard to tell nowadays.

[Nicodemus Pendragon]

Escrito originalmente por Q MaZeR 2:

Feather headdresses appear in a great number of cultures (on almost every continent) and can mean a great number of things. So while it's fair to notice the implications I would be weary of claiming that the headdress means the same thing to everyone. Since it's a sci-fi game it looks sufficiently alien enough to me but why don't we wait for them to add the flavour text. Everything ceases to be anything normal at that point anyways.

The item most closely depicts a plains Indian warbonnet/feathered headdress. In Native American society across all tribes North and South American the meaning is the same. I myself coming from a south eastern woodland tribe and not a plains tribe can attest to this.
Feathers are symbolic of great deeds done throughout an indigenous person’s life (amongst other things such religious symbology) and are accumulated over time after proving yourself as being ready to receive such a gift. With this in mind it is not alien enough to me. Though removing the feathers would be more appropriate.

[Progressive Dad]

This thread is exactly why PC culture is winning. We take the time to reply and give them attention, instead of ignoring their ridiculous demands.
Case in point: this thread is the most commented thread in the last 6 pages.

[BlahBlah]

Escrito originalmente por Nicodemous55:

Escrito originalmente por Q MaZeR 2:

Feather headdresses appear in a great number of cultures (on almost every continent) and can mean a great number of things. So while it's fair to notice the implications I would be weary of claiming that the headdress means the same thing to everyone. Since it's a sci-fi game it looks sufficiently alien enough to me but why don't we wait for them to add the flavour text. Everything ceases to be anything normal at that point anyways.

The item most closely depicts a plains Indian warbonnet/feathered headdress. In Native American society across all tribes North and South American the meaning is the same. I myself coming from a south eastern woodland tribe and not a plains tribe can attest to this.
Feathers are symbolic of great deeds done throughout an indigenous person’s life (amongst other things such religious symbology) and are accumulated over time after proving yourself as being ready to receive such a gift. With this in mind it is not alien enough to me. Though removing the feathers would be more appropriate.

I'm not at all surprised that a northern american native would be so obsessed with themselves that they'd immediately assume any feathered headress is explicitly copying their culture, as if they're the only tribal group in existence that has done so.
"most closely depicts a plains Indian warbonnet/feathered headdress", as if. You're talking out of what I said above, you're so obsessed with yourself that you didn't even try to find a specific example. Central and southern native americans had headresses much closer to that design than most of the northern natives. Are you seriously trying to appropriate the culture of the peoples who had their entire civilizations brutally destroyed by conquistadors?

Escrito originalmente por Aidsplosion:

This thread is exactly why PC culture is winning. We take the time to reply and give them attention, instead of ignoring their ridiculous demands.
Case in point: this thread is the most commented thread in the last 6 pages.

If you do nothing, they'll have their influence for sure. Just look at what happened to the teleporter particle effects, the radius didn't need to be increased at all yet here we are.

[MeatShake]

You tellin' me these characters fighting off an infinite horde aren't doing some spectacular deeds worthy of accolades?

It's not a Native American headdress, they don't own feathers on heads, as a fellow SJW libtard I think you should kindly stop this dumb request.

[Nicodemus Pendragon]

Escrito originalmente por flashugem:

providence hat was something like in aztec style. Why so react on a predatory insting hat?:D

Thank you for pointing this out. I haven’t played the first game and was unaware of this Item. Though I know the game has lore that I am trying to read up on. I know the item Providence (https://riskofrain.fandom.com/wiki/Providence) is depicted as a version of Montezuma's Headdress as you stated. Aztec dancers can still be seen today preforming at Gatehering of Nations Pow Wow almost yearly so they are still here alive and well and not just in the history books. So, I feel this is also distasteful thought its depiction is more closely shown to how it looks in or on carvings I believe than how it looks worn by traditional dancers wearing actual regalia and feathered headdresses. More appropriate to me as a south eastern native but maybe not to someone who is from a South American tribe and knows more than I do on the matter.

[Nicodemus Pendragon]

Escrito originalmente por Austell:

hey, OP, thanks for pointing this issue out. i'm sorry to see such needless hostility in response to your very politely-worded post (far more polite and reasonable than 90% of the posts here)--especially considering that the misrepresentation of indigenous culture is a serious and widespread issue, and providing feedback during early access is really the quickest and most convenient way to address such things.

i'd love to see this problem brought to hopoo games' attention so that it can be rectified, and i'm sure many other people would be keen on it as well.

Thanks for your reply I emailed the game Devs after my forum post (I posted the initial email in an earlier reply) they were very understanding they replied as follows.
<
Hey there,

Thanks for reaching out and taking the time to send this email.

I hope we haven't caused any disrespect with this item model, that was not our intention at all!

I know you mentioned that the feathers specifically were something that was causing the issue. What do you think would be the most appropriate way to keep the feel of the item but make sure that it is not disrespectful in anyway? Removing the feathers all together? Changing the color of the feathers? Mentioning something related to Indigenous peoples in the item log and leaving the model as is?

We are a small team like you mentioned but we also want to make sure this item does right by everyone playing our game so thank you so much for bringing this to our attention!

Looking forward to hearing back from you soon so we can make this right.

Best,

>
I am getting some feed back form other Native Gamers and seeing what they come up with before I reply. With this email alone Hopoo games has show strong character as a company and if a change is made it will be even more so.

[Nicodemus Pendragon]

Escrito originalmente por nm1010:

Why do you invite people in here to call you a 'snowflake'? You have to have enough self-awareness to know that is what is going to happen. Now I have to cringe at your entitlement and cringe at all the people who use the term 'snowflake' as an insult.

I feel someone has to take the effort to speak up for Native Americans and Indigenous people’s representation in all forms of media, so that people can be more educated about different cultures other than their own.

[Nicodemus Pendragon]

Escrito originalmente por Nuked Up:

You do realize that the first Risk of Rain was about the player coming in as an invader basically and killing all indigenous life in order to survive. There were glowing lifeforms called Children and Adults that appeared to be sentient life on the planet. The player killed Children and Adults for their own interests. Predatory Instincts is supposed to symbolize the final boss of the first game, Providence, the "Bulwark of the Weak," basically the god of the planet who was supposed to make the player feel guilty for their actions: merciless and abundant killing. I don't know about you but that seems respectful to me.

I understand the game has lore but fiction stems from non fiction and with that being said my other replies still stand.

[Nicodemus Pendragon]

Escrito originalmente por Loving Pikari Squad:

Escrito originalmente por Austell:

hey, OP, thanks for pointing this issue out. i'm sorry to see such needless hostility in response to your very politely-worded post (far more polite and reasonable than 90% of the posts here)--especially considering that the misrepresentation of indigenous culture is a serious and widespread issue, and providing feedback during early access is really the quickest and most convenient way to address such things.

i'd love to see this problem brought to hopoo games' attention so that it can be rectified, and i'm sure many other people would be keen on it as well.

Agreed. I think it'd be a good idea to change the model to something else as well.

There's no reason to be angry about a possible model change unless you're a reactionary, so its a good idea to just ignore the weirdos getting frustrated over nothing in this thread. Although, this post might be more applicable in the Suggestions board.

I do believe the devs agree with you about no harm being done from a model change. This can be seen in the wording used in th their email reply I posted a few replies ago.

[♪ Rose ♫]

Escrito originalmente por Nicodemous55:

Escrito originalmente por Austell:

-snip-

Hey, its great that the devs wrote back to you!! I hope ya'll reach a solution soon.

[Nicodemus Pendragon]

Escrito originalmente por Gimli:

Its not like it makes a stereotypical battle cry noise when it activates or has a racist item description in the log. If that was the case, THEN it would be considered offensive. Otherwise its not.

It just so happens to be modeled after a headpiece from one of many existing Earth cultures. No offense is meant. Its up to the user to take it that way I guess :P

In my eyes Its just a simple model that also looks super cool! It should be kept as is. The developers shouldn't change a thing.

EDIT: Based off of no response at all from the OP I think I'd just call this one a troll post. Lets not feed the fire.

The Devs stated no harm was meant however the misrepresentation is still there and it is more than a simple model that also looks super cool to native americans and with in our culture.