Clownfish TV - Helldivers 2 Drops DEI and Game Journos are MAD.
The discussion centers on the creative director of "Hell Divers 2," Johan Pilet, who expressed that DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) and politics should not be a focus in games unless they enhance the gaming experience. This stance has sparked controversy, especially since "Hell Divers 2" itself contains political themes critiquing fascism and authoritarianism. Critics highlight the irony of Pilet's comments, given the game's narrative. The video also touches on the backlash from gaming journalists and the issues within the game's Discord community, where users are reportedly banned for political disagreements. The broader conversation reflects a growing fatigue among gamers towards overt political messaging in games, with some players rejecting games perceived as "woke." The video suggests that companies should ensure their community managers align with their brand's vision to avoid unnecessary controversies.
Key Points:
- Creative director Johan Pilet argues against focusing on DEI and politics in games unless it enhances gameplay.
- "Hell Divers 2" critiques fascism, highlighting irony in Pilet's comments.
- Gaming journalists and community members express dissatisfaction with Pilet's stance.
- Discord community issues arise, with bans for political disagreements.
- Gamers show fatigue towards overt political messaging in games.
Details:
1. 🎮 Introduction and Media Landscape
1.1. DEI and Game Development Trends
1.2. Community Management Challenges
2. 🕹️ Hell Divers 2: Creative Vision vs. Politics
2.1. Creative Vision
2.2. Political Themes and Controversies
3. 🗣️ Community and Media Reactions
3.1. Community Reactions
3.2. Media Reactions
4. 📺 Politics in Gaming: Broader Implications
- Many popular games are perceived as 'woke,' which some players reject, impacting sales of AAA franchises.
- Players increasingly reject games with overt political messaging, leading to decreased interest in previously successful titles.
- There is a preference for organic inclusion and subtle political messaging, avoiding forced narratives.
- Creators' public personas can affect players' perceptions and willingness to support games, due to social media behavior.
5. 🌐 Social Media Influence on Perception
- Social media activity by cast members can negatively affect potential viewership. For example, the speaker expresses reluctance to watch 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' if it were released currently, due to the political activity of its cast on social media.
- The political commentary by cast members on platforms like social media can be perceived as insufferable, detracting from the entertainment value of shows they star in.
- This reflects a broader fatigue among audiences towards constant political discourse by entertainment figures, which may influence their viewing choices.
- A notable example is the backlash faced by actors engaging in political discussions online, which can lead to decreased interest in their shows.
6. 🔍 Managing Community Dynamics
- Media literacy is perceived to be at an all-time low, which has significant implications for how game content is interpreted and discussed by communities.
- Game developers often face challenges when managing community reactions, especially when games include political content or themes that can be polarizing.
- Community managers frequently start as volunteers or in low-paid positions, which can impact their motivation and the management style they adopt.
- The presence of unpaid or low-paid community managers can result in power imbalances and conflicts within fan communities and events, affecting overall community health.
- It is advisable for large companies to invest in professional community managers to ensure effective and balanced community engagement, avoiding the pitfalls of volunteer-only management.
- Volunteers and activists play a crucial role in shaping community dynamics by embedding themselves in online forums and fan events, sometimes leading to significant shifts in community culture.
7. 👥 Discord Moderation and Gamer Sentiment
- Major corporations must ensure their community or social media managers understand their responsibilities and are held accountable to prevent potential reputational damage.
- Hiring inexperienced or low-cost community managers can lead to significant issues, as evidenced by the incident involving a community manager at Lucasfilm making unauthorized comments.
- It's crucial for companies to recognize the impact of the first point of contact, such as community managers, on their public image and reputation.
- The Lucasfilm incident serves as a prime example of how a single misstep by a community manager can lead to widespread backlash and damage to gamer sentiment.
- Effective Discord moderation requires experienced personnel who can handle community interactions with professionalism and sensitivity to gamer culture.
- Key metrics for assessing moderation success include community engagement levels, sentiment analysis, and incident response times.