The Buddhist video game breaks conventions
In nearly all aspects of our lives, we are taught that success comes through a linear progression. You “level up” in life, career, relationships, physical condition, and in many other ways. This is reinforced through entertainment such as video games, novels, and movies, where someone starts off “weak” and gets stronger as time progresses, challenges are overcome, and goals accomplished. In many cases, there is a final “enemy” to vanquish; an anti-hero.
A recent project from NYU students Bona Kim and James Borda is a video game called “The Buddhist“, and it seeks to challenge the very concept of linear progression by presenting the idea of non-attachment in a medium that is traditionally very linear.
Through “The Buddhist” we hope our audience gains some awakening. By confronting them with a “game” in which any attempt to control the story results in failure, we hope our audience will be brought into the present moment – to enjoy the here and now, free of the anxious search for happiness in some other place and time.
The game was available to play at the ITP Winter Show, NYU’s annual showing of its Interactive Telecommunications Program student projects.
The goal of the game is to observe, reflect, and be in the present moment. Any attempt to control the on-screen character or cause something to happen other than what is currently being displayed on the screen results in “game over”. As you succeed in doing nothing, the on-screen character will go to different environments to meditate. The scenery is pleasing to observe and this is the goal; to observe and enjoy.
Even though it seems silly, it’s a concept that can cause insightful thinking; why do we need to control this character? What kind of feedback are we hoping for by pushing levers and buttons? How is this somehow more appealing than sitting back, observing, and reflecting?
It’s a fascinating art project, and one that causes us to think—by any measure, that’s a success.
25 thoughts on “The Buddhist video game breaks conventions”
Video games are wildly different. The expectation is interaction and control. People's first inclination is to control the character, to win, to accomplish something. Discovering that this causes you to "lose" is the jarring part.
Mind you, with my techno-know-how, I'd probably get the Buddha to bust a blood vessel......
Granted, there's minimal information about the story line and game play, so perhaps there's something more to it.
I was just thinking that, for the uninitiated, i.e., if this game were just sitting in an airport somewhere, I think someone would just immediately lose the game and think, "Lame. Good for Buddhists, but I have a job, a family and a mortgage to pay," and walk away without being forced into insight. "Bad mindset in, bad mindset out," seems to be the pattern.
Have you seen the actual game play? I did a search but I couldn't find anything with more details about it.
But as an art project, it does sound interesting.
Now a Buddhist game I'd like to see is one set in the time of the Buddha where you can be a disciple and wander around india listening to dhamma talks by the Buddha and the famous disciples, visiting charnal grounds, meditating in the forest, going on pindapat etc. Kind of like grand theft auto but Buddhist style in ancient India where you can visit all the famous cities, deer parks and locations in the Suttas. You can "pimp out" your robes with different color patches (since the robes back then were sewn together from death rags) and stuff like that. THAT is a game :).
You start by standing at the door of an old Master's hut, and are asked the question, "Who are you?" and if you correctly answer "I don't know" you're sent on a journey to see various Masters, who ask you questions or give you tasks to perform such as meditate for so long or take a message to the previous Master, and according to how you respond you continue to the next Master. Eventually, you find yourself back at the door you started from, where the same Master asks you the question, "Who are you?"
BUT, the coolest part of the game is that you can create your own levels, and upload them to the server for the entire SoundShapes community to play. You arrange the notes and the 2D platforms, add background decorations, and interactive objects such as creatures and tools. You can manipulate shapes into almost any configuration, and even make highly stylized artistic arrangements/landscapes/portraits/etc. And the game is awesome!
I just created my first Buddhistish type of level called: "Man Mantra Mandala", where the little ball rolls around a simple but expressive mandala, all the while collecting music notes which create a positive and joyful sound. It is my 34th level that I have created and its one of my favorites. And its been the number one hit in the community for the last week! You can go to soundshapesgame.com to get a better idea of what i am describing if you want to, or buy the game and search for TheBeejAbides, because I use the same username there too. If you grew up with Pitfall, Mario Bros, Sonic the Hedgehog you will certainly love this game. And you can even make your own Mandala type of level if you want to.
I love the idea of the game that is the topic of this thread. I also love the idea of rolling around inside a mandala. They're both good for Buddhist practice.
:) :)
It does remind me a bit of the game 'endless ocean' for the Nintendo Wii. In this game the player swims around and watches fish and coral and sealife.
Just being.
Just floating.
I've been told before that meditation on the breath is much like observing wildlife. If you attempt to do anything other than observe, you'll scare the wildlife away.
It sounds like this game captures that essence of just observing.
Somebody should definitely get working on a combination of Jayantha's idea and Cinorjer's idea.
I would also love to see a game based on ancient Buddhist mythology, where one roams around as someone who starts as a god, and then gets thrown about in the in the hell realm, hungry ghost realm, animal realm, human realm, demigod realm, and back to the god realm. The goal of the game is to conquer the difficulties that each realm offers.