God game
Encyclopedia
A god game is an artificial life game
that casts the player in the position of controlling the game on a large scale, as an entity with divine
/supernatural
powers, as a great leader, or with no specified character (as in Spore
), and places them in charge of a game setting containing autonomous characters to guard and influence.
This is not to be confused with god mode
, a state found in many video games (usually afforded the player through use of a cheat or granted as an unlockable in-game reward) wherein the player-character is granted invincibility, invulnerability, or both.
s, because players are unable to tell specific units what to do, although god games may still involve competition between rival players. The genre is also separate from construction and management simulation
s, because gameplay revolves around growing and utilizing their supernatural powers to indirectly influence their worshipers.
of ancient Greece
. The player's power comes from simulated worshippers, who are usually simple or tribal in nature. It is common for most people in god games to look alike. Early god games only featured models for full-grown men and women, while Black and White introduced children. Players must economize quantities of power or mana
, which are derived from the size and prosperity of their population of worshipers. The player consumes this power by using godly powers to help their worshippers, such as blessing their crops or flattening hills to make better farmland. This results in a positive feedback loop, where more power allows the player to help their population grow which helps them gain more power. However, more powerful abilities typically require more power, and these usually take the form of natural disaster
s that can damage rival populations rather than improve life for the player's worshipers. Games typically utilize an aerial top-down perspective, similar to a real-time strategy
game.
God games are classified as a subgenre of artificial life game because players tend to a population of simulated people that they control only indirectly. Although god games share qualities with both construction and management simulation games and real-time strategy
games, players in god games are only able to exercise indirect control over their population. They cannot tell specific units what to do, as seen in strategy games, although players may sometimes compete against other players with their own population of supporters. Moreover, players are given godlike powers not seen in construction or management games, such as the ability to control the weather, transform the landscape, and bless or curse different populations.
from 1989. Developed by Peter Molyneux
of Bullfrog Productions
, the game established the gameplay template where the player's godlike powers would grow in proportion to the population of their worshipers. The game was notable for giving players supernatural powers over land and nature that could be used for good or evil, and some of this gameplay was emulated by other real-time strategy
games with more direct control. Notable hybrids of the genre included the action-god game ActRaiser
for the Super Nintendo in 1990. It was also an influence on the real-time strategy
hybrid Dungeon Keeper
, developed by Molyneux in 1997.
Molyneux's Black & White was heavily influenced by the Populous
series.
On mobile platforms such as iOS there are also a couple of unique examples such as Pocket God
with simulation gameplay and Doodle God in which you match elements and use your imagination to visualize created world.
Life simulation game
Life simulation games is a sub-genre of simulation video games in which the player lives or controls one or more virtual lifeforms...
that casts the player in the position of controlling the game on a large scale, as an entity with divine
Divinity
Divinity and divine are broadly applied but loosely defined terms, used variously within different faiths and belief systems — and even by different individuals within a given faith — to refer to some transcendent or transcendental power or deity, or its attributes or manifestations in...
/supernatural
Supernatural
The supernatural or is that which is not subject to the laws of nature, or more figuratively, that which is said to exist above and beyond nature...
powers, as a great leader, or with no specified character (as in Spore
Spore (2008 video game)
Spore is a multi-genre single-player god game developed by Maxis and designed by Will Wright. The game was released for the Microsoft Windows and Macintosh operating systems in September 2008 as Spore...
), and places them in charge of a game setting containing autonomous characters to guard and influence.
This is not to be confused with god mode
God mode
In health-based video games, god mode, infinite health or infinite life, is a game mechanic or cheat that prevents a playing character from being harmed, sustaining damage, and ultimately, dying...
, a state found in many video games (usually afforded the player through use of a cheat or granted as an unlockable in-game reward) wherein the player-character is granted invincibility, invulnerability, or both.
Definition
God games are a subgenre of artificial life game, where players use supernatural powers to indirectly influence a population of simulated worshipers. The genre is separate from strategy video gameStrategy video game
Strategy video games is a video game genre that emphasizes skillful thinking and planning to achieve victory. They emphasize strategic, tactical, and sometimes logistical challenges. Many games also offer economic challenges and exploration...
s, because players are unable to tell specific units what to do, although god games may still involve competition between rival players. The genre is also separate from construction and management simulation
Construction and management simulation
Construction and management simulation is a type of simulation game in which players build, expand or manage fictional communities or projects with limited resources. Strategy video games sometimes incorporate CMS aspects into their game economy, as players must manage resources while expanding...
s, because gameplay revolves around growing and utilizing their supernatural powers to indirectly influence their worshipers.
Game design
God games allow players to take on the role of a god with limited powers, similar to the gods from the mythologyMythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
of ancient Greece
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
. The player's power comes from simulated worshippers, who are usually simple or tribal in nature. It is common for most people in god games to look alike. Early god games only featured models for full-grown men and women, while Black and White introduced children. Players must economize quantities of power or mana
Mana
Mana is an indigenous Pacific islander concept of an impersonal force or quality that resides in people, animals, and inanimate objects. The word is a cognate in many Oceanic languages, including Melanesian, Polynesian, and Micronesian....
, which are derived from the size and prosperity of their population of worshipers. The player consumes this power by using godly powers to help their worshippers, such as blessing their crops or flattening hills to make better farmland. This results in a positive feedback loop, where more power allows the player to help their population grow which helps them gain more power. However, more powerful abilities typically require more power, and these usually take the form of natural disaster
Natural disaster
A natural disaster is the effect of a natural hazard . It leads to financial, environmental or human losses...
s that can damage rival populations rather than improve life for the player's worshipers. Games typically utilize an aerial top-down perspective, similar to a real-time strategy
Real-time strategy
Real-time strategy is a sub-genre of strategy video game which does not progress incrementally in turns. Brett Sperry is credited with coining the term to market Dune II....
game.
God games are classified as a subgenre of artificial life game because players tend to a population of simulated people that they control only indirectly. Although god games share qualities with both construction and management simulation games and real-time strategy
Real-time strategy
Real-time strategy is a sub-genre of strategy video game which does not progress incrementally in turns. Brett Sperry is credited with coining the term to market Dune II....
games, players in god games are only able to exercise indirect control over their population. They cannot tell specific units what to do, as seen in strategy games, although players may sometimes compete against other players with their own population of supporters. Moreover, players are given godlike powers not seen in construction or management games, such as the ability to control the weather, transform the landscape, and bless or curse different populations.
History
Although there are many influences on the god game genre, the first god game is widely considered to be PopulousPopulous
-External links:*...
from 1989. Developed by Peter Molyneux
Peter Molyneux
Peter Douglas Molyneux OBE is an English computer game designer and game programmer. He created the God games Dungeon Keeper, Populous, and Black & White, among others, as well as business simulation games such as Theme Park and more recently, the RPG series Fable.Despite the success of his games,...
of Bullfrog Productions
Bullfrog Productions
Bullfrog Productions was a UK computer game developer that was founded in 1987 by Les Edgar and Peter Molyneux. The company achieved recognition in 1989 for their third release, Populous....
, the game established the gameplay template where the player's godlike powers would grow in proportion to the population of their worshipers. The game was notable for giving players supernatural powers over land and nature that could be used for good or evil, and some of this gameplay was emulated by other real-time strategy
Real-time strategy
Real-time strategy is a sub-genre of strategy video game which does not progress incrementally in turns. Brett Sperry is credited with coining the term to market Dune II....
games with more direct control. Notable hybrids of the genre included the action-god game ActRaiser
ActRaiser
is a 1990 Super Nintendo Entertainment System action and city-building simulation game developed by Quintet and published by Enix that combines traditional side-scrolling platforming with urban planning god game sections. A sequel, ActRaiser 2, was released for the Super Nintendo in 1993...
for the Super Nintendo in 1990. It was also an influence on the real-time strategy
Real-time strategy
Real-time strategy is a sub-genre of strategy video game which does not progress incrementally in turns. Brett Sperry is credited with coining the term to market Dune II....
hybrid Dungeon Keeper
Dungeon Keeper
Dungeon Keeper is a strategy video game released developed by Bullfrog Productions under Peter Molyneux and released by Electronic Arts in July 1997 for the PC in which the player attempts to build and manage a dungeon or lair while protecting it from 'hero' characters intent on stealing the...
, developed by Molyneux in 1997.
Molyneux's Black & White was heavily influenced by the Populous
Populous
-External links:*...
series.
On mobile platforms such as iOS there are also a couple of unique examples such as Pocket God
Pocket God
This page is about the computer video game. For the comic, see Pocket God .Pocket God is a god game developed by Bolt Creative, in which the player manipulates an island and its inhabitants...
with simulation gameplay and Doodle God in which you match elements and use your imagination to visualize created world.