The Shivah

Speakers: Dave Gilbert

Track: SGS: Game Design

Format: Lecture

Experience Level: All

Description: This session discusses THE SHIVAH, a point-and-click adventure game starring a Rabbi. Shivah is the Jewish mourning ritual. For a week after a family member's death, the family stays at home, receiving visitors, and mourning the deceased.

As further described on indie game distributor Manifesto Game's web site, "Rabbi Stone, this game's protagonist, leads a small and declining congregation on the Lower East Side. He receives word that a somewhat disreputable former congregant has died, and left his small estate to the synagogue. Though he himself is close to losing faith in God, he views it as his duty to investigate, and perhaps to comfort whatever family members this man may have as they sit Shivah.

This is a point-and-click adventure--but your "inventory" consists not of items, but of clues, as this is a murder mystery. The puzzles involve combining clues, and using them on other characters and objects-uncovering new clues and ultimately solving the mystery.

This session discusses the making of the game, the religious philosophy behind it, and how adventure games can be used as an effective tool for religion based storytelling as well as be commercially viable. Attendees to this session will also gain insight on how games can be used to explore religion, teach religious culture and practices, and generally allow people to explore their own beliefs and spiritual selves.