Hi! I'm Bart Bonte, a Belgian independent game designer and bontegames.com is where I blog about new interesting browser and mobile games. My own games are all in the left column (or at the bottom of this page on mobile). More info about me and my games on bartbonte.com.
Get in touch: email - twitter - facebook - youtube - instagram
February 23, 2010
mogo-mogo
Enter the dreamland and discover the ultimate invention in the point and click adventure mogo-mogo (by the creators of little wheel).
Did anyone notice that the little gold colored winged ball looked one heck of a lot like the Golden Snitch from Harry Potter? It was just somthing that I noticed and felt like sharing. :)
thanks for posting bart - i just found and finished this game through facebook and was thinking "hmm, this should be on bontegames, they'd love it there" and lo and behold, here it is
and hey, for level 9 - is that the one with the smiley faces? i thought i had to change them all to one size but if you click on your little red button by bogo, it'll show you the pattern you're supposed to make. :)
oh and yes, my first thought on seeing that little golden ball was "is that a golden snitch?" hahaha
I have to say that I'm a little troubled by the depiction of the main cartoon. To an American it looks a bit like a "blackface" caricature. Hopefully this was unintentional.
About the racial aspect of the game. Many other people are complaning about the whole 'black hunter gatherer' thing too. Quite a lot of people are complaining to.
lol its a cartoon idk but i think they could have chose red or green or w/e and black just was the best distinguisher from the colorful backgrounds . . . idk i guess this could be viewed as racism but i don't think that was intended
There is a very close connection. Given that oneclickdog.com is Slovakian, it seems that the reference is not accidental, but also without understanding of how deeply hurtful this depiction would be in America. I'd recommend oneclickdog change the color of the character from black to... well... anything else.
In my mind there is nothing racist about that game. In Britain, it would only be considered racist/offensive if someone actually turned to a black person and said "that looks like you".
As it is, the creator was obviously working from a limited palette for visual appeal and probably thought black was the colour that would stand out best from the background. And what's the easiest way to draw lips?
If someone thinks something is racist on such limited connotations then it shows their mind runs along those tracks - even if they don't mean it to.
This is the problem with "political correctness". It's like meeting someone from Germany and thinking "whatever I do I must not mention the war". If that's the first thing you think of when you meet them, ...
It's not just the color, obviously: the character in "little wheel" was also black, but that wasn't a racial depiction. Here we have characters that are supposed to be "tribal" in nature. They no physical features except hair, lips and hands, and two out of three are straight out of the "blackface" stereotype. Why choose lips and hair? Why not noses? or ears? or knees? It's a cartoon and they could be any color, but red and black were chosen.
For Americans it is very like what Lichen Fairy described. The use of the "blackface" image to denigrate others is recent and powerful. So now imagine seeing a German in London wearing a crisp brown shirt and black tie. A lot harder not to think about the war under those circumstances, eh? It's "just" a shirt and tie? It's not. Even if the German wore the shirt by accident, or was too young to know its meaning you'd probably recommend he change clothes. Just to be on the safe side.
If you wish to see an indepth anlysis of the racist accusations then go to http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/reviews/528511/4. The top review gives a good arguement agenist th game and the the authors response gives a good counter argument.
Really interesting game. ^^
ReplyDeleteYes, really nice game!
ReplyDeleteI like the art-stuck on 9 though!
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed that... Thanks!
ReplyDeleteDid anyone notice that the little gold colored winged ball looked one heck of a lot like the Golden Snitch from Harry Potter? It was just somthing that I noticed and felt like sharing. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's not loading. :(
ReplyDeletethanks for posting bart - i just found and finished this game through facebook and was thinking "hmm, this should be on bontegames, they'd love it there" and lo and behold, here it is
ReplyDeleteand hey, for level 9 - is that the one with the smiley faces? i thought i had to change them all to one size but if you click on your little red button by bogo, it'll show you the pattern you're supposed to make. :)
oh and yes, my first thought on seeing that little golden ball was "is that a golden snitch?" hahaha
Thank you Bart! Really fun game. (Nice and easy too.)
ReplyDeleteI have to say that I'm a little troubled by the depiction of the main cartoon. To an American it looks a bit like a "blackface" caricature. Hopefully this was unintentional.
ReplyDeletestoryline reminds me of a Bug's Life =P
ReplyDeleteAbout the racial aspect of the game. Many other people are complaning about the whole 'black hunter gatherer' thing too. Quite a lot of people are complaining to.
ReplyDeleteI also thought there might be racial connotation.
ReplyDeletei Didnt even knotice this, and I dont think that it should be too much of a concern. It was most definately unintentional. although really god choice!
ReplyDeleteI can't figure out how to get past the blow up fish part! grrr those fish trouble me...
ReplyDeleteomg i've been waiting for this FOREVER. finally its here!
ReplyDeleteFinished.
ReplyDeleteBUT, I have no clue how I finished the last two levels.
Very random or just very lucky.
lol its a cartoon idk but i think they could have chose red or green or w/e and black just was the best distinguisher from the colorful backgrounds . . . idk i guess this could be viewed as racism but i don't think that was intended
ReplyDeleteYou be the judge.
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackface
There is a very close connection. Given that oneclickdog.com is Slovakian, it seems that the reference is not accidental, but also without understanding of how deeply hurtful this depiction would be in America. I'd recommend oneclickdog change the color of the character from black to... well... anything else.
In my mind there is nothing racist about that game. In Britain, it would only be considered racist/offensive if someone actually turned to a black person and said "that looks like you".
ReplyDeleteAs it is, the creator was obviously working from a limited palette for visual appeal and probably thought black was the colour that would stand out best from the background. And what's the easiest way to draw lips?
If someone thinks something is racist on such limited connotations then it shows their mind runs along those tracks - even if they don't mean it to.
This is the problem with "political correctness". It's like meeting someone from Germany and thinking "whatever I do I must not mention the war". If that's the first thing you think of when you meet them, ...
"deeply hurtful..."
ReplyDeleteomg morons
It's not just the color, obviously: the character in "little wheel" was also black, but that wasn't a racial depiction. Here we have characters that are supposed to be "tribal" in nature. They no physical features except hair, lips and hands, and two out of three are straight out of the "blackface" stereotype. Why choose lips and hair? Why not noses? or ears? or knees? It's a cartoon and they could be any color, but red and black were chosen.
ReplyDeleteFor Americans it is very like what Lichen Fairy described. The use of the "blackface" image to denigrate others is recent and powerful. So now imagine seeing a German in London wearing a crisp brown shirt and black tie. A lot harder not to think about the war under those circumstances, eh? It's "just" a shirt and tie? It's not. Even if the German wore the shirt by accident, or was too young to know its meaning you'd probably recommend he change clothes. Just to be on the safe side.
If you wish to see an indepth anlysis of the racist accusations then go to http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/reviews/528511/4.
ReplyDeleteThe top review gives a good arguement agenist th game and the the authors response gives a good counter argument.
If you think it is racist, and you are not racist, or don't want to play a game made by one, don't play it.
ReplyDeleteIt's a cool little game.
I couldn't agree more. This game rocks!
ReplyDelete