God of War: What is it Good For?

View Sample PDF

Author(s): Peter Rauch (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA)
Copyright: 2011
Pages: 11
Source title: Designing Games for Ethics: Models, Techniques and Frameworks
Source Author(s)/Editor(s): Karen Schrier (Marist College, USA)and David Gibson (University of Vermont, USA)
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-60960-120-1.ch007

Keywords: Information Science Reference / Media & Communications / Multimedia Technology

Purchase

View God of War: What is it Good For? on the publisher's website for pricing and purchasing information.

Abstract

In God of War, the protagonist Kratos seeks revenge against the Ares of Greek mythology. As Kratos, the player is called upon to act in a manner reminiscent of Nietzsche’s “master morality,” reveling in power unrestricted by concern for any “objective” moral code or sympathy for his fellow man. The structure of the action/adventure genre in which God of War operates is particularly well-suited to this kind of morality. With one hero amid a world of disposable non-player characters, punctuated by the occasional appearance of a “boss” figure that behaves more like Kratos, a stark distinction is made between the powerful and the weak. This dichotomy is at the heart of Nietzsche’s master/slave distinction. Kratos and Ares seek to inspire fear; the hordes of disposable Athenians they both slaughter so carelessly seek only to avoid it. In allowing gamers to “play with” a moral worldview so starkly defined, God of War becomes a valuable tool for investigating and critiquing moral ideas in general.

The IRMA Community

Research IRM

God of War: What is it Good For?

Purchase

Abstract

Related Content

IRMA Sponsors