Every group has its small clump of individuals that make the larger, more intelligent and rational group members look bad - not to mention the cause itself. It's unfortunate these fools tend to be the most outspoken as well.

For gamers, that small clump is actually rather sizeable as evidenced by the comments sections in many gaming forums and the Eternity's Child review comments (which actually worked on several levels).

lol, Post-Carlin Atheism.

Hedonism and Apathy, kids. The presence of Magical Men in the Sky is irrelevant.

Just pretend he's Joe Pesci.

Civ 4 had extensive use of religion, just like 1 billion other video games. So where was the outcry then? It sounds like someone wants their time in the limelight...

As an atheist myself, I'd like to punch these athiests in the mouth. These are the people that get their panties in a wad knowing they have to coexist with religious types.

You've got to be kidding me. Controversy for the sake of controversy. Everyone is always angry/offended about something.

Arent people taking his quote a bit TOO much out of proportions? This is not a controversy, and I doubt the atheists in question cared THAT much about it that they where offended by it.

I'm just saying this because I want to prevent the shitstorm that happened on the Kotaku commenting section. Let us be rational in our discussion, ok?

I believe the main gist of the comments were that the game more closely resembles intelligent design than evolution. Although from the number of penis monsters I'd doubt the intelligent part of it. ;)

EVOLUTION AMUK

this is a very good opportunity to showcase the best debate video that I have ever seen called the Quran and the Bible in the light of science.
This video is a must watch.

<- orthodox agnostheism ftw!
(really trying hard to get that registered as an official 'religion' ;) )

Mortal Kombat has gods in it. Why don't extreme atheists hate that?

Because they were gods of smaller territories, not of all creation. Mega-huge omni-gods are fucking boring, they expect prayer and fasting and all that jazz.

It's hard to be annoyed at a god that is willing and able to beat the loving piss out of you.

@Bioautographical:
That's why Norse mythology is my favorite of all the mythologies.

Makes the rest of us look bad. Fuck you asshole atheists, you're no better than the religious you hate.

CTHULHU 08!

"Every group has its small clump of individuals that make the larger, more intelligent and rational group members look bad"
sorry to shoot you down.... one word scientologists

Just out of curiosity, what is the excuse crazy fundamentalists have for their preachy behavior?

this post is f.cking ridiculous. A couple atheist in a focus group did not like the god overtones in a god game? Does that even make sence and really...who the f,ck cares.

Typical atheist baiting. A non-event becomes a game of 'oooh aren't atheists annoying'.

The linked riginal Eurogamer 'omg atheists hate Spore' article is pathetic and so is this post. Did anybody read the interview the little article is based on? Because the quoted text is the only and entire discussion of atheist feedback in it.

Also, "Militant Atheist" is the single fucking lamest smear I've ever heard.

Yeah, a bearded guy making pithy blog comments from his home office, HOLY SHIT, THATS SOME MILITANT MOTHERING ATHEISM YOU GOT THERE!

I knew it was them no good atheists behind Ulster and Kashmir!

The original inteview that this all based on says just about nothing, Will Write is responding to a loaded question where he was fed the lines "militant atheist" and Chris Hitchens.

Show me the legions of angry atheists. Where is the beef in this fake outrage?

To be honest, religion in games makes me feel a little uncomfortable sometimes, even if it's just subtle undertones. I'm not crazy though, and I'd never write a letter to a developer to say "hey I'm crazy and here's my f*cking crazy idea!" or whatever the letter would say.

"wouldn't spore technically be intelligent design?"

You're assuming that peoples designs are intelligent, not just "lol it looks like he has a penis"

@Stahlbrand - The article isn't about baiting extreme atheists, it's highlighting the irony that they're the ones complaining about a game based vaguely on evolution. Though I can agree, it is pretty much a "non-event", this tiny so-called "atheist baiting" is nothing compared to the religious bashings that occur on a majority of the internet, including Dtoid. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen, etc.

@TheDirtyHobo

Sorry if my comments about the post itself came off as anything more than bored and dismissive. And the original EG article is baiting in the sense that its trying to 'poke back' on behalf of sensitive religious types by saying "see, atheists are crazy too, so there, nah nah", but without actually being based on anything concrete.

Its sad, because all this is in reaction to the interviewer asking "did you hear any shit from 'MILITANT ATHEISTS' like the evil Christopher Hitchens, Will?" and the reply "well yeah, we were surprised that some people took issue with intelligent design overtones'. There is no equivocacy here, but the point of the article is to act like there is.

No 'league of MILITANT ATHEISTS' sent lawyers and spokespeople to Sunday morning news talkshows to tell the Glenn Becks and Larry Kings of the world how harmful Spore is to children. No groups of incensed parents mounted picket lines in front of EB to try to stop people from supporting the wishy-washy 'hidden messages' of the game.

Anything that happened was like what Flagg said above: People who are justifiably concerned about the quality of science education in North America expressing their disappointment that an interesting game pointlessly extends some tacit support for creationist BS, when not invoking such themes at all would have been easier.

This is why I said 'baiting' and not 'bashing'. There's no meat on these bones, but the EG writer tries to whip up a story on the 'omg atheists are just like fundamentalists' tip.

FWIW, I don't have a horse in this race. I don't care about religious themes in games at all, its all storytelling shorthand and setting to me.

I just get bored by watching articles like EG's fleshless 'OMG atheist = crazy like relious' article get bounced through the echo chamber.

Also, I just love to hear myself talk in my head when I re-read my posts and have nothing better to do ;)

Being an Atheist, Although not a militant one, I can say that this is a total non story. Its funny by the time it reachs Dtoid that apparently this critism is about their sensibilities.
MABYE the atheists were pointing out how others could be offended. Cos if they actually are offended that'll be a nutty religious thing to do.
Anyway atheists are probally mroe likely to see the game before religious folk who are too busy praying anyway in their funny little temples.

Ok, Stahl, I understand most of what you're saying and all, but that doesn't change the fact that this is one small and admittedly weak criticism of atheists in a massive sea of the generally atheist gamer population. Taking things to unnecessary levels isn't a trait only belonging to religions, anyone can do it.

As both a Christian gamer and future (in college ;_;) scientist, I strongly agree that quality science education is something that our education system needs to work on; however, Spore really has nothing to do with that. If Spore were truly a "game" based entirely on evolution, the player would just be sitting back and watching a movie play, which isn't much of a game at all. The "creationism" that's being put into the game is the fact that you're able to actually do anything.

Really, the only reason this is even an issue is because it's a game that's based off of evolution; no one bitches that you can omnipotently control multiple people in an RPG game, making them bend to your will. No one cares that you can customize your character in most Sports games or western RPGs. Spore isn't any different, you just make your creatures and control them.

@hpv, I'm probably walking into a trap here, considering you dared someone to ask you how... but, how? Atheism is outright denying the existence of a god, agnosticism is saying you don't know whether there is or isn't one, and generally speaking, you don't care either. Going back to a discussion I had with some friends, it's basically the difference between saying "I'm glad Bernie Mac is dead, I didn't like any of his work, he deserved it" compared to "Bernie Mac's death doesn't really effect me, I didn't like much of what he did anyways, so I don't have a reason to mourn his death." Agnosticism is just a neutral state, one side doesn't effect you more than the other, they're both possibilities. You might show preference towards one or the other, but you're leaving your foot in the door so that you aren't completely shut out.

Unless you're going for the "it's either stupid because you really believe in a god and just want to party while you're alive and have an excuse, or it's dishonest because you know god doesn't exist and you're keeping a 'just in case' card with you." Which is true for some, but doesn't apply to all agnostics.