On my next project, I am planning to develop a shareware puzzle board game with Buddhist theme in it:

* Elegant life like board with serene sceneries
* Objects with Chinese symbols or Sanscrit
* Buddhist proverb pops up each time player clears a level
* Game will be titled: "Enlighten"
* Goal: Clearing each unique board is "reaching closer to enlightenment"

Is this suitable? Do you think an audience would enjoy this variation?

-Steve Z

My gut feeling is that, yes, many gamers would find such a theme to be an added attraction. There will always be those who despise ANY kind of religious content in games, but as long as your game isn't trying to convert anyone to Buddhism, I don't think there will be a problem. In addition, many people (Americans, in particular) are fascinated by Asian religions and philosophies. As long as the information and themes presented in the game are accurate and in good taste, most Buddhists would probably be fine with it as well.

I'm not a Buddhist and in fact I know very little about Buddhism, but I think you'd have to be careful with that idea. Your best bet would probably be to seek out some practicing Buddhists and ask their opinion. At the very least, I think you would have to make sure your game wasn't just using Buddhism as a way to make a buck. Why not just use Buddhism as an inspiration and avoid the direct use of it in your game? With something like 6% of the world being practicing Buddhists, you probably want to make sure you don't come out with something that those people might find distasteful or offensive.

As for its attractiveness to non-Buddhists, I think you could find some success with it--I've always thought that a game that dealt with serenity and transcendental enlightenment would be fun. I think your idea definitely has potential.

I agree with Jeff that many americans love the asian art and culture, so I think this would do well. However, I would not suggest making a similar game with a christianity theme to it... It just wouldn't be AS politically correct and would be much less en vogue. Just my $0.02

I am getting slightly annoyed at the making of Christianity into a taboo topic. We've had it for thousands of years, why make such a big deal out of talking about it or making a game about it. I understand why places such as gamedev.net forbid it as a topic, but everywhere else this shouldn't be.

In fact, I have my ideas radar searching for an idea about a good Christian game. It should be fairly easy to market given the large audience and the relative lack of competition.

Probably depends on who you're targeting. If you make a really obviously christian-themed game, then a lot of people will look down their noses at it and refuse to even try it. On the other hand, making a game that appeals to *any* niche means that it should be easier to get that niche to pay attention to you, give you free advertising and promote your product.

A nice non-violent-family-friendly-christian-themed game could probably get prominent featuring on various websites. I (vaguely) know a woman who sells simple christian computer games aimed at very young children. I don't think she sells a *lot* (I don't think she treats it as much more than a hobby) but she does sell them.

If your curious about christian games you could attend this, I herd about it at last years IGC. I think this is their second year running. There must be SOME market for this stuff...

http://cgdc.GraceWorksInteractive.com

After listening to a few posts, I think it is best to steer away from making the game with religious implications (such as defining what enlightenment is and how one should achieve it).

However, working with Buddhists philosophy can be a good idea (such as popping up a proverb after each level completion).

Look what the Wachowski brothers did to the Matrix - they embedded Buddhists philosophy throughout the movie.

I was going to mention the Matrix. Yes, Budhism is very well-received here in the 'states... don't know about elsewhere.

As for Christian game development, there's another site I know of:
www.christiancoders.com

I have always thought a "build your own religion" game would be a lot of fun and somewhat popular. In addition it would be controversial, which would get it a lot of attention.

You could make your religion into a glass temple televangelist empire or a taliban terrorist organization, or a cross of both or whatever. Your goal would be to influence society enough to get a good ole theocracy rolling. The gameplay would be sim-city like, where you mainly play by buying land and putting up churches, summer camps, terrorist camps, monuments, temples, etc.

Originally posted by Steve Z
After listening to a few posts, I think it is best to steer away from making the game with religious implications (such as defining what enlightenment is and how one should achieve it).

Personally I don't see a problem with it, at least it would be something fairly unique. Do it right and there's potential for fairly original marketing ideas.

Once people start staying away from games that might offend people we're in bad shape, once indies do it we're in even worse shape. Does a game like Dope Farmer step on a few(or quite a few) toes? I'm sure it does, but it's still a good game and has the added edge of being something a little different.

i've considered making christian games although i tend to waver on it depending on my mood.

on the one hand, it is a tremendous opportunity to fill a "hunger" since there has to be a demand for it, and as a christian myself, it's something that would interest me. i see nothing wrong with making one since if someone finds religion offensive, one wouldn't download a game that is clearly defined as such anyway.

however on the other hand, i would feel very uncomfortable charging any $$ for it since it seems very immoral and hypocritical to do so. i don't know why i feel that way but i do.

one obvious work around would be to leave the choice of payment up to the person. so it becomes like an offering, in effect you'd distribute the game free, with the option of making an offering.

Originally posted by sodasoft
however on the other hand, i would feel very uncomfortable charging any $$ for it since it seems very immoral and hypocritical to do so. i don't know why i feel that way but i do.

Why is that? You can't walk into a Mardels or Baptist Book Store and walk out with a free Bible, can you? And this is the BIBLE we're talking about! :) I think hard work should be compensated and there's nothing hypocritical about that. As a Christian, you never took a vow to never be compensated for your work, did you? I hope not. :)

Society itself is based upon trade - trade for mutual benefit. It is not based upon altruism or charity. If it was, we'd all be starving (see historical examples). And believe me, if you put alot of work into your game and hardly saw a benefit in it, you'd be very unlikely to improve it, continue it, or make a sequel or similar game. So the world would never see another great Christian-themed game made by you. How does that benefit anyone? Wouldn't it be better and, over all, more beneficial if you were well compensated for your work and had an incentive to keep working on it, improving it, and making more great releases? Everyone would be happy then. You, your customers, and everybody who'd be interested in this sort of a game.

When you look at it this way, I think things become clear.

Originally posted by sodasoft
however on the other hand, i would feel very uncomfortable charging any $$ for it since it seems very immoral and hypocritical to do so. i don't know why i feel that way but i do.


Originally posted by Punchey
Why is that?

I think because of that:

Originally posted by kerchen
I think you would have to make sure your game wasn't just using Buddhism as a way to make a buck.

Originally posted by Punchey
Why is that? You can't walk into a Mardels or Baptist Book Store and walk out with a free Bible, can you? And this is the BIBLE we're talking about! :) I think hard work should be compensated and there's nothing hypocritical about that. As a Christian, you never took a vow to never be compensated for your work, did you? I hope not. :)

Society itself is based upon trade - trade for mutual benefit. It is not based upon altruism or charity. If it was, we'd all be starving (see historical examples). And believe me, if you put alot of work into your game and hardly saw a benefit in it, you'd be very unlikely to improve it, continue it, or make a sequel or similar game. So the world would never see another great Christian-themed game made by you. How does that benefit anyone? Wouldn't it be better and, over all, more beneficial if you were well compensated for your work and had an incentive to keep working on it, improving it, and making more great releases? Everyone would be happy then. You, your customers, and everybody who'd be interested in this sort of a game.

When you look at it this way, I think things become clear.

You make good points, and I agree to some extent your reasoning. Certainly the work involved in creating a game on it's own merits, deserve fair compensation. That is unquestioned. I certainly have no problems paying to see Mel Gibson's new Jesus Christ movie for example. It would be ridiculous to expect free admittance. So, I suppose the same holds true for a video game. Looking at it from that angle, it does seems reasonable.

Thanks. :)

Originally posted by formfarbeminze
I think because of that: Originally posted by kerchenI think you would have to make sure your game wasn't just using Buddhism as a way to make a buck.
Ahh, I see. Good point. I can definitely see this point. I was reacting more to the stereotypical idea that Christians should all be 100% altruistic. :)

But for sodasoft, I think some soul-searching could easily reveal whether or not this is why you're doing it. If you genuinely have a desire to make a Christian-themed game, then you have no worries. On the same token, it's best not to make, say for instance an FPS, or a puzzler, just to make a quick buck if your heart isn't in it. Anything that isn't what you truly and honestly want to do will, in the end, never be as good as something that is. But I don't think you have to worry here. If you're worried about feeling hypocritical, then you obviously don't want to be, and that tells me your heart is probably in the right place. Plus, the fact that you'd consider doing such a game without compensation kinda seals up that point. :)

Best wishes!

I am not a practicing Buddhist but have explored some of the philosophy, which I find generally attractive.

There is precedent for Buddhist games in history, such as the Tibetan game "Rebirth." This is a Snakes & Ladders-style exercise that teaches the cycles of reincarnation. Players have no decisions to make. Not a great example, I grant you, but at least it's a precedent.

Historically, though, we see few games associated with religion or philosophy. I believe this is because the brain-state evoked by game playing is fundamentally incompatible with that evoked by the practice of a faith. In my experience, the sacred space and the game space don't overlap at all. But your view may differ.

Would your game offend people? I don't think that should matter to you. (Buddhists seem historically pretty hard to offend, in my view.) I think it could be mildly tasteless to borrow the trappings of ancient philosophy simply to dress up an otherwise unrelated game idea. But if you think your game does constructively address and illuminate the ideas of Buddhist philosophy, go for it.

Originally posted by Allen Varney

Historically, though, we see few games associated with religion or philosophy.


A lot of adventure games tend to go into religious regions. New Age beliefs are often used , in fact all those fantasy-style games touch some religious issues. Ultima for example is full of it.


I believe this is because the brain-state evoked


You believe... ;)


my experience, the sacred space and the game space don't overlap at all. But your view may differ.


I think I know what you mean and I agree. Exception: adventures/rpgs where sometimes "magic" seems to cover religious issues or the storyline let's you take some "believeing" actions.


Would your game offend people? I don't think that should matter to you.

I think the point in here is that you will enter a discussion with your game wether you want it or not. This is so because the moment you publish your "religious game" you made a statement about religion with your game, by potraing a particular religion within your game. You reveal your view of that religion. Offcourse you should not alter that view just because you want not offend anybody, but keep in mind that you just can't do anything in life without relating to something. You can't say "this is just a game". :D



trappings of ancient philosophy simply to dress up an otherwise unrelated game idea. But if you think your game does constructively address and illuminate the ideas of Buddhist philosophy, go for it.

I agree with you here. This is basically the essence of this subject: do you do a religious game or just a version of a game + "religious MOD". The later is not worth a try (this is my opinion offcourse!), the first seems to me an interesting idea.

Ironically enough (or perhaps this is what inspired this thread?) the current discussion topic is (and has been for a while now) on Buddhist Concepts in Games over at flipcode:
Here (http://www.flipcode.com/cgi-bin/msg.cgi?showThread=BuddhistConceptsInGames&forum=discuss&id=-1)