Harassed by Assassin’s Creed Gamers, A Professor Fought Back With Kindness
Dartmouth College’s Sachi Schmidt-Hori faced an onslaught of online harassment after her role as a narrative consultant for Ubisoft’s _Assassin’s Creed Shadow_. This article dives deep into the backlash she received for representing a game character inspired by Yasuke, a Black African samurai, and how she responded with unexpected kindness.
Key Points
- Schmidt-Hori’s academic work involved research on historical customs and script review, not character creation.
- Gamers harshly criticised the game’s diversity, targeting Schmidt-Hori with derogatory messages and false reviews.
- Instead of ignoring the harassment, she engaged with some of the critics via Zoom invites and emails.
- Many who attacked her later apologised, reflecting a shift towards understanding and dialogue.
- Schmidt-Hori drew inspiration from civil rights leader John Lewis, aiming to create ‘good trouble’.
Why should I read this?
This article is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of gaming culture and social issues. It highlights not only the challenges faced by those who dare to broaden representation in gaming but also how kindness and conversation can spark change. Dive into this remarkable story of resilience and empowerment!