Faith Fighter: the Online Video Game

The game has been taken down from its home. To quote the site:
“Today after an official statement by the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) we decided to remove the game Faith Fighter from our site.”
Of course, it’s already spread to many mirrors. I hope people realize that whatever goes onto the Web will probably stay there a very, very long time.

One site that still has the game online is here:

http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/421199

Google Cache also works.

its weird that they say “Taking down the game from this website is a symbolic act: copies and documentation of Faith Fighter can be found all over the Internet.”

What exactly is this a ‘symolic act’ of? is it symbolic of caving to religious sensibilities? or is it symbolic of allowing the mass media to drive private business decisions?

id say its all of the above and not really symbolic at all: its literal.

Dear Douglas Miller,

‘Playing violent video games will ultimately affect your behaviour . . . ’

This is an empirical claim. Incidentally, which behaviors? I play video games (some of them invoke violence as part of the game play), and most of the behavioral changes I see in myself (n.b. anecdotal self reporting, N of 1) include things such as sedentary posturing (which, honestly, most people who work at a computer experience day-to-day), enjoyment of graphic innovations and game play styles and good (or not so good 🙂 ) writing, sense of tension-reduction that comes from a little time spent in some enjoyable activity after a long and hard day, and the likelihood of spending some time pushing buttons on a keyboard or game controller. Are there other behaviors you’re worried about, Doug? I sense there are – just a hunch. Please elaborate.

Regardless, please cite those studies in the literature of psychology (and other relevant disciplines) that have demonstrably shown a link between “playing violent video games” and resultant changes in behavior (changes you fail to elucidate). I’d be interested to read them.

By the way, citing addiction doesn’t count unless in the context of any number of behavioral changes, such as those associated with, for example, alcohol, sex, and gambling (to name a few). Video games may be a form addictive behavior takes, but the issue there is, well, addiction. Addictive behavior can take many forms.

Thanks awfully.

Yours in taking more personal responsibility,

Robert

P.S. I can quit anytime. Just one more round of Halo.

P.P.S. I am reminded of this exchange from the excellent Aaron Sorkin production, Sports Night:

J.J.: “The bomb threat was a hoax.”
Casey: “What was it about.”
J.J.: “Denny Denton.”
Casey: “What about him?”
J.J.: “They don’t like his radio show.”
Dan: “I don’t like his radio show, either. You know what I do?”
J.J.: “What?”
Dan: “Change the station.”
J.J.: “Would that the world were as enlightened as you, Dan.”
Dan: “Oh, were that it would.”
Casey: “‘Were’.”
Dan: “What?”

I hope people realize that whatever goes onto the Web will probably stay there a very, very long time.

Daniel

Well, it took those guys a looong time to figure out that the earth revolves around the sun, and are now trying to come to terms with this evolution stuff. Taking the current information resorption rate of garden-variety religions and extrapolating, I guess they will figure out how Teh Internets works in 400 to 600 years at the most 😉

The Hindus are not far behind. Check this out

http://www.cio.com/article/490118/Hindu_Leader_Criticizes_Sony_Video_Game

Yeah, Faith Fighter 2 is pretty good, even though it’s impossible. Which is totally the point, they did it well..