Virtual racism can be two very different things as far as I am concerned and it is significant to treat racism in games differently. As it is with Chinese gold farmers in Lineage l/ll, it might become damaging and it might just be a racist "mechanic" of the game, where those designing the game have been unaware of the problem - but presenting racism in a game in an active and critical way, to me, is beautiful and relevant. When game designers simulate racism, they force players to consider it.
I think an example of a beautiful build-in racist system is how Skyrim is portraying the lives of the "beats race" or Khajiit, the humanoid cat. This particular race was enslaved and oppressed by the rich families before it became illegal to “domesticate Khajiits” but they are still affected by their history and they are still viewed as second class citizens. They experience racial slurs (cats, carpets, rugs) and they are held in severe poverty because of their public image. Sound familiar?
If choosing to play as a Khajiit, the player will experience prejudice and troubles related to its race and that gives Skyrim a critical viewpoint on “actual” racism. Playing an oppressed race might just make players more critical in real life:
"A lot of Khajiit resort to smuggling and thievery to get by. A few bad apples spoil the bunch. You know how it is." (Ysolda (Khajiit) in Skyrim)
(Picture from: Elderscrolls Wiki)
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