How Islamic Art Can Influence Game Design

Kotaku UK: Islamic­ influenced art and imagery has cropped up in games from Journey to Prince of Persia, but now a couple of game developers are out to prove that despite its conspicuous rarity in the medium, Islamic art lends itself brilliantly to game design.

[mezati99]

agreed. i really enjoyed reading this

[WeAreLegion]

Five people think you didn't enjoy reading it. What's up with the disagrees on this?

[randomass171]

The inherit flaw with agree/disagree buttons is half the time they don't serve any purpose. This is one of those times. :P

[codelyoko]

+1 to the author. Its time to push aside all this ethnic/racist crap and be just humans ( who love to game).

[Ogygian]

Islamic art is indeed quite beautiful, and more games could benefit from showing it if only their developers weren't afraid to touch the Middle East (outside typical Iraq War environments) with a ten foot barge pole!

The problem is that many in the Middle East aren't tolerant of liberal artistic depictions of their culture, as the West are with their own, due to high levels of religious adherence (I don't mean extremists, but just pious conservatives).
Provided the Middle East follows the example of Turkey and secularises, I'm hoping their culture will become more welcoming to artistic representations, and thus that it will get more exposure in games.

[randomass171]

That's a lot of the governments. Talk to an average person who believes in Islam. Not all of them believe in the sort of backwards thinkers that the governments try to force onto their people. There are Muslim women who are seeking liberation from "their place" in Middle Eastern society, but they still believe in the religion. I think it's more to do with the people in charge, not the religion, just like in the crusades.

[GFahim]

Islam itself liberates women. they dont need some government in a so called 'muslim country' to help with their liberation. instead, it is these stupid governments that virtually prevents them. not Islam itself.

[randomass171]

Islamic art is so interesting and exotic looking. Prince of Persia has a little of that and that series was very fun to play and look at. :)

[MeteorPanda]

is it really 'Islamic' art as apposed to Aramaic or middle eastern? Islam is a religion, the art style is mainly Aramaic/Persian with hints of other countries and past civilizations (such as Assyrian).

[Muadiib]

Agreed, the ignorance is strong with this one (shock horror it's Kotaku).

[DEAGLETURK]

Selamin aleyküm to all racist peopel :DDD

[GFahim]

walaikum salaam :)

[LightDiego]

What about Call of Duty?

[Wni0]

changed the game design? gimme shelter i mean a break. aesthetics and designs is art direction.

[Skate-AK]

A very good read. Good job author.