Spore: the real controversial game of the year

[Saskwach]

I found myself quite disappointed by the feeble moans and wails that might favourably be called a "backlash" to GTA4. Some bus posters were taken off in Chicago? Visible sex edited out in the Australian version? Where's the fire? Where's the brimstone? Goddamit it, where is Jack Thompson?
Fear not lovers of controversy, for the real wave is soon to break! That wave's name is Spore. In a world where even members of the supposedly enlightened western world champion pseudo-sciences like creationism [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creationism], even as part of science teaching [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creation_and_evolution_in_public_education] Spore could stir up controversy in some areas where such idiocy is popular.
I eagerly await the mud-slinging. Is Spore the work of Satan [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Wright_%28game_designer%29]? Is it a game by those damn immoral left liberal types, all bent on corrupting our children into the world of sex, drugs and rock and roll?
The controversy could escalate if those recluses known as scientists sally forth from their comfortable caves [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University] to fight for truth and science. Perhaps Will will (teehee) gain a knighthood from King Hawking on his Great Wheeled Throne?
But I'm flying towards fancy and this is still partly serious. What do you Escapists think? Will Spore be the real sticking point game of the year? What kind of controversy will it fuel?

 

[sammyfreak]

I don't believe in darwinism, but that is unimportant because Spore is a work of fiction. Real Life =/= Computer game

 

[Piorn]

We could talk about creatonism,and while we're on it, let's burn some witches.
(enough sarcasm for today...)

If someone finds Spore offensive,then he shouldn't play it, it's just a game.
This way,everyone would be happy, right?

 

[Geoffrey42]

Spore will only really annoy the Young-Earth Creationists.

It could honestly just provide fuel for the ID people. The entire game, you, the personal deity of your species, is making small decisions towards a greater whole. There's no natural selection. Just you creating a new species in whatever image you deem. The genre is called "god games" for a reason. There's even potential that the ID people will EMBRACE it.

If this happens, I don't think Will will be getting knighted.

Fun fact: "[a href=http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=benighted]benighted[/a]" is a word that I never knew before, and it turns out, an awesome one.

 

[GothmogII]

Umm...wouldn't it be the opposite, or not as it may be. As far as I was aware, you as the player take on the role of the 'creator' figure. Much like in Black and White etc.
Though your creatures do evolve in a way, isn't all this still mostly under control of the player themselves? I suppose in a 'God made evolution' kind of way.

But, it's still just a game. As Sammy and Piorn just noted, it's both a work of fiction and people aren't obligated to play it if they don't find it to their tastes.

Edit: got in before me hah. Took too long typing ^^

 

[Hey Joe]

I don't really think Spore will create too much controversy. In another Will Wright game, The Sims, you can have your avatar have gay sex.

In fact, you can create Jack Thompson and Hillary Clinton and have them woo hoo until the break of dawn.

If that doesn't create controversy, I don't think Spore will.

 

[Saskwach]

Well, now I think about it, it seems that Spore might be embraced by the more loony creationists. Still, saying "it's just fiction so it's not worth thinking about" is silly. The whole problem with loony conservatives who oppose games or whatever medium/story in particular is that they have a problem with fiction.

 

[sammyfreak]

Well, now I think about it, it seems that Spore might be embraced by the more loony creationists. Still, saying "it's just fiction so it's not worth thinking about" is silly. The whole problem with loony conservatives who oppose games or whatever medium/story in particular is that they have a problem with fiction.

I doubt anybody influential will be mortaly offended, some over-zealous person might, but quite frankly who cares?

 

[Saskwach]

Well, now I think about it, it seems that Spore might be embraced by the more loony creationists. Still, saying "it's just fiction so it's not worth thinking about" is silly. The whole problem with loony conservatives who oppose games or whatever medium/story in particular is that they have a problem with fiction.

I doubt anybody influential will be mortaly offended, some over-zealous person might, but quite frankly who cares?

You're absolutely right - but I care, because this is my entertainment. Some people watch soap opera, I watch silly people fight over silly things.

 

[Gildedtongue]

Not all the controversial, as most atheists I've spoken to don't get all huffy and whiny about a game/book/movie/television programme having a God-created-world as its backdrop. They take it as part of the whole fantasy thing and suspend their disbelief.

I think the real controversy, like Crysis, is that there's a computer that could possibly run it.

 

[propertyofcobra]

Not all the controversial, as most atheists I've spoken to don't get all huffy and whiny about a game/book/movie/television programme having a God-created-world as its backdrop. They take it as part of the whole fantasy thing and suspend their disbelief.

I think the real controversy, like Crysis, is that there's a computer that could possibly run it.

...Um, Spore is supposed to be able to run on any computer that can run The Sims 2.

And yes, Atheists are able to suspend our disbelief quite easily. The same goes for most religious people.
There's some religious people who LACK disbelief altogether to suspend, and they're the ones who start whining their heads off if games feature churches, or religion, or someone makes a movie based on the pro-atheist His Dark Materials novels (you didn't hear a bunch of atheists whine when the Narnia books were made into movies...)

 

[sammyfreak]

Not all the controversial, as most atheists I've spoken to don't get all huffy and whiny about a game/book/movie/television programme having a God-created-world as its backdrop. They take it as part of the whole fantasy thing and suspend their disbelief.

I think the real controversy, like Crysis, is that there's a computer that could possibly run it.

...Um, Spore is supposed to be able to run on any computer that can run The Sims 2.

And yes, Atheists are able to suspend our disbelief quite easily. The same goes for most religious people.
There's some religious people who LACK disbelief altogether to suspend, and they're the ones who start whining their heads off if games feature churches, or religion, or someone makes a movie based on the pro-atheist His Dark Materials novels (you didn't hear a bunch of atheists whine when the Narnia books were made into movies...)

Ohhhhh yes.

You obviously haven't lived in a socialist country, or the internet for that matter.

 

[bamforth]

Spore won't cause controversy. The places where creationism is still popular are often the same places where your siblings fancy you and everyone is very fat. I won't mention the country's name but I doubt very much that Spore will get anymore controversy than the Sims. If the Sims got no controversy for playing God why should Spore get any more?

 

[Whoracle]

(you didn't hear a bunch of atheists whine when the Narnia books were made into movies...)

Well, me thinks that is more due to the difference between Atheistm and Antitheism. Atheists simply don't care, antitheists DO care and oppose religion with the same fervor as religious fanatics support religion.
At least if memory about the difference serves me right.

 

[Anarchemitis]

It's not promoting Darwinism in my opinion, as much as GTA is telling everyone to kill people. It just is the 'best' medium to drive the gameplay.

 

[Saskwach]

(you didn't hear a bunch of atheists whine when the Narnia books were made into movies...)

Well, me thinks that is more due to the difference between Atheistm and Antitheism. Atheists simply don't care, antitheists DO care and oppose religion with the same fervor as religious fanatics support religion.
At least if memory about the difference serves me right.

Sounds a bit like Khell to me.

Anywho, people seem to have misunderstood me. I'm not saying that what Spore does is actually controversial or dangerous, but that some silly people might get into a huff about it and try something on. This could be fun to watch.

 

[Walrus42]

I really dont care how darwinist this game is going to be because ive been waiting for it since 200FUCKING5

 

[Anarchy In Detroit]

bah piss on everyone offended by anything in a game when theres so much fucked up shit in the world to begin with.

I can't wait to make my rabid army of laser toting death beavers!

 

[stompy]

Like sammyfreak said, those who will get offended are most likely not in a seat of power. So, who cares? Though, it's always funny to see the small idiots trying to make a difference...

 

[ElArabDeMagnifico]

If that happened, then that's a new low for all religious maniacs and athiest debaters.

I don't like that you brought this up Saskwatch, despite how much I laughed at first, I then picture a big religion war...over SPORE - and how likely it could happen. I almost dread the release of spore... You've made me say a sentence that is blasphemy in it's own right... I'm almost impressed.