New Books in Critical Theory

Sam Srauy, "Race, Culture and the Video Game Industry: A Vicious Circuit" (Routledge, 2024)

Mar 1, 2025

In this discussion, Sam Srauy, an Associate Professor at Oakland University and expert in race and video games, delves into the systemic racism embedded in the video game industry. She examines how notions of the 'imagined gamer' shaped exclusive practices from the 1970s to the 2010s. Topics include the industry's historical evolution, the impact of Japanese gaming companies, and the contrasting worlds of AAA versus indie games. Srauy advocates for inclusivity and structural changes to empower marginalized developers, shedding light on the complexities of gaming culture today.

55:17

Episode guests

Sam Srauy

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Quick takeaways

Systemic racism has historically shaped the video game industry, creating a 'vicious circuit' that marginalizes diverse gamers and reinforces a dominant white male identity.

The economic pressures faced by developers continue to hinder diversity in game narratives, but there is potential for change toward a more inclusive gaming landscape.

Deep dives

The Vicious Circuit of Video Game Culture

Systemic racism has historically shaped the video game industry, influencing the culture, market logic, and production practices from the 1970s to the 2010s. This concept, termed the 'vicious circuit,' refers to the reinforcing cycle of exclusion based on the imagined identity of the gamer, which predominantly depicts a white, male audience. Over time, these industry practices have normalized racism, effectively marginalizing diverse gamers while prioritizing the needs and preferences of this dominant demographic. The book argues that understanding this dynamic is crucial for recognizing how racial biases persist in video game production and consumption.

Intro

2min

Racial Dynamics in Gaming History

18min

The Rise and Fall of the Video Game Industry: From Atari to Nintendo

3min

Racial Dynamics in Gaming

6min

AAA vs Indie: The Evolution of Gaming Identity

12min

The Vicious Circuit: Fun and Identity in Modern Gaming

5min

Voices of Hope: Inclusivity in Gaming

7min

My guest today Sam Srauy is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication, Journalism, and Public Relations at Oakland University, Her research examines race, video games, and the political economy of the video game industry. Srauy’s work appears in various academic journals including Social Media + Society, First Mondays, Games and Culture, and Television and New Media. She teaches courses on identity, race/racism, digital media production, and video game studies/production. Prior to academia, Srauy worked for over a decade in the high-tech industry. Her experience in that field includes municipal wireless networks, open-source technology, and streaming media systems. About the book:

Race, Culture and the Video Game Industry: A Vicious Circuit (Routledge, 2024) offers a detailed and much needed examination of how systemic racism in the US shaped the culture, market logic, and production practices of video game developers from the 1970s until the 2010s.

Offering historical analysis of the video game industries (console, PC, and indie) from a critical, political economic lens, this book specifically examines the history of how such practices created, enabled, and maintained racism through the imagined 'gamer.' The book explores how the cultural and economic landscape of the United States developed from the 1970s through the 2000s and explains how racist attitudes are reflected and maintained in the practices of video games production. These practices constitute a 'Vicious Circuit' that normalizes racism and the centrality of an imagined gamer identity. It also explores how the industry, from indie game developers to larger profit-driven companies, responded to changing attitudes in the 2010s, where racism and lack of diversity in games was frequently being noted. The book concludes by offering potential solutions to combat this 'Vicious Circuit'.

A vital contribution to the study of video games that will be welcomed by students and scholars in the fields of media studies, cultural studies, game studies, critical race studies, and beyond.

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