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Religion in Video Games

The Opposable Thumbs blog recently took a look at how religious themes are handled in video games. Most makers of mainstream games are hesitant, given the strong feelings of most consumers on the subject, but other companies are trying desperately to bring religion into the spotlight. Quoting: "Part of the problem is that the game industry is often touted as being a corrupting influence for the youth of the world. Criticism against the game industry has come from leaders as high up as the current Pope, and many of us who have been exposed to sermons bemoaning the influence that games and movies have on kids. Even when groups like the Christian Game Developers Foundation put out a video encouraging developers to create wholesome titles for kids, the attitude conveyed towards current members of the industry was contemptuous at best. Needless to say, games with heavy religious content are usually fringe projects, independently created and oftentimes sporting dodgy production values, because publishers wisely don't want to risk boycotts from legions of the faithful."

6 of 523 comments (clear)

  1. Grammar and spelling in the article. by brindafella · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    The grammar and spelling in the article are NOT good. The author, Michael Thompson, -- or "ars technica" -- should get an editor.

    --
    Looking at space, radio, science and computing from a 'down-under' amateur enthusiast perspective.
  2. I'm Andrew Ryan and I'm here to ask you a question by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Is a man not entitled to the sweat of his brow? No, says the man in Washington. It belongs to the poor. No, says the man in the Vatican. It belongs to God. No, says the man in Moscow. It belongs to everyone. I rejected those answers. Instead, I chose something different. I chose the impossible. I chose... Rapture. A city where the artist would not fear the censor. Where the scientist would not be bound by petty morality. Where the great would not be constrained by the small. And with the sweat of your brow, Rapture can become your city as well.

  3. Darwinia by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Great game with clear message: there is no god.

  4. Religion offtopic? by brindafella · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I have been modded to "Offtopic" for the main reply which talked about the referenced article's spelling and grammar.

    I was trying to make a point about how easy it is to be distracted from the topic (as in "goes badly" in the article's title "When religion and games intersect--and how it often goes badly") by extraneous issues (like spelling and grammar, or religion.)

    It obviously takes more than just a few lines to impress my fellow /. mods :)

    --
    Looking at space, radio, science and computing from a 'down-under' amateur enthusiast perspective.
  5. Re:My level 80 warlock by Zontar+The+Mindless · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Did someone decide that today was Backwards Moderation Day and forget to tell us? Parent should be Funny.

    "Offtopic" does *not* mean "I'm too dense to 'get it'."

    --
    Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
  6. Re:My level 80 warlock by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    So one can be "Offtopic" and yet completely correct at the same time? Interesting...