https://us.forums.blizzard.com/en/overwatch/t/cole-cassidy…-i-love-it/638393/26
Is what got linked earlier
Thanks for being reasonable in your reply. I agree it’s a lesser issue but thematically is the same problem which does beg the question why didn’t they just go name neutral.
I think it was reasonable to infer that Cassidy was either referring to Butch Cassidy or Hopalong Cassidy (who’s name is also inspired by Butch Cassidy but would be a dramatically different character to base someone off of). Cassidy was never gonna be a random name in the context of a cowboy character anymore than naming your politician character Lincoln or Nixon would be free from association.
The concept of being able to have as an example murderers as ‘the good guys’ (which realistically Blackwatch is) does seem more extreme than for example sexual harassment (not that it isn’t a major problem). That said I think the major difference is black watch isn’t real, the people black watch killed didn’t exist or have families, etc. Violence in video games is a main stay but I think any issue will have a different look if it’s inspired by real world events. Cloud can destroy a reactor with no hurt feelings, but if he ran a plane into a pair of buildings (even were they empty) it might have different reactions.
All’s that is a long way to say I think it’s fair to criticize their decision here and I find the very straight divide in opinion after the change pretty instructive