Institute for Medieval Studies

Session	733
Title	The Middle Ages in Modern Games, III: Religious and Social Divisions
Date/Time	Tuesday 5 July 2022: 14.15-15.45
Sponsor	The Public Medievalist / Centre for Medieval & Renaissance Research, University of Winchester
Organiser	Robert Houghton, Centre for Medieval & Renaissance Research, University of Winchester
Moderator/Chair	Lysiane Lasausse, Institutt for kultur, religion og samfunnsfag, Universitetet i Sørøst-Norge, Notodden / Department of History, Philosophy, Culture & Art Studies, University of Helsinki
Paper 733-a	'God save you, Henry!': Religious Elements in Kingdom Come: Deliverance (Language: English) Jan Kremer, Centrum medievistických studií, Akademie věd České republiky, Praha Index Terms: Computing in Medieval Studies; Medievalism and Antiquarianism; Religious Life
Paper 733-b	Digital Heathens and Heretics: Religious Boundaries in the Paradox Interactive Middle Ages (Language: English) Robert Houghton, Centre for Medieval & Renaissance Research, University of Winchester Index Terms: Computing in Medieval Studies; Ecclesiastical History; Islamic and Arabic Studies; Medievalism and Antiquarianism
Paper 733-c	Playing Oratores, Bellatores, and Laboratores: Functional Borders between Classes in Medieval Video Games (Language: English) Olga Kalashnikova, Department of Medieval Studies, Central European University, Budapest/Wien Index Terms: Computing in Medieval Studies; Medievalism and Antiquarianism; Social History
Abstract	Religious and social structures and divisions are common background themes within medievalism in games: the ubiquity of the Church and rigid enforcement of a feudal system are used to signpost the difference between the medieval and modern world. However, explorations of these themes are often stunted: developers frequently seem reluctant to address religious disputes, particularly within faiths which are still present in the modern world, and social structures typically exist only as superficial furnishings for a game's setting. The papers within this session address the representation of religion and society within several medievalist games and consider the limitations and potential of the medium.