Question Regarding Games & Christian Behavior

[Desya]

I wanted to get some insight from others regarding games and Christian behavior. While I don't believe video games are evil alone, what do you think about games that let you play questionable characters?

The reason I ask is I am fairly tempted to try the game Demigod. It looks like a fun real time strategy game, where you fight and build up your hero to control the map. However, the background of the game refers to the 'hero' characters as being demigods, fighting their way up the ranks to become a full fledged God.

I am torn because obviously the basis of the game isn't a very Christian one, including the 'heroes' that you play. So what do others think? Is it alright to play these games in your mind, knowing that it is simply a game and obviously won't sway you to believe in the ancient Greek gods? Or would it still be displeasing to God that you are roleplaying a demigod in a videogame?

demigodthegame.com/game/

 

[peanutbutter12]

It's a game, it's about your mentality. Obviously you're not going to start believing what is in the game.

 

[Kharak]

For heaven's sake though, just don't play Black & White.

In that game, you are God.

 

[Silent Bob]

Contrary to popular belief game world =/= reality. I know it is hard to imagine how society has not crumbled with all the wars, mass murders and satanic worship that goes on in games these days.

In other news I recently read a book where the protagonist becomes a murderer should I turn myself in?

 

[Vehementi Dominus]

For heaven's sake though, just don't play Black & White.

In that game, you are God.

I'ma have to dig that out, again.

I miss playing "How far can you throw the villager?", and "How many villagers can you squish with one rock?".

 

[homeofmew]

as long as the person playing the game that the game is fake and for entertainment purposes only it is ok.

 

[pdudgeon]

it's a hard question to answer, but it's not a new question.

doesn't matter whether it's a video game , a movie, a book, a tv show, etc.
what they all have in common is that what you see and hear is entering thru your eyes/ears into your brain.

if we eat food that is bad for us or tainted our digestive system will tell us and expell the food in the quickest manner. but things that go into the brain thru the eyes or the ears are a different matter. those things (whether good or bad) get lodged there, and sooner or later they affect our thinking, which in turn will affect our actions.

we can't always see the end result of what we put into our brain, but we do have a conscience which can warn of danger. if we ignore or override our conscience then the next time it will get easier and easier to ignore the warning, until it isn't heard at all.

so if anyone has a question as to whether they should or shouldn't see or hear something, then take a page out of David's book, the Psalms.

Psalms 101:
I will sing of your love and justice. I will praise you, Lord, with songs. I will be careful to live a blameless life--when will you come to my aid? I will lead a life of integrity in my own home. I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar. I hate all crooked dealings; I will have nothing to do with them. I will reject perverse ideas and stay away from every evil. I will not tolerate people who slander their neighbors. I will not endure conceit and pride. I will keep a protective eye on the godly, so they may dewll with me in safety. Only those who are above reproach will be allowed to serve me. I will not allow deceivers to serve me, and liars will not be allowed to enter my presence. My daily task will be to ferret out criminals and free the city of the Lord from their grip."

 

[Vehementi Dominus]

as long as the person playing the game that the game is fake and for entertainment purposes only it is ok.

Isn't that the case with everyone, though, not just Christians?

I mean... games have ratings for a reason, a kid playing Gears of War 2 would be heavily influenced by it, but someone aged 18 wouldn't be.


Some of these games can be pretty educational as well. The idea of a post-apocalyptic nuclear wasteland isn't exactly far fetched, and if that ever did happen, I've learned a lot of good things that'd help me survive through games like Fallout, and S.T.A.L.K.E.R.. Fallout pretty much has a huge list of skills that could potentially save my life, such as lockpicking, first aid or making explosives. Also, building a town around an undetonated nuclear bomb is probably not a good idea. Not to mention the countless zombie blastin' games out there, true, zombies are a bit more fantastical than a nuclear wasteland, but think, there are parasites that can control the way some animals and insects behave.

 

[Breetai]

The reason I ask is I am fairly tempted to try the game Demigod. It looks like a fun real time strategy game, where you fight and build up your hero to control the map. However, the background of the game refers to the 'hero' characters as being demigods, fighting their way up the ranks to become a full fledged God.

It might be a fun game to play with your Mormon friends.

Bad jokes aside, unless you aren't unable to separate fiction from reality, I don't see what the problem is. A god in a video game is not a god. You aren't worshipping it, are you?

 

[Cabal]

I wanted to get some insight from others regarding games and Christian behavior. While I don't believe video games are evil alone, what do you think about games that let you play questionable characters?

The reason I ask is I am fairly tempted to try the game Demigod. It looks like a fun real time strategy game, where you fight and build up your hero to control the map. However, the background of the game refers to the 'hero' characters as being demigods, fighting their way up the ranks to become a full fledged God.

I am torn because obviously the basis of the game isn't a very Christian one, including the 'heroes' that you play. So what do others think? Is it alright to play these games in your mind, knowing that it is simply a game and obviously won't sway you to believe in the ancient Greek gods? Or would it still be displeasing to God that you are roleplaying a demigod in a videogame?

demigodthegame.com/game/

I really wouldn't worry too much about it - I think you'd have to be fairly into your ancient mythology to end up worshipping the Greek gods. Just think of it as a fairly fun history lesson.

I find it interesting when I have the option of playing as either a good or a bad character - if the game has the option of being good, I find it really hard to be bad in a game. The only exception I can think of is in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, which I guess means that evil is really only fun when you can shoot lightning from your hands.

 

[Kharak]

I really wouldn't worry too much about it - I think you'd have to be fairly into your ancient mythology to end up worshipping the Greek gods. Just think of it as a fairly fun history lesson.

I don't believe I've ever seen a historically accurate video game. Precisely the same reason I refuse to play vanilla Rome: Total War, and doubly why I avoid History Channel sponsored video games.

Shudder: The atrocities of the History Channel are legion.

 

[Cabal]

I don't believe I've ever seen a historically accurate video game. Precisely the same reason I refuse to play vanilla Rome: Total War, and doubly why I avoid History Channel sponsored video games.

Shudder: The atrocities of the History Channel are legion.

Well, I did mean it in a very loose sense - but I guess I'm not quite so sensitive to historical inaccuracies as you seem to be. Although I did find the gamut of civilisations shoehorned into Age of Empires 2 rather jarring.

 

[Sketcher]

Your having doubts about it means it's definitely off limits. For something to be right, you have to be both sure about it and right about it. As it is, for all you know, you would be rebelling against God if you were to play the game. Therefore playing it would be crossing the line.

 

[Kharak]

Well, I did mean it in a very loose sense - but I guess I'm not quite so sensitive to historical inaccuracies as you seem to be. Although I did find the gamut of civilisations shoehorned into Age of Empires 2 rather jarring.

I have paid numerous witches and warlocks to curse the Total War team for their offenses, point in fact. One of these days, they should be affected by some plague or what-other. In the mean time, I downloaded Rome: Total Realism.

The most historically accurate game I can think of is Immortal Cities: Children of the Nile. The team hails from the same group that populated Impression Games (defunct developer), and created the Caesar city-building series. Though difficult, CotN was well researched, and it's one of the few games that gets nearly every element right.

That said, the best game of all time is Alpha Centauri, but no one cares anymore. If you want religion and philosophy, there it is.

 

[Cabal]

I have paid numerous witches and warlocks to curse the Total War team for their offenses, point in fact. One of these days, they should be affected by some plague or what-other. In the mean time, I downloaded Rome: Total Realism.

So what exactly did that mod fix? I can't say I've ever played more than vanilla Rome, my PC at the time couldn't handle it brilliantly.

That said, the best game of all time is Alpha Centauri, but no one cares anymore. If you want religion and philosophy, there it is.

Indeed, a game that awesome should never be forgotten. Takes me back to my youth! I think one of the proudest moments of my life was winning a conquest victory in under 100 turns (indeed 'twas done on the demo )

 

[Kharak]

So what exactly did that mod fix? I can't say I've ever played more than vanilla Rome, my PC at the time couldn't handle it brilliantly.

And so thout cast away the sin of Vanilla Total War, and all was well. Vanilla Medieval II is also quite abysmal, and Stainless Steel works well to replace it (though you need Kingdoms to play it). Rome: Total Realism updates the gameplay with area recruitment so that you may actually employ Syrian archers, for example, only if you have Syrian provinces in possession. So yes, you can use Cataphractoi if you have Sarmatian areas held or Italian infantry if you hold Italian regions. The artwork is directly lifted of archeaological evidence and uses a bit of inspiration from the Osprey Publishing lines, and the research into every aspect of gameplay is entirely exhaustive. Stainless Steel's creators even went so far as to have a guy calculate the armor piercing values of every conceivable weapon type in Joules! I have the spreadsheet here somewhere, but you will be trading swords late-era in that mod for two-handed weapons.

Indeed, a game that awesome should never be forgotten. Takes me back to my youth! I think one of the proudest moments of my life was winning a conquest victory in under 100 turns (indeed 'twas done on the demo )

"Richard Baxton piloted his Recon Rover into a fungal vortex and held off four waves of mind worms, saving an entire colony. We immediately purchased his identity manifests and repackaged him into the Recon Rover Rick character with a multi-tiered media campaign: televids, touchbooks, holos, psi-tours-- the works. People need heroes. They don't need to know how he died clawing his eyes out, screaming for mercy. The real story would just hurt sales, and dampen the spirits of our customers."

 

[JCFantasy23]

I play a Warlock in World of Warcraft where I control and summon demons. Never felt anything weird about it or any disapproval from God, it's just a game to me.

 

[Desya]

I just wanted to thank everyone for their replies!

Also just for clarification, it's not that I am suddenly worried that I will convert to believing in Greek gods. My heart is fully dedicated to the one and true God. My main concern is, despite being a game, would He be happy with it. While we may see it as simply a silly game, what would He see?

I have a feeling much of it depends on your mindset and what is truly in your heart, but due to doubts, I decided to pass. I think this post by pdudgeon on the first page answered my question by quoting Psalms 101.

It is quite a change though. I used to play all kinds of games regardless of content. However lately, I can't help but feel that while it may be 'just' a game, God may not be pleased that we play representations of questionable characters, magic based or those who specifically believe in other Gods (or try to be one). I could be wrong, but it is something I have been thinking about a lot lately.

Thanks again for all the responses though everyone, I greatly appreciate it.

 

[MattLangley]

Would you have problems with reading a book from that same perspective, or say watch a movie with that perspective. Have you watched Lord of the Rings, does it bother you when it's showing things from Saruman's perspective, do you feel that is ethically wrong?

If these answers are no then it should be a no to having an issue with a game too. There's nothing wrong putting yourself in a perspective, you have to consider things from an "evil" perspective to determine what's "good"... acting on things such as this is where the line gets crossed (which can involve letting it change your personal character, this comes down to a fruit of the spirit, self control).

 

[KingCrimson250]

"Richard Baxton piloted his Recon Rover into a fungal vortex and held off four waves of mind worms, saving an entire colony. We immediately purchased his identity manifests and repackaged him into the Recon Rover Rick character with a multi-tiered media campaign: televids, touchbooks, holos, psi-tours-- the works. People need heroes. They don't need to know how he died clawing his eyes out, screaming for mercy. The real story would just hurt sales, and dampen the spirits of our customers."

Now THERE's a game worth talking about. Incredibly deep game, and not only was it enjoyable, but you always came away from it with a slightly different perspective on life, I found. Lots of very cool stuff going on there.