Mafia III Special Edition - A conversation with Charles Webb

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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