Mafia III Special Edition - A conversation with Charles Webb

We have tees, and other items in the #INeedDiverseGames spreadshirt shop. We’re splitting the profits 50/50 with @Chachibobinks. There’s a blog to compliment the show! Follow us at outoftokenscast.com If you have questions, compliments, episode or guest feedback; feel free to drop a note there as well. You can also @ us on twitter; @OutOfTokensCast or email us [email protected]. Our questions for Charles: Tell us a little bit about you, who you are, what you do? What’s your gaming origin story? I love that you have Senior Black Writer in your twitter bio. Is there a story behind that? So Mafia III, and Lincoln Clay. How did you get involved with the game? Is there any of you in Lincoln and how he’s written? The game does not flinch from racism, how hard did you (and the team) have to push to get this to happen? Do you think other games will start to address racism rather than half-stepping around it as they usually do? There’s a mission in the game where you have to get blackmail material on a rival. Turns out he’s making gay porn. That seems really high risk for the time period the game is set in. Why make the blackmail material about being gay? Why not something else? There’s been an “interesting” disparity in reviews of the game. I’ve noticed a lot of white reviewers noting they feel fatigued by all the racism, and don’t understand why it’s there. Did you expect once reviews started dropping? Will the blunt way racism is presented in the main game continue with future content for Mafia III? Do you find that trying to have discussions about race and racism in games tiring, especially with all the pushback from people who can’t understand why this is important? We’re seeing more black male leads in games finally. Do you think Mafia III and other games are a turning point for more representation? Aside from being senior black writer, what’s next for you? (that you can talk about of course) What we’re playing/reading/watching: Charles: Nothing right now, small human and working on Mafia III DLC is taking all his time. Tanya: Mafia III, CIV VI, Skyrim Special Edition Where to find our guest online Twitter: @TheCharlesWebb Mafia III Reviews by POC: Tanya DePass – Ontological Geek Tauriq Moosa – MWeb GameZone Terence Wiggins – Paste Games Justin Jones – I Need Diverse Games Jonathan Ore – CBC News Justin Carter – Twinfinite.net Mafia III Articles by POC: Austin Walker interview with Charles Webb, head writer on Mafia III – Vice Why Mafia III should tackle race head on – Austin Walker, EIC Waypoint/Vice From New Bordeux to Harlem: Strong Women in Service to Men – Not Your Mama’s Gamer It’s a Family Affair – From Father to Son – Not Your Mama’s Gamer Be Real Black For Me – Luke Cage and Lincoln Clay as the Heroes We Need – NYMGamer Where to find your host online: Tanya D. - @cypheroftyr // @INeedDivGms Twitch: twitch.tv/cypheroftyr // twitch.tv/INeedDivGames Patreon: patreon.com/INeedDivGms // patreon.com/cypheroftyr