Smite Dev Removes "Offensive" Goddess From Website

[TheTygre]

To be fair - I can completely understand the Hindu dudes being a bit pissed off about one of their chief goddesses being reduced to T&A for some videogame.

But really the whole game is kind crass in its concept - why start worrying about it now?

That's my question as well. Western and Eastern cultures have been using the Veda flippantly for years now. So my question is what has prompted the sudden surge of action from the Hindu side of things? A desire to be taken serious in the mainstream? Despite Hinduism's large numbers, it's still seen as 'niche religion' in many places. Maybe it's just the desire to be heard, to be acknowledged. And in an increasingly negative world, the only way to succeed is to start up trouble. Or who's to say Hindus haven't always been annoyed with things like Persona and Final Fantasy, and now they're finally at their breaking point.

It's a mystery.

Why are they catering to an audience that will never play the game?

That's... actually a pretty legitimate question. Heh. Maybe that can be the compromise.

"Right. We'll take out your freaky Indiana Jones shit from the game, but you have to plug this. -Constantly-. For real, if we don't break even in 24 hours from you, next game will have Jesus power up by punching cows."
"But most of the people in my country don't even have working computers at home!"
"Look. Whatever. Just get those weirdos on college campuses to pass out these cards."
"... You mean Hare Krishnas? But they're not the same as Hindus! And I'm just an overseas-"
"Look, I don't watch anime dude. Pimp the game or get out."

I see where the Hindus are coming from and as unfair as we see it, we need to expect other people. As a Christian I would not be upset if Jesus was a character but some would. In short we need to respect others because being a jerk is no fun.

*hides behind flame shield*

Someone who respects other human beings' beliefs! Get 'em!

 

[Tanis]

Right now, aren't you shoving your doctrine of non religion down my throat?

1) Not really sure if it counts as a 'doctrine'.

2) Am I asking you to DO AS I SAY OR ELSE? Nope.
I'm simply saying that you're free to have your freedom OF religion while I'm just as free to have my freedom FROM religion.

3) Also, if I might be so bold, and a tad crude, I am no longer part of an organization/group with a history of bigotry, oppression, anti-science/progress, misogyny, etc.
This tends to make me feel a little better about myself.

 

[saintdane05]

3) Also, if I might be so bold, and a tad crude, I am no longer part of an organization/group with a history of bigotry, oppression, anti-science/progress, misogyny, etc.
This tends to make me feel a little better about myself.

Neither am I. I am part of what is called "Reform Judaism."


The service is led by a woman. She is a very nice person. We talk often.

Not only are gays allowed, but our Cantor has actively talked about gay rights and how they will benifit us all.

We often have donated to HIV and Cancer research societies.

We allow people of all kinds in. I remember meeting a Jehovah's Witness at our temple. Nobody cared that she didn't use the same prayers.


Next time, try doing research before throwing insults around.

 

[Tanis]

-snip-
Next time, try doing research before throwing insults around.

1) Didn't say you specifically, simply religion as a whole.
2) That kind of line only works if you CAN do research.
-What? Was I suppose to goggle your username and find a 'Reformed Jews R Us' page?

 

[IronMit]

QUOTE

That's my question as well. Western and Eastern cultures have been using the Veda flippantly for years now. So my question is what has prompted the sudden surge of action from the Hindu side of things? A desire to be taken serious in the mainstream? Despite Hinduism's large numbers, it's still seen as 'niche religion' in many places. Maybe it's just the desire to be heard, to be acknowledged. And in an increasingly negative world, the only way to succeed is to start up trouble. Or who's to say Hindus haven't always been annoyed with things like Persona and Final Fantasy, and now they're finally at their breaking point.

It's a mystery.


END QUOTE

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
i have not played Final fantasy, so i could be missing the point a bit, but let me try to answer.

Drawing inspiration, referencing, similarities to Hindu God's/scriptures is pretty much acceptable-or any religion/God. Even using a specific God can be gotten away with if done tastefully. People always complain, sometimes its warranted but sometimes it's not.


A beat-em up where only one mainstream religion is used and said God is punched in the face repeatedly is not acceptable. I think that's where Hindu's draw the line. It's not a random desire to be acknowledged all of a sudden

 

[saintdane05]

So, by your line of reason:

If you have any sort of spiritual faith at all, you are an evil bigot who is dooming us all.

2) That kind of line only works if you CAN do research.
-What? Was I suppose to goggle your username and find a 'Reformed Jews R Us' page?

No, but you could try looking looking up many different types of religion before insulting billions of people.

 

[saintdane05]

Yeah! How dare people be mad when someone takes a fundamental part of their lifestyle and reduce it to cheap theatrics for a game that is due to fail! Seriously, what you are suggesting is that religion does anything, then we will all be reduced to morons. To quote a very nice man:
Heck, do religious people not have the right to a peaceful protest? Should they not ever talk about their religions? If that is true, then aren't THEY having their rights oppressed.
Also, what about freedom of religion? Does that not exist?

You're free to piss and moan but the moment you try and force your BS on someone because 'it offends you', you've crossed a line.
-But, hey, at least these guys aren't firebombing McDonald's over a cartoon, right?

Freedom of speech means tolerating the BAD stuff with the good.
Not JUST to protect your right to be stupid.

FURTHERMORE:
Religious groups have SHOWN that if you give them an inch they'll try taking a mile.

Right now, aren't you shoving your doctrine of non religion down my throat?

atheism!=secularism
get it right.
one says there is no god.
the other says we don't care if there is a god, you have no business telling anyone else what to do based on your view of that topic.
please research which is which and then reply.
strawman harder, please.

What his post was suggesting is that I never mention my religion. I'm sorry, but it is part of my culture.

I have never told anyone what they should or shouldn't think.

 

[TheTygre]

QUOTE

That's my question as well. Western and Eastern cultures have been using the Veda flippantly for years now. So my question is what has prompted the sudden surge of action from the Hindu side of things? A desire to be taken serious in the mainstream? Despite Hinduism's large numbers, it's still seen as 'niche religion' in many places. Maybe it's just the desire to be heard, to be acknowledged. And in an increasingly negative world, the only way to succeed is to start up trouble. Or who's to say Hindus haven't always been annoyed with things like Persona and Final Fantasy, and now they're finally at their breaking point.

It's a mystery.


END QUOTE

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
i have not played Final fantasy, so i could be missing the point a bit, but let me try to answer.

Drawing inspiration, referencing, similarities to Hindu God's/scriptures is pretty much acceptable-or any religion/God. Even using a specific God can be gotten away with if done tastefully. People always complain, sometimes its warranted but sometimes it's not.


A beat-em up where only one mainstream religion is used and said God is punched in the face repeatedly is not acceptable. I think that's where Hindu's draw the line. It's not a random desire to be acknowledged all of a sudden

But the thing is, this is the same guy who complained when Durga's name was used in Asura's Wrath, and she was only a bit character. It's clearly something to do with 'new management', so to speak.

 

[IronMit]

[/quote]

But the thing is, this is the same guy who complained when Durga's name was used in Asura's Wrath, and she was only a bit character. It's clearly something to do with 'new management', so to speak.[/quote]

I see what your getting at.... this 'council' made silly complaints in the past so this complaint holds less water then it would of otherwise.

It's a 'shoot the messenger' flex isn't it. Someone's complaining so if we discredit them then we discredit their complaint valid or not.

I know your not doing it on purpose. It's just not a productive line of thinking. This specific complaint should be treated independently.

 

[algalon]

I'm pretty sure Hi-Rez knew exactly what kind of publicity they would get for using current religious figures. Their reasons for not using Christian figures are simple - most were human and peaceful in nature. Is Jesus ever depicted anywhere wielding a sword in one hand and a person's head in another? (I mean legitimately, not on some NRA redneck website) The answer - no. This would make his combat abilities limited to healing the sick and turning the other cheek, maybe raining fish upon his enemies. Kali is an ideal character to build a violent videogame around. Weapons? check. Fiery wrath? check. Holding the head of one foe while trampling the other under foot? Check and check. Body of female olympic boxing contender? check. if nothing else, maybe Hi-Rez should give her a more manly figure since most of her paintings depict her as being more massive than shapely.

 

[TheTygre]

But the thing is, this is the same guy who complained when Durga's name was used in Asura's Wrath, and she was only a bit character. It's clearly something to do with 'new management', so to speak.[/quote]

I see what your getting at.... this 'council' made silly complaints in the past so this complaint holds less water then it would of otherwise.

It's a 'shoot the messenger' flex isn't it. Someone's complaining so if we discredit them then we discredit their complaint valid or not.

I know your not doing it on purpose. It's just not a productive line of thinking. This specific complaint should be treated independently.[/quote]

It's really not that, honestly. I don't object. I can see where the man's coming from and I respect his right to speak out as such. But my question is still, why now? There's been plenty of name usage in the past. I'm just objectively curious as to the sudden activism.

I'm pretty sure Hi-Rez knew exactly what kind of publicity they would get for using current religious figures. Their reasons for not using Christian figures are simple - most were human and peaceful in nature. Is Jesus ever depicted anywhere wielding a sword in one hand and a person's head in another? (I mean legitimately, not on some NRA redneck website) The answer - no. This would make his combat abilities limited to healing the sick and turning the other cheek, maybe raining fish upon his enemies. Kali is an ideal character to build a violent videogame around. Weapons? check. Fiery wrath? check. Holding the head of one foe while trampling the other under foot? Check and check. Body of female olympic boxing contender? check. if nothing else, maybe Hi-Rez should give her a more manly figure since most of her paintings depict her as being more massive than shapely.

Don't forget the necklace made out of children's skulls.

...

Kali is the goddess of Metal.

 

[Jorec]

I still don't see how it "trivializes" their religion by depicting the gods in a video game. If that's the case how come they haven't been trying to boycott Shiva from FF games?

Shiva is a female in those games and yet is a male in the Hindu faith. You'd think that would offend them more, changing the gender of one of their gods.

 

[saintdane05]

Yeah! How dare people be mad when someone takes a fundamental part of their lifestyle and reduce it to cheap theatrics for a game that is due to fail! Seriously, what you are suggesting is that religion does anything, then we will all be reduced to morons. To quote a very nice man:
Heck, do religious people not have the right to a peaceful protest? Should they not ever talk about their religions? If that is true, then aren't THEY having their rights oppressed.
Also, what about freedom of religion? Does that not exist?

You're free to piss and moan but the moment you try and force your BS on someone because 'it offends you', you've crossed a line.
-But, hey, at least these guys aren't firebombing McDonald's over a cartoon, right?

Freedom of speech means tolerating the BAD stuff with the good.
Not JUST to protect your right to be stupid.

FURTHERMORE:
Religious groups have SHOWN that if you give them an inch they'll try taking a mile.

Right now, aren't you shoving your doctrine of non religion down my throat?

atheism!=secularism
get it right.
one says there is no god.
the other says we don't care if there is a god, you have no business telling anyone else what to do based on your view of that topic.
please research which is which and then reply.
strawman harder, please.

What his post was suggesting is that I never mention my religion. I'm sorry, but it is part of my culture.

I have never told anyone what they should or shouldn't think.

What is post was suggesting, if you are referring to the image, is that its fine you have a religion, and its okay to talk about it, but don't go about thinking its most god damned important thing in the world. You ought not get special treatment because you think there is an invisible fairy in the sky, and neither should the hindu's. Plenty of things offend me, but i don't go about demanding they be taken down. Religion itself offends me, but i don't go picketing churches, synagogues, or mosques. i don't go about ordering everyone to agree with me, i will debate people on the matter if they so desire, but i don't demand anything. what the hindu group is doing here, is demanding preferential treatment because of their beliefs, that because they think that their gods are the most important fucking thing on this earth, then anyone who would not show their preferred level of 'respect' is to be harassed until they comply with their deranged set of evidence-free beliefs. yes, we are upset about this, not because we are not being given preferential treatment as atheists, but because as secularists, we disagree with ANYBODY getting preferential treatment.

you can have your religion, but you may not tell anyone what to say or do because of it, regardless of how it 'offends' you. you may not be demanding hi-res take down these images, or remove these characters, but you are defending the people that are, and if you don't agree with them, it is your own stupid fault for appearing to agree with them.

Nobody was asking for "Special Treatment." The people stated that they were offended by the way a piece of their religion was presented.
Hi-Rez responded by removing her from the ads. That was it.

Can we stop talking about this now? I'm tired and want to do something silly.

So, have some Tim Burton.


<youtube=RCQxl4Ae84w>

Yay, derailing threads is fun!

 

[Tanis]

No, but you could try looking looking up many different types of religion before insulting billions of people.

Yeah...and?
See, the thing is...
I'm sure, somewhere out there in space and time, there's an honest lawyer and non-militant, homosexual, 1/4 Jewish, 1/4 Mexican, 1/4 black, 1/4 German, KKK member.

Yes, 'peaceful religions' exist, but there's not NEARLY has a prevalent as the not-so-peaceful types.
Even with the 'peaceful religions'...well, they tend mostly to be that way because they IGNORE most of the horrid crap in their books.

Point is...
Feel free to have your religion, enjoy it all you like, have a party every weekend with your home boiz and fry up some bac...hamburgers.

Just don't expect me, or anyone else with a backbone, to kneel before your demands because you think your fan club deserves respect just because of its age.

A secular society is the best society for all those who seek freedom of/from speech, religion, and music.

 

[Kuala BangoDango]

Does Smite have, or plan to have, the Great and Powerful Flying Spaghetti Monster (Blessed be His name and all His Noodly Appendages forever, RAmen)?

That should be the next God they implement if they haven't yet done so.

 

[LazyAza]

Even if I was remotely religious I wouldn't care if my god were depicted like this, people with extreme religious anal-retentiveness towards how their belief is portrayed by others need to just chill the fuck out. Hasn't their been comical depictions of the christain god among others for many years now, this isn't any different yet cause its a game apparently the level of "trivializing" is so much more egregious.

 

[TheTygre]

No, but you could try looking looking up many different types of religion before insulting billions of people.

Yeah...and?
See, the thing is...
I'm sure, somewhere out there in space and time, there's an honest lawyer and non-militant, homosexual, 1/4 Jewish, 1/4 Mexican, 1/4 black, 1/4 German, KKK member.

Yes, 'peaceful religions' exist, but there's not NEARLY has a prevalent as the not-so-peaceful types.
Even with the 'peaceful religions'...well, they tend mostly to be that way because they IGNORE most of the horrid crap in their books.

No, there are not-so-peaceful people that stand out for the specific reason their violence. The contrast is noted because of its extremity to desynchronize an otherwise functioning society and ideology. The Hindus want respect? Well we all want respect. It shouldn't be a monumental task to pay a little lip service to the common human condition known as existence.

 

[theultimateend]

To be fair - I can completely understand the Hindu dudes being a bit pissed off about one of their chief goddesses being reduced to T&A for some videogame.

But really the whole game is kind crass in its concept - why start worrying about it now?

Does she wear more clothing in their faith?

I'm only asking because just about every statue I saw in Japan was lightly dressed. Admittedly probably different religions, but I'm not entirely versed in all the different major faiths.

What his post was suggesting is that I never mention my religion. I'm sorry, but it is part of my culture.

I have never told anyone what they should or shouldn't think.

That picture you quoted says to do exactly what you just said you do. It doesn't say what you are implying that it says. Re-read it.

 

[RN7]

This is obviously a ploy. They're trying to placate the religious idiots so they can work on Support/Tank Jesus who's ult allows him or one of his allies to come back to life after they die.

Captcha: Red Herring. The Escapist is in on it!

 

[Tanis]

No, there are not-so-peaceful people that stand out for the specific reason their violence. The contrast is noted because of its extremity to desynchronize an otherwise functioning society and ideology. The Hindus want respect? Well we all want respect. It shouldn't be a monumental task to pay a little lip service to the common human condition known as existence.

Do you really want me to start digging up quotes from the actual BOOKS that folks base their religion on?
Cause, a lot of them have some pretty nasty stuff in there.
From rape, to one-on-one murder, to genocide, to women as property, to slavery...and you get my point.

The 'not-so-peaceful people' stand out, NOWADAYS because secularism has (thankfully) neutered most of the major groups of nutters, at least in 'The West'.

Hinduism itself is FULL of violence.
If you'd bothered to ever READ the Vishas (and other books related to) it's like some (sometimes) kickass, and trippy, sci-fi with wars and flying battle things and lots and lots of BOOM! HEAD-SHOT! type of fun.

Hindus getting mad at a game company using a WAR GOD for, well, war type stuff, is just FUNNY.