Veronica Belmont Talks Race and Gaming: A Q&A Discussion
Summary
In this Q&A transcript, game industry personality Veronica Belmont discusses her experience growing up playing video games, her current gaming tastes, and her thoughts on race representation in games. She also shares her wishlist for the next generation of games and her concerns about always-on internet requirements for single-player modes.
Table of Contents
- Veronica Belmont’s Gaming Background
- Veronica Belmont’s Current Gaming Tastes
- Race Representation in Games
- Veronica Belmont’s Wishlist for the Next Generation of Games
- Concerns Regarding Always-On Internet Requirements
- Conclusion
Veronica Belmont’s Gaming Background
Veronica Belmont grew up playing video games as a child. She had access to a variety of toys, including a ColecoVision, due to her mother’s job as VP of Corporate Communication for Coleco. Belmont’s interest in video games was sparked by her love of Cabbage Patch Kids, and she credits her upbringing for setting her on the path to becoming involved in the gaming industry.
Veronica Belmont’s Current Gaming Tastes
Belmont is currently playing Bioshock Infinite and enjoys its immersive world, but recently sparked controversy on Twitter when discussing the game’s portrayal of race. She notes that while a lot of reviewers praised its inclusion of race as a theme, it felt like more of a set piece and could have been dealt with in a more meaningful way. As for what Belmont would like to see more of in gaming, she notes a trend towards stronger female leads in games such as The Last of Us and Beyond Two Souls.
Race Representation in Games
Belmont’s opinion on race in gaming is that it’s important to include it in games, but it needs to be done in a substantial way. She notes that race is still one of the issues that isn’t being dealt with enough in gaming and that even a cursory treatment of the topic is a good start. Belmont appreciated that Bioshock Infinite included it but felt it could have been handled better. She acknowledges that some people may feel it wasn’t supposed to be dealt with and was just a sign of the times, but she believes it’s important to have discussions about race representation in games.
Veronica Belmont’s Wishlist for the Next Generation of Games
Belmont’s wishlist for the next generation of games is simple – she wants more immersive experiences. She wants to feel like she’s a part of the world she’s playing in and that anything that makes her feel more connected to the game is a good thing. However, she does express concerns about always-on internet requirements. While she understands the need for it in multiplayer games, she doesn’t like it for single-player campaigns, citing recent examples of it not going over well on the PC side of things.
Concerns Regarding Always-On Internet Requirements
Belmont acknowledges that always-on internet requirements are necessary for multiplayer gaming and watching streaming content, but she’s concerned about their implementation in single-player modes. She cites recent examples of EA’s struggles with it and hopes that it won’t be a technological hurdle going forward. She believes that always-on internet requirements can hinder the immersive experiences that she’s looking for in games.
Conclusion
In this Q&A session, Veronica Belmont discusses her history with gaming, her current gaming tastes, and her thoughts on race representation in games. She also shares her wishlist for the next generation of gaming and her concerns about always-on internet requirements. Belmont’s experience provides valuable insight into the gaming industry and its future.
