Playing as Others

Playing as Others: Theology and Ethical Responsibility in Video Games offered me an entirely new look at the power of games as a medium, from a vector that is both intensely familiar to me as a person, but also commonly foreign to the industry at large. In an inspired exploration of how theology and games do and might interact, Benjamin Chicka taught me one more value of this medium I love.

~Rami Ismail, Independent Game Developer & Industry Ambassador

Theology is capable of uncovering the depth dimension of culture—every aspect of culture, in principle. But video games? Yes indeed. Benjamin Chicka takes theology of culture a lot more seriously than most, and he shows how deep the culture of video games goes. Read this book to find out where ultimate concerns and ethical principles are explored in video games. Read to find out what Paul Tillich and Emmanuel Levinas have in common. This book will forcefully remind you that theology is profoundly connected to every aspect of our lives. Game on!

~Wesley J. Wildman, Professor of Philosophy, Theology, and Ethics, Boston University School of Theology

Playing as Others is a power-up for the field of video games and religion. Dr. Chicka employs an exhilarating interdisciplinary inventory of philosophy, ethics, neuroscience, and social science to enrich his analysis. This book opens new worlds for video game studies and for the theology of culture. Reading along, even the casual gamer can't help but have their own experiences illuminated by the insights developed here.

~Donna Bowman, Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Central Arkansas

This unassuming book is packed full of great theological theories and philosophical debates on the concept of theological and ethical responsibilities in video games.

~Choice

Christian contributions to the video game literature are sparse, and Chicka’s book presents a fresh approach to the topic. Rather than addressing standard moral issues (such as linking video game play to violence), Chicka explores how video games can tell the stories of often-neglected people.

~Eddy Wu, Reading Religion

...Chicka takes up an important topic with Playing as Others, discovers some exciting theological and ethical aspects in video games and provides several productive impulses.

~Max Tretter Erlangen, Journal for Evangelical Ethics

Chicka’s book is one of those books that every theological scholar of game studies should have read. It will take its place in the emerging canon of theology and games.

~Frank G. Bosman, Studies in Christian Ethics

Playing as Others has a unique capacity to serve as an entryway into conversations around the relationship between the church and emerging subcultures. The themes and issues addressed herein could open up pathways of theological dialogue for ministry leaders seeking to establish relationships with video game enthusiasts.

~Evangelical Review of Theology

Chicka’s book is one of the first to provide readers with an actual theological gaming method that not only provides a tool to analyze video games’ depths and possibilities, but also a possible blueprint to use video games to promote meaningful ethical action in the world.

~Brad D. Hickey, Christian Scholar's Review