I could be wrong but....

[Mattk]

why are there no coloured main characters in video games?

I'm talking about the AAA story driven titles such as Tomb Raider, GTA and Uncharted. Other than the black guy in L4D I can't think of any.

Chow Yun Fat in Stranglehold doesn't count!

[Prudie]

Spyro is purple, does that count?

[JackDanielsU]

Balrog and Dee Jay– Street Fighter Series

Barret Wallace – Final Fantasy VII

Roland the Solder – Borderlands

Sergeant Major Avery J. Johnson – The Halo Series

and the major one - even though you said GTA well - GTA San Andreas had CJ as the main character

Augusts Cole a.k.a. Cole Train - Gears of War Trilogy

[Mosaic]

I've always thought Lara Croft was very cleverly designed to be of unspecific race. Her eye, skin and hair colour can be read as middle eastern, south asian, caucasian or afro-caribbean.

[Booldawg]

Tiger Woods?

[Booldawg]

lol, sorry, guess TW doesnt fit into the 'story driven' part!

CJ in GTA: San Andreas is my offering.

[mungbeanz]

You play a black character (Axel Foley) in Beverly Hills Cop on the Atari ST.

[Booldawg]

arrgh! I see CJ has already been taken. OK.

I recall a game on the PS1 where can can flit between earth and hell using voodoo. The main charachter was black.

[RATTER15]

there are in World of Warcraft!

[AB Editor]

I certainly can't think of a positive role, Cj in GTA:SA is a violent thug. Although I do think they deal with race in that game with humour and good will.

[feedyourhead]

In Dead Island you can choose to play as a Black guy,or a Chinese girl.

[Booldawg]

quick q; AAA? never heard that term used before - whats it all about?

[Mattk]

AAA or triple A to mean a top top title such Modern Warfare or Halo.

The only ethnic characters I can think of are co-stars or supporting characters such as Cole Train in Gears.
There is no lead character who is non-white. Go figure!

[lumination]

what about THE COLE TRAIN! in gears of war? i always play as him!

[bednobs]

lara croft is asian isn't she?

[lumination]

...i think thats just bad graphics on playstaion 1 lol. in the new game she doesnt look as asian but i know what ya mean

[Arksided]

Lara Croft looks to me like she needs a shower:

http://tombraiders.net/stella/tomb9.html

[Mattk]

"what about THE COLE TRAIN! in gears of war? i always play as him!"

I have mentioned him but he is not the main character only a co-star. Surely Lara Croft is a bit of an aristo?

[bednobs]

can't asian people be aristo? Anyway, she deffo has asian eyes and skin