Title | Religion from Scholarly Worlds to Digital Games: The Case of Risen |
Publication Type | Book Chapter |
2012 | |
Authors | Steffen, O |
Editor | Bornet, P, Burger, M |
Book Title | Religions in Play. Games, Rituals, and Virtual Worlds |
Series Title | CULTuREL |
Series Volume | CULTuREL, Vol. 2 |
Pagination | 262-273 |
Publisher | Pano |
City | Zurich |
ISBN | 978-3-290-22010-5 |
Computer games, digital games, religion | |
A content analysis of the fantasy role-playing game Risen is conducted. Methodically, the case study shows that the ludological concept of hit points may be taken as a starting point for the investigation of the religious repertoire. In addition, the comparison with the original German work of Dutch phenomenologist Gerardus van der Leeuw suggests that Risen’s ludological-narrative complex of hit points (“life energy”) enacts a 20th century essentialistic and phenomenological conception of religion that has made its way into, and was specifically framed by, the new medium of digital games. |