272: The Devil and the Game Designer

[lleihsad]

I'm glad someone already brought up SMT, given it's heavy use of the more classical (and, I would argue, superior) Order-versus-Chaos axis of cosmic morality.

It's a shame the article didn't go into the "ghosts" part of that trinity a bit more. Our relationship with the dead is more interesting than the old "Good Spirits, Bad Spirits".

 

[Marmooset]

Come to think of it, I believe Diablo had something to do with devils somewhere in one of the games...

 

[vxicepickxv]

-snip-

I see what you say and i will admit i have never played any MegaTen games beyond the Persona series (3 and 4) which didn't really deal with concepts of heaven and hell in such a way. However i was more responding to the article when it talks about the creatures that we shoot at on screen. I don't mean in terms of plot and story because the author of this article does not deal with that. "Your conscious mind might not immediately associate those Grunts and Brutes with imps and demons". This is what i mean. It is in character design and symbolism not an in depth plot based around the concept. It's "oh, these aliens look demonic and are the 'evil' ones, therefore they are agents of the devil" not "here is a plot about *actual* demons causing a ruckus, humans in the middle, and angels trying to set everything right". I am arguing with the author that you can't just say "Oh look at (generic alien or enemy) it must be an agent of the devil because it's represented as such metaphorically". Beside the MegaTen games though, could you think of another series of games that deals with such themes as heaven and hell in a serious and literal way? Chances are no, and if you can, they would certainly be in the minority - in a 'niche' category.

The closest things I can think of to those SMT games would be the previously mentioned Diablo series, and at least some of the Ultima series. Ultima did not do it in a way that was as direct as the other two, however it did have a large collection of morality, demons, and a few ghosts. I still find the conversations with the Will o' wisps in Ultima VI kind of odd.

 

[WorkerMurphey]

Congrats, you can apply one set of literary analysis to a work of art. Now go do the same where you read everything as being about communists, homosexuality, animal rights or your personal daddy/mommy issues. It's neato if you've never thought about it before but you can put a morality template onto anything.

 

[Kinguendo]

No wonder I dont like the Halo franchise.

However I am looking forward to kicking zombies in the arse soon!

EDIT: Also, I dont know why everyone seems to be acting like dicks about the article... sorry about that.

 

[civver]

I suppose there are demons and angels in every game. If you define "angel" as "good guy with powers or abilities" and "devil" as the same, with "good" replaced by "bad".

 

[jjofearth]

Why was this article not called the devil and the dev?

 

[DPunch4]

Oh god I hate you. Now my new shoes are covered in bullshit.

 

[Waif]

Great ^~^! Now I wonder if a game based on angels fighting demons (and vice versa) would sell better than games with implied demons and angels?

 

[MagnetoHydroDynamics]

I like having monsters to shoot at.

Especially when those monsters are not the usual monsters.

Such as, say, angels.

Or people, forced against their will.