THE HISTORY OF ASIAN representation IN GAMING
Video games are something that I hold very dear to my heart. Like many young people of this generation, I play, video games as an escape. It offers a chance to be someone else, and do things that are unlikely, impossible, and sometimes inconceivable in the real world (eerily similar to why I got into theater). Just like with any form of media, audiences love relatability, the feeling that you COULD (with the right circumstances) be the genius, vigilante, and hero. One major connection that people make in finding a relatable character is not just their personality, flaws, and motivations (all of which are extremely important), but ethnicity is a major component in how relatable a character is to the audience. In an industry that is filled with Asians, it is a mystery why more Western companies have such limited Asian characters. In modern games, the amount of Asian/Asian-American representation has skyrocketed, however limited it may be. In this blog, I will go into depth about the roots of Asians in gaming, their rise, and the future of the industry.
Gaming’s roots can be traced back to Asia, with almost all of the popular releases being from Japan-based companies, Sega, Nintendo, and Capcom being among the most notable. One of the earliest examples of Asians in Western gaming culture is in Street Fighter, with Ryu (Japanese-American) in the first game, and Chun-Li (Chinese) in the second. Another title released by Capcom that featured Asian characters was the Resident Evil series. Jill Valentine (French-Japanese) and Ada Wong (American-Chinese) are both well-known and recurring characters in the series, Jill often being praised for her grounded and non-sexualized depiction. The same, however, cannot be said for Ada. Ada is a great example of the “Exotic-Oriental” archetype often given to Asian Actresses in media. It leads to a less impactful and shallow character. This is something that is now generally frowned upon, but that does not stop both Eastern and Western directors and writers from using it.
It was not until the early 2000s that another notable Asian character was introduced. In Valve’s hit 2007 puzzle release, “Portal.” We play as Chell (Latin-Japanese), a tenacious female test subject tasked with taking down an evil AI, GLaDOS. While not explicitly mentioned, the developers at Valve could have very easily used a generic white American, as opposed to the mixed character we see in-game. It is one of the first instances of a large American company featuring an Asian in the primary role, marking a turning point in the industry. Just a year later in 2008 Mirrors Edge was released, featuring Faith Connors, the heroine of the game. She is of Irish-Asian descent and a rebellious freedom fighter. This depiction not only breaks the stereotype of Asian women in gaming but the stereotype of Asians in general, with Faith being outspoken and willing to take a stand. These two mark the beginning of a larger movement to include Asians in gaming, with characters like Ajay Ghale’/Pagan Min in Farcry, and Wei Shen in Sleeping Dogs coming next.
In more recent times, this huge wave has not only continued but boosted with games like Valorant, Overwatch, and Genshin Impact featuring a plethora of Asian/Asian-American representation. This has only been bolstered by the new wave of Asian content creators, due to platforms like Twitch and Youtube giving Asian gamers recognition and a voice. Despite Asians not being as prominent as they could be, this generation has taken huge steps in the right direction, with many older games adding addition Asian representation of their own. At the end of the day when all is said and done, video games are not a platform to push social justice, they are just an outlet for kids and adults alike to have fun. However, when we talk about these issues, it helps make a brighter future for the generations of tomorrow. So every time you sit down to enjoy a game, take some time to imagine that little kid who’s overjoyed that their favorite game has a character that looks just like them.
