News on the Hour
Friday, November 24, 2023
Special Weekend Feature Report: American Indigenous in Video Games
Written by Alleine Dragonfyre | Reported by Asclepius | PC Games by Drizz Dragonfyre
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NEWS ON THE HOUR - November 24 2023 Weekend Edition
Local News
The Robot Overlords have announced a sheet music hunt event in Shroud of the Avatar that commenced on November 13th and will continue until a winner is found. Participants search for music sheets with a twist. Ten specific sheets of music are now listed on the official forums. Finding one makes you eligible for the grand prize. Discovering five or more earns an additional special reward. Players must post a screenshot of the sheet on the forum thread and its drop to claim victory. Happy hunting!
In Haven Ridge, an exciting month-long fishing event is happening until November 30th. Participants have a chance to win big in multiple categories, including a Grand Prize for Largest Lava and Saltwater Fish with a combined length of 2000 COTO's, 200k Gold, an in-game Gold Fishing Trophy & this is cool, Listeners, a sealed Shroud of the Avatar Video Game Box Set! There are prizes for the Largest Lava and Saltwater fish as well. Submit catches via In-Game Mail to Lebu Lionheart or use the Turn-In Chest near the main dock. Haven Ridge is just beyond Castle Atos in Shroud of the Avatar. Best of luck to all participants!
Download the FREE MMORPG Shroud of the Avatar today.
General Player Event Info:
For more information about player-run events, developer game updates and more happenings in Shroud of the Avatar, or to have your events broadcasted during NEWS ON THE HOUR for free, visit the official Shroud of the Avatar forums and the Avatars Radio Discord at www.avatarsradio.rocks/discord
For information about advertising your in-game business, guild or gaming-related products and services on Avatars Radio, visit avatarsradio.rocks/patron.
Gear up for the weekly Lightbringer Isle Auction, which takes place every Wednesday. Determine your prices, starting bids, and reserves. Drop labeled items at the Auction House or mail them to Hemnu Lighbringer, along with bid details. Expect a diverse array of offerings for a rich experience. Remember, a 10% commission on the final sale price applies. Visit the Shroud of the Avatar official forums for info.
Friends & fellow Avatars, please honor us with your attendance at The Deca-Yule Ball! We join our community in celebrating 10 years of Shroud of the Avatar and honoring the SOTA Developers of past and present for their hard work in faithfully bringing our beloved MMORPG monthly content updates through the years. This celebration is about our community, too, for without us, there would be no Novia! The Deca-Yule Ball is on Friday, December 15th, and shall be timed to commence shortly after the official Developer Twitch Livestream. Music and your on-air emcee for this live event will be provided and broadcasted by Avatars Radio, simulcasting the TV feed at twitch.tv/avatarsradiorocks. Formal or fantasy attire is required. Visit the official Shroud of the Avatar forums for updates.
Metaverse News
Video Games and Native Representation: Breaking Harmful Stereotypes
San Diego State University’s The Daily Aztec highlights harmful stereotypes in video games. Games like "Laws of the West" and "Indian Attack" perpetuated negative images, while even the original educational game "Oregon Trail" clashed with historical realities by depicting Natives as savages. Positive examples, like "Assassin's Creed III," consulted with Native actor Noah Watts for accurate cultural representation. However, the lack of Native representation in game development, with over 83% of developers being Caucasian, remains a challenge. Initiatives like Concordia University's "Skins Workshop" aim to empower Native youth in game development, addressing the industry's need for diversity and accurate representation. For more information about the workshop, visit indigenousfutures.net.
Gameloft's Oregon Trail: Playable Native Characters
Gameloft, the developer of The Oregon Trail, recently released a groundbreaking new version, available on mobile and PC platforms, introducing playable Native American characters. Collaborating with three Indigenous historians, they ensured authenticity in music, language, attire, and character roles.
Margaret Huettl, of Lac Courte Oreilles ancestry, corrected historical representations and suggested diverse character names. Notably, the portrayal of bows and arrows was replaced with rifles to avoid stereotypes. The new version includes a developer disclaimer acknowledging the harsh reality of Westward expansion for Native Americans, marking a significant stride in educational gaming. For more information, visit theoregontrail-game.com
Gaming and Indigenous Representation: Dr. Ashlee Bird's Insights
Dr. Ashlee Bird recently delved into the language of video games, specifically exploring mechanical (coded) and visual (representational) languages. Coded language, the behind-the-scenes rules of a game, dictates how characters move and the game responds to actions. Bird examined its impact on Indigenous representation. Visual language, on the other hand, refers to what players see – the graphics, characters, and design.
It influences perceptions of Indigenous characters and cultures, often perpetuating harmful stereotypes. Bird advocates for a positive shift in these languages, proposing "Synthetic Indigenous identity" in games created by and for Indigenous communities. Her interdisciplinary approach identifies decolonial game creation methods, showcased in titles like Never Alone, emphasizing the integration of Indigenous knowledge. Bird's work underscores the potential of interactive media to foster an authentic digital Indigenous identity by reshaping both coded and visual languages in gaming. Dr. Ashlee Bird, Assistant Professor of American Studies at the University of Notre-Dame. Dr. Bird is a Native American game designer with a Ph.D. in Native American Studies. She is from the Abenaki Nation.
Indigenous Pop Culture Expo 2023: Celebrating Creative Diversity
In 2023, the Indigenous Pop Culture Expo (IPX) returned to the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City, celebrating Native American and Indigenous creatives. The event featured Indigenous celebrities, film screenings, cosplay contests, and panel discussions, reflecting the increased Native representation in entertainment.
The expo showcased unique Indigenous games, like Naasii, a dice game by Cherokee developer Connor Alexander, part of the tabletop role-playing game Coyote & Crow, set in an alternate history without colonization. Indigenous game developers, like Meagan Byrne of Achimostawinan Games, challenge industry myths by creating content for Indigenous audiences.
Her game, Hill Agency, explores themes of violence against women in a cyber noir Indigenous mystery interactive novel. The success of IPX and the interest in Indigenous games signify a positive shift, breaking down stereotypes and providing space for authentic Indigenous stories, reflecting a growing recognition of their significance in pop culture. Native Realities and First Americans Museum proudly announce the return of the Indigenous Pop Expo, April 12-14, 2024, in Oklahoma City. This year’s theme for IPX is “Revolution.” Everyone is welcome. For more information, visit www.indigipopx.com.
Research Explores How Video Games Portray Native Americans
Dr. Wendi Sierra, a Texas Christian University professor from the Oneida Nation, is researching how Native Americans are depicted in video games. She wants to know if games accurately represent where they live, if they're shown as part of today's world and not just in a historical context, and if they use their native languages.
Dr. Sierra, who loves video games, is especially interested in games that go beyond stereotypes. She's looking for characters who are Native American and have their own plans and choices in the game.
She's asking for help from the gaming community to find lesser-known games where characters are clearly identified as Native Americans from North America. This research is vital to understand how video games can better portray Native American culture and avoid stereotypes, making sure games respect and represent these communities accurately.
Dr. Sierra combines her Native American heritage with her passion for video games. She teaches game studies while designing culturally relevant games like "A Strong Fire," an Oneida Nation language, folklore, and culture game. Play it at www.astrongfire.com