Apparently I’ve been out of the loop when it comes to gaming controversies as of late as apparently the stirrings of a ‘Gamergate 2.0’ have been brewing for the last wee while under my nose.
It all concerns a company known as ‘Sweet Baby’ which is a gaming diversification consultation company. What does that mean in normal people language? Well essentially they’re a company that can advise devs on making their characters or game worlds more diverse and open to different walks of life, including topics such as religions, gender etc. Apparently, according to some disgruntled people, this has led it to being a step too far for many and is leading to some games being ‘ruined’ by introducing more diverse characters other than the standard straight, white male.
Now, personally, I think this whole controversy is a bit silly. Sweet Baby is a consultation company, it’s not like they have actual control over how a game is developed. They simply offer a way for actual devs to help more people feel included and represented in their games, rather than accidentally ostracize those that they want to reach. Still, it’s enough that groups are being created to help point people to games that they have helped consult with so they can actively avoid those games. Sounds to me like they’re scared of change, but that’s just me.
Anyway, what do you think of this? Is this consultation company the end of gaming itself, or is this just a bit of a farce? That’s all for now, and as always. It’s not just a game, It’s a Life.