The Melanin Gamers, a video game consultancy organization, has announced a system to assess the toxicity of online games. However, this tool was quickly derided for its lack of reliability.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022), Infinity Ward
According to the company's website, “Melanin Gamers is dedicated to increasing diversity and inclusion in the video game industry. This is more than just a gaming community; it's a show of support and a way to bring about much-needed change. It’s a cry for help, a safe place for people of color to come together, share ideas, and feel represented, a community online and in real life.”
“We want to be seen and heard. This is essential in the current climate we live in and by creating this platform we want to reflect all those who participate in the industry. We believe we can work towards change in the industry. We are not looking for unnecessary pretentiousness, we are looking for real tide change from the grassroots to the top.” .
Screenshot of The Melanin Gamers website
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The site also reveals that the company provides diversity and inclusion consulting. “At the heart of MG is a group of dedicated advocates who are committed to elevating representation in popular media. As part of our mission, we have created an entirely new D&I consulting firm.”
“Through this new business unit, we hope to support organizations such as: Everyone feels represented and can thrive. We are here to help identify barriers for underrepresented groups and develop strategies to close the gaps. We offer a variety of solutions to effectively address these issues.”
Screenshot of The Melanin Gamers website
On March 27, the company announced “the world's first rating system to identify the harmfulness of online games” at X. Melanin Gamers and Help Keep Watch have launched the first rating system to identify toxicity in online games.
It further added, “Check out the rating system for yourself here: lnkd.in/etehNWk6.”
X Melanin Gamer
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This website features a large number of games including: call of duty, fortnite, Mine Craft, apex legendsand Valorant. We also promise to include: Animal Crossing: New Horizons, rocket league, destiny 2, halo infiniteand “GTA Online”.
It claims that its ratings were “created by surveying hundreds of gamers.” Represents the average amount of conversations about racism, sexism, violence toward others, crude humor, and controlled substances experienced while playing online. ”
Screenshot of toxicity assessment website
On this site, 78% call of duty Players face racism, 90% face direct violent threats, and 67% face sexism.Similarly, 69% fortnite Players have faced racism, 66% have faced sexism, and 85% have faced direct threats of violence.
parable Mine Craft 56% of players claim to have faced racism, 54% have faced sexism, and 78% have faced direct violent threats.
Godzilla blows up King Kong in Minecraft (2024), Mojang Studio
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The methodology of this tool is questionable at best.like before world of warcraft Team leader Mark Kahn said the feature allows anyone who wants to rate the game by filling out a survey to do so without having to see if the person has played the game. .
He wrote to X: “A new website now lets you report 'toxicity' in the gaming community.” There's no way to verify if you played the game, and people can say whatever they want. . So I decided to report my distaste for Minecraft!”
A new website now lets you report “toxicity” in gaming communities.
There is no way to verify if you played the game and people can say whatever they want. So I decided to report my dislike for Minecraft!
(continued) https://t.co/c8z2xPnMt3 pic.twitter.com/sTFaab3RdS
— Grummz (@Grummz) April 2, 2024
In fact, if you want to rate a game, select which game you want to rate from the drop-down menu. After selecting a game, the individual is asked a series of questions.
For Call of Duty, “Indicates whether user-generated interactive portions (such as audio or text) of this game contain descriptions, inferences, references, or depictions of sexuality, suggestiveness, or provocative clothing.” Please.” I ask. Or nudity. ”
Response options are: yes, no, don't know.
Toxicity assessment survey questions
It then asks individuals to “indicate whether any interactive user-generated elements in this game include references to or use of illegal drugs, abused prescription drugs, alcohol, or tobacco.” I will ask.
Response options are: yes, no, don't know.
Toxicity assessment survey questions
Additionally, please indicate whether any interactive user-generated elements in this game contain references to bodily functions such as belching, flatulence, or vomiting that are used for humorous, offensive, or derogatory purposes. ”
Response options are: yes, no, don't know.
Toxicity assessment survey questions
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Then, “Please indicate whether any user-generated interactive aspects of this game include the use, inference, or description of racist, xenophobic, or race-based discrimination or hatred.” I am asking.
Response options are: yes, no, don't know.
Toxicity assessment survey questions
Additionally, “Please indicate whether any interactive user-generated elements of this game include any description, inference, reference to, or depiction of violence.”
Response options are: yes, no, don't know.
Toxicity assessment survey questions
It concludes with the question, “Please indicate whether any user-generated interactive aspects of this game contain sexism, misogyny, or homophobia.”
Response options are: yes, no, don't know.
Toxicity assessment survey questions
The final slide asks for demographic data.
Toxicity assessment survey questions
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Social media users were quick to ridicule the “rating system.” Lawrence Gilmer writes: And how does it become toxic on Minecraft?!?”
What’s the point of this when the mute button is just a few clicks away?
And how does it become toxic in Minecraft?!?
— Lawrence “LG” Gilmer (@210LG) April 1, 2024
The Culper Report wrote, “Interestingly, people will take advantage of this to see which games are the most 'toxic' and go play them, lol.”
Funny thing is, people will take advantage of this to see which games are the most “toxic” and go play them lol
— Culper (@CulperReport) April 2, 2024
Gamer Geek asked: “I have a question, and it's an important question. What exactly do these percentages mean? Certainly not 76% of the community as a whole. I feel like I just made up some random numbers. To do.”
I have a question, and it's an important one. What exactly do these percentages mean? Certainly not 76% of the entire community.
I feel like I just made up some random numbers.
— Gamer Geek (@RealGamerGeek) April 2, 2024
FedUpMajority said, “LOL, a group whose name is about racism and whose mission is to force gamers to see each other based on skin color will help identify toxicity in gaming.” ” he wrote.
(LOL), a group whose name is about racism and whose mission is to force gamers to see each other based on skin color helps identify toxicity in gaming.
— FedUpMajority (@FedUpMajority) April 2, 2024
What do you think about this new “rating system” by The Melanin Gamers?
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