TM.2 Creation
Some people like to just be themselves when it comes to games. Even if they don’t necessarily like themselves, there’s still a comfort in being themselves. Personally, I like to create someone new, a better version of me. The real me, just kind of sucks. I’m tall, but I’m skin and bones. I’ve got some scars from old injuries. Michael K Williams made a facial scar iconic, and it looks cool on Luffy. Mine just looks like someone tried to stab me in the jaw. There’s not even a cool story. Some jerk just put a rock in a snowball and caught me in the face. That was the first time I’d seen snow; my family took a trip to Detroit for the winter. The tickets were cheap enough, and my parents wanted to give me a chance to do something fun instead of think about being sick. My blood was so bright on the snow. Despite that, that’s still a happy memory for me.
The Cyber Rush character creator is kind of bland. There aren’t a ton of skin tones to choose from. Basically, Chris Brown or Wesley Snipes, so I guess I’m Wesley Snipes unless I want to be one of the seven versions of white. I never get excited for a game when the character creator sucks. It just shows me where the developer’s head was, and it was not with me. I can’t help but laugh to myself because I already know what my character will look like. The same thing my character looks like in every game that only caters to white players. A black guy with blue Goku hair, because there is always Goku hair. Can’t have dreadlocks or waves, but you can always have Goku hair. Kevin is probably having a way easier time with this creator than I am.
I spawn into the game, riding in the back of a car. I can’t actually see out of the windows. They cut corners here, just a cutscene. A tan skinned Asian man with his hair in a ponytail spawns in next to me. I guess I’ll meet Kevin in the game. They probably just do the intro with anyone.
“Hey Daamin,” I instantly recognize the voice?
“Kevin,” I ask in confusion.
“Yeah, it’s good to see you again,” he laughs, “without the reptile head I guess,” we both laugh.
“Decided to roleplay as an Asian guy this time,” I try to address the elephant in the car.
“Well, funny thing about that. I could never get the face scan right for Liberty and Strife. So I just created a character with the sliders.”
“There’s no face scan in this game, so you created an Asian guy,” I’m more confused now.
“Well, funny thing about that,” he glances out of the empty windows. “I thought I could spot something out of the window and change the subject, but the windows are fake.” He takes a deep breath and exhales before looking back to me. “I am actually Asian, Cambodian to be specific.”
“I guess Kevin isn’t your real name either,” I’m a little upset. I’m way too old to be falling for the Smart Guy episode where they get lured to a basement by a child predator.
“Sort of, my middle name is Kevin, and that’s what I go by. My first name is Khemera, my middle name is Kevin and my last name is Phlom. My parents wanted me to have a traditional name, but also a more American name.”
“I swear you better not be some pervert trying to get me to strip in your basement, because I am way too old for that.”
“Why would I?” Kevin stutters. “I’m confused.”
“Yeah, that makes two of us. We’re going to talk about why you didn’t want people to know you were Asian at some point. But I’m going to take your word for now. Is this why you never wanted to face time?”
“Greetings,” a voice booms from nowhere and everywhere at once.
“Narration,” Kevin and I say at the same time.
“I hate games with narration,” Kevin sighs.
“I kind of liked Biomutant.”
“It was okay, it wasn’t great.”
“I think people just expect too much of AA games, and don’t really give them grace. A lot of the innovation for games comes from that space and it’s being erased.”
“You definitely have a point with people expecting too much.”
“Excuse me,” the narrator cuts in. “Sorry to disturb your conversation but you’ve taken a new job with Seven Stones Industries. We make some of the most cutting edge technology in the world. But keeping it safe is risky, that’s why we need special forces military operatives like you to help keep it safe. Buckle up, we’ll be arriving soon,” the narrator finishes.
“This is so generic,” Kevin laughs.
“I guarantee we’re going to meet the boss and it’s going to be a bald white guy.”
“If this game came out in the 2010s, we’d be playing as bald white guys too.”
We share a brief laugh over how absurd and true all of this is. When there’s a moment of silence, I remind him, “we’re still going to talk about that white guy disguise, but I’m glad you’re here.”
“Won’t happen again, and I’m glad to be here.”
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