God and Squaresoft

Drakkael · Jul 17, 2001#12001-07-17T00:07

I got this idea from NewFF.com ( www.newff.com/features/co...mad/13.htm ) and the recent post "God" on the General board. The basic gist of the discussion is, is Squaresoft antireligion (or at least anti organizedreligion), and if so, is that a good or a bad thing?
Of course, Squaresoft is my own personal God, as I've stated frequently before, but that's beside the point."...ghoulies and ghosties and long leggety beasties and things that go bump in the night..."

mc0 · Jul 17, 2001#22001-07-17T00:30

Many these devloper hold something agnist relgions.
Dues= Latin 4 God?
So I guess in latin it is "God Ex" and not Dues Ex.

katyjag · Jul 17, 2001#32001-07-17T06:55

Deus as in Deus Ex? Is that a reference to "deus ex machina"? (my latin isn't good, sorry if I spell badly) That's a god from a machine, a contrived ending to something, right? Don't know how that relates to the conversation, but thought I'd say it anyway.katyjag, a young revolutionary...

Jim · Jul 17, 2001#42001-07-17T09:28

Yeah, it is.

zellboy · Jul 19, 2001#52001-07-19T08:59

Dues ex machina is a greek expression meaning roughly "the easy way out" It's derived from a device used in the ancient greek plays (usually in tragedies). It was a crane like device that would lower or lift the actor playing a god. it simulated flight. It means the easy way out because the only time a god needed to be lifted or placed in a play was either at the beginning or end. Usually the end, because it is kinda a joke, in theatre classes, that greek playrights always took the easy way out and instead of allowing the characters to work things out for themselves(thus not creating a better narritive for which character development could conducively take place. )they would just send in a god to fix every thing quickly and tritely.
How that relates to videogame companies being against organized religion I have no idea. What on earth would make you think something as absurd as that?

katyjag · Jul 20, 2001#62001-07-20T12:07

The article makes some interesting points regarding the argument for anti-religious feeling in Japanese games, but to go off on one and say that Squaresoft hate the Catholic church is perhaps one leap too many. I can't speak for the parallels apparently drawn in FF Tactics and Xenogears because I haven't played either of them but I think maybe it is more an assimilation of western culture in to games that occurs frequently. And with regard to the point about angel wings being everywhere this guy makes, even though they are most famously asociated with the Christain faith, angels aren't specifically Christian. You can find angels/winged messengers in cultures that predate Christianity but nobody has come to the conclusion that Square are stealing elements of Islam for example (where angels enjoy perhaps an even greater role than in Christianity,) so why think that it is any kind of slight against Christianity in particular?

katyjag, a young revolutionary...

mc0 · Jul 20, 2001#72001-07-20T22:57

I think all games should be non-religious.
EDIT: I think I gave the wrong idea by saying "anti"

evapilot2000 · Jul 21, 2001#82001-07-21T03:49

Well, mc0, I think statements like that should really be kept to yourself.
No offence.

587495 · Jul 21, 2001#92001-07-21T04:31

That is some strong statement, mc0. What makes you say that?
587495...

Drakkael · Jul 21, 2001#102001-07-21T18:39

Well, you have to admit that religion and its adherents has/have been responsible for much of the suffering, intolerance, stupidity, and immorality throughout much of human history. It's understandable that many in modern life, with a clearer lens through which to view the atrocities of past regimes, would assume the role of "Antitheist" as opposed to simple apathetic atheism."...ghoulies and ghosties and long leggety beasties and things that go bump in the night..."