Mainstream
Five Reasons Why Diversity Could Matter More for Nintendo
Let’s get this out of the way first: no, I don’t think that Mario Kart 8 needs to add some spiffy, new racially diverse humans to its roster solely to satisfy what basically no one was directly asking for and what seems to have been more of a way of communicating Nintendo’s outdated product than an actual plea for diversity in the first place. But, as a fan of post-first-generation characters like Waluigi and Princess Rosalina, I do think that Nintendo has a gift for inventing new and exciting avatars for their fans throughout the world. And, as long as we seem to be having the (incredibly irate) conversation anyways, now’s probably the time to discuss why, yeah, it could actually be a pretty solid move to introduce some fantastical go-karting buddies to the company’s roster that don’t look like quite so pasty.
1. Nintendo Makes Simple Stories
I want to take a moment to discuss another property that had accusations of racism hurled blindly at it: HBO’s Girls.
“Well, if the internet wasn’t angry before…”
The show, which chronicles the lives of four white, twenty-something girls living in New York, has been the subject of a variety of controversies and generally toxic statements since it first aired but none was quite so blatantly dumb as the idea that by having a central cast made up exclusively of white folks that the show was inherently a rhetoric for the supposed superiority of the melanin-deficient. As time went on, it became increasingly clear that the progenitors of this theory were not fans of the show but simply a group of like-minded detractors desperately grasping for whatever straws they could use to hopefully get the show cancelled.
There’s a discussion there, though, about the reason why Girls made the artistic choices that it did. As a literary drama, Girls is an exploration of gender, race, generation and all sorts of other complex and inevitably convoluted stuff that makes up personal identity and the expressions and conflicts thereof. Girls maybe not be racially diverse but it is about race, from a certain perspective, because the race of the characters informs their decisions — albeit, in an indirect manner. You might be able to handle the same general topics from a number of viewpoints (and I’d certainly love it if HBO as a network did just that) but you couldn’t do that here and retain the same flavor. It’s like the difference between sriracha and tabasco. They’re both spicy, sure, but in different ways. If you’re acknowledging that and then exploring that then you don’t need to represent both in the same dish.
The thing is, Nintendo isn’t telling stories like that. Mario, in particular, is just a series of disconnected parodies of the classic knight-errant tales. The ones which have been distilled in modern recollection as essentially being about noble heroes running fetch quests for damsels in distress and laying the smackdown on dragons along the way. Why is Mario a plumber? Because it’s funny to see the classic knight replaced with something more working-class. Why does Bowser team up with Mario on occasion and why does Princess Peach sometimes not need saving at all? Because it’s funny to see these roles played around with. Why go-karting? Because these characters are more flexible tropes that can be slotted in wherever necessary than truly defined, dramatic creations.
And that’s fine too, but then it slowly begins to beg the question: do they really all need to look so similar? If Mario’s skin color matters to him about as much as the relative bushiness of his mustache then why is it set in stone? If heroism isn’t a white quality then why does it look so white when displayed here? And again, I think it would be downright silly to accuse Nintendo of racism. But at this point, they’re potentially sending a message that they don’t want to be sending.
As time goes on this becomes less an issue of the representation of race and more an issue of the representation of Nintendo’s key values. Even if their message is entirely inclusive, and always has been, then how do they successfully communicate that in the twenty-first century?
And maybe the answer is that they just avoid the question and hope that people get what they’re trying for. Or maybe the answer is that they give some serious thought to how diversity has the potential to make their character roster stronger and then figure out what means for them going forward.
2. Nintendo is a Worldwide Company
Especially now, with the recent announcement that the company will be designing a series of consoles exclusively for emerging markets, it’s clear that Nintendo’s aims are very global in nature. And the world’s made up of a lot of different people with a lot of different looks and a lot of different experiences. If Nintendo hopes to cater to all of them, or at least most of them, it could do a lot worse than attempt to shake up its characters a little.
But let’s not pretend that this is as simple as or as painless as adding a few different faces to their increasingly crowded cast. While in the West audiences may place a premium on physical representation, this by itself is going to be less important in places that are less likely to have a mixing-pot culture. Look no further than Japan’s own crooked path of importing superheroes for proof of that. The road from Spider-Man to the Power Rangers is long and fascinating but I don’t have the time to cover it all here.
“Hint: there was quite a lot of morphin’ involved.”
Suffice to say that if Nintendo is splintering its efforts into a variety of very different and much smaller markets, each with their own interests and expectations, then it will either have to have the kind of line-up that translates well across all national and cultural boundaries (good luck) or it will have to find a way to juggle all of these demands if it hopes to be a juggernaut in Uzbekistan on the same level that it is in Japan.
3. Nintendo is Trying to Go Social
If Tomodachi Life is any indication, Miyamoto and company are in for a rocky future as far as adding social tools to to their games goes. When asking people to pay money to play as virtual versions of themselves, erring on the side of more options is always, in every circumstance, going to be for the best.
But even outside of games where you’re meant to create a stand-in for yourself, Nintendo is hoping that you’ll be the type of consumer that is so attached to at least one of their characters that you’ll want to take a snapshot of them from inside the game and post it for the world to see. And no, I’m not trying to say that, for example, black players simply won’t be able to connect to white characters. That would be ridiculous and just plain wrong-headed about human nature.
But you can’t necessarily predict what individual people will find appealing about a particular character. When I was a kid, I would always play as Luigi when given the chance because green was my favorite color (still top three, by the way). As an adult, I’ll usually play as Rosalina because, unlike the rest of the Mario cast, she has a more consistent backstory and I dig her look more than that of Peach or Daisy. But nobody ever sat down and designed either of them to appeal directly to me or people like me. Somebody at Nintendo just did something creative and I found my own reasons for liking it.
Diversity helps here because, if you want people to find that one character of yours that they really identify with or just want to explore further, then you need more choices and those choices have to be meaningful. Choosing between Bowser and Daisy is pretty meaningful. Mario and Luigi? Maybe a little less so.
4. Nostalgia Needs to be Refreshed
Eventually, the market that exists for New Super Mario Bros. VI: The Undiscovered Country is going to dry up. Because you can only milk nostalgia until the generation that responds to it either dies off or gets completely and finally bored and moves on. It’s time to start planting seeds now for the future thirty-year-olds who will want to relive their own childhoods later.
I’m not saying to reinvent the wheel here. After all, icons become icons for a reason. But icons can also fade (have you ever heard of Mr. Skygack? Yeah, exactly.) so it’s not wise to rest on your laurels either. What determines how long a property lasts is how well its basic principles can be adapted and re-molded to not only survive but continue to be fresh and exciting in successive iterations. The more predictable a franchise is, the more easily worn-out its joys can become.
And one way to keep the spirit of a thing alive is to lower its cultural barrier to entry. Young people are increasingly growing accustomed to the idea that humanity is a broad collection of individual quirks and backgrounds such that the character select screen for the next Mario Kart won’t so much look potentially offensive as… just kind of weird? Like something is off and they might not be able to place what it is but it could be enough to put them off the whole thing. Audiences are fickle, remember. Heck, I’ve seen people give up on entire mediums of expression because they’re not consistently being delivered the exact experience that they want down to the very last detail.
In the game of keeping people happy, practically every path leads to failure. So I have a lot of sympathy for Nintendo’s position here but I can also see that they’re having a more difficult time keeping on their feet than they ever have before. And that’s definitely the best time to try something new. Which, really, shouldn’t be much of an issue for them. After all…
5. Nintendo Tries New Stuff All the Time
It’s one of their best features! And while they may not have knocked them all out of the park, their batting average is still pretty danged high. So why the resistance from fans and the seeming trepidation from the company itself on this one issue? Are we really so suspicious of Nintendo’s ability to do this kind of thing right?
Heck, even Disney has been doing pretty solid with representation recently and I’m still not entirely convinced that their creative staff aren’t secretly the result of a Vault-Tec testing program.
So, come on, what’s the worst that could happen?
“Please don’t answer that.”
Usenet newsgroups may seem old-fashioned to many. In reality, they are the perfect place for players who love the classics but are always open to new games and strategies. These internet communities are also ideal for those searching for gaming material, solutions to issues, or a conversation related to their favorite video games. Whether you are an experienced player or entering this domain for the first time, Usenet holds a ton of resources that could change how you interact with the gaming world.
Understanding Usenet Newsgroups
Usenet newsgroups, which include gaming groups, are like message boards. People can post messages and articles in different categories. Each group is a special place for certain topics – this makes it simple to find the subjects you want to read about most. The unique characteristic of Usenet lies in its decentralized structure. This permits a much more open interchange of details and information than what is seen on regular social media platforms or forums.
Initially, Usenet was utilized only for academic and professional exchanges. However, it soon turned into a prevalent method for communicating among hobbyists and gaming groups. Presently, even though Usenet has been surpassed by newer platforms in terms of popularity, it continues to be an important tool for knowledgeable users who value its special mix of staying anonymous with fast communication. Knowledgeable users also love access to vast archives containing historical information and software applications that are no longer available elsewhere on the Internet.
Top Usenet Newsgroups for Mobile Games
comp.mobile.games
This is a fresh group dedicated to discussions about mobile games and related technology matters within the industry. Here, you can find conversations about the coding aspects of creating games for mobile devices, like new updates in platforms or fresh game engines being used for development purposes.
rec.games.mobile
The perfect place for people who play games on their mobile devices as a hobby. Here, users talk about strategies, tricks and discuss game evaluations. This group is also suitable for those who are not serious gamers but like to connect with others and discuss playing strategies.
alt.games.mobile
In this newsgroup, users often discuss gaming fixes and give each other suggestions. It is also the go-to place for gamers and die-hard fans that wish to find each and every detail of the game they love to play.
Best Newsgroups for Video Game Discussions
Newsgroups such as alt.games.video and rec.games.video.arcade have lively communities where gamers often engage in exchanges and conversations. These forums are not only for resolving gaming issues or writing reviews; they are centers of enthusiastic discussion regarding gaming culture, strategy, and creation process. Be it the latest RPGs, energetic shooters or old-school arcade games – there is always a thread bustling with discussion.
In these threads, not only will you encounter a variety of views from across the globe, but you may also land on gaming tricks and shortcuts that are lesser known. For those who are new, remember that every group has its own tone and rules. Lurking for a while should help you understand community norms and ensure your contributions are accepted.
Specialized Gaming Newsgroups
Specialized newsgroups are designed for particular gaming communities. They provide a discussion environment that is more centered and focused. These groups are ideal for users who really love a particular game and want to explore it in great depth.
The benefit of these specific groups is their collection of very particular details. Gamers who are part of such a group often exchange unique things like custom mods or skins, and offer advice on how to make gameplay more efficient and fun.
Tips for Using Usenet Newsgroups for Gaming
To enter Usenet, you will first need to pick a provider that is well-known for security, high retention rates and fast speed. To make the right pick, it is a good idea to get the rankings for the best Usenet providers. Next, get advanced newsreader software, as this will allow you to browse through newsgroups easily and manage your activities effectively.
Focus on newsgroups related to gaming and participate in discussions matching your interests to find gaming buddies. Also, make sure that you follow the netiquette of each group while doing so. Utilize newsreader software functions like filters and automation to keep things simple.
Conclusion
Usenet, at first sight, can appear as a choice for oldies or people that have not yet acclimated to social media platforms and forums. However, its distinct characteristics make it very useful for all kinds of gamers. If you are searching for uncommon information, looking for detailed conversations or wish to join a community that matches with your specific interests; Usenet is surely the place for you. Jump in to see how Usenet can add another element of fun to your gaming experiences!
Child development is a complex journey marked by critical milestones where each stride forward builds upon the foundation of the previous one. Acknowledging children’s individual needs, pediatric therapy services tailor strategies to foster physical, emotional, and cognitive growth. To support this transformative process, environments that prompt curiosity and engagement, coupled with advanced educational tools, play an instrumental role in shaping young minds. These resources, carefully selected and applied, can significantly amplify a child’s developmental trajectory. Keep reading to learn about the effective ways these tools and techniques can aid in advancing childhood milestones.
Pediatric Therapy Services: Enhancing Developmental Milestones
Pediatric therapy services support children as they reach and surpass developmental milestones. These services, often provided by skilled therapists, address various growth challenges, ensuring each child has the best possible start in life. From speech and occupational therapy to physical and behavioral interventions, these professionals tailor their approach to meet the unique needs of every young patient.
Therapists work relentlessly to motivate children, fostering an environment where milestones are not merely achieved but celebrated. Through personalized, one-on-one sessions, children gain the confidence and skills necessary to navigate their developmental journeys more easily. The trust between therapist and child is a solid foundation for consistent progress and paves the path for lifelong learning and adaptation.
Resource provision is a key component of pediatric therapy, equipping parents with the tools to continue therapy practices at home. Effective communication between therapists and families ensures a cohesive strategy that envelops the child’s daily routine, enhancing the therapy’s impact. It also allows parents to identify subtle progress, reinforcing their pivotal role in the child’s developmental success.
If you’re looking for pediatric therapy in your area, a simple Google search like “pediatric therapy Arizona” will help you find local providers and services tailored to your child’s needs, ensuring they receive the specialized care necessary for their development.
Optimizing Play Spaces: Creating Environments for Learning and Exploration
Optimized play spaces are vital platforms where children engage with their world, build skills, and unleash their creativity. Designers of such areas pay astute attention to elements that promote safe exploration and intellectual stimulation. A thoughtfully arranged play environment serves as a place of entertainment and a crucible for burgeoning development.
Professionals incorporate a variety of tactile and visual stimuli within play areas to cater to diverse developmental needs and interests. Stimulating sensory experiences is central to cognitive and motor skill refinement among younger populations. The intentional selection of colors, textures, and interactive features sparks curiosity and encourages physical activity, which is fundamental to healthy growth.
Accessibility remains paramount in creating play spaces, ensuring they cater to children across all abilities. Including adaptive resources within these environments demonstrates a commitment to inclusive development, allowing every child to participate and benefit from the joy and learning play offers. Such inclusiveness fosters a sense of community and belonging, which is essential for emotional and social development.
Affording children autonomy in their play advances self-directed learning and problem-solving capabilities. When children feel empowered to make choices within their play, they better understand their preferences and abilities, setting the stage for confidence and self-awareness — qualities that are instrumental as children grow and transition through life’s stages.
Additionally, incorporating elements like fake plants or outdoor plants from retailers like Nearly Natural outdoor plants into play spaces can enhance children’s sensory and aesthetic experience.
Interactive Learning Tools: Technology and Resources for Cognitive Development
Interactive learning tools harness technology’s power to solidify children’s cognitive development. These digital resources provide an array of engaging, educational content that aligns with critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Software and applications designed for children’s learning capitalize on the allure of multimedia to capture young minds. Effective education solutions provide children with stimulating challenges that are age-appropriate and aligned with developmental targets.
The discerning use of educational technology in classrooms and homes can reinforce concepts and skills taught through traditional methods. It creates a harmonious blend of instruction and interactive play, thereby cementing a child’s understanding and retention of information.
Providers of such educational platforms are ever vigilant, updating content to reflect new educational strategies and the latest academic research. Thus, children equipped with these technological tools remain at the vanguard of current learning methodologies, all while engrossed in fun and dynamic ways.
Overall, caregivers and educators can provide comprehensive support for children’s developmental journeys by integrating pediatric therapy services, optimized play spaces, and interactive learning tools. These resources nurture their physical, emotional, and cognitive growth and cultivate a lifelong love for learning and exploration.
The quest for knowledge and self-improvement through academic pursuits is more than just a milestone in life; it is a cornerstone of personal development and success. Committing resources to further education is not merely an expense; it is an investment with considerable returns that extend far beyond the classroom. Education equips us with the tools required to navigate an increasingly complex world, opening doors to opportunities and fostering personal growth. Keep reading to discover why allocating time and resources to your academics is a decision that pays dividends for a lifetime.
The Lifelong Returns of Investing in Your Education
Investing in education is akin to planting seeds that blossom into numerous opportunities. Beyond financial gains, education forms the bedrock for career success and personal fulfillment. It empowers individuals to pursue their passions, enhances job satisfaction, and boosts self-esteem through academic achievements. Education serves as a catalyst for social mobility, breaking cycles of poverty by equipping people with the skills needed to improve their lives and contribute positively to society.
This ripple effect extends to lower crime rates and increased civic engagement, benefiting communities at large. Beginning with scholarships for high school sophomores can provide the initial support needed to embark on this transformative journey. These opportunities signify a commitment to nurturing future leaders and fostering a culture of lifelong learning and achievement.
Personal Growth and Lifelong Learning Through Education
Education is a vital aspect of personal development, providing opportunities for growth, character building, and discovering passions and capabilities. It fosters resilience and adaptability, which are essential in all aspects of life. A strong educational foundation encourages lifelong learning, ensuring individuals remain relevant and proactive in their professional and personal lives.
Education also broadens perspectives, exposing individuals to diverse ideas, cultures, and worldviews, fostering empathy, cross-cultural understanding, and appreciation for the human experience. It also allows for critical assessment and engagement with the world from an informed standpoint. The journey through academia often involves self-discovery, helping students uncover their strengths, weaknesses, interests, and values, leading to a more fulfilled life with aligned choices and goals.
Expanding Your Horizons: The Social Benefits of Academics
Academic investment in education is about building social capital through interactions with peers, faculty, and industry professionals. These interactions foster communication skills and relationships, which are crucial for life stages. Extracurricular activities in academic settings provide platforms for students to express themselves, learn new skills, and take on leadership roles.
Collaborative projects and team-based assignments teach students the importance of teamwork, compromise, and collective pursuit of goals. Higher education institutions also serve as a microcosm of society, requiring social awareness and finesse to navigate the diverse cultural, economic, and ideological perspectives.
How Academic Achievement Propels Professional Success
Professional success often hinges on a blend of experiences and achievements, with academic accomplishments playing a crucial role. Excelling in academia fosters a strong work ethic and sharp time-management skills, highly valued in today’s job market. Employers frequently use academic credentials to gauge candidates, especially for specialized roles like those requiring an aa in paralegal studies, where in-depth knowledge is pivotal.
Moreover, higher education equips individuals with specialized knowledge and technical skills that are indispensable in complex roles. Critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, nurtured during academic pursuits, further enhance one’s capacity to tackle challenges creatively. The networks formed during academic years often open doors to valuable career opportunities through mentorships and connections.
Leveraging Educational Investments for Career Advancement Opportunities
Investing in education can significantly impact career advancement, as academic qualifications often lead to promotions, leadership roles, and exclusive professional circles. Continuous education can lead to specialized career paths with higher salaries and statuses, especially in evolving fields. Higher education institutions offer career services like resume-building workshops and job placement programs to help students transition from academia to the workforce effectively.
For those already in the workforce, further education can be a strategic move for career change or progression, with flexible online programs and part-time options allowing working professionals to pursue additional qualifications while maintaining their current positions.
Altogether, the investment in academics is a far-reaching decision that impacts not just your immediate circumstances, but your future potential. As you prioritize your academic pursuits, you build a stronger foundation for success in every aspect of life—professionally, personally, and socially.
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