O never played any of these games, so I don't really know exactly how these stereotypes come off, but if you're gonna release something old into a world with changing sensibilities, this is honestly how I think it should be done. If whatever was in the game was really all that bad, it is important to still remember how we did things. It's important to remember the past as it was, both the good and the bad
When I was younger, I didn't understand this and thought they should just remove the awful stuff and be done.
But as I've gotten older, I've watched each generation re-learn things that I thought we had learned already... So there needs to be things out there to teach them quickly, like clear notices on things that were done incorrectly. Echo chambers mean that the old word-of-mouth education doesn't work any more, and we need to use stronger measures to help people understand the problems of the past. And it's hilarious that "a strongly worded letter" is a "stronger measure", but it is. :D
I first saw a message like this on a DVD release of old Loony Toons shorts. The topic of what to do with "problematic" historical things has always been contentious to me as a person who loves history, as well as a filthy libtard cuck, or whatever we get called these days. I think historical context needs to be preserved. We learn so much from history, so removing it also removes are ability to learn from those mistakes. It also colors our current perception of those historical periods inaccurately, which makes it harder to track down the roots and causes of systemic and cultural issues. Presenting the reality with the additional clarification and context that values have changed and should be taken with a grain of salt is, in my opinion, the best way to present anything historical whenever the subject of "problematic" content comes up
Since a lot of commenters don't remember or didn't play the original games - There are tribesmen and monks and whatnot. Some are enemies and some are friendly. They are caricatures sorta like a lot of the "natives" are portrayed in Indiana Jones movies.
The second game also depicts Venetian mobster guys as bad guys. Not sure if that is offensive to anyone.
It was the 90s, I was a kid, and I barely remember anything from those, let alone things that would be offensive.
I can't think of anything offensive right now, which to be fair doesn't mean they aren't there, just that I don't remember much at all.
Trying to jog my memory here...
Fucking up tricky jumps.
Wolves?
Vague idea of a double cross, maybe? Idk
Locking the butler in the freezer.
Snowmobile jump?
Yellow divesuit, catwalks.
Italy, a bad guy's mansion.
Something something dragon.
Oh well, I guess I'd have to go through them again with a newer perspective to see what the fuss is about.
“The games in this collection contain offensive depictions of people and cultures rooted in racial and ethnic prejudices,” its warning reads. “These stereotypes are deeply harmful, inexcusable, and do not align with our values at Crystal Dynamics.
“Rather than removing this content, we have chosen to present it here in its original form, unaltered, in the hopes that we may acknowledge its harmful impact and learn from it.”
Ok, so don’t say it’s inexcusable then still work with it.
Also don’t tell me that it doesn’t align with your brand and then still work with it.
I’m not sure what racist stuff is in the game as I’ve never played them. I know this game is a product of its time, but if you need to release a statement like this, then maybe don’t remake the game.
With that being said, I’m not personally offended by the content of this game and I think if something is going to be remade as little as possible should be changed. So I think it’s the right call not to alter the game, but don’t put out some speech saying it’s inexcusable and then excuse it.