An Information Technology Surrogate for Religion: The Veneration of Deceased Family in Online Games (Contemporary Religion and Popular Culture)

This Book Demonstrates Principles Of Ancestor Veneration Avatars (avas), By Running Avatars Based On Eleven Deceased Members Of One Family Through Ten Highly Diverse Virtual Worlds From The Violent Defiance To The Intellectual Uru: Myst Online, From The Early Everquest To The Recent Elder Scrolls Online. Exploring Possibilities : Runes Of Magic -- Selecting A World : Uru: Myst Online -- Achieving A Goal : Defiance -- Seeking Truth : Tabula Rasa -- Combatting Heresy : Perfect World -- Singing A Song : Everquest -- Uniting A Couple : Guild Wars 2 -- Enduring Horror : Age Of Conan -- Insuring Hope : Elder Scrolls Online -- Resting In Peace : Lord Of The Rings Online. William Sims Bainbridge. Includes Bibliographical References. Avatars through which players experience computer games can virtually resurrect deceased members of the player's family, to become spiritual mentors for the player, to memorialize lost loved ones, and to transform grief into continuing love. "Avatar" was originally a religious concept, and can be again, referring to a simulation of the dearly departed, created through partnership between a computer and a survivor. This book demonstrates principles of Ancestor Veneration Avatars (AVAs), by running avatars based on eleven deceased members of one family through ten highly diverse virtual worlds, from the violent Defiance to the intellectual "Uru: Myst Online", from the early "EverQuest" to the recent "Elder Scrolls Online", and from the pessimistic "Age of Conan" to the optimistic "Lord of the Rings Online." "Avatars through which players experience computer games can virtually resurrect deceased members of the player's family. Avatar was originally a religious concept, and can be again, referring to a simulation of the dearly departed, created through partnership between a computer and a survivor. This book demonstrates principles of Ancestor Veneration Avatars (AVAs), by running avatars based on 11 deceased members of one family through 10 highly diverse virtual worlds, from the violent Defiance to the intellectual Uru: myst online, from the early EverQuest to the recent Elder scrolls online, and from the pessimistic Age of Conan to the optimistic Lord of the rings online."--Back cover Front Matter....Pages i-x Exploring Possibilities (Runes of Magic)....Pages 1-14 Selecting a World (Uru: Myst Online)....Pages 15-27 Achieving a Goal (Defiance)....Pages 28-40 Seeking Truth (Tabula Rasa)....Pages 41-54 Combatting Heresy (Perfect World)....Pages 55-68 Singing a Song (EverQuest)....Pages 69-80 Uniting a Couple (Guild Wars 2)....Pages 81-92 Enduring Horror (Age of Conan)....Pages 93-106 Insuring Hope (Elder Scrolls Online)....Pages 107-119 Resting in Peace (Lord of the Rings Online)....Pages 120-133 Cover -1 Half-Title 2 Title 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 Preface 7 1 Exploring Possibilities (Runes of Magic) 12 2 Selecting a World (Uru: Myst Online) 26 3 Achieving a Goal (Defiance) 39 4 Seeking Truth (Tabula Rasa) 52 5 Combatting Heresy (Perfect World) 66 6 Singing a Song (EverQuest) 80 7 Uniting a Couple (Guild Wars 2) 92 8 Enduring Horror (Age of Conan) 104 9 Insuring Hope (Elder Scrolls Online) 118 10 Resting in Peace (Lord of the Rings Online) 131