Same guy that got me into EQ let me borrow his copy of D1. I didn't think it was some great game back in the day, imo some aspects of it are in hindsight and compared with the new releases of it. Older RPG guys don't hold it in some high esteem. Its a basic hack and slash, were you are an ordinary adventurer and you get yourself into something wayy over your head.
At the time in the united states we were going through the "Satanic Panic", video games were being scrutinized and regulated (
such as Night Trap, Mortal Kombat) and these were taboo. Movies, music, games were
involved with all of this going back to the 1960s. Even Dungeons and Dragons,
part of which Everquest is inspired by, was in the mix with all of this.
Quote:
A number of factors contributed to the increased interest in, and fear of, the occult during the late 1960s and 1970s. The Manson cult’s operation in the late ‘60s culminated in a string of mass murders in the summer of 1969 that shocked the nation and put organized ritualistic killing on the brain.
Accompanying the rise of Satanism as a recognized practice was the 1971 publication of William Peter Blatty’s bestselling novel The Exorcist and its blockbuster 1973 film adaptation. With its claims of being based on a true story, The Exorcist profoundly impacted America’s collective psyche regarding the existence of demons, and single-handedly transformed the popular Ouija board from a fun, harmless parlor game into a malevolent device capable of inducing spirit possession, demonic infestation, or other paranormal activity.
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Quote:
At various times in its history, Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) has received negative publicity for alleged or perceived promotion of such practices as Satanism, witchcraft, suicide, pornography, and murder. Especially during the 1980s, certain religious groups accused the game of encouraging sorcery and the veneration of demons. Throughout the history of role-playing games, many of these criticisms have not been aimed specifically at D&D, but touch on the genre of fantasy role-playing games as a whole.
The concept of Dungeons & Dragons as Satanic was linked to the concept of Satanic ritual abuse, in that both presumed the existence of large, organized Satanic cults and societies. Sources such as the Dark Dungeons tract from Chick Publications portray D&D as a recruitment tool for these organizations
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Diablo itself is just a hack n slash dungeon game, it was the imagery, atmosphere and the music that made it something worth remembering today. Imo its not something the new diablo games can achieve. New players would have no reference as to why, its not relevant in their lives (soy based products, hipster craft brews etc are) or the society at large. The topic is not on television, movies or the music that is "bad for you" to listen to.
Love, peace, harmony, dick sucking and ass licking are more relevant in todays culture. You have games with lesbian scenes, more promotion of LGBT themes and acceptances. The media reflects this. That is what kids of today will be looking back on with nostalgia glasses in twenty years. This is their taboo thrill. Edit note: Except its in reverse. The influences of diablo were fought against even by people you admire and respected. It was the dark (not cringe cheese of today) and sinister elements of society that led to temptations with this. In contrast, these LGBT influences are actively promoted and supported all the way up to the top branches of government. It's a twist. Actively being tossed into this whereas the other stuff had people shielding you away from it.
Having a copy of DOOM with its pentagrams and devils. It was a bad thing. Today, like
DEVIL, it is on the way to becoming a more "approachable and family friendly" product.
