Posted Jun 30, 2006 at 02:45AM by Alaric S. Listed in: Loco Roco, Opinions & Analysis Tags: Sony, moja, Alejandro Quan-Madrid, Florian Eckhardt
Ó

locoroco - Image 2locoroco - Image 1

The game LocoRoco, takes place in a peaceful faraway planet whose harmonious existence is shattered when it is assaulted by an insidious race called the Moja Troop. Right here on Earth, LocoRoco is causing its own spark with claims that the game has racist overtones. More precisely, bad guys Kojya, Mojya and Ojya resembles the portrayal of Black people back in the days of racism. In the eyes of Alejandro Quan-Madrid, the resemblance is too close for comfort. If you look at the images above, you may see where Alejandro is coming from.

"Im not accusing the developers of being racist, nor am I accusing LocoRoco of being a racist game. I simply hope believe that this is a product of unchecked institutionalized racism that need's calling out," said Alejandro Quan-Madrid.

Meanwhile, Florian Eckhardt has this to say about it. "I do think [Alejandro] is making himself out to be one of those knee-jerk reactionaries who measures his own importance by his ability to be self-righteously offended...his argument (is) silly and worthy of derision (LocoRoco as a metaphor for white flight? In a game about yellow amorphous blobs?)... it demeans the struggle against actual racism."

Which reminds us of our last visit to our psychoanalyst who did the Rorschach inkblot test on us. You know, those cards with ink blots and you're suppose to tell the doctor what you see. It could be a case of seeing something that not's there at all. Sony did issue a statement stressing that LocoRoco is a fantasy game set in a vibrant pastel world with colorful landscapes and characters. The game, they said, is not based on real-life places, people or things. Which we take to mean LocoRoco is not racist.

By the way we failed the test.


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138 Comments


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   by racist (Unregistered) - 2006-06-30
 » are you serious

i am so sick and tired of people yelling racism every time someone looks at them in the wrong way. i have this game and in no way did i ever make the connection between the bad guy and a black guy. seriously...maybe this guy needs a pat on the back for having it so bad. what a damn loser!

   by Myth (Unregistered) - 2006-06-30
 » This is stupid

Completely agree with #1, people seem to be able to find racism in anything.

   by Pagnell (Unregistered) - 2006-06-30
 » What a crock.

It's idiots like this sanctamonius twot that are the cause for he most ridiculous changes in todays world. I have heard that a blackboard now has to be called a chalkboard in schools for fear of offending someone.

You can find things to be offended about anywhere if you look hard enough mate - get a life. Political correct bullsh*t.

   by Head00r (Unregistered) - 2006-06-30
 » OMG

I have never heard something such stupid...

   by random forum hopper (Unregistered) - 2006-06-30
 » Whoever said it was racist is crazy

Why is that racist, I bet this was an American who said this (cause even if you're American you gotta admit there are soime nutty Christian extremists and just generally nuts people) don't they sue people for stuff like eating to much Mc Donalds and then sueing them for being a fat f#ck?

   by Shrink (Unregistered) - 2006-06-30
 » C'Mon

This is ridiculous

   by FLai - 2006-06-30
 » .

Political correctness gone mad. I have been called racist for pointing out a Chinese girl as Chinese. These people really need to get a life. How the hell are we supposed to know that those little spider things resemble ONE drawing of a black person 50 years ago. Call the racism card whenever things don't go your way and then go back to racially taunting white people. Thats the way to do it.....

   by Ridiculous (Unregistered) - 2006-06-30
 » Ridiculous

I agree with #2.

If you look hard enough you can make everything seem racist.

Oh look - My train has a black stripe on the side. Its long and black. Trains travel fast....

OMFG! That promotes a subconcious racist stereotype that all tall black men are fast runners!

So stupid.


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   by Ugh (Unregistered) - 2006-06-30
 » Liberals Suck

Why can things not be a certain color?, Why must it be racist if it is that color?I hate how we can't even make a character a certain color not race without getting racism called out, it's stupid. People just want money, so they choose what makes people happy and laugh and try to make false claims, it's the world for you, I hope that this dosent get futher than this, because if it delays loco roco, i will be very angry.

   by Phil (Unregistered) - 2006-06-30
 » Gollywogs

The first thing i thought when i seen them was, "Hmm they look alot like gollywogs"

However it didnt make me want to enslave me an ethnic and sell them on ebay.

So life goes on.

   by Same author as above (Unregistered) - 2006-06-30
 » Same author

Nevermind, my apologies, I didn't see the link to 1up at the bottom.

   by Muscrat (Unregistered) - 2006-06-30
 » ...

Its *****s like this dude n` Jack Thompson that gaming in general gets a bad name...

Its a pity though cos Loco Roco is a freakin sweet n` its as addictive as crack :P

   by me (Unregistered) - 2006-06-30
 » wtf

wtf tbh

   by hackra - 2006-06-30
 » .

It isn't racist...

...seriously people, chill.

   by akuma2099 - 2006-06-30
 » This is stupid !

By the same token I could call "The Steve Harvey Show" racist because the only white people on there are a guy called "bullet head" that's stupid and a girl that is overweight. So they think all white guys are dumb and all white girls are overweight. It's people like this that keep trying to find racism where there is none that keep fueling the fire.

   by tinglemaps (Unregistered) - 2006-06-30
 » weak

the general population of blacks would not care about this. the only people that care are white people trying to be politically correct and over "victimized" blacks looking for a lawsuit

   by mey (Unregistered) - 2006-06-30
 » bah

damn im sick of people complaing about games like they have nothign better to do with their time its a freeking game.


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   by Paul (Unregistered) - 2006-06-30
 » The real racist....

as far as i can see the only thing racist about this is the person who brings race into stupid subjects like this.... this just stirs things up even more....bringing more hatred etc..
.im sure that 95% from people would have never made any link to this.....so the racist is the one who dragged it all up .........

   by Jerico G. (QJ. NET Staff) - 2006-06-30
 » @ No. 9

@ No. 9
What do you mean? 1up was sourced. Look at the via link. Better get your understanding of "stealing" straight.

   by dsafvasdf (Unregistered) - 2006-06-30
 » asdsfa

i can see where comdians get their jokes...

   by jaxxster (Unregistered) - 2006-06-30
 » WTF

???

Now you mention it after i played loco roco for 2 hours killing loads of moyjas i really had the urge to go out and hit up some black people!......*sarcasm*

   by qewrqwerw (Unregistered) - 2006-06-30
 » .....

Black Face +Watermelon+Red Lips=stererotypes of a black person=RACIST



a movie that shows this would be August Wilson's "The Piano"
http://www.sparknotes.com/drama/piano/

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1574922815/104-8241147-0850310?v=glance&n=404272

it's obvious that you guys aren't black and wouldn't understand,having to work twice as hard in everything just to get around

   by everyuser (Unregistered) - 2006-06-30
 » man

hello people i am not racist i have black friends and yes they like to be called black not colored,
but even my freinds say that all this crap comes from black people what white people now adays are not racist and when this sillys things get bought up its by black people with chips on there shoulders who belive that slaves are still around.

so who ever bought this subject up should be asked why and who are they are they black them selves and what is there history with racism.

it reminds me of that bus joke.
in south afica they was a bus with black people at the back and white at the front and they would fight so the bus driver said one day right no more black and white so every one went yeah,
at that the bus driver said it will be blues,dark blues to the back and light blues to the front,

   by everyuser (Unregistered) - 2006-06-30
 » man

hello people i am not racist i have black friends and yes they like to be called black not colored,
but even my freinds say that all this crap comes from black people what white people now adays are racist and when this sillys things get bought up its by black people with chips on there shoulders who belive that slaves are still around.

so who ever bought this subject up should be asked why and who are they are they black them selves and what is there history with racism.

it reminds me of that bus joke.
in south afica they was a bus with black people at the back and white at the front and they would fight so the bus driver said one day right no more black and white so every one went yeah,
at that the bus driver said it will be blues,dark blues to the back and light blues to the front,

   by everyuser (Unregistered) - 2006-06-30
 » man

that should have said what white people are racist nowadays not white are racist now days.

we all need to come together and fight the iraqies and osma bin ladan he has killed loads of usa,uk people.

   by x (Unregistered) - 2006-06-30
 » damn darkies...

damn black people are all the sames... *****s always have to try to start something... honestly, who gives a crap if the evil bad guys in the game look like *****a's wit dreds... not like its inaccurate or anything...

   by yes (Unregistered) - 2006-06-30
 » 100% flamers

this is one of those rare articles that has more comments than jumps because everyones just flaming away lol its so sad




Rorschach test:
does this look dirty to you?

) # | | # (

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   by Jabberwocky20 (Unregistered) - 2006-06-30
 » ummm...

Is it just me or did the guy say he wasn't accusing the the developers or saying the game was racist, then turn full circle and say some big words to make it seem like he said something else , when really he was just sugar coating his words?? :P I don't like hypocrits no matter WHAT nationality or creed :P Now see, if I would have said "color" instead of creed, then there would be someone taking offense to THAT :P!!!

   by AlphaWeapon (Unregistered) - 2006-06-30
 » ma vaffanculo va...

even checkers are racist, do u know? :D

   by mis (Unregistered) - 2006-06-30
 » Dumbass

It said via 1up dumbass #9



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