What are people's opinions on DEI in the gaming industry?

[Myrth the Plague]

PSA: THIS IS NOT AN INVITATION TO SPOUT POLITICAL NONSENSE OR HATE ANYONE! IF YOU POST IT YOU ARE NOT BEING PRODUCTIVE TO GOOD CONVERSATION AND DISCUSSION! BE RESPECTFUL AND OPEN TO HONEST PERSPECTIVES!

With that said I personally only learned of DEI recently as a organization recently. I will say DEI has very good goals and I appreciate what they are trying to do in the gaming industry. Unfortunately the implementation needs work. Here are some good examples of DEI in the gaming industry (personal opinion):
-The Last of US II
-Dragon Age: Inquisition
-Baldur's Gate 3
-Cyberpunk 2077
-Spider-Man 2

Here are some bad examples of DEI in the gaming industry (personal opinion):
-Concord
-Dragon Age: Veilguard
-Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
-Battlefield V
-Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

I should note that all the games I believe have bad examples of DEI were not all commercial failures and those that were I don't exclusively blame DEI for their failure. I would also like to note that i don't believe the games i think are good examples of DEI in gaming were successful exclusively for DEI. DEI is always good to have in game but here are some good things to keep in mind when it is included; is it accurate historically, does it effect lore or continuity, does it take focus away from the story, and does it improve the character(s) and make them more interesting.
When making a historical based game or a semi realistic game DEI should fit in with the appropriate time. If a character/person/group have a certain belief, gender, ethnicity, or orientation in one title it makes little sense that in the next title for that to change unless given a reason that feels like it appropriately fits the lore.
DEI should never be the focus of a game, the game should be the focus of the game and nothing else when anything takes the focus away from the game whether it is graphics, characters, or mechanics (i.e. controls, handling, etc.) the game is typically doomed to fail due to the focus being on on the game but an aspect of the game.
Making a character the fits DEI for the sole purpose of checking a box is wrong and almost always backfires, the mindset of "we need to have (X) character to make (X) group happy" is a horrible mindset to have and often leads to lazy writing and overall a unlikable character or game, make a character who is awesome for who they are DEI is not a personality it is apart of that person a trait if you will.
These are my honest opinions but i'd like to hear what other people think of DEI in gaming. DEI is good but i personally think it needs some work before we see games that have consistently good DEI implementation.

[PootisMayo]

Even if you say you’re not trying to spark a debate, please delete this thread for humanity’s sake.

[DarkCrystalMethod]

Glad its dead.
Inserting a divisive idea into your game divides your customers.
Hiring people who cannot make a game simply to fit a racial, social or other quota is racist, sexist, etc. Reverse discrimination is still discrimination.
I'm glad DEI is DEID.

[Chika Ogiue]

Myrth původně napsal:

What are people's opinions on DEI in the gaming industry?

People whine about it far too much on these forums.

[aura]

don't really care about DEI

[ReBoot]

Chika Ogiue původně napsal:

Myrth původně napsal:

What are people's opinions on DEI in the gaming industry?

People whine about it far too much on these forums.

This. Very much this.

I highly, extremely and absolutely agree with that one.

[Troll Hunter b]

The tribe has spoken, for your stake delete this thread. Pushing leftist narrative is by itself racist, inflammatory and discriminatory behavior.

[Myrth the Plague]

coolboyz2626 původně napsal:

The tribe has spoken, for your stake delete this thread. Pushing leftist narrative is by itself racist, inflammatory and discriminatory behavior.

2 things, 1 I can't delete this now that it has 7 replies with you being the 7th and 2 I did none of what you said.

[The nameless Gamer]

I believe that video games are works of fantasy and that nobody should try to draw borders in fantasy. So we shouldn't be speaking of "DEI", as a video game can and should include whatever the fantasy of the creator wants it to include.

[ShelLuser]

I can't help be convinced that if Tombraider I were to launch today then many players would have shot it down "just like that" because, oh dear: can't have strong wemen!

Who cares that the game is actually a masterpiece?

Same with DEI... and who cares about nonsense like that anyway when the game itself is simply good and fun to play? Far Cry 6 anyone? Dani (the protagonist) is either a male or female person of color, and there's also a lot of Spanish influence in the game (including Spanish music, like the awesome Echema la culpa ).

So what? I had an amazing time playing, even learned a few new Spanish phrases as well.

[Zarineth]

I don't care either way. If developer decides to include it, it's their choice.
If game is good, it will be good with and without DEI.
If game is bad, it will be bad with and without DEI.

People should also remember, that not every game is created with them in mind. If you don't like the game over something so unimportant, then maybe you were not a target audience to begin with.
And people definitely should stop brigading games over the fact, that they (as in those few people) don't like it.

[Tito Shivan]

Myrth původně napsal:

What are people's opinions on DEI in the gaming industry?

It's a good thing to aim for more Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in all aspects of life.
STEM enviroments being one of those who need it the most. IT have been the realm of white males (usually with lackluster social abilities) for far too long. You miss part of the picture when your perceived reality is so narrow.

Of course with people being averse to change they're going to complain about it (IT fields have been ever since they tried to get some social sense into them by teaching the much needed 'soft skills' most people in the field lacked)

Add on top of it the push of a organized and well funded regressive movement, and you have added fuel to a fire that's been neglected for decades.

Chika Ogiue původně napsal:

Myrth původně napsal:

What are people's opinions on DEI in the gaming industry?

People whine about it far too much on these forums.

There's an organized regressive and reactionary movement to infiltrate hobbies and circles in order to inoculate bigotry and hatred. The moment Steam decided to get rid of the rule forbidding politics and religious discussions they completely opened the floodgates to the bigotry, ragebait and hatred industry.

[Al Buffito]

Tito Shivan původně napsal:

Myrth původně napsal:

What are people's opinions on DEI in the gaming industry?

It's a good thing to aim for more Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in all aspects of life.
STEM enviroments being one of those who need it the most. IT have been the realm of white males (usually with lackluster social abilities) for far too long. You miss part of the picture when your perceived reality is so narrow.

Of course with people being averse to change they're going to complain about it (IT fields have been ever since they tried to get some social sense into them by teaching the much needed 'soft skills' most people in the field lacked)

Add on top of it the push of a organized and well funded regressive movement, and you have added fuel to a fire that's been neglected for decades.

Chika Ogiue původně napsal:

People whine about it far too much on these forums.

There's an organized regressive and reactionary movement to infiltrate hobbies and circles in order to inoculate bigotry and hatred. The moment Steam decided to get rid of the rule forbidding politics and religious discussions they completely opened the floodgates to the bigotry, ragebait and hatred industry.

Wow. And you dare to accuse other people of being racist, sexist and bigots? This must be a joke.

[secuda]

Imo we consumers should focusing on games themself not some offshoot program that have very little with the end product we get.

[MrQun]

I value competence but;
Forced D.E.I =/= competence.

[Ben Lubar]

I don't understand this concept of wanting "merit based" inclusion of fictional characters. Surely a character a writer made up can look like anything, right? They don't have to be a white man because it's the writer's choice what they write.

What does "merit based" even mean in regards to a character who didn't exist before the story and won't exist after? Do we have to come up with a CV for every character and go through them like job applicants before they can appear in our imaginations?