Would you mind if game designers incorpoarated their world view into their games?

JongWK · October 05, 2006, 01:06:29 PM

Quote from: flyingmiceI think two definitions of "incorporating their world view" are in use here. As jhkim says, it's impossible for any writer not to portray a world view tinged by his personal feelings - that's one definition. It is also very possible to write in such a way that the writer's opinions are not forced down the reader's throat - that's the second. There are an infinite number of possibilities in between, and the reader's personal line between "tinged by world view" and "shoved down throat" varies enormously.

I submit Shadowrun's magic system as exhibit A.

Caesar Slaad · October 05, 2006, 01:30:19 PM

That really depends.

*racist game I won't name* and its ilk are right out.

But really, how do I tell if a world view is being incorporated into a game? If I design a game in which the characters are all military characters who are basically loose canons, does that mean I am advocating a militant worldview? I would find that hard to beleive. Gaming is escapist fantasy to me. Games have violence in them and that doesn't bother me, precisely because it's not reality and nobody is really getting hurt and I am not dealing with real moral issues in most cases.

GRIM · October 05, 2006, 01:56:55 PM

Quote from: Caesar SlaadThat really depends.

*racist game I won't name* and its ilk are right out.

But really, how do I tell if a world view is being incorporated into a game? If I design a game in which the characters are all military characters who are basically loose canons, does that mean I am advocating a militant worldview? I would find that hard to beleive. Gaming is escapist fantasy to me. Games have violence in them and that doesn't bother me, precisely because it's not reality and nobody is really getting hurt and I am not dealing with real moral issues in most cases.

Said racist game is also a piece of unplayable crap.

However...

Playing in a gameworld that did present their views might be interesting, if you twisted it around or, for the purposes of entertainment, 'bought into' it. No worse than enjoying Cross of Iron or Sven Hassel books really.

Similarly I can't stand evangelical Christianity but I think playing in the Left Behind world might be intriguing with the right group.

David R · October 05, 2006, 07:43:36 PM

Quote from: jhkimI don't see how games can be morally neutral unless they simply say nothing about the world and characters in it.

Very interesting. All the games (settings) I've run have been anything but morally nuetral. The fact is, I think if I agreed with the views of the game designer (taking into account, the possible variantions that FlyingMice mentioned) I wouldn't really have a problem with the game because of the views. But if I didn't agree with the views, than I would at least want some kind of balance to act as a nuetralizing agent to what I percevied as a biased game.

Regards,
David R

Silverlion · October 05, 2006, 09:48:48 PM

Well I wrote a super-hero game. It's about super-HEROES. So yes morally biased, intentionally speaks to my worldview about people actively seeking to make the world a better place. My game opposes apathy and neutrality. Just like classic four color comic books.

Do nothing: Bad things happen.

Do something good: Change/prevent the bad things (but also have repercussions)

I also am revising another game that talks about the foolish prejudices people have--albeit in a fantasy trappings. The discriminatory practicies are racial, magical, and religious--and vary from region to region but are influential in the game.

mythusmage · October 05, 2006, 09:53:09 PM

In this setting elves and halflings have a very tight relationship. As a matter of fact, halflings are descended from primates originally domesticated by the elves. Thing is, halflings are extremely emotionally dependent on others, and can only function when they know they belong to some one. In short, the halflings need to be owned.

It's not something they choose to believe, it is instinctual. Halflings in this setting cannot see themselves as free. If set free, and taught the meaning of being free, they will waste away and die. Unless otherwise prevented a halfling saved by you from whatever fate he faced will make himself your property. There's no way you can change it.

Is this good, evil, or just the way it is?

beejazz · October 05, 2006, 10:08:43 PM

Quote from: mythusmageIn this setting elves and halflings have a very tight relationship. As a matter of fact, halflings are descended from primates originally domesticated by the elves. Thing is, halflings are extremely emotionally dependent on others, and can only function when they know they belong to some one. In short, the halflings need to be owned.

It's not something they choose to believe, it is instinctual. Halflings in this setting cannot see themselves as free. If set free, and taught the meaning of being free, they will waste away and die. Unless otherwise prevented a halfling saved by you from whatever fate he faced will make himself your property. There's no way you can change it.

Is this good, evil, or just the way it is?

I have halflings as the polar opposite of this. Pre-existing peaceful society->gets slaved->pwn captors->badass pirates with chain weapons and a grudge against civilization.

Why? Because I'd have a shitload more fun playing a rebel than a slave. I don't have a problem with moral assumptions, but arbitrary restrictions? Not my thing.

mythusmage · October 05, 2006, 10:14:11 PM

Quote from: beejazzI have halflings as the polar opposite of this. Pre-existing peaceful society->gets slaved->pwn captors->badass pirates with chain weapons and a grudge against civilization.

Why? Because I'd have a shitload more fun playing a rebel than a slave. I don't have a problem with moral assumptions, but arbitrary restrictions? Not my thing.

You can't fly by flapping your arms. Is that arbitrary or what?

Any world that has no arbitrary restrictions aint worth shit.

David R · October 05, 2006, 10:22:09 PM

Quote from: mythusmageIs this good, evil, or just the way it is?

I think most gamers don't want the answer to this statement (delivered by the designer -if at all) to be too provocative or contraversial in their games.

Regards,
David R

beejazz · October 05, 2006, 10:24:53 PM

Quote from: mythusmageYou can't fly by flapping your arms. Is that arbitrary or what?

Any world that has no arbitrary restrictions aint worth shit.

Lovely. Let's oversimplify. You know damned well what I meant when I said it; I'm not here to play word games.

I don't expect to fucking fly, but I'd be more open to just that than to playing a pathetic sychophant.