Poll: Religion in Games

[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.

 

[TiefBlau]

It's 'kay. It's a natural thing to do, but it almost always ends up being a thinly-veiled metaphor for religious prejudice or some other crap. It's almost never natural-feeling.

 

[darkkan2125]

For the Emperor!!

and only for the Emperor

 

[Irony's Acolyte]

So long as they handle religion correctly, I'm fine with it being in games. People have religious beliefs so there's no reason to ignore religion in general. And so long as they don't make it into "You(the player, in game is different) don't believe this religion, you are a horrible person" or "You(once again player) believe this religion (or any), you are a stupid person" I figure putting in religion can add to the game. Even if in game a religion is shown to be correct or incorrect, so long as it adds to the story or gameplay I find it cool.

 

[thom_cat_]

Atheist here, (why do I need to point this out?)
it depends, but I voted "don't care".
If it's key to the story line or is a background element I don't really care, and I definitely don't care if it's fanciful or portrayed negatively.

Anything that's used to advocate or convert I hate. Other than that I'm fine.

 

[Fr]anc[is]

In most settings its appropriate and I like it. Especially in DnD, where the gods are one dimensional. Pelor is healing and sunlight. That's pretty much it, cool guy. But even where I don't like the in game religion itself, it would usually be less without it. Seriously Chantry, go fuck yourself. I'm an elf AND a mage. Go rot and die.

 

[sora91111]

I think with this subject it's really all about signifigance. You don't have to see the religous idols existance to make religion a factor. There could be a religous war or something to that extreme, but religion could make things interesting.

 

[GrizzlerBorno]

Has anyone else ever read the whole way through all the history notes in Dragon Age? I've gone through a good amount of them and thought that Bioware had made a stunning and vivid Allegory with the history of the Chantry. Yes, it's obviously a pun on the church, but the details were good, like how it was central to bringing the elves to the point of extinction as a culturally-powered race, How one woman could galvanise an entire continent to rise against a dogmatic belief structure, only to be (ironically) turned into the same.etc.

So, yeah, if done well, religion can be used to deliver VERY impacting messages through games. Just don't include religion in shitty FPS games though. Look what happened to Medal of Honor, and that was only kinda related to religion.

I like it especially when gods are used as a plot device (Mask of the Betrayer, Dante's Inferno, JRPGs)

This is hammily done most of the time though isn't it? Having a God "boss" isn't the same thing as using the ideologies of a religion and belief system, to tell a story or set a premise. and personally the latter offers more artistic freedom then, "Ohmawgad! (irony) It's a giant demon boss! Fill it with Holy Fire or wahtever! But to be fair, i've never played Mask of the betrayer so, for all i know it could've something totally different. Dante's Inferno and God of War, however, were not.

 

[nin_ninja]

Meh I don't really care overall in "realistic" games.

In a fictional universe (like Dragon Age) I like it when they talk about relgion though, it gives the universe a sense of realness and authenticity and adds to the lore.
And in Dragon Age it's possible to play your character as an atheist, but it's actually difficult to determine whether there is a maker or not, especially considering the Urn questline.

Yeah, you can go about being an atheist, but during the Urn Quest its kinda hard to defend your position. Of course magic and spirits exist so really anything is possible there.

 

[michiehoward]

if we as a community want video games to be considered free speech. religion needs the same respect. so i welcome it with open arms.

qft

I will relate a small memory that popped into my head when I saw this thread.
FF10, when I first played it, and the main enemy is "Sin" and the main religion teaches "repentance and atonement" is the only way Spira can be rid of Sin forever, struck me, made me wonder how Shintoists really view Christianity.

 

[nin_ninja]

-double post-

 

[nin_ninja]

Thanks. And yes I agree mostly, you can say something for both sides.

One last question, did you destroy the 'heretics' or rewire them?

To tell the truth. I rewrote them. I didn't like either option. But I view the big picture. Which would be better. To destroy the geth that had a "error" code within them that made them follow the reapers as gods. Or rewrite them to not belief in the reapers as gods and not be a tool. Plus, this might help me later in the game against the Reapers.

I did the same. I saw them mostly as tools though, but that might be because I just prefer playing Renegade. >.>

Actually, that choice was Paragon.

Really? Wow, guess I messed that up. Oh well by that time I usually have a full Renegade bar anyway. xD

I went the other route, I was fully paragon at the end with a bit of renegade somehow. I still don't know how I got those points, but whatever.[/quote]

Did you push the merc out the window? Its okay, everyone did it, you don't have to feel guilty.

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.

Its kinda hard to be a mean atheist when most of my friends are religious, and devout Arabs for that matter. I wouldn't really be friends if I hated their beliefs, but that being said we never talk about religion.