During a game’s development, narrative consultants will be hired by studios to help with fleshing out or tweaking narrative elements, Kenney said. “Narrative consultants do not get final say,” Kenney reiterated. "It doesn’t get into the game if we [as the developer] don’t approve it.

“They consult. They do research, pitch ideas, give feedback, and maybe even write scripts. But none of that gets into the game unless the core dev team agrees with it. I’m going to keep saying that, because it’s key. Sweet Baby is not, nor is any consulting group, coming in to wreck games. They’re helping smooth out plots and deepen characters. They ease the burden on the core narrative team. They’re additive in every way.”

  • CancerMancer@sh.itjust.works
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    8 months ago

    A Sweet Baby Inc co-founder said at GDC that they rely on fear to force developers to bring in DEI consultants. One of their founders also has had some spicy things to say about white males.

    Sweet Baby Inc is not likely responsible for AAA gaming largely being disappointing (I blame that on monetization and an unwillingness to innovate), but why would I want to support people who extort their way into business and hate me for my immutable characteristics?

  • fckreddit@lemmy.ml
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    8 months ago

    I don’t get hate towards Sweet Baby Inc. Sure they consulted on some bad games but that is on the developers, not on them. They also consulted on Miles Morales and I loved the story in that game, even more than the story of 2018 game. Sweet Baby don’t deserve the hate.

    • Eyck_of_denesle@lemmy.zip
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      8 months ago

      Look at their ceo’s tweets. The project may be fine but the person that leads it and the way they deal with “anti-woke” crowds is essential. They could’ve easily ignored a few weirdos making a group but they decided to make a post promoting some report and continued it with racist and sexist comments. They 100% deserve the hate. The consultancy part isn’t the problem but the management is.

  • neatchee@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    Good. They deserve the support. And unfortunately these companies have already dealt with harassment from these lunatics and can provide useful guidance on how to handle them.

    I really hope none of their staff are scared away from the industry, even though they have every right to be under the circumstances.

  • otp@sh.itjust.works
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    8 months ago

    At this point I want more woke stuff in games just to bother the losers out of the hobby, or to get them used to it

      • otp@sh.itjust.works
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        8 months ago

        The games are not worse for having woke stuff. To me, it’s no different from having guitars in the soundtrack.

        “I want guitars in game soundtracks because it annoys the people who want game soundtracks without guitars”.

        Sounds petty when you put it that way.

        Now replace “guitars” with something that’s objectively positive for society (e.g., inclusion), and any reasonable person would see that it’s ok.

      • Godric@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        “Video games are worse when I see a dude in a wheelchair” is a take.

        Out of curiosity, do you work in the sanitation field? It’s clearly seen you’re a garbage person, just wondering if you’re a garbageperson as well.

        • Daxtron2@startrek.website
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          8 months ago

          Hey now, let’s not slander the fine people who take care of our refuse by lumping them in with this asshole.