Hindus Ask PAX To Drop Smite

[kuolonen]

So why is this an issue now? I don't remember anyone freaking out about the Shin Megami Tensei games. And those games feature all of the major deities from Hinduism. Every other major religion too for that matter.

For the same reason it used to be okay to portray Mohammed in South Park's Jesus's super best friends and why they had to censor him out of the more recent episode. Internet has become a commodity even in the developing countries.

OT: Come on people, at least these guys are asking nicely, whats with the ridicule? Do we reeeally want give out a message that the only way for a religion be taken seriously, is to have its followers kill every single thing that even looks funnily at its way?

 

[tmande2nd]

They could not really add the Abrahamic God since well...that would not be fair in a fight.

The other gods did have to fight and were at risk.
The Abrahamic God? He is all knowing, all seeing, eternal, and all powerful.

GOD: Hello. -all mobs die instantly-

That is not very fun.
At least Thor or Zeus or Kali threw down in myths.
Or in Zeus case ran about raping people while pretending to be a swan.

 

[EvilPicnic]

Well, I think this is cowardly from the developers. The big difference between the Egyptian, Greek and Norse religions and Hinduism is that while the former are all *dead* and commonly accepted as myths, Hinduism is the world's 3rd largest religion. So why not include the other big religions?

I see no reason why they couldn't have included the Abrahamic religions, and they could: a fighting game with Lucifer vs Metatron, Lilith vs the Angel of the Lord? How epic would that be?

But no. They pick a religion not often in the public eye, still viewed as 'other' by many, that not many people in the territories who buy games care about, and team it up with a bunch of safe, dead religions not likely to offend.

Maybe I'm picky. Maybe I want too much. But what I see here is a developer saying, 'It's ok to treat some religions lightly, but not others' I want to offend ALL religions or none of them. You can't just pick the easy targets.

 

[ninjaRiv]

You know this is a lot like us complaining that Super Smash Bros shouldn't have Link in it.

My initial reaction was "oh nooooo, they're using somebody else's imaginary friends?!?" Which is a harsh, sarcastic comment and probably unfair. But still...

 

[daibakuha]

Well, I think this is cowardly from the developers. The big difference between the Egyptian, Greek and Norse religions and Hinduism is that while the former are all *dead* and commonly accepted as myths, Hinduism is the world's 3rd largest religion. So why not include the other big religions?

I see no reason why they couldn't have included the Abrahamic religions, and they could: a fighting game with Lucifer vs Metatron, Lilith vs the Angel of the Lord? How epic would that be?

But no. They pick a religion not often in the public eye, still viewed as 'other' by many, that not many people in the territories who buy games care about, and team it up with a bunch of safe, dead religions not likely to offend.

Maybe I'm picky. Maybe I want too much. But what I see here is a developer saying, 'It's ok to treat some religions lightly, but not others' I want to offend ALL religions or none of them. You can't just pick the easy targets.

Because the other religions are boring in comparison. As other have pointed out, the religious figures of the 3 most popular beliefs are all dudes with beards. They aren't gods of thunder or death. It just simply isn't as interesting.

Honestly this organization is making this to be a more serious issue than it is. It's a video game, it's not particularly popular.

Also, as an athiest all religions have the same credibility as the older myths, so it makes no difference to me who they include.

 

[glyngaris]

Not only should they keep the Hindu, pantheon as playable characters They should also add Jesus and Muhammad as playable characters to balance things out!

 

[Carlan]

The various other pantheons in Smite aren't any more dead than Hinduism, they're just a whole shit-ton smaller. But hey, they're minorities so maybe they don't count.

Anyways, with regards to including Judeo-Christian faiths in a game like this, perhaps using the Catholic saints as a pantheon could work, there are some pretty interesting characters to be found in there.

 

[Naeras]

Wait, correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm fairly certain I've heard stories where Hindu gods kind of go around and kill each others. If that's the case, why is this portrayal inappropriate?

 

[Warachia]

I object to there objections not only because of free speech which allows the developers to do this and they should not be forced to censor it (I don't think that means that the Hindu groups can't complain either, they have rights as well but I don't think they should try to force censorship and instead try to convince the developer this is offensive and they should change it out of respect for the religion, not financial reasons.) but also because of the way they have chosen to object to this. They claim offence from using there gods with no concern for people who still follow the Norse or Greek faiths (However few there may be.). If a came about gods is offensive why only tell them to remove your gods? What makes Kali any more of a degrading character than Thor or Zeus?

I see it more as using somebodies intellectual property in a way the didn't intend, for example, let's say Star Wars didn't have it's copyright, so some guy remakes it where Luke is an alcoholic who beats children, and when people attack him for making this he claims free speech.

 

[Warachia]

Well, I think this is cowardly from the developers. The big difference between the Egyptian, Greek and Norse religions and Hinduism is that while the former are all *dead* and commonly accepted as myths, Hinduism is the world's 3rd largest religion. So why not include the other big religions?

I see no reason why they couldn't have included the Abrahamic religions, and they could: a fighting game with Lucifer vs Metatron, Lilith vs the Angel of the Lord? How epic would that be?

But no. They pick a religion not often in the public eye, still viewed as 'other' by many, that not many people in the territories who buy games care about, and team it up with a bunch of safe, dead religions not likely to offend.

Maybe I'm picky. Maybe I want too much. But what I see here is a developer saying, 'It's ok to treat some religions lightly, but not others' I want to offend ALL religions or none of them. You can't just pick the easy targets.

Look up the Shin Megami Tensai series, it basically gives you what you are asking for here, and is kinda a melting pot for mythologies.

 

[inidu]

I love how people think that, because they dont believe in someone's religion, they have a right to mock the people who do.

I have a right to mock anyone for anything. You do too.

They arent making any sort of statement, which is fine, however because of that theres no real reason to press ahead with it aside from insensitivity.

Maybe the characters are awesome and balanced and took a lot of work. And maybe they only went with polytheistic gods from well-known pantheons.

Also asking that a private corporation not do business with another private corporation because you find it offensive is not attacking free speech.

You are correct.

 

[Stripes]

I love how people think that, because they dont believe in someone's religion, they have a right to mock the people who do.

I have a right to mock anyone for anything. You do too.

They arent making any sort of statement, which is fine, however because of that theres no real reason to press ahead with it aside from insensitivity.

Maybe the characters are awesome and balanced and took a lot of work. And maybe they only went with polytheistic gods from well-known pantheons.

Also asking that a private corporation not do business with another private corporation because you find it offensive is not attacking free speech.

You are correct.

I understand people have a right to mock things if they so desire, what I meant (though I put my point across poorly) was that these people thought it was ok to mock people, as if they had some divine right to make fun of people and act like dicks.

 

[Icehearted]

What they really need to do is balance the books.

Make Jesus a playable character.

Not quite sure how that would work given his philosophy, but they should make it work.

As a Christian myself, I would love to see that and imagine The Man would get a kick out of it.

Didn't Jesus whip people at a church once?

Also, It's kind of been done already in a Comedy Central Flash game. I'm a Christian myself, but take no offense at the idea that people would depict a very sacred figure of my beliefs as they wanted in a video game. Speaking strictly from a more objective stance however, I can at least get why some would be offended. The image I keep seeing looks a bit sexualized, and if that's not the nature of their deity then obviously it's going to piss people off.

At least it's not what Parker and Stone went through over Muhammad.

 

[twohundredpercent]

Well now I have an idea of where they're coming from.

 

[Sexy Devil]

*deleted*

 

[Something Amyss]

Inb4 someone blows this out of proportion or conflates a request for respect with a violation of free speech....

I trust the Penny Arcade guys to stand up to these enemies of free speech.

Crap. First post? Really?

 

[waj9876]

You know, I actually kind of supported these guys when they were just asking nicely, and the Internet was freaking the fuck out at them for it.

...Now they've gone too far for that. Give them an inch, they'll take a mile. Feed them a little, they'll take your whole arm with it. Etc. Etc. Now the Internet is justified in their hatred for what these people are doing. They are actively trying to keep people from playing the game not by asking them, but by forcing them.

This is why I hate organized religion. I have no problem with religion and the God/s/Goddesses themselves that make up the many religions. (Hell, I believe in Christianity) But yeah. People who pull this kind of shit can go fuck themselves.

 

[alandavidson]

I want to see Jesus in a fighting game. Why not??? Huh?

May I present these entries?

Spoiler

http://www.java-gaming.com/game/7346/Jesus_the_arcade_game/

http://games.adultswim.com/bible-fight-action-online-game.html

Or if you're looking for something for all faiths to have a punch-up

Spoiler

http://www.gamesheep.com/game/faith-fighter/

 

[TrevHead]

The devs are just been asshats, they could atleast change the names of the characters but keep the models as a compromise.

Atleast the Hindus seem to be civil about it which is more than many devout Christians or Muslims.

While not a god, no-one would dare put Mohamed in a game, to a Muslim its almost as bad as setting the Koran on fire and pissing on it. The whole Muslim population in Europe seriously kicked off because a newspaper unwittingly featured a drawing / cartoon of him a few years back.

 

[Lawyer105]

I want to see Jesus in a fighting game. Why not??? Huh?

Personally, I'd way rather the game focused on the various representatives of the gods.

I'd totally pay money to watch muppets from the WBC squaring off against Catholic priests or whatever.

Natch, they'd all get beaten by the shaolin dudes and their sweet, sweet kung fu.

Oh yeah... and don't forget them parasitical televangelists either. I'd totally play them and just stand there so they get pasted!