Summary
- Poppy Playtime blends horror with mystery to create a terrifying survival experience, as monstrous toys come alive to challenge players. However, one of the key figures behind the series has an important message to share.
- During an interview with The Best War Games, CEO Zach Belanger reflected on his positive experiences as an openly gay man in the gaming industry, highlighting how far the industry has come while noting that there is still room for improvement.
- Belanger aims to inspire LGBTQ+ individuals to embrace their authentic selves and pursue their dreams in the gaming world.
Poppy Playtime is a popular horror game franchise created by two brothers, Zach and Seth Belanger, Co-Founders of indie company Mob Entertainment. It's an episodic survival horror experience that masterfully blends horror with mystery, as players must solve puzzles to find out what has happened to the employees of an abandoned toy manufacturer's warehouse, Playtime Co. Before long, all manner of monstrous toys come to life to thwart the player's attempts to survive.
The Best War Games recently had the opportunity to interview CEO of Mob Entertainment Zach Belanger about his story and experience as a proud, openly gay man and member of the LGBTQ+ community, currently working in the gaming industry with the company's ongoing Poppy Playtime franchise. Belanger spoke about his experiences in the industry and how he hopes to inspire other members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Zach Belanger's Experience In The Gaming Industry As A Gay Man
While times are changing, there is often still a lack of diversity in video games when it comes to representation and helping the gaming community become more of a safe space for everyone to enjoy. When asked about his experience as a member of the LGBTQ+ community in the gaming industry, Belanger reflected on his experiences as positive for the most part:
While I have undoubtedly encountered hurdles, generally speaking, my experience as an LGBTQ+ person in the games industry has been a positive one.
However, Belanger did also note how the word "gay" hasn't always been used appropriately in the gaming space, and how there is still room for change:
In years past, gamers were thought of as a guy playing the newest Call of Duty title and thinking it's funny to use the word gay as an insult or as a punch line in an objectively poorly written joke in a chat. Today, I and most others have a different view of how LGBTQ+ people and issues are treated in the games industry, which is that the games industry tends to be a very accepting space. That is not to say that there isn’t still room for change.
Certainly, the word 'gay' has evolved significantly over the years before reaching its modern-day meaning of homosexuality. In particular, many gamers who grew up in the '90s and early 2000s may recall hearing similar inappropriate use of the word as Belanger describes. Thankfully, more is being done to help make the video games industry a more inclusive space, such as more LGBTQ+ romance options in games, with games like Dragon Age Inquisition often considered a trailblazing example.
How Zach Belanger Hopes To Inspire The LGBTQ+ Community
Poppy Playtime is a hugely successful indie game and a growing franchise. However, it's clear that Belanger also hopes to use that success to inspire others in the community to pursue their ambitions. Specifically, Belanger spoke more about how he hopes to inspire members of the LGBTQ+ community specifically through his story, and how being part of the community has helped him:
I would like to inspire other members of the LGBTQ+ community to think about being LGBTQ+ as a blessing rather than a curse. There are pros and cons to everything, but for me, being part of the LGBTQ+ community has allowed me to be part of a minority group which broadened my understanding and empathy for all people.
Belanger also spoke about how he hopes to inspire the LGBTQ+ community to follow their dreams:
Being LGBTQ+ means that one’s life experiences will be different than they otherwise would have been. The people one connects with on a deeper level, the circle of friends, the romantic interests, the fear of not being accepted, the fear of never being happy, one’s gender identity, or how one wants to present in public, affects so many important aspects of a person’s life. Embrace your authentic self and shoot for the stars.
OpenCritic Reviews
- Released
- October 12, 2021
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood, Mild Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- MOB Games
- Publisher(s)
- MOB Games
- Engine
- unreal engine 5, unreal engine 4
WHERE TO PLAY
- Platform(s)
- Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- Developer
- Mob Entertainment, Mob Games Studios
- Publisher
- Mob Entertainment, EnchantedMob, Inc.
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Puzzle, Indie Games, Action, Survival Horror
