Video Games Becoming Prime Target for Religious Groups

[sharkey360]

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In the early '80s, televangelist Jimmy Swaggert spoke for a large, devout population when he declared, "All of the rock music being aired today is demonically inspired. Any individual listening to it is entering into communion with a wickedness and evil spawned in hell." Thirty years later rock fans still haven't morphed into demons, and the religious right has shifted its sights onto a new target: videogames.



Linking videogames to the devil isn't a new trend, but it is one that is gaining fervor among religious groups as games continue to evolve into interactive experiences. February, in particular, has seen a trio of high-profile pitches against violent, overtly sexual, and "demonic" videogames. Most recently, on Tuesday Philadelphia newspaper The Bulletin published an article entitled, "Buyer Beware: Satanic-Themed Video Games Concern Parents."

Even the most hard-core gamers are sounding the alarm about the rise in the number of satanically-themed video games that target God and Christianity, invite players to make pacts with the devil, and elevate Satan to hero status.
Citing the experiences of appropriately named "avid gamer" Lance Christian, The Bulletin provides a list of its most egregious videogame offenders, including Tecmo's Deception: Invitation to Darkness, Altus' Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne, and Midway's Shadow Hearts. Strangely, those games were released in 1996, 2004, and 2001, respectively, so it appears The Bulletin was a minimum of six years late in sounding its alarm. However, also on the list of most egregious offenders is BioWare's Dragon Age: Origins (which the newspaper calls "Dragon's Age Origins"):

Dragon's Age Origins (Playstation 3/Xbox 360): The game revolves around the story of God going mad and cursing the world. A witch attacks believers and players can "have ***" with her in a pagan act called "blood magic" so she can "give birth to a god." Another scenario allows players to have *** with a demon in exchange for a boy's soul.

The Bulletin also sounds the alarm on Dante's Inferno, Guitar Hero, Devil Summoner (2006), Koudelka (1999), Trapt (2005), Bayonetta, and Darksiders.

"Philadelphia's Family Newspaper" isn't alone in its February assault on "evil" videogames. On the 12th, the Church of England made its view clear on the matter. According to an article published in the U.K. newspaper The Metro and a companion article at gaming and software website Softpedia, the members of the General Synod are pushing for a law to govern the sales of videogames:

There is a bubbling sewer of gratuitously violent and sexual pornography and DVD games all around us. Family breakdown and resulting chaos means more and more children are without parental control and because they have computers and monitors in their rooms, they are able to access violent material in secrecy. I know that the Devil is said to have all the best tunes. Without any question of doubt he has the monopoly of violent and [adult content loaded] videogames.

Finally, in Australia the debate over lifting a ban on adult, or R18+ games, brought the rise of NoR18Games, a Christian lobbying group venting its opposition to allowing any adult games in the land down under. In mid-February, the group launched its website, where it proclaimed:

Although R18+ DVDs are already available, computer games involve the player in an interactive role where they become the character doing the killing, raping, beating or sexual activity. An example of a currently banned game that would be allowed into Australia is a Japanese creation where the player is encouraged to gang rape and beat young women. Other games involve "first person" playing where the player takes the role of torturing or mutilating people. Once allowed in Australia, the authorities will not be able to control who gets to watch them.

The Australian government is expected to vote on R18+ in late March. The UK is still considering an overhaul on its games rating system. We'll keep you posted on these events and the rise in religious fervor against videogames.

Source - GameSpy: Videogames Becoming Prime Target for Religious Groups - Page 1

[personalmgt]

I saw this yesterday at Kotaku but it was more of a Christian Themed Guitar Hero. My reaction was: Let us all make a Call of Yahweh 7: Zion at War so we can profess our faith and our salvation.

I am the only non-religious guy in the family and my parents despise me of that. But even if they are more "holy" or saved than me, then how can you call them "saved" if they patronize even in the media you see around like movies or books are still above the line of "violent"? If they were to dictate what media should be for them, then what is acceptable? Call of Yahweh 7?

Fact: Not everyone are Christians around the world and not everyone believes in God. Even if we non-believers do patronize media in any form (which is subliminal to our realization that we're patronizing violent games), that doesn't mean we don't believe in Peace. Which is a far more better realization than targeting video games or media for the "so-called" salvation.

Religious Groups can now start playing Russian roulette with a 6 sided dice.

[jntio]

wla mng hilabot nla ang games nya ila hilabtan. pgka toitoi

[sharkey360]

Do you know any local pastor who spoke out against video games?

[sharkey360]

If you see someone religious attacking video games, do not hesitate to challenge his/her knowledge of gaming.

[sharkey360]

Does anyone here play video games during holy week?

[lestat1116]

Does anyone here play video games during holy week?

ako. psp games n facebook games. out of town man.

[rodx]

contrary to beliefs that we grew up in and im assuming in my case since i have been brought up in a catholic upbringing...its a misconception of sorts for some religious people who take notice and criticize any media for that matter may it be music, books, movies or games....this has always been the case since majority and i apologize for typecasting but it is a fact that these people look at it in a religious perspective which should not be the case...we can never rationalize any arguments that they may consider regarding any of their religious perspective because for them it contradicts a religious teaching...a religion for me is for everyone to adapt to or believe in i dont think it was ever intended to be utilized to judge things...those were the times of the Dark Ages...i guess these people are unconsciously living it and we all know what the Dark Ages brought about

[mmarabillas]

Anyone heard of RapeLay released by Illusion on 2006?
Its a 3d rape simulation game. Its the first adult game I've played.Many feminist groups have requested the ban of the game. Its no longer on sale but has been leaked a few times.

Okay ra man ang ubang video games pro naa juy may pagkadevil nga games. I've played a lot of games and can atest to that.

Pasagdai lang na ang mga pari basin nakaduwa na na og RapeLay-rape simulation. HAHAHAHA!

[karoshikurenai]

Anyone heard of RapeLay released by Illusion on 2006?
Its a 3d rape simulation game. Its the first adult game I've played.Many feminist groups have requested the ban of the game. Its no longer on sale but has been leaked a few times.

Okay ra man ang ubang video games pro naa juy may pagkadevil nga games. I've played a lot of games and can atest to that.

Pasagdai lang na ang mga pari basin nakaduwa na na og RapeLay-rape simulation. HAHAHAHA!

hahaha! i still have that game in my PC. anyway the people at Hongfire were pretty pissed off about it cuz they wer the ones who modded most Illusion games and some random nobody posted it to e-bay/amazon or whatever which caused the ban. today lots of h-games/eroge are now region locked.