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GBiz: Ubi Massive COO “We don't want to take a stance in current politics”

Wandu

Wandu

Member
Oct 27, 2017
2,162
Just came across this article as it is interesting on Ubisoft's stance on politics in games. I'm curious to see the feedback when you have games like Detroit and TLOU2 doing things against the grain.

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/artic...ont-want-to-take-a-stance-in-current-politics

Some choice quotes:

"It's a balance because we cannot be openly political in our games," he said. "So for example in The Division, it's a dystopian future and there's a lot of interpretations that it's something that we see the current society moving towards, but it's not - it's a fantasy.
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"It's also bad for business, unfortunately, if you want the honest truth.... but it is interesting and it is a discussion that we have, and it's an ongoing discussion we have with our users, of course, because people want to put an interpretation into the universe that we create and they want to see their own reality in the fantasies that we give them, and the stories that the games are."
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On Avatar project:

"James Cameron's vision with the movie is that we need to do something as humans because we're going to destroy the world if we continue the way we are [going]," he said. "That is political, but we're not going out and saying you should vote for that person, or you should not do this; but it's a political statement of course, and we think that it's important, but we're not writing it on somebody's nose."
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I mentioned Detroit earlier seeing as David Cage didn't think that game was political, but I looked at it in a positive light as black man in the US because of the struggles that I've been through. It was relatable in that sense.

TLOU2 with Ellie's kiss at E3 2018 just had massive reactions that were positive, but some negativity. I viewed that as political because some people can feel that it was a pushed agenda.

What is your take on Ubisoft Massive COO's comments?

Just tell me to sit down if this is old.
 
Kenzodielocke

Kenzodielocke

Member
Oct 25, 2017
12,839
It's weak.

"We don't want to lose sales from racist, sexist and homophobic people."

Is what I am reading.
 
Superman2x7

Superman2x7

Banned
Nov 4, 2017
1,692
I forgot they were doing an Avatar game! And not taking a side is practically not caring. We dont have to agree on sides but they should have an identity of their own.
 
Hektor

Hektor

Community Resettler
Banned
Oct 25, 2017
9,884
Deutschland
"We don't want to be political" says owner of the Rainbow Six, Splinter Cell and Ghost Recon franchises
 
Vela

Vela

Alt Account
Banned
Apr 16, 2018
1,818
This is why I hate capitalism. Turns people into spouting bullshit in the interest of making as much money as possible.

The guy is obviously just trying to avoid hitting a controversy with his fascist video game power fantasy. And yes, Tom Clancy was and his legacy is so fucking fascist.
 
ParanoidRED

ParanoidRED

Banned
Nov 2, 2017
2,931
"Making political statements are for other people to do. We want people to smile and have fun when they play our games."

I kinda resonate with what Reggie said about this, honestly if you want to take a stance that's good but i ain't gonna pitchfork if you don't want to

I viewed that as political because some people can feel that it was a pushed agenda.
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Huh?
 
Acquiescence

Acquiescence

Banned
Oct 26, 2017
10,257
Lake Titicaca
"[If] we want people to play the game for hours and hours, then we cannot be very defined in what everything means. That would be boring. That would be like watching one of the educational movies from high school."
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The GaaS comes first. The GaaS always comes first.

i don't understand that rationale at all
 
OP
OP
Wandu

Wandu

Member
Oct 27, 2017
2,162
Alex840

Alex840

Member
Oct 31, 2017
5,114
Everything is political.

TLOU2 with Ellie's kiss at E3 2018 just had massive reactions that were positive, but some negativity. I viewed that as political because some people can feel that it was a pushed agenda.
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Also, what the fuck is this? How is being ok with being gay a pushed agenda? Some people are out of control.
 
mikeys_legendary

mikeys_legendary

The Fallen
Sep 26, 2018
3,008
What the COO says and what the director of a game actually puts into the game are often independent of each other.

The President of Sony Interactive Entertainment can say that they don't set out to make political messages in their games, but I mean like you just pointed out - TLOU2.
 

Deleted member 19218

User requested account closure
Banned
Oct 27, 2017
4,323
Well...at least they just straight up say:

"It's also bad for business, unfortunately, if you want the honest truth.... "
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I think it sucks that they would shy away from delivering a message because of a loss of business but capitalism is about companies being slaves to customer needs and desires.
 

Deleted member 7753

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
1,796
Sweden
Mike Rose said:
My thoughts: https://twitter.com/RaveofRavendale/status/1052555276467941377
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Dptv-wTWkAEAty-.jpg
 

Deleted member 6949

User requested account closure
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Oct 25, 2017
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Ubisoft didn't have a problem caping for the Bush Administration by having every game feature someone being tortured until they give up information.
 
OP
OP
Wandu

Wandu

Member
Oct 27, 2017
2,162
Ruslnis said:
What kind of political message does TLOUII have?
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I have only ever lived in the US, so I barely touched on why I thought TLOUII was political. When I say "pushed agenda", I mean that Naughty Dog going in the direction of showcasing Ellie being a lead lesbian can make someone feel that her sexual orientation is forced. For example, when US candidates are going for office, they will always say they are against those types of relationships, but will "somehow" find a way to support them when it is really just for politics. This is my opinion on that though.
 
Angeal78

Angeal78

Game Producer at MistWall Studio
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Oct 26, 2017
324
I don`t know what that means I mean I think they refer to politics, presidents etc... Because The Division1 have Gay Character and a lot of criticism to racism etc...
 
GS_Dan

GS_Dan

Member
Oct 30, 2017
1,971
Accepting the realities of climate change should not be a politically charged idea. Neither should denouncing homophobia, transphobia or racism.
 

Deleted member 8408

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They're a large business alright...

What they need to understand is the fact that they have the power to influence.
 
El-Suave

El-Suave

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Oct 27, 2017
4,829
When you're only making glorifying, miltaristic games, you're already somewhat political to begin with...
 
DailyCalmSpirit

DailyCalmSpirit

Banned
May 17, 2018
3,454
Very calculated response in order to get as much money as possible.

If you don't want to be political, maybe don't make TOM CLANCY games.
 

Deleted member 135

User requested account closure
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Oct 25, 2017
11,682
Acquiescence said:
The GaaS comes first. The GaaS always comes first.

i don't understand that rationale at all
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It's the whole thing with Ubisoft moving away from narrative driven games and towards system driven games. Having a narrative, which by default will be "political" in some way will alienate a section of the audience. They want the largest possible audience playing their games for the longest possible time so they have more opportunities to sell them microtransactions. That's the entire purpose of their games and how they are designed from the ground up, as vehicles for microtransaction sales.

So in that context this desire to be apolitical makes perfect sense.
 
Yukinari

Yukinari

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
4,538
The Danger Zone
Didnt we just have a dev recently say they dont want their games to be political either

Where is this coming from all of a sudden when ubisoft has always made stances in their games
 

Deleted member 8593

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Oct 26, 2017
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Using a politically charged backdrop for your game but being too chickenshit to actually say something with it.
 
kiguel182

kiguel182

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Oct 31, 2017
9,440
The Division is, thematically, a really gross game.

I tried to play it and abstract everything but couldn't. Shame they are making another one and ignoring the stances it has and the messages it portrays.

Also, art is never apolitical. Much less The Division.
 
Damn Silly

Damn Silly

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Oct 25, 2017
7,187
They don't want to be political with a game not only called "The Division" but one with Tom bloody Clancy's name on it.
 
AuthenticM

AuthenticM

Son Altesse Sérénissime
The Fallen
Oct 25, 2017
30,014
there are actual fascists and white supremacists in the white house, but hey, "we don't want to take a stance on that".

well fuck you
 
Derrick01

Derrick01

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
7,289
"Republicans buy shoes too"

As usual these kinds of massive companies don't want to take a stance on anything for fear of missing out on a single dollar. If the MTX in AC didn't already tell you that they're desperate to suck up every last potential dollar that they can then maybe this will.
 
QuiteSomething

QuiteSomething

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Feb 26, 2018
2,753
I don't think that developers and publishers are obligated to have any politics in their games. Or take any high moral stances. They can do what they want. It's art
Consumer will decide if they want to support such a product
 
Sou Da

Sou Da

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Oct 25, 2017
16,738
Dardan Sandiego said:
Using a politically charged backdrop for your game but being too chickenshit to actually say something with it.
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Thing is, the story will always say something. The most they can do is try to make stuff like The Division 2 aesthetically "inoffensive" as they can but you're still government agents fighting militias in DC.
 

Deleted member 19218

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Hella said:
Life is Strange 2 put it best (no spoilers):


And unfortunately for Ubisoft, they've chosen the wrong side.
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Hmm, to me that's like saying every video game is a puzzler or every movie is a drama. Unless the aim of the game is to deliver a powerful message, I don't regard it as political.

I wouldn't argue that Mario Golf is political, I'm sure you could if you want just as much as you could argue it is a puzzler or an RPG.
 
BernardoOne

BernardoOne

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
10,289
Far Cry 5 literally has a red hat wearing redneck that complains about "Obama lovin libtards"

One of the ending is
Trump escalating conflict with North Korea (hinted at in several radio transmissions in the game) which ends up with the US getting hit by several nuclear bombs
 
Premium

Premium

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
836
NC
Are folks arguing that every work of fiction requires political positions to be front and center now?

What happened to just having a creative medium for the sake of creativity without political posturing?

You subscribe to these mods of entertainment to escape from every day realities, not to simply reinforce them for your own pursuit.

Let a game be just that: a game.
 
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