Opinion: ‘Genshin
By the students, for the students
FROM CWU TO THE VILLA
Jeremiah Brown on life and ‘Love Island’
“I’m forever grateful for Central, because they gave me the best friends I could ask for.”
Brandon Mattesich Co-Editor-In-Chief
Auburn, Ellensburg and the PNW
Before his time in the Villa, before the streams and the book club, Jeremiah Brown was, and is, a proud graduate of Central Washington University.
“I went to Central in September of 2018. I stayed at Wilson [hall],” Brown said. “We had a broken door, so if you forgot your card, you could yank the door and it would pop open … you’d be loud as hell.”
Brown described his time at CWU as “amazing” stating, “My freshman year was honestly the most fun because it had the most roller coasters. I found all my best friends that still visit me to this day.”
Eventually, Brown graduated from CWU with a degree in Film, and still credits the university for some of his longest lasting friendships. “I’m forever grateful for Central, because they gave me the best friends I could ask for,” Brown said. “It was a perfect place for me. We went through covid together as a school, so that was another thing we had to tackle. But I found the best community living at The Verge. So I’m forever grateful.”
He described growing up in the Pacific North West (PNW) as a “perfect” place to live his early years. Having been raised in Auburn WA, Brown fondly remembers being around the water and the greenery, especially after having now lived in Los Angeles for so long.
“Growing up, just going to the waterfront, whether it’s Ruston or Seattle, going to the water is always special,” Brown said. “The Pier has always been special, even though it’s
kind of overdone. You know, me and my mom and my sisters and my pops used to walk over there a lot.”
To Brown, there was no better place to grow up than Washington State. “The PNW is the best home base because, yeah, the weather is not the best, but home is where the heart is,” Brown continued. “The Westfield Mall was low-key stomping grounds for a minute, the Outlet Collection was stomping grounds, all of middle school and high school. Just places like those that I have memories with my friends going back there and we’d have $10 to our name in high school and we had to go split something. So places like that have a special meaning to me.”
Life after Love (Island)
After living in LA and modeling for a few years, Brown found himself with a once in a lifetime opportunity, joining season seven of world renowned reality tv show “Love Island.”
“I had no idea what the show could do,” Brown said. “Obviously I’ve seen some of the success from season six, but at the same time, it’s like you’re rolling the dice. You could go in there, get canceled. You can go in there, ruin your life … There’s so much that can happen where it’s like, you never know what is going to happen after.”
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Kyley Glenn News Editor
1. Join a Club
5 WAYS TO CONNECT IN COLLEGE
College clubs can be intimidating as it feels like a commitment but you don’t have to go to every meeting. If a club sounds interesting or is hosting an event you may be into there is no harm in dipping your toes in. Clubs like the Astronomy Club or Art Club host events like star gazing or ‘paint and sip’ which are pretty versatile even if you aren’t studying or experienced in either topic.
“Ellensburg gives HopeSource $1.2M for new affordable housing project” (via the Daily Record)
2. The Transfer Center
Making friends isn’t just for freshmen. Maybe you are new to this school but not to college. As a transfer student myself, I have found a great way to connect through the transfer center. They send out emails with events they are hosting as well as have a physical office for you to physically be at and meet people with similar journeys as you.
3. Get a Job
This one varies as everyone has different needs whether financially, time, personal or mental health wise, but the best and easiest way I have found friends is through work. Whether at the Observer or as a barista on campus, the best way I have been able to connect with people is in a space where there is already one very common thing between us. Even if it is just work. Don’t be afraid to talk to your coworkers and suggest plans outside. Most people are also wanting to spread out and make new friends.
4. Class Friends Don’t Have to Be Just Class Friends
Sometimes it is hard to believe that the classmate you sit next to or talk to the most wants to hang out outside of class. In my experience, I have questioned if they are only being nice to me for the sake of the class or because they want to be friends. Through each situation, I have learned that nine times out of ten these people are not against making new friends.
5. Look for Events on Campus and In Town
Attending local events either on campus or off can be a great way to make friends. All throughout campus there are flyers for dances, plays, movies, etc. these are usually hosted on campus. Some are even displayed on the last page of this newspaper (if you are reading this in print).
The town also hosts many events for citizens of the town and college students to connect. My favorite ways to learn about these are through Facebook, Snapchat class stories, or flyers around town.
LETTER from the EDITORS
Hello all,
Brandon:
It’s so good to be back! This year we have big dreams for The Observer and even bigger for CWU as a whole. It’s officially my Junior year, and if you want to read about that you should pick up our Week of Welcome magazine which turned out absolutely amazing. But on a serious note, there was a lot happening surrounding The Observer last year and I am just super proud to be able to keep creating this paper for the quarters to come. Not to mention, I had a super fun interview which you’ve hopefully seen on the front page, and so it’s just been a phenomenal start to the school year. I know y’all will enjoy this issue, and all of our upcoming issues as well.
Jackson:
Great to be back writing to y’all Wildcats! This is a bittersweet quarter for me as this is my final three months not only at The Observer, but at CWU in general. Nonetheless I am stoked to get back to work and continue to bring you guys the news you need to know and want to know. If you haven’t already picked up a Week of Welcome magazine, go ahead and do that it’s from the same place you got this lovely issue from. After last year there were obviously a lot of question marks. As we find ourselves in this spot now I am so happy to continue bringing you all a weekly printed newspaper in my final quarter!
Issue 1 Recap
There wasn’t much in the news this week, except for a fun dining update on some of the changes you can expect to your on campus options. As this quarter
continues to develop however, keep your eyes peeled for some bigger news stories to come.
A lot of Sports for y’all this week as it is time to get you all up to speed on what’s been going on before many of you arrived on campus. We see a new player on the football team dawning the prestigious 44. Following men’s and women’s rugby losing varsity sponsorship, we see the start of the Men’s Rugby Club.
A very exciting Scene story this week. As you have seen by the front page story, CWU alum and Love Island season seven star Jeremiah Smith sat down to chat with The Observer. He talked about memories at CWU as well as what he has been up to post-villa.
There was a ton of fun opinions this week, and I truly think there’s a little something for everyone! Continued online we have a very special edition of Sound Bite where I recap what is arguably one of the greatest summers in hip-hop history. On top of that, we have a very special story from our fantastic designer Robin about some of the issues with Genshin Impacts design issues. Both promise a fun read, so please check it out.
Design and scene go hand in hand, and this week’s issue lives to prove that. With fun designs spread throughout the issue and a stunning center spread highlighting student pride at SWEECY Day we are jam packed with color and imagery from front to back. We are super proud of all of the designers this week, and we are excited to see what they bring to this upcoming final issue!
Co-Editors-In-Chief
Faculty Advisor / Editorial Consultant Jennifer Green
needed to succeed in their chosen career. If you have questions or concerns, email us at cwuobserver@gmail.com.
STAFF
Brandon and Jackson, back for round two.
(Photo by Ethan Kennedy)
But luckily for Brown, the community he’s been building post “Love Island” has been one of positivity, and in an almost full circle moment, education. “I got blessed enough that people got to go back and watch my old book reviews. So when I did come out, I would have never thought I would start a book club. But when I came out, and people were walking up to me like, ‘Yo, I love your book reviews,’ and I’m on live, and people are saying, do a book club.”
“Once I saw the platform that I did somehow get from the show, I was like, ‘Okay, I’m going to make sure I do this the right way,’ because I owe that to myself and my family to really be intentional,” Brown continued. “Now I’m very intentional, because I want to help people, whether it’s through books or humor … No matter what I get out of this, I just want to make sure that at the end of the day, I’m intentional.”
Growing up, Brown was a huge fan of streamers and youtubers alike, but was always on the viewing end of the experience. Now, having left the Villa with millions of followers across all his platforms, he’s been able to experience the other side of the experience. And for Brown, it’s been a mostly positive experience at that.
“95% of the time, it’s the biggest blessing that people support me,” Brown said. “I can make someone happy or smile or laugh by interacting with them … It’s so surreal, because for me, it’s just me, but
at the same time it affects them heavily … It’s such a blessing to be able to make someone smile, or make their day, or whatever you want to call it, just off a picture and an interaction with them.”
What’s next for Jeremiah
With his bookclub passing its second wildly successful month online, a rapidly growing twitch channel, discord community and a massive follower base on most social media platforms, there’s really no limit to what could be next for Jeremiah Brown.
But according to Brown, his main focus is on building his community, building his merch brand and providing an opportunity to get books back in the hands of people like him. “[I want to do] more live streams, a couple more appearances, and more panels. It will actually be mostly book club panels, or just speaking [to] the youth … Long term, I’m going to have a book club carnival. I’m going to partner with TikTok or a brand to do an in person book club, like a scholastic book fair for adults.”
Reading changed Brown’s life, and he’s been using his newfound platform to provide that same opportunity for others. “Reading totally shifted my mind and my perspective,” Brown said. “The happiest I ever was has been since I started reading. And the more books I read, the more insight I get. So for me personally, reading gave me a second chance at life, [a chance] to really be grateful, present, etc, etc, because of the books I read and what I’ve learned to help my mindset and my perspective on life.”
What’s new with cwu dining?
Across the CWU campus, Dining has made a variety of changes with the students in mind.
“...the students and campus community are still looking for an increased variety of healthier options, looking for quality food focus and consistency purposes, the value of food perception and then looking for increased hours of operation. So those are the kind of the four pillars that we’ve picked up on with the various assessments that were done,” Dean Masuccio, Director of Dining Services and Catering since 2018, said.
According to the CWU Dining website, their goal is to offer great, nutritious food with a smile, prepared to support health and well-being. According to Masuccio, due to an increase in student enrollment this year, the demand has become greater for these changes.
“So areas of focus for this year are really looking at quality, customer service, experience, quality and consistency of food,” Masuccio said. “We’re still focusing in on the meaningful and immersive experiences and partnerships that we built upon these past years. We’re looking at variety and availability, increased commitment to sustainability, with local sourcing, food recovery [and] reducing food waste.”
Holmes
Changes to Holmes include the introduction of gluten free pancakes at the T9 station, where allergen friendly options are offered. Masuccio had also said
that the seating in the dining hall has been redesigned with students’ input in mind. With the goal of making the place more inviting, the walls have been repainted and new wall pieces have been put up.
Central Marketplace
Central Marketplace is the area in the SURC where Pizza, Lions Rock, El Gato, Panini, Fresh Bar and Quesadillas are. A few stations have had input and rumors circulating from both employees and students.
“Well, we were exploring alternative options [for Panini], and we’re still soliciting feedback and going through the internal processes required about what could become or what could be added to our program, but nothing official has been decided yet,” Masuccio said. Panini will continue to run for this fall quarter.
Another change will be the pizza location offering pizza by the slice as a permanent option. Custom pizza is still an option but they will now be serving both full pizzas as well as slices.
Lions Rock will also be incorporating more diet friendly options. A new item that will be on the menu is a veggie burger as well as the option of either fruit or fries. Veggie burgers have been an option for some time but have not been advertised as an item on the menu hanging in the SURC.
The last change was to El Gatos operating hours. “So El Gato is one that I know was well received when we said it’s going to be open more frequently, and Friday Saturdays as
well, some increased variety there,” Masuccio said. Cafes and Markets
A bigger change to the markets located throughout campus are the price changes. Many items within the stores will now be increased in price.
A new addition that had a positive response during the cafe employee training for Starbucks, is the introduction of “We Proudly Serve” at Cat trax East. While it is not a licensed Starbucks, the location still has the ability to serve a variety of drinks from Starbucks as well as use the branded coffee grounds. Freshens will also still be served at East. The other stands will not partake in this and will continue to serve Cafe Vita grounds. All locations will now serve the same tea as Starbucks.
With the intention to be more sustainable, Cafes and Markets started composting coffee grounds in partnership with the CWU Garden in spring of 2025 but paused due to the lack of running through grounds during summer break. They will begin composting again this fall at Cat Trax East and West.
CONTINUED ONLINE
Photo courtesy of Love Island Wiki.
Kyley Glenn Staff Reporter
CH4SE CO4LSON
“HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT GUY” DONS THE PRESTIGIOUS 44
Jackson Roberts Co-Editor-In-Chief
In CWU Football, number 44 isn’t just a number on the back of the jersey. The prestigious number is awarded to a defensive player that is a leader, a competitor and embodies what it means to be a Wildcat on and off the field while honoring the players of the past to wear 44. With the 2025 season in full swing, senior defensive back Chase Coalson has taken the mantle of rocking the double fours.
“I think Chase epitomizes all the things we really stress on defensively. He’s a physical football player, extremely smart, very productive and such a great leader on and off the field. I think he does a good job setting the standard not just for what a play should look like, but for what everything in the program should look like,” Defensive Coordinator Grant Torgerson said.
Coalson, out of Peninsula High School, was named as an All-Lone Star conference (LSC) honorable mention in 2024 where he started every game, racked up 49 tackles, five tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. His versatility on defense allows for Torgerson to show many different looks to opposing offenses.
“I think corner back is probably the only position that he hasn’t played on defense. He is such a jack of all trades, he spends most of his time at safety but we will put him in at linebacker or on the line of scrimmage for some blitz packages. He is a guy who is very smart and can handle a lot of different things,” Torgerson said.
Head Coach Chris Fisk, noted Coalson’s instant impact to the team since. “He’s been elevating this defense for a long time. We always thought he would be a really great football player and he was already a good person before we got him,” Fisk said.
In what Fisk said was Coalson’s ‘breakout game’ against Weber State in 2023, he also sustained an injury that would keep him sidelined the rest of the regular season. “The second he got back, it was for our second round playoff game vs Bemidji State, the very first play of the game he had an impact on the team. He has always been that guy,” Fisk said.
While injuries are a part of the game you can’t fully train for, Coalson says he has developed an even greater work ethic as he has found himself grinding to get back from certain injuries.
“When you battle an injury, it’s something that is kind of like you against you in your own mind and how you are going to face it. The couple injuries I’ve
had in the past throughout my career, I think they’ve really shaped me into who I am today,” Coalson said.
The process of selecting the next 44 isn’t just a coaching decision. In fact, the person with the most say in who takes the mantle is the person who wore the 44 the season before. In this case it was two-time J.V. Sikes award winner Tanner Volk.
“[Tanner] talked to me a lot about wearing it with pride and to understand the meaning behind it. How certain guys will look up to me now, they will look at me as a leader and as someone they can count on. Knowing the demands of it and the history of those who have worn it before,” Coalson said.
Coalson now joins the long lasting legacy of Wildcats to dawn the reputable 44. Past players include Volk, Donte Hamilton, John Koopman and Adam Bighill.
Following a 91-31 win over University of Western New Mexico, Coalson and the Wildcats boast the third best defense in the LSC after four games. The next game of the season is against the other New Mexico college as CWU welcomes Eastern New Mexico University to Tomlinson Stadium at 6 p.m. on Oct. 4.
Chase Coalson celebrating defensive stop with Wildcat defenders. (Photo courtesy of Nathan Herde)
Chase Coalson awaiting West Texas A&M offensive snap. (Photo courtesy of Nathan Herde)
Jackson Roberts Co-Editor-In-Chief
After 10 years as a varsity sport at CWU, rugby has been moved back to a club after CWU Athletics made the decision to cut varsity sponsorship to both male and female rugby teams. In an article written by The Observer last winter quarter, Athletic Director Dennis Francois referenced that when rugby was made a varsity sport in 2014, it would only be kept under the condition that it was not impacting the other CWU sports. The club is now where many former CWU rugby male and female athletes find themselves playing the sport they love while introducing it to many of their Wildcat peers.
The Rugby Club President Quaid Hunt spent the last three years in Ellensburg as a member of CWU’s lone D1 sport and now looks to keep rugby alive at the university. Hunt discussed the process of bringing back the club, including some positives and other hiccups along the process.
“We had to sort of start from scratch, we had to create a presentation of our budget and all the teams we would play, the league we were in, who would coach and where would the team practice. Also had to figure out how to get more people to come play with us,” Hunt said. “Everything athletics did, we kind of had to scramble to do that ourselves … We just have to show how we are able to be a team that is fully student led without any support from outside entities.”
For the time being, the club is using high school gear for games and practices. “Athletics still has the rugby gear,” Hunt said. “I don’t think there has been much communication between them and club sports. The gear is there and I don’t think it’s anyone’s fault, I think people just have to sit down and talk.”
The club held scrimmages called touch at Alder Field on Sep. 23 for Wildcats to come out and learn the game of rugby. After recognizing some players were missing the proper footwear, Hunt and others made sure those wildcats had the gear they needed.
“I thought it was one of the coolest things ever. A lot of guys didn’t come with cleats but by the end of practice I think everybody should have had cleats,” Hunt said. “I think that is one of the great things about rugby, it doesn’t matter if you don’t have stuff right now. There is a group of us that can all help you get what you need. That was definitely what I was most excited about. Now all of those guys who need cleats have cleats for the season.”
The team has goals this season of building up more connections with alumni and the community, but most of all they are looking to go out and have fun playing the sport while possibly expanding it to a new audience.
CWU WELCOMES BACK Funding Request Deadline
RUGBY CLUB AFTER A DECADE TEAM SCHEDULE
OCT. 11 - VS SEATTLE RUGBY CLUB OCT. 18 - VS UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
NOV. 1 - @ UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
NOV. 8 - VS WESTERN WA UNIVERSITY
NOV. 15 - @ OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
NOV. 22 - @ SEATTLE RUGBY CLUB
“Winning games is great but our biggest goal is to have a consistent group of people coming to practice and being excited to run around tackle and play rugby,” Hunt said. “The performance of the team is the last thing I’m worried about. The first thing I care about is how to get more people to show up to give their time to something bigger than themselves … There’s no support system right? There is no money coming in, it is all from us but that is cool because we can make it whatever we want and make it really good.”
With such a heavy contact sport like rugby, injuries are inevitable. For that reason the club will travel with a medical staff for games and will have CPR certified individuals at practice.
The team will be operating with Head Coach Emilio Carranza who was the Assistant Men’s Rugby Coach last season at CWU. Carranza also has a background playing the sport as he played at Lindenwood University. His job alongside Assistant Coach Jude Mullette will be to focus on the performance side of practices and games and also dictating the teams play style.
“There is a lot of excitement. It’ll be a lot of fun to be able to work with individuals that are new to the game and hopefully be part of their development as well as the development of club rugby at Central,” Carranza said. “I also think this puts the returners in a unique position of leadership. They get to work alongside their teammates and bring them up to speed and push the standard every day. This is going to be a really fun opportunity.”
The club practices from 4-6 p.m. at the Recreation Sports Complex located behind Dugmore Residence Hall on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The first game takes place Oct.11 with the location to be determined.
The Services and Activities Fee Committee will be considering requests for continued or new base funding for fiscal years 2027-2029. If you would like to request funding the form is available at the following website: www.cwu.edu/about/offices/ services-activities/resources
The deadline for requests is December 1, 2025
If you have questions, please call (509) 963-1515
CWU SPORTS RECAP
Some of the biggest Wildcat sports programs start well before students jump back onto campus for fall quarter. The school’s football team started their season with a strong 3-1 start, two of those wins coming from the Lone Star Conference (LSC). The CWU Women’s Soccer team has had their strongest start in years going 2-12, looking for their first win in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC). The Women’s Volleyball team has also started their season, going 6-4 with an upset win against number eight ranked Simon Fraser University to begin their GNAC run.
FOOTBALL
Outside of one game, the Wildcat’s football team has been dominant, winning by 27 or more points during each of their wins. Despite losing offensive star running back Tyler Flanagan, quarterback Kennedy McGill has taken the next step in becoming a passer. During the first four games of the season, McGill already has more than half the passing touchdowns he did last season and almost half the passing yards. McGill still hasn’t lost his mobility, trailing second on the stat sheet in carries, rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.
When speaking on McGill’s improvement, Head Coach Chris Fisk said “we are excited about his growth as a quarterback this season and look forward to seeing him in future games.” Defensively, the Wildcats lost one of their best players in
school history to the NFL draft in Tanner Volk. The defense hasn’t faltered though, with the team’s current count of interceptions trailing last year’s total by three. The home crowd has also played a part in the team’s success, as at home, the defense has yet to allow more than 14 points in a game.
Fisk spoke on losing both Flanagan and Volk, saying “CWU has grown and improved because of the efforts of both Tanner [Volk] and Tyler [Flanagan], among many others. We are excited to see the men they become as they move forward in life.”
Coming off a dominant 93-31 win on the road against Western New Mexico University, the Wildcats return home on Oct. 4 to face Eastern New Mexico University, a team the Wildcats have not lost to since joining the LSC.
Sports Editor
Parker Wood
SOCCER
The Women’s Soccer team are off to their best start through games with a record of 2-1-2. The 2024 season was one of the worst in school history with a final record of 1-11-5. Interim Head Coach John Hawks has personally seen improvements in the team, as Hawks was assistant head coach during 2024. When speaking on said improvements, Hawks planted the foundations immediately following the last season. “Our foundation for this fall was put down early in the mornings last winter and spring,” Hawks said. “When the Arena was empty, and the lights were off, we were focused on changing what we knew we were capable of becoming on the field.” The results speak for themselves, as the team has double the amount of goals they did last season through five games.
“When the Arena was empty, and the lights were off, we were focused on changing what we knew we were capable of becoming on the field.”
When speaking on the previous season, Hawks said, “greatness in any locker room is established by the peo ple who commit to showing up when times are tough.
To see how returners embraced this tough season (last winter and spring) is a massive testament to them and the success we have had up to this point with our fall campaign.” Hawks gave a shoutout to returning seniors and team captains Casey Park and Annelise Bauman, along with other upperclassmen who have the tone in the locker room.
After two losses at home against their first two GNAC opponents, the team will go on the road against Western Oregon University on Oct. 2, followed by a bout against Saint Martin University on Oct. 4, two teams they hav en’t had recent success against.
VOLLEYBALL
The women’s volleyball team has big shoes to fill, as they return as the GNAC reigning champions. The team con tinued their GNAC eight game winning streak, beating their first GNAC opponent in a 3-2 upset against Simon Fraser University. All good things must come to an end however, and the team faced their first GNAC loss in 11 months to rival Western Washington University, 2-3.
However, the new year came with a fresh new face of starters as the Wildcats lost their 2024 leaders in points, kills, digs and blocks. The new leaders to the team are team captains Ellie Marble and Scottie Ellsworth, who Head Coach Mario Andaya praised as “growing each day as the leaders of our team.” When speaking about the new lineup, Andaya said, “replacing key leaders is always a challenge, yet part of the process. It’s nice to have our current leadership have some championship experience, but they are still learning how to navigate the role and share the knowledge they have.”
Coming off of a win against Northwest Nazarene University, the volleyball team hopes to create another GNAC winning streak on the road as they face Mon tana State University on Oct. 2 and Seattle Pacific Uni versity on Oct. 4 before returning home to Ellensburg for the following week.
Photos courtesy of Nathan Herde (Volleyball), Anthony Perez (Football).
With photos by Brandon Mattesich
Cwu’s 11th annual DRAG SHOW
Brandon Mattesich Co-Editor-In-Chief
The 11th Annual Drag Show at CWU was once again a main event during week of welcome activities for incoming and returning students alike. Every year the Drag Show provides an opportunity for students across campus to come together under one roof and celebrate drag and identity with a fun filled night of music and community. The photos shown here highlight only some of the performances that rocked the SURC on Sept. 23.
OPINION SECTION
‘GENSHIN IMPACT’S’ BAD CHARACTER DESIGNS an outsider’s perspective
As an artist and a huge nerd about character design, HoYoverse’s “Genshin Impact” is an interesting case study to me. While I don’t play the game myself, I have watched from afar as character after character after character has been revealed to the public. And I’ve gotta say, it gets really difficult to tell a lot of them apart. As I’m sure many active players do, I have my own gripes with the character designs of “Genshin Impact;” and really, of HoYoverse’s other games too, but we’ll stick with Genshin for now.
First of all, I want to address what may be, to some of you, the elephant in the room; skin color. HoYoverse’s absolute refusal to go beyond two or three skin tones maximum is a massive meme at this point, and it’s well-deserved. Out of 104 total playable characters in “Genshin Impact,” nine of them are any color other than literal paper white. Of those nine, only four are any darker than lightly tanned.
To put it in perspective, that is 8.7% of characters that are nonwhite, and 3.8% that are darker than lightly tan. This is despite several regions of the in-game world being heavily based on largely POC cultures. Of course, this is a massive issue and one of the most common critiques against HoYoverse’s character designs. Not only do they have so few non-white characters, but they have a long history of creating adaptations of figures from POC cultures, such as African or Middle Eastern religion and folklore, and making them white. This is, by far, the worst thing about their character designs.
However, this, in my opinion, is just one part of the problem. Although it’s not the only thing wrong with their designs, I want to make it clear that it’s much worse than all of my other complaints that I will be detailing here.
Additionally, on the same level as whitewashing, there’s the complaint of cultural appropriation and orientalism. While this is also an incredibly glaring issue with HoYoverse’s designs that far exceeds my other complaints in importance, I do not feel that it’s my place to speak on it in detail as a white person. However, I don’t want to let it go unaddressed, so I encourage readers to please read the accounts and criticisms of people who are a part of the affected cultures rather than hearing me talk about something that is not within my right to speak on.
Now, with that being said, what are some of my other issues with the character designs of “Genshin Impact?” Well, a big problem I have is that they all look so generic. I think this is partially due to how busy a lot of their designs look. Detailed character designs are fine, but when it’s done in such a repetitive way… they all blend together.
Pretty much every Genshin character is covered in baubles and bangles that kind of feel like a lazy way to make the designs seem more elaborate. For comparison, look at some of the character designs from Square Enix’s “Kingdom Hearts” series. Through most of the games, the main cast is decked out in belts and zippers and all sorts of things in their incredibly 2000s getups, but it works.
It doesn’t feel like those details were just slapped on there for the sake of it. It unifies the style, but still makes the characters feel individual. I understand that there are so many characters in “Genshin Impact” because it’s a gacha game and gacha games need a lot of characters, but surely there’s a way to make the designs feel less repetitive. And that’s to say nothing of the fact that almost every character has the exact same body.
I know it’s a lot to ask for more body diversity from a company that can’t even bear using more than 2 or 3 skin tones, but it’s certainly not helping their case.
Similarly to the point of the character designs all melting together, the designs also seldom tell me anything about the characters. A good design should give me a hint as to the kind of person the character is or what kind of role they play in their world, but I rarely get that from the Genshin cast.
For example, the character Xingqiu; upon reading his Fandom Wiki page, it says, “He is the second son of the Guild Manager of the Feiyun Commerce Guild, an influential group in Liyue … Also an avid reader, Xingqiu aims to be the embodiment of chivalry like the heroes from the books he reads; however, this belies his knack for mischief.” Maybe it’s just me, but personally, I got absolutely none of that from his design. I didn’t pick up that he was from a wealthy family, because his clothing looks just about as ornate and “fancy” as any other character’s, since so many of them wear the same capes and tights and boots with the same patterns and details.
Also, why is he wearing those weird little shorts? They feel out of place and take away the little bit of distinct “nobility” vibes his design would otherwise have. Another example is Ororon, who supposedly farms vegetables and cares for animals, but dresses like a “Final Fantasy” closet cosplay. Is he sowing seeds and feeding the livestock in ripped jeans and combat boots? I sure hope not!
Robin MacArthur Columnist
Fifth anniversary promotional art for Genshin Impact. (Photo courtesy of HoYoLAB)
Xingqiu introduction card art.
(Photo courtesy of Fandom Wiki)
Ororon introduction banner art.
(Photo courtesy of Fandom Wiki)
Hip-hop’s greatest summer
THIS WEEK IN MUSIC
Brandon Mattesich Columnist
For those of you who are picking up your first issue of The Observer, welcome to Sound Bite! And for those of you returning after a long but hopefully fun-filled summer welcome back! This is a very special edition of Sound Bite, as I’ll be once again recapping all the biggest musical achievements of this past summer. What makes this edition extra special however, is just how special this summer was for music, specifically hip-hop as a whole.
I could, and still might, write a whole feature piece about “Let God Sort Em Out,” which is arguably one of the best musical projects of the past decade. But I’ll keep it short and sweet for this special edition.
The Clipse, a hip-hop duo composed of two brothers, No Malice and Pusha T, reunited after a 15 year hiatus to drop a musical feast of an album with some of the densest, most beautifully crafted lyrics of any project you’ve heard in recent years. Compliment those bars with a phenomenal Pharrell production throughout and you have the recipe for the certified masterpiece that is “Let God Sort Em Out.”
For me, this project has absolutely no misses, and to single out any
track as a favorite would be a disservice to the perfection that blesses almost every single bar laid down by the soon to be Grammy winning duo (and you can quote me on that). It’s so rare to listen to a project and be immersed in every single song, every single bar, from beginning to end, but with this 40 minute magnum opus The Clipse has provided an opportunity for keen listeners to do just that. Every aspect of this project is meticulously designed to provide a musical experience like no other, and it has been on repeat for me since it dropped at the beginning of summer. If you’ve ignored every other Sound Bite recommendation before, I urge you to at least check this one out, I promise you will not beWhiledisappointed. I don’t normally talk about tours on Sound Bite, in this very special summer issue I feel like I have to mention NBA YoungBoy’s “MASA” tour, which is making waves in the hip-hop community. The impact this tour has been having is unlike almost anything I’ve seen, outside of the “Eras” tour ironically enough. While his lat- est album didn’t leave me too impressed, his impact and his fanbase that have been coming out on this tour cannot be understated.
Now to loyal Sound Bite readers you most likely saw this next men- tion coming. “DON’T TAP THE GLASS” by Tyler, The Creator was the most surprising, and exhilarating release of this summer. While it may not be as nuanced or personal as his last release, “Chro- makopia,” “DON’T TAP THE GLASS” is easily one of the most fun projects he has ever released. Basically every track on this thing makes you want to get up and dance, and it once again cements Tyler, The Creator as a staple of the industry right now.
Another stellar album that absolutely blew me away this past sum- mer was “Alfredo 2,” by Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist. Being of course a reunion for the two, having dropped the original “Alfre- do” as a collab project a few years back, the duo takes everything they learned from that first project and cranks it to 11 in this melodic, soothing, and lyrically dense record. The production of this project absolutely carried it to the moon for me, with some beats putting me into an almost trancelike state. Couple that with Freddie Gibbs stellar wordplay and you have the recipe for success that is “Alfredo 2.”
While we are on the vein of hip- hop, I’d like to also briefly mention
three more projects which I really enjoyed that were released earlier this summer. J.I.D, Earl Sweatshirt and Westside Gunn each dropped their own projects this summer, and I believe all three showed true growth and potential in their releases that have left me very excited for what’s to come in their careers.
“Live Laugh Love” was probably my personal favorite of the three projects, being one of, if not the best album of, Earl Sweatshirt’s catalog so far. It’s a welcomed entry into his overwhelming dark catalog which preaches exactly what its title promises, with deeper messages woven throughout.
CONTINUED ONLINE
SUDOKU
Fill in the puzzle so that every row across, every column down and every 3 by 3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.
BACK TO SCHOOL CROSSWORD
WILDCAT WORDS
Designed by Z Morris
Divined by Robin MacArthur
Aries (March 21 - April 19): This week is a week of transformation for you, Aries. That’s right; it’s time to tap into your super cool shapeshifting powers! What will you be this week? A wolf? A dragon? Your favorite species of isopod? The sky is truly the limit. Tip of the day: animals don’t pay taxes.
Taurus (April 20 - May 20): Alright, Taurus, it’s time we had a talk about your spending habits. You don’t need an $8 latte every single morning. You don’t need a manicure every week. You don’t need a new Labubu. Or maybe you do. I dunno. I’m not the boss of you. Tip of the day: listen to your wallet’s pleas for help.
Gemini (May 21 - June 20): Hey, Gemini. Chill out. I get it, it’s a new school year, you’re a little high-strung, but not everyone needs to hear you rant about grocery prices or how Reagan objectively ruined this country. Even if you’re right, you’re kinda harshing the vibe. Tip of the day: there’s a time and a place for everything.
Cancer (June 21 - July 22): Opportunity strikes, Cancer; as do your fists. This is your sign to join that upcoming karate tournament you’ve been eyeing. You will face your lifelong rival in a glorious duel on the mountaintop, and your rigorous training since birth will finally pay off when you emerge victorious. Tip of the day: don’t forget to stretch!
Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22): Keep your eyes out for that special someone, Leo, because they might be closer than you think! Love is in the air! Or maybe that’s just a gas leak, actually. That could explain why everything looks so pink and… floaty. Tip of the day: check your carbon monoxide detector.
Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sep. 22): Virgo, something is coming this week. Something big. Something furry that growls and walks on all fours and… oh fuck, is that a bear? It looks angry too. You didn’t mess with its cubs, did you? Oh god. You better start running. Tip of the day: I hope you brought bear spray.
Libra (Sep. 23 - Oct. 22): You’ve been adventurous lately, Libra, but it’s time to settle down. In fact, it’s time to get more boring. Eat plain oatmeal for breakfast every day. Change your favorite color to beige. Start watching a slice of life anime. Tip of the day: sorry to any slice of life enjoyers reading this.
Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21): You hunger for power, Scorpio. For riches! For triumph!! Or maybe just for a Hot Pocket? A good toasted bagel would be nice too. Ooh, or even some seafood… that is, don’t be afraid to indulge your cravings this week. Tip of the day: treat yourself!
Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21): Sag, something has shifted in your world. Things are about to get weird. But I suggest you embrace it! So what if your hair turns into spaghetti, or the sky suddenly looks like a bad acid trip, or you notice a faint humming sound everywhere you go. No big deal! Tip of the day: stay away from wild mushrooms.
Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19): Time to let your creative juices flow, Cap! Embrace your long-held desire for arts and crafts time. I’m talking macaroni art, glitter glue, maybe even eat some paste if you’re really feeling nostalgic. You ever eat Play-Doh as a kid? It’s weirdly salty. Tip of the day: consider hiring a babysitter.
Aquarius (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18): You need to look at the bigger picture, Aquarius. Take a step back. Now take another step back. And another. Keep going until you’re standing in the middle of the street. Now if anyone hits you, they have to pay for your college. Tip of the day: remember to look both ways.
Pisces (Feb. 19 - March 20): You’re feeling strong and independent, Pisces! Assert dominance! Walk like a champion in your stilettos. Treat yourself to a spa day. Blow up your apartment building. Show them who’s boss! Tip of the day: just don’t walk over any sewer grates.
