Poll: Religion in Games

[Ben Agar]

A great video game character once said "as long as there is people there will always be war."

Love the quote and agree whole heartily but I like to add on the end: "and there will always be religion."

I'm an Atheist maybe militant, but I like to think of myself as an "ardent Atheist" (the alliteration just sounds better) and I love if there is religion in games "as long as there is people there will be war and religion," it makes the world seem more real to me and if they show the good side and bad side to religion in the plot its makes it even better (an emphasize on either is all good with me to) Just as long as religion isn't forced down the player's throat or you get to have your character express your own views its all good.

 

[archvile93]

I don't really care as long as long as it isn't preaching so hard I start to choke on it.

 

[Reaper195]

As long as its not trying to preach at me, I couldn't care less where religion is.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

How do you feel about religion and gods in games?

Love it. It adds an element of depth to the world if it's done well. Xenogears and Xenosaga are some of my favorite games ever, and they are heavily inspired by Gnosticism. I found the use of religion in those games so interesting that I actually did some research on it.

Cause, yeah, a game where you get to play as Jesus, Mary Magdaline, and their daughter - and you get to fly around in spaceships blowing stuff up - that's Epic. ^^

 

[Ossian]

Now I'm atheist, but I don't care if religion is used in games, especially fantasy and JRPGs because their world is an alternate world from our own where gods can exist. I do like when the option to say my character is an atheist in game (Mass Effect, Neverwinter Nights, Ezio says he is in AC 2:B's book) but its not important to me if that option is available. I like it especially when gods are used as a plot device (Mask of the Betrayer, Dante's Inferno, JRPGs), or even if they are given less direct roles like the Maker in DA:O or the Director (it's kinda a god) in L4D. I don't care either way, but allowing some form of god does open up options in the story.

How do you feel about religion and gods in games?

OP your probably the nicest atheist I've ever met when it comes to religion.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

i think its fun to add it to the game! ill play an athiest/religious nut/level headed person any time (im not saying a leveheaded person is a certain type, just a random toss up in the grey area)

unless its a purely religious game, i figure why not? it adds some fun lore to the game, especially if the god has ulterior motives to your own and you dont know how to accomplish it without being obliterated by them.

 

[flamingjimmy]

I don't really care. I do enjoy the religion mechanics in Civilisation.

And in fantasy games like Baldur's Gate it would be lame if their gods didn't actually exist.

 

[gravitii]

depends on the game. If it focusses on paladin, cleric, priest etc holy -- or for that matter unholy classes it's vital to make the story worth it. Other wise in moderation it adds good back story.

 

[King of Wei]

I like it. It's a good plot device that can provide motivation for characters and justifications for what they do and why. Also like how characters respond to atheistic views in games. Like in DA:O I was called a heathen for declining a blessing. Stuff like that amuses me.

 

[Jzolr0708]

I don't like it. Any use of it in games just implies the what the developers are like. If they have a "great creator" or something in an RPG, it's the same Christian influence that is seen in movies. The only game I like it in is Assassin's Creed- partly because they say it's bullshit, and partly because they are saying it's hurting humanity.

So what you're saying is that talking bad about religion should be A-OK and allowed in games, but using religion positively in games is bad? Wow, that's totally balanced and fair.

IMO, you should be able to put whatever you want in games. If you believe that using religion in your game will make it a better, more immersive game, go for it!

 

[SilverUchiha]

Religion in a game would only work for me if it was an option and not a forced... um... gimmick? In other words, I'd want religion to be what it is like in real life (aside from a major lie), a personal life choice. If I choose to believe in Deity X instead of Y or believe that all of Deities A-GGG are complete lies, then I want that option too. Multiple options, what have you.

Religion is a fine thing so long as it's all choice and there is no pressure to do it or lack of options. And, while on the subject, I consider "faith" and "religion" two completely different terms. How does your game address the fact I may have faith in something, but I refuse to acknowledge the religious practices set up by people who I have no faith in?

Hm... you know... just leave it out of games... otherwise I'd start making things too complicated to work with.

 

[Denamic]

I'm an atheist but often play clerics in D&D games.
Really don't mind/care.

 

[Dfskelleton]

I don't care. I'm Christian, and I don't care if the topic is brought up or featured. I only care if it truly adds or takes away from the experience.
However, without religion, where would we get our demons who are fun to blow up and make really good looking avatars?

 

[Marik2]

Voted other.

It's entirely dependent on the game in question. It's the same with any other story feature, if it fits and makes the story better for its inclusion, great. If it feels forced or intrusive, then it's better left ignored. Long and short of it is that my personal beliefs don't really factor into whether religion being in a game makes it a better game or not.

I second this, as long as its done "right" then I will welcome it.

 

[Assassin Xaero]

It's ok, doesn't really bother me. I'm agnostic and Final Fantasy X was still one of my favorite games even though it was heavily into religion. And if it fits with the game, like objectivism fit with BioShock, then awesome.

 

[infinity_turtles]

If the religions are fictional ones, much less of a touchy subject. I amused myself in Dragon Age: Origins by declaring "Hail Autochthon" and "Ave Machina!" every time someone brought up the Maker. Which, if you're familiar with the game, was a LOT.

My primordial could beat up your primordial

On topic, I tend to like religion being used in games. It's a pretty big thing in real life, if only because it motivates such a large number of people, so having it makes the world feel more fleshed out.

 

[Eisenfaust]

it's a nifty mechanism for grand overarching plots, and all things fantastical... basically i have no problem with religion in games unless it's trying to convert us

 

[Manicotti]

I voted "Don't care," but that's because I can't think of any games where this might legitimately be an issue. Hell, most games don't even explore religion with any intent other than to sensationalize it and make shitty game mechanics that have absolutely nothing to DO with any realistic interpretation of the source material (see Dante's Inferno, Too Human, and possibly God of War). So in that regard I honestly can't care about it because right now games treat religion the same way they treat sexuality - as a B-movie gimmick, not a source of possible controversy/meaningful discussion.

In regards to the alleged religious beliefs of you (ie the Protagonist), it *still* doesn't matter what they are, or whether they exist at all, because they almost inherently have no practical value in advancing the plot. And then there's the fact that the character's beliefs are not the player's, and nothing is physically stopping you from roleplaying as Gatling Gun Gandhi if you so choose. I could almost see how this becomes a bigger issue in RTS/sim games like the Sims or Spore, but that goes back to my first point - there's no reason to care about religion in games in the first place. We play games mostly to have fun, relax, and to abuse the free will we don't have otherwise, not to get closer to the supernatural.

Would I like to see religion in games more often? Sure, in the same way that I'd like to see characters whose sexuality or heritage are more than just eye candy. It would help advance video games as a medium of expression and storytelling, so I'll support it. But right now, there's not enough for me to feel anything about it other than "meh."[footnote]And yes, I realize that this post is a very wordy way of putting "meh."[/footnote]

 

[Romidude]

Eh, I personally can't stand modern religion, it's just people worshipping a flying man in the sky telling others their flying man is fake. Although the idea of olden religions sounds appealing. Or something like Halo, it added depth to the covenant like I've never seen done before or scince.
EDIT

I don't like it. Any use of it in games just implies the what the developers are like. If they have a "great creator" or something in an RPG, it's the same Christian influence that is seen in movies. The only game I like it in is Assassin's Creed- partly because they say it's bullshit, and partly because they are saying it's hurting humanity.

I was going to mention Assassins Creed, but I haven't played more than a few levels of the first game, thanks for summing it up for me.

 

[darkstarangel]

I dont mind it depending on the religion. I mean, a game where your a suicide bomber & you have to wipe out a specific quota to make it to the next level would be quite poor taste. Ofcourse liquid generation's Escape from Scientology land was a crack up & was more about bagging out the celebrities involved.

Some fictional religions like the jedi order & silent hill's cult can actually spice the game up quite considerably.

As a Christian I would'nt mind seeing some games with such concepts. Not necessarily in your face kind of topics to put people off but make use of some good themes, like an exhorcist game with the creepy silent hill atmosphere.
That would be a huge difference to say, tha Noahs ark game on the NES back in the 80's.