Culture in Video Games

[robzo100]

sundin13 said:

robzo100 said:

• Mario, other other hand, I argue is much more void of culture because its odd combination (pumbers/pipes, princess's, turtles, racoon suit) prevents it from coming off as too cultural.
  

 

The Tanooki suit is based off of Japanese mythology which claims that tanooki (racoons) can use leaves to shapeshift :P Also, the statue he turns into is in the form of Ksuitigarbha, a figure in Buddhism (just learned that second part o.o)

Also, the Koopas are inspired by Kappas, another figure in Japanese Mythology

Ah yes.  The Mario idea came to me just as an after thought.  But the idea is that the Mario universe is a much more even mixing of different cultural ideas.  It's a NY-Italian plumber with some Japanese references here and there in a classical European "save the beautiful princess" setting.  Not saying other games don't do it, but I think it stands out in Mario much more.  And no one cultural reference steals the show as opposed to a game like Zelda, and many others imo, where Greek Mythology is oozing all throughout.

 

SvennoJ said:

My favorite adventure game, Grim Fandango, is based on Aztec mythology and Mexican culture, didn't need new tech for that. Guacamelee is also based on Mexican culture, could have been made for ps2.
XBox Jade empire has plenty culture too, even more with Okami. Culture can help Mario too, the van Gogh levels in NSMBU were simply stunning.

Giving a game a real world setting and/or adding cultural elements helps immersion and variety. Variety keeps games interesting. Choosing the same setting over and over can hurt video games though. I'm growing tired of the overused American city setting. Can't we run around in Mumbai for a change.

Totally forgot about the Van Gohg level, but I bolded what really caught my eye.  Very interesting idea!