Spiritual Gaming

The subject of Spiritual Gaming is as simple as it is complex

2010-08-25T21:09:00.000-07:00

Discussion of the how, what, where, why, and when of Spiritual Gaming is easy -- when it is framed in a practical, problem-solving context.

It is only when pressed to define "gaming" and "spiritual" in the abstract that the wicket get sicky. Every direction one begins leads to painting the discussion in a corner. Thus, unless there are cogent reasons that dictate otherwise I say "gaming" and "spiritual" to be taken in the widest possible terms.

For example, here is a short list of games which I've experienced first hand as spiritual tools: "Bardo Safari, Black Jack, Black Box, Chess, Craps, Capture the Flag, Dungeon & Dragons, Diablo LOD, Bridge, Poker, Fish, Dungeon Party, Ghost, Go, ManKala, Monotony, Zelda I, Zelda III, Non-competitive sports, Perquacky, Quake, Super Game, Team Fortress, Monopoly, Rise of the Triad, Wolfenstein, and UnReal." Are there more examples that work for "Spiritual Gaming?" You betcha. The list is large – very large.

Are there games that are not on this list? Yes. tens of thousands of games have been found to be unsuitable. We won't mention them at the moment since nothing would be served by pointing a finger at a few games. It would be unfair if taken out of context.

What about this "spiritual" stuff? What kinds of activities and goals would fall into the domain of spiritual? Not gonna say. If you have zero notion of what spiritual means now would be a good time for you to do a little home work.

What do we mean by "spiritual?" What limited perspective of the definition of spiritual do we adhere to? Not gonna say. I have zero interest in converting you to anything. Have zero interest in a spiritual pissing contest about whose is more valid or big or can beat the other's dad up.

So why using gaming to explore the spiritual thing that you won't define?

Because it works.

Why use gaming?

An understanding of what works about a game can be very useful when trying to extend a games breadth and reach. But to do this requires a specific game and a specific discussion.

Without such focus the discussion is complex beyond belief. With the focus of practical questions about a particular game the discussion becomes much simpler to explore.

This is yet another example of how practical application can provide a forum of exploration.

From Yoyodyne's Gaming Diary #3

2010-08-21T01:04:00.000-07:00

A third installment from Yoyodyne's Gaming Diary. If you appreciate these, let me know. I will bug her for more contributions.

Invisible Work And Other Things We Can't See

There is a great mirror effect that works in the Bardo Safari environment when working with the group. I think without the group the mirror itself is invisible. The mirror is part of the reflection.

Isn't it? Or is it? What I noticed is that tendencies that are invisible to me in this realm are visible and undeniable in the Bardo Safari realm.

There is no time to forget what happened because you have a present and very visible view the 3 Vs) of the whole situation. It is true that seasoned voyagers will have a better knowledge of what they are looking at on the screen than a noob and noobs will be more or less knowledgeable of what they are seeing depending on the degree of attention but no matter how much you see or don't see, exposure to the space gradually sharpens, strengthens and focuses the attention and, other things as well. It seems to happen as if by magic but we know it took many, many BTUs of heat to get that little kernel to pop. When the motivation to change is for the benefit of the group and not for oneself it becomes a whole new bowl of cherries.

Yoyodyne

From Yoyodyne's Gaming Diary #2

2010-08-19T01:01:00.000-07:00

This is a second installment from Yoyodyne's Gaming Diary.

Aloha,

...sometimes the solution to a problem is simply a sacrifice.

We saw this lesson in the Bardo Safari game yesterday.

We were having a hard time getting to the Throne Room in Hell. Our telesoc was really having to work.

Just want to say that the transformation fwas tangable.

I am sure there are many verbally past down analogous stories that would describe this event and, in EJ's case, it would be a number of different jokes. Like the time...just kidding.

But, yeah, so any, our telesorc seemingly (on my pixel screen, anyway) transformed out of the catapillar mode, spread those teleporting wings and flew to the destination and although I could not see the movement from my post at the time I hold an image of a very quick but gentle vertical ebb and flow of rainbow colored light, well, with lots of bright white mixed in. When a gateway of such magnitude is opened for the group to witness,who cares where your experience bar registers. I am very grateful to have partaken in such an experiment and experience.

gg's all,
Yoyodyne

From Yoyodyne's Gaming Diary #1

2010-08-17T01:01:00.000-07:00

Below is an extract from a friend's Gaming Diary. We thought her comments my be of interest to our readers. Hence, they have been included for your reading pleasure.

Although, compared to some, I have not worked in Bardo Safaris much at all, however, each time I do, I notice how much the Bardo Safari situations are a mirror to life in this realm where I now sit.. I wanted to share this, most recent observation with you, today. Today, as I was entering a game with a plan to hunt for runes in the Tower (Countess Quest), where runes are guaranteed, it came to my attention that in the Bardo Safaris one is able to observe how "different characters" handle the same situations-differently depending on what kind of "character" type they are. One can choose a number (7) different characters to operate and learn to "voluntarily" operate each one.

In "the game" the NPCs (non player characters, like Akara, Charsi, Flavie ... are programed to do what they do, without variation. They respond in a constant to the "character's'" prompting.achievements...They always say the same things...They will sell pots, weapons, armor, anything the character wants can be had, as long as the character has the gold. The characters (sorc, druid, necro...) are not programed in exactly the way but they do have to abide the rules/laws of that particular environment that were developed by the "game designers" and their actions and behaviors are completely tied to the directions given by "the player/operator" ( you, me, Joe Smith...). If the player/operator directs a level one character into a situation it has not been properly prepared for, it will die, likewise, if the character has been sufficiently prepared it will succeed perhaps in accomplishing one or another of the quests/obstacles on the path toward the shared goals. The player/operator cannot change the laws of the game universe for the character but can assist the character by playing him/her/it. They, the character and player/operator have a relationship in which they "learn" the game together, do the Bardo Run together. The more the operator plays the character and understands the game, the better the character will perform in the game. This is one area where practice, practice, practice makes a big difference, like playing an instrument.The more the player/character "operates the character, the more likely she/he/it will learn how "to play" "the game".

The character is programed to do certain number actions only. With the vigilance of the operator it can come to perform these actions incredibly well. The operator will learn what skills the character has at his/her/it's disposal and exploit them in the most advantageous ways. The operator will outfit the character to protect it, make it fast, make it strong or whatever is needed to achieve the aim at hand. The character and the player/operator learn the game together as they play. This brings to mind the ventriloquist act. A good act will convince the audience that there are two entites operating.even though there is the only one.

The character serves the operator in that it is through the character that it is possible for the operator to participate in this particular environment for whatever reason the operator has in mind. It appears to quite a pleasant symbiotic situation since it is my supposition that the character does not have a life without the possession of the operator but I have no proof. I can see it like the "spirit/essence" giving life to a material form/machine. The operator/essence can work on "this" particular plane by taking possession of a character/machine/material form. The player will try to keep the character alive during the given situation in the order to further the mission.

It turned out to be much longer than anticipated but if you care to add to, comment on, with any thoughts or inspirations you have had along these or other lines related to the Bardo Safaris I would be interested to know them.
Yoyodyne

Effects of Video Games on the Dead #3

2010-08-14T22:59:00.000-07:00

This blog is from my (that's right my) original posting on DeadElvis.com over a decade ago. It was tempting to re-edit the content to fix typos, spelling, etc. But alas, I was concerned that the etc. would include updating the content to incorporate my new perspectives. I thought it best to leave these as they are.

Wednesday, Jun 17, 1998:

Now for the second event of the two events mentioned in the previous letter. As the second installment on this topic we alluded to two events which occurred in flat 2-dimensional graphic chat environments. One event, previous detailed, was the palpable experience of being-to-being contact through the vehicle of the pixel graphics interface. The second event, which we'll address in this third installment, relates to group work.

The importance of "group" work has been brought forth by many individuals from many different disciplines. Psychology, recovery, think tanks, and esoteric studies; the value of work as a group is acknowledged in each of these arenas.

Anyone that has worked with others in a group situation knows the value of such work. Unfortunately some of us haven't the good fortune to be geographically situated in proximity with others sharing our particular interest. Especially true for folks, like us dead guys and gals, with an interest in Labyrinth voyaging.

As an experiment, a group of voyagers were assembled online for a series of weekend excursions into the realm of group voyaging.

There is a binary effect that happens to a group when they have put in enough time as a group -- paid their respective dues. This binary effect is a dramatic before and after. Before the group "clicks" it is an assembled collect of relatively polite individuals able to cope with each other in a more or less hiding behind a mask of civility. After the group has "clicked" people are who they are only more so. Each member is brought into sharp comic-book relief exposed to any in the group willing to just look. This is when the group dynamic takes hold and now the work begins.

This is what happened to our weekend labyrinth warriors group. Some of the folks in this group have known each other for decades. During that time they were able to hide from themselves behind a mask of social convention -- I won't call you on your shit if you don't call me on my shit. Well, in this online adventure folks were put into a situation in which they were not willing to just sit around allowing this standard routine to continue.

The first stage was marked by each members trip being brought into high relieve. If someone was passive it became very apparent to others in the group they were passive. If someone was a bossy s.o.b. it became very apparent to others in the group they were a bossy s.o.b. If someone was total incapable of making a decision it became very apparent to others in the group they were incapable of making a decision. Etc.

The second stage was marked by each member starting to glimpse themselves in the mirror of the group. If someone was being viewed by the group as passive they started to see hints of themselves as passive reflected in the eyes of the group. If someone was being viewed by the group as a bossy s.o.b. they started to see hints of themselves as a bossy s.o.b reflected in the eyes of the group. Etc.

The third stage was marked by trumpets and the singing of angels as miracle of miracles occurred -- the group started to experiment with ways of coping. Individuals looked at themselves in terms of possibly modifying their behavior. Group members looked at themselves in terms of possibly finding ways to compensate for the behavior of others. The machine was engaged they were in the process of working as a group rather than an accidentally assembled collection of individuals. "The game was a foot" as my favorite detective is apt to say.

Many of the folks coming through this experiment in online group dynamics were changed fundamentally by the events. Some folks gave us a great belly laugh by confessing to observation of a habit in themselves that others have been trying to tell them about for years.

Those of us in the experiment were completely satisfied that real group work can be accomplished in an online setting. The results were as profound as any we have seen in decades.

Before leaving you in a haze of optimistic wonder let me assure you that we did introduced some very specific elements into the group. The group was lead by a 40 year veteran of group work and assisted by a 15 year veteran. So before rushing out to join an online group keep in mind that somewhere between 99% and 100% of online groups are dedicated to sex, pickups, titillation, sex, meeting people, and.... did I mention sex?.

It is possible to experience group work online. But don't expect it to happen automatically in the normal course of endeavor. Leastwise not until water runs uphill and dentist stop bitching about flossing.

Effects of Video Games on the Dead #2

2010-08-12T22:52:00.000-07:00

This blog is from my (that's right my) original posting on DeadElvis.com over a decade ago. It was tempting to re-edit the content to fix typos, spelling, etc. But alas, I was concerned that the etc. would include updating the content to incorporate my new perspectives. I thought it best to leave these as they are.

Monday, June 15, 1998:

Let's take a short break from traditional video gaming and look at two other venues of online interaction -- both of which can be viewed as another form of gaming. Both of these events occurred in a two-dimensional graphic chat space.

In one case we were "just sitting around" engaged in discussion about a topic. The topic being discussed was related to the question of being and essence. Contrary to 98% of all online discussion, we were not involved in the topic of sex. The last time (I don't mean the most recent, I really mean the 'last' time) I went into a public forum was a physics discussion group. I was looking for a heated discussion about the new views of aether. Much to my surprise this "physics" discussion group was being used as just another pickup bar.

Since then I have been involved in the production, distribution and support of private discussion groups. And, believe me it has been very rewarding to have the space to discourse on a subject such as "zen mind" without seeing the question "are you a boy or girl" flash (pun intended) on the screen.

During one of these discussions -- specifically one related to "being and essence" it struck all of us, in the same moment as it turned out, there was a being just on the other side of the flat screen pixel graphic avatar. When I put my attention on the sprite that represented "TM" I could feel "TM". When I put my attention on the sprite that represented "SF2" I could feel "SF2".

I suppose if one pauses to consider that these hamburger meat and bone fleshy-sprites we think of as ourselves are no more us then a pixel graphic, then it should not come as a surprise. We expect as normal the experience of being-to-being contact when two fleshy-lumps are put into proximity. The fleshy-lumps are not the being. The fleshy-lumps are sprites, avatars, or waldos that we use while playing the big video game called Urth -- except for those Sumerians, Earth is the common misspelling.

It is the process of identification that fools us into believing ourselves to be the lumps. This is good. Without some identification it would not be possible to use the waldo effect for Work. However, too much of a good thing is not a good thing. When the being falls so far into identification that the lump is taken as one's self (you actually believe yourself to be a body) then that is definitely too much -- tres` gauche.

Back to the online discussion and this sudden group realization.

Well, that's what it was. Doesn't seem like much sitting here now, typing these notes at my keyboard. At the time, it was much. We confirmed for ourselves experimentally in the context of a real-life situation that the theory of being was not theory -- that the theory of avatars was not theory -- that the theory of direct being-to-being contact through vehicles other than physical proximity was not theory. All of this was practical, experiential data for each and all of us in that moment.

Granted it is not true that during every succeeding moment has the realization been as strong -- it ebbs and flows. Like first love, a first realization of something is that little bit extra special. Perhaps because of the sharp contrast between the before and after. In any case the potentiality looms ever present. Now whenever I enter into a chat space, whether it be an online chat space or a physical meat and bones chat space, the potential for true being-to-being contact is there and known to be there. Perhaps in some respects I more aware of the potential during an online chat. maybe there is something about the ritual of logging on and entering with will and intention that has been lost in normal interactions. Perhaps there is something to be drawn from one to the other.

Something that is not a perhaps, something that is a certainty for a small group of online participants is the fact of being-to-being contact through online graphic interface.

If you are interesting in setting up a private chat environment, or participating in on-going chat environments, let me know. I'll put you in touch with someone that can help.

Effects of Video Games on the Dead #1

2010-08-10T22:47:00.000-07:00

This blog is from my (that's right my) original posting on DeadElvis.com over a decade ago. It was tempting to re-edit the content to fix typos, spelling, etc. But alas, I was concerned that the etc. would include updating the content to incorporate my new perspectives. I thought it best to leave these as they are.

Friday, June 5, 1998:

It should come as no surprise to folks that E.J. Gold is using video games as tools in spiritual teaching.

The first time I noticed in a way that was clear and unmistakable the power of video games to effect behavior was with the game Zelda.

One of the very first characters that one must learn to contend with in Zelda are rock throwers -- little guys that shoot rocks from their snouts hitting and killing you, the player. One method to deal with these guys is to hit back. You will die. They have more powerful rocks and shoot from a distance. Hence the better method of dealing with these guys is to keep a bush between them and your little cyberspace body. Circle around the bush in a direction opposite from the rock shooting villains. In this way the bush absorbs the hit from the rock and you are free to progress in the game without being killed and reborn back at the start.

This is all well and good. Nice story. But it is just a story. And even if I somehow "groked" the moral of the story and chuckled with the cosmic allegory it is still a story. However that is not what happened. I thought I was just playing a video game. I figured since my spiritual guide suggested it that there must be some spiritual benefit. So I played on faith that some good would come from the game. But in the heat of battle and in the moment of passion playing the darn game, I was just playing a video game.

Then much to my surprise when I set aside the controller to venture into the world for a cappuccino I found my body automatically circling around a car as if it were a bush to keep myself and someone that I took to be a threat on opposite sides of the parked vehicle.

Somehow in the short time of playing the game a small habit was imprinted in my body of habits. Or perhaps a habit that was already there long ago imprinted was activated into my conscious awareness. Whatever the means and process the fact is the video game had struck deep.

This was the moment of my first realizing the power of video games and the direct effect they can have on higher bodies and deep patterns.

Less Is More

2010-08-07T00:26:00.000-07:00

The power of radio as a media for theatrical presentation is its lack of suffocating detail. Naturally a radio show will include creaking doors and the thump, thump, thump of foot falls to help establish atmosphere and indicate movement in the space. But these details are just broad strokes. There remains plenty of room for each audience member to supplement the sparse setting with details drawn from the greatest special effects generator ever developed -- the human brain.

In radio plays there is a partnership between the producers of the show and the audience. The producers supply broad strokes indicating the fundamental scene and the audience uses their imagination to fill in the gaps -- yielding a rich tapestry that fits the expectations of the audience perfectly.

Why does the scene fit the expectations of the audience so well? Because they have supplied much of the rich tapestry of details themselves -- from the resources of their own imaginations.

We would not suggest that a video game designer duplicate to the sparse extremes of a radio play. However, we would definitely encourage game developers to ease off on the ultra-detailed, micro-managed insertion of photographic realism.

It is obvious that hardware developers hunger for games that will stimulate and justify the necessity of gamers upgrading to the latest and greatest hardware platform. Hence, we are perfectly aware that few major developers will harken to the call for less detail and less photo-realism.

If a roller coaster ride was designed to form fit exactly every curve of the theoretical average man's butt you would be guaranteed that pretty much no one would feel comfortable in the ride. It might be impressive, it might look good in preview reels, it might even fulfill the demands of the manufacturers to coerce carnival owners to buy new cars for the roller coaster. But it won't make for a fun ride.

Leave something to the imagination guys.

Is Spiritual Gaming Religious?

2010-08-06T00:23:00.000-07:00

One of the inherent drawbacks to using the phrase "spiritual gaming" is the presumption that when we use the phrase we are talking about the same thing that others would be talking about if they used the phrase "spiritual gaming."

When we hit the road about a decade ago to visit activists in the gaming industry on the topic of "spiritual gaming" we scheduled ourselves into every major (and many minor) gaming conferences within a thousand mile radius. Our plan was to attend the gaming conferences as press rather than guests, fans, vendors, or speakers. We felt this would give us the best opportunity to speak with folks and observe reactions to the basic notion with minimal Heisenbergian interference.

To our surprise there was almost universal acceptance of the idea once people understood that we were not talking about religious gaming. The fact that so many folks jumped to the conclusion that spiritual equated with religious was news to us -- and a disappointment. Believe me, if we could think of a different phrase that would communicate effectively the notion of incorporating other worldly aspects of development without also implying something religious we would switch to that phrase in a heart beat.

But, every alternative implies something else equally anti-simpatico with our true intentions. So we figure might as well stick to the original branding and keep on trucking.

Anticipating the next obvious question "What is spiritual gaming in this context if you don't mean religious?"

Depending upon who you ask you might get answers such as:

games designed to help you get into heaven.
games for enlightenment.
games that will help you pass on when it is time to pass on to the next higher level.
games designed to help you chill out, calm down from ordinary life, meditate.
games intended to help you sort out your life problems
games to help you get in touch with your past lives
games developed to help you contact your selves in other dimensions or your higher self

These are not our orientation.

Our intention when developing a spiritual game is to give you a game which opens possibilities that you would not normally explore, places to look you would not normally look, places to go you would not normally go, and give you practical application/ideas of how to transverse those spaces, how to get through them in elegant ways. That can open a lot of doors but it doesn't necessarily.

As you can see this is more about broadening possibilities and providing opportunities.

Bardo Safari Blog #3 -- Yoyodyne

2008-06-30T12:05:00.000-07:00

Bardo Safari Blog #1 -- yoyodyne

2008-06-30T12:03:00.000-07:00

Although, compared to some, I have not worked in Bardo Safaris much at all, however, each time I do, I notice how much the Bardo Safari situations are a mirror to life in this realm where I now sit.. I wanted to share this, most recent observation with you, today. Today, as I was entering a game with a plan to hunt for runes in the Tower (Countess Quest), where runes are guaranteed, it came to my attention that in the Bardo Safaris one is able to observe how "different characters" handle the same situations-differently depending on what kind of "character" type they are. One can choose a number (7) different characters to operate and learn to "voluntarily" operate each one.

In "the game" the NPCs (non player characters, like Akara, Charsi, Flavie ... are programed to do what they do, without variation. They respond in a constant to the "character's'" prompting.achievements...They always say the same things...They will sell pots, weapons, armor, anything the character wants can be had, as long as the character has the gold. The characters (sorc, druid, necro...) are not programed in exactly the way but they do have to abide the rules/laws of that particular environment that were developed by the "game designers" and their actions and
behaviors are completely tied to the directions given by "the player/operator" ( you, me, Joe Smith...). If the player/operator directs a level one character into a situation it has not been properly prepared for, it will die, likewise, if the character has been sufficiently prepared it will succeed perhaps in accomplishing one or another of the quests/obstacles on the path toward the shared goals. The player/operator cannot change the laws of the game universe for the character but can
assist the character by playing him/her/it. They, the character and player/operator have a relationship in which they "learn" the game together, do the Bardo Run together. The more the operator plays the character and understands the game, the better the character will perform in the game. This is one area where practice, practice, practice makes a big difference, like playing an instrument.The more the player/character "operates the character, the more likely she/he/it will learn how "to play" "the game".

The character is programed to do certain number actions only.
With the vigilance of the operator it can come to perform these actions incredibly well. The operator will learn what skills the character has at his/her/it's disposal and exploit them in the most advantageous ways. The operator will outfit the character to protect it, make it fast, make it strong or whatever is needed to achieve the aim at hand. The character and the player/operator learn the game together as they play. This brings to mind the ventriloquist act. A good act will convince the audience that there are two entites operating.even though there is the only one.

The character serves the operator in that it is through the character that it is possible for the operator to participate in this particular environment
for whatever reason the operator has in mind. It appears to quite a pleasant symbiotic situation since it is my supposition that the character does not have a life without the possession of the operator but I have no proof. I can see it like the "spirit/essence" giving life to a material form/machine. The operator/essence can work on "this" particular plane by taking possession of a character/machine/material form. The player will try to keep the character alive during the given situaltion in the order to further the mission.

It turned out to be much longer than anticipated but if you care to
add to, comment on, with any thoughts or inspirations you have had
along these or other lines related to the Bardo Safaris I would be
interested to know them.

Yoyodyne

Bardo Safari Blog #2 -- Yoyodyne

2008-06-30T12:02:00.000-07:00

Aloha,

...sometimes the solution to a problem is simply a sacrifice.

We saw this lesson in the Bardo Safari game yesterday.

We were having a hard time getting to the Throne Room in Hell.
Our telesoc was really having to work.

Just want to say that the transformation fwas tangable.

I am sure there are many verbally past down analogous stories that
would describe this event and, in EJ's case, it would be a number of different jokes. Like the time...just kidding.

But, yeah, so any, our telesorc seemingly (on my pixel screen, anyway) transformed out of the catapillar mode, spread those teleporting wings and flew to the destination and although I could not see the movement from my post at the time I hold an image of a very quick but gentle vertical ebb and flow of rainbow colored light, well, with lots of bright white mixed in. When a gateway of such magnitude is opened for the group to witness,who cares where your experience bar registers. I am very grateful to have partaken in such an experiment and experience.

gg's all,
Yoyodyne

Spiritual Gaming on YouTube

2008-05-22T00:31:00.000-07:00

Spiritual Gaming has a channel on YouTube. We've just started the process of adding bits and pieces selected from the hundreds of hours recorded on the topic.

Take a look, have a listen.

The channel is http://www.youtube.com/spiritualgaming

Quest for the bedroom programmers

2008-04-23T15:42:00.000-07:00

This is the title for an old but still very relevant article found in the BBC news on the topic of video game development. The link can be found here http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online/6047566.stm

Quoting from the news article:

"Spiralling production costs, development time and accusations of a lack of innovation are causing problems for gaming companies. But some in the industry are hoping the revival of user-generated games may provide the solution.

Boasting 3D, photo-real graphics and 5.1 surround sound, contemporary video games are pretty impressive.

But games that look and feel next-gen do not come cheap.

With development costs running into tens of millions of dollars, the games industry relies on sequels and tried and tested formats.

Eidos' Ian Livingstone says: "The industry really is relatively young but already it's surpassed Hollywood box office in receipts. It's [earned] $20bn [£11bn] a year in software sales alone, so it's a huge business.

"I think publishers became a little bit more risk-aware because of the amounts of money involved.

"You get two or three titles wrong, and you've spent £5m [$9m] to £10m [$19m] each on them, you're out of business in a hurry."

Popular game genres like sports, racing and first person shooters, dominate the charts.

But where are the new, innovative ideas?

Observers think the industry needs an injection of imagination. "

The article then goes on to discuss the attempts by Microsoft and other software moguls to provide platforms that will allow individuals to penetrate the development scene.

Unfortunately, these platforms also serve the purpose of locking the would be developers into the preferred platform of the supplier.

There are two solutions to this dilemma that we like. One involves the creation of group productivity tools similar to those used on sourceforge.net for open source software. This would need to be enhanced in a wiki type fashion to allow for parallel development of story-lines and other non software aspects of the project.

Another solution we like is the use of simpler development platforms that are more friendly to small team (or solo) development.

In this regard I'm very familiar with the G.O.D.D. engine -- as one of the co-developers I'm more or less forced to be aware of it. However, you may know of other small-team friendly development systems. Heck you might even be involved in such a beast. If that is the case please drop a line. It would be good to know about and perhaps review.

The problem with massive projects is the demand for justification. You simply can't ask 150 people to work on a project without justifying to them in some fashion the why, where, and how of that project. This is not conducive to exploration of a creative hunch.

What does violence have to do with spiritual gaming?

2008-03-07T16:38:00.001-08:00

More than once I've heard complaints about apparent violence contained in games that have been recommended as vehicles for spiritual gaming.

"So what's the deal with all this violence in the video game? I can't do spiritual gaming with something that contains violence."

If you have a problem with yucky stuff you might want to take it up with those pesky Tibetans. They might have something clever to say on the topic. For myself, I'd just point to the bardos and ask if you'd like to be prepared for all of the bardos or just part of the bardos.

As mentioned in a previous blog there are games that I find harmful and avoid for myself. Others may not find them objectionable. I don't play them and I don't recommend them. If someone stumbles across such a game themselves and decides to play, that is their path -- I wouldn't dream of interfering, other then to give my opinion if it is called for. And as mentioned in the same previous blog, the aspect of these games that I find objectionable has nothing to do with shooting, explosions, and/or flying body parts. I find the infliction of authority on a child by an adult just because they happen to out-weigh the child and can beat the crap out of them to be a form of violence. And yet, this is typically not labeled as violence. Yes, yes, yes there are occasions when it is the responsibility of the adult to take charge and insist on a particular action and/or behavior by a child. Using the attention that is your rightfully heritage you will notice I said "just because they happen to out-weigh the child and can beat the crap out of them". The world is not black and white. Check out the shades of grey. It will help you sort out this rather complex video game we find ourselves in.

Maya or video game, a world hallucination by any name can be just as seductive.

Any way, back to the part about violence being an apparent contradiction in games used for spiritual gaming.

Do you want to be prepared for all of the bardos or just part of the bardos. Apparent violence is an integral part of the bardos -- just as much as apparent non-violence. However, keep in mind neither of these reflect the true unfiltered, unadulterated vision of the void. The Voidness of the Void is beyond words and beyond judgments of G, PG, R, and X ratings.

In the Voyager's Quatrain, one will read:

All phenomena is illusion
Neither attracted nor repelled
Not making any sudden moves
My habits will carry me through

My take on violence in gaming.

2008-03-03T16:32:00.000-08:00

I don't necessarily find body parts flying off in every direction to be particularly violent. The number of red pixels on the screen is not a direct measure of violence.

While it is true that I find 98% of all video games violent to one degree or another, it is also true that most folks find my designation of non-violent games to be a bit odd.

For example, I don't find Diablo Lord of Destruction or TF2 (Team Fortress 2) to be violent games. In both cases body parts being cast about the landscape is a definite part of the game. In fact, in TF2 the programmers are kind enough to point out my various body parts (such as foot and head) when I'm dead with arrows -- "Your head here -->". This bespeaks an underlying sense of humor in the game. This along with the larger than life characters and slightly cartoonish graphics keeps the game fun, not violent.

Old school games such are Zelda 1, Zelda 3, Soloman's Key, Solstice, Faxanadu, and their ilk are definitely not violent in my book. Zelda 2 on the other hand had some serious problems. Myself and other Spiritual Gaming testers found it to be abusive of the player. The grinding necessary to do anything was a real joy killer. Hear this Blizzard? You might want to rethink the constant grinding necessary in World of Warcraft.

My idea of violence: the ankle breaking scene in Misery, or the scene in Spawn when the hell clown licks Wanda's face.

I found Grand Theft Auto to be violent, but had no problem with the original Going Postal -- go figure.

As an experiment, take a sheet of paper and draw a line down the middle of the page. On the left write in a column header "Violent". On the right write in a column header "Not-Violent". Consider the games that you have actually experienced and place them on either the left or the right. Do this with games you have played. Don't go all silent majority and list games that you have only seen advertised on television, looked at the game packaging, or just heard about in the media. Do this with games you have experience.

When I did this experiment I ended up with about 100 games on the left and a couple dozen on the right. Looking at these games it became clear to me that it would be impossible to apply a predictive formula to games in order to sort them. I could not find any of the obvious attributes in the violent games that did not also exist in some of the non-violent games. Nor could I find any of the obvious attributes in the non-violent games that did not also exist in some of the violent games.

However, when it came to the less obvious, and less used criteria, I could easily find attributes in the violent games which did not exist in the non-violent games. Racism, sexism, demeaning of spirit, brutality and brutish behavior in general could be found in some of the violent games and none of the non-violent games. But these are qualities that are not easy to subject to quantification. Unless certain words are used it is hard to label racism and sexism -- even though they are unmistakably present. There is a reason it is hard for schools to enforce statues related to bullying, racism and sexism -- it it hard to define these things in statues.

Bottom line, there is such as thing as violence. To this I agree whole-heartedly. But, to those that suggest squirting blood, explosions and flying body parts are a measure of violence I say: "too simplified, it won't work."

2006-08-28T15:14:00.000-07:00

Spiritual Gaming -- The Talks

E.J. Gold's publisher, Gateways Books and Tapes, is coming out with a new book this next spring which will contain transcription extracted from over thirty years of talks/lectures. These talks have ranged on every aspect of spiritual gaming from Monopoly to Nintendo, and from Doom to UnReal. This will be an amazing resource for the spiritual gaming community.

The title of the book is "Spiritual Gaming -- The Talks."

Yes, this is just the first book in his trilogy.

2006-08-22T15:42:00.000-07:00

Any Game -- Recipes for Spiritual Gaming off to the press.

The book has been sent to the printers as of last week. Folks seem to like the cover well enough, and the contents have been getting some rave reviews. The results from the test groups have been very encouraging.

As predicted many months ago when starting this project, we did have a few folks that were a little annoyed by the lack of theory (or preaching as I think of it). This book was designed with one, and only one goal, in mind -- give people the tools necessary so that they can have their own spiritual gaming experience and find out for themselves what it's all about.

To this end, I have kept discussion of what to expect, or what might happen to a bare minimum. Instead there is recipe after recipe which anyone can use to cook up their own spiritual gaming adventure.

Forgive the above, my publisher requested some sound bytes on the book. Since I was here and the words were popping in the head, I thought I'd try out a few.

2006-08-22T15:37:00.000-07:00

Blogging a dead horse.

It has been almost forever since my previous blog. I guess that is the problem with being a webmaster on so many websites -- you tend to get your writing itch scratched long before you get around to doing the blog.

As the gaming season is upon us (when is it not) I guess it's time to get back into the saddle. Unfortunately, this horse seems to be all but dead. Well, perhaps a few blog posting will bring it around -- hence, the title "Blogging a dead horse." I bet you didn't think I could logically connect the pun with anything real.

More news in the next post.

2004-03-26T17:26:00.000-08:00

HipBone Games

Thanks to Bruce I was reintroduced to HipBone Games.

I remember running across this website a while back. Then, as with many things, time pasted and the website slipped from my radar.

Well, now that SpiritualGaming.com is in full swing it was obviously time to be reintroduced. Thanks Bruce.

2004-03-01T23:19:00.000-08:00

LA Spiritual Gaming Seminar a Great Success.

We had a great time at the LA SG-Seminar. Things could not have gone better. The attendees were a mixture of never gamed before to old time gamers. We worked with Mancala and Monotony. Both very productive.

We look forward to getting back down to LA soon.

Speaking of getting back down to LA soon, we had a fantastic visit with Funologist Bernie DeKoven. You may know of him from DeepFun.com fame.

Definitely kindred spirits. Not to mention the pleasant co-incedence that his wife happens to share our painting enthusiasm. Lee and I both envied her studio -- amazing lighting, which she puts to good use on a variety of styles.

2004-02-09T18:53:00.000-08:00

One of the results of this meeting has been a rework of many pages on the spiritualgaming.com website. You can check it out for changes.

2004-02-09T18:46:00.000-08:00

And so the journey continues......

During a recent visit to friend and spiritual teacher EJ Gold we had the opportunity of discussing some of these ideas with both EJ and Mr. Lee (Lozowick). The feedback was most helpful. Several issues were brought to the forefront that deserve elucidation as the days roll by.