The problem with westernization.
Hello there! Games have many problems these days. I recently came across a great game that is ruined by such a problem and thought I would elaborate upon it here. Let us start the story from the beginning!
In celebration of having half a million registered forum users, Paradox gifted each of their forum users an activation key for the steam version of Europa Universalis III: Chronicles.
"For starters, to thank you for being one of our half-million forum fans, Paradox Interactive and Paradox Development have got you a little present: A copy of Europa Universalis III: Chronicles for Steam! Look below for a unique code that you can redeem on Steam, and add this iconic Paradox strategy title to your library, (If you already have EUIII Chronicles, you can share your love of Paradox with a friend by letting them have the code!)." - Mail sent to registered forum membersA good friend of mine gifted me his spare key and I, being a fan of strategy games, gleefully leaped right into the game. I have had some fun times with Paradox's games in the past, particularly with Hearts of Iron III so I was expecting this game to be of the same level of quality. Since this is not a review as such but rather a critique of a specific feature of the game I will simply state that Europa Universalis III: Chronicles is a well made game that will appeal to many fans of the 4X genre.
Each of those little color blobs is a country you can play as. Glorious isn't it? |
DISCLAIMER: Before I move on I must state clearly that I have not seen this kind of message implemented via a feature in other Paradox games and as such I am not criticising their company or any specific person working there. This is merely me pointing out a bad design decision so that we can all learn to avoid making the same mistake in the future.
The feature that made me turn off down the game and will probably prevent me from playing it again is the westernization mechanic, in order to explain why we must start with understanding the mechanic itself.
Each country in EUIII belongs to a technology group, of which there are several. Each tech group has a certain modifier to research efficiency and begins the game at different technology levels. Westernization is the process by which a country advances to a more efficient tech group. This does not affect a country's current technology level but only affects the research speed modifier and slow limit. Countries researching technology below the slow limit receive less of a penalty to research speed.
The different technology groups are as follows, arranged in order to efficiency:
- Western: 100% research speed, begins at level 3.
- Eastern: 85% research speed, begins at level 3, slows down at level 6.
- Ottoman: 80% research speed, begins at level 5.
- Muslim: 75% research speed, begins at level 5.
- Indian: 50% research speed, begins at level 3, slows down at level 7.
- Chinese: 40% research speed, begins at level 3. slows down at level 7.
- Sub-Saharan: 20% research speed, begins at level 3, slows down at level 6.
- Nomads: 10% research speed, begins at level 3, slows down at level 6.
- New World: 10% research speed, begins at level 0, slows down at level 4.
Why would I have a problem with this? At first glance it seems like a valid long term goal for certain countries to improve their research efficiency to be competitive in the end-game.
The problem lies with the research speed modifier and slow down limits. Europeans will always be the most efficient researchers in the world with this system, the only thing the other countries can do is try and catch up by abandoning their own culture in favor of the western European one. Note that only the western, ottoman and Muslim technology groups can research high level technology without penalty.
According to this mechanic it takes five sub-Saharan scientists to match one European scientist, or ten (!) American Indian scientists to match one European scientist. This is not related to form of government or access to natural resources since almost all countries share the same form of government at the beginning of the game (in 1399) and the countries of the lower technology groups have access to great natural wealth. The mechanic also states, via the slow down limit, that the lower technology groups are unable to wrap their heads around more complex research.
There is one word that adequately describes the message this mechanic sends to the player. Racism.
"The belief that all members of each race possess characteristics, abilities or qualities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races." - The Oxford dictionary
What makes it even worse is that this mechanic will affect the way players play the game. Research is immensely important in EUIII since it unlocks bonuses for all aspects of your country. Games are teachers, and what this teaches the player is that other cultures than the western European one are inferior by default. I have not read any credible research that concludes that western Europeans are smarter and more gifted in the art of science than anyone else.
I find this mechanic to be distasteful. It is one thing to have countries begin at different technology levels, since this was probably was the case in 1399 (the American Indians did actually possess technology at this time though and should probably not start at level zero, how else could they construct Machu Picchu), and quite another to make a blatantly racist statement. This is by no means limited to EUIII. It is a visible problem in many games where the glorious western hero mows down hordes of the uncivilized barbaric brown people.
Racism is as big a problem as sexism in games. Both are serious problems that need addressing. We can start by becoming aware of the mechanics in games, analyzing what message they send and by doing so learning how to avoid this all to familiar trap.
A better way of implementing this would to simply let countries start at different technology levels based on their actual situation in 1399 and base research speed on funding instead of inherent cultural modifiers. I understand that this will take a lot more research (pun intended) on the part of the developers but if you are going to make such a distinction in your game you would do well to do it properly instead of falling back on racist stereotypes.
I hope that you found this post interesting and perhaps even learned something. I stress again that this is not an attack on Paradox or any of their employees. It is simply a very clear implementation of racism in games and as such should be held up as an example.
Leave a comment down below if you wish to participate in this discussion, have another point of view or simply does no agree with me.
I wish you all a pleasant day.