Paper short abstract:

This paper will examine how fans of the first-person shooter Halo video game franchise in fan forums discuss and reflect upon the position of 'religion' within these games, and where a special focus will be on the connection made between religion and the alien antagonists of the series.

Paper long abstract:

In the military science fiction video game series known as Halo—one of the most popular first-person shooters (FPS) of the 21st century— the player (in the form of a human super-soldier) battles hordes of alien monsters that seek to destroy humanity. The aliens in question primarily belonging to a theocratic alien civilization known as the Covenant whose Prophets call for the extermination of humanity, as it is allegedly the will of their gods. The few existing scholarly examinations of these games all note the pervasiveness of religious themes and symbolism within the narratives of the games, yet no studies have been conducted on how the fans of these games consider these elements. Considering the immense popularity of these games— and the prevalence of religious themes within them— I would argue that it is of utmost interest to examine how fans of this franchise reflect upon the position of 'religion' within these games, as well as in the 'real' world. As my paper will aim to illustrate, this particular fan community stands as a fascinating example of how individuals negotiate their values and views in relation to gaming worlds. Therefore, this paper intends— through the use of thematic analysis— to explore fan discussions relating to the portrayal of religion in these games, and how this in turn relates to fan perceptions regarding the position of religion within the Halo franchise, as well as the world outside of the games. A special emphasis will also be placed on how fans of the games reflect upon the franchise's alien antagonists and their alleged connection to religion, as a remarkable number of fan discussions concerning religion involve these monsters.