Question of the Day, August 17, 2010

[Psydney]

I played Wild Divine - the biofeedback meets spirituality lite game - and actually quite enjoyed it. But in general seems like "religious" games involve either pushing conversion or confirming the smug superiority of the already converted. I could imagine a game that tried to convey a feeling of the sacred or the numinous being interesting, but seems like the public practice of religion has devolved into Bible Man: A Fight for Faith or, well, DDR for Jesus, and that makes for neither good games nor good religion. But then, I'm agnostic, so maybe I just don't "get it."

By the way, err, it's "separate." I spent all of 2nd grade learning how to spell that properly, so it sticks in my head...

 

[Crimsane]

Only if the religion is "Give Crim all your money so that he can afford more games."

 

[ddon]

The bible games. No, not after that.

 

[tetron]

You mean ones that teach people about the practice of that religion ? Sure why not I won't play it anyways.

Games based on religious mythology are some of the best so yeah more of those.

People seem to think religion is going to be forced on them by video games, and I have no idea where people are getting that from. "OMG If they make this boring game that teaches kids about a particular religion, I'll have no choice but to play it and feel as if they are forcing their religion on me ! If only there was some way I didn't have to play this game !" Hey idiot you said it yourself, you don't have to play it. Radical concept I know.

 

[MONSTERheart]

For all my American homeboys, first amendment. First amendment. Doesn't matter what you're religious views are, there's no way of getting around that first amendment without seriously fucking shit up.

I voted yes.

 

[TWEWER]

They already have, broduski.

 

[razer17]

Nope. Using such mediums to promote religion is indoctrination. If you want a child to believe in God, do it on it's own merits, as opposed to using videogames.

 

[martyrdrebel27]

i don't believe that videogames should be used as a method of promoting any certain religion. gaming is about entertainment, and while the line is occasionally blurred between fantasy and reality through promoting real life goods and services, using them to promote a religion not only harms games, but also (and arguably, more importantly) harms the religion by converting people through flash and spectacle, not the beliefs and ideals of the promoted religion, so what you end up with is padded numbers. the religion may gain 10,000 followers from releasing SimChrist, but if they're only in for the entertainment, and not the faith, they are essentially just fluff.

that's not to say that religion should be ignored in gaming, just presented in a non-preaching, non-biased way. assassin's creed does this fairly well.

another obvious exception to me would be relgious games not intended for conversion, but more for education of existing followers. teaching old material in new ways has always been part of education, be it schooling or religious, and i wouldn't begrudge a company or the followers of the faith their right to enjoy their faith in a new way.

 

[OmegaXIII]

I don't think ANYTHING should be used to promote religion. Faith is something that should be found personally, not advertised like they're trying to sell it to you

 

[lacktheknack]

Obviously they should. Freedom of speech, expression, and all that. You don't like it, don't play it. Simple.

 

[Vault Citizen]

I don't see why not. Video games already promote a large range of messages depending on the team designing them, with the heavy use of story and notions of morality in games today religion is just as valid as anything else that has been in a game thus far. At the end of the day, if you don't want to buy it no one is forcing you

(apart from teeny tiny gnomes that creep around at night and make us buy video games)

 

[Woodsey]

I'd never buy a game trying to promote religion. Partly because I'm not interested, and partly because it'd be one of those shitty education-type ones. If someone wants to make that though then go for it.

Games that already exist to promote religion though? Sure, why not? I think it's pretty funny that that's what they have to go to to keep people interested.

 

[Dana22]

Well why not. These days video games are used to promote anything.

 

[Zydrate]

I'm an atheist and I still think "Why not?" There's a demographic for everyone.

As long as it's a real game somehow and not just six hours of preaching.

 

[Eliam_Dar]

No, I dont want to sound like an intolerant, but religion has its own mediums and places. Gaming should not be used to promote a religion. There is a difference between religion based games, and those used to indoctrinate.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

It depends I guess. If it's not overdone (Say, an entire game that's all about how awesome god is and plainly says so with no subtlety whatsoever) then it's fine. If, for instance, the main character is christian or whatever then that's ok. If it is overdone then they can still do it, it just alienates most of the gamer audience.

 

[Vilcus]

If they want to us Video Games to promote their faith then I honestly don't care. It's not like they're going to start forcing their religion into all of your favorite games, it's just ehy're using their interest to attract people to their congregation. Although, it won't work on most people seeing as how many gamers are either Atheist, or just don't care for religion (there are those who are religious, but most of them are set in their religion).

I don't see why they shouldn't, it's like the gay marriage "issue", it doesn't harm us if they do it, so why should we care?

 

[Anacortian]

This question is only, "Should people talk about religion?" The video game spin is irrelevant. It appears that 61.3% (at the time of this posting) of the Escapist community do not believe in free speech. Shame! I firmly believe we can do better, and I am surprised (very surprised) to find a community so loud about free speech in games will turn right around and say, "but not for these guys."

I suppose you're right. Speech should be free, unless it is about religion. Then we should send in the troops to take care of those assholes wishing to transmit their ideas.

If you believe video games are protected speech, and that religion should at least be allowed as a topic, you believe that video games should be used to promote religion. If you answered that they should not, you believe in neither the free exercise of speech nor that of religion.

Today I stop calling myself an Escapist. Today this August group became Tiberian.

 

[Aenir]

I don't see why not. If anything it will help with arguments against people who say that video games are the devil incarnate.