Editing God game (section)

== History ==
{{see|List of god video games}}

Although there are many influences on the god game genre, the first god game is widely considered to be ''[[Populous (video game)|Populous]]'' from 1989.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.next-gen.biz/features/50-greatest-game-design-innovations?page=0%252C3 | title = 50 Greatest Game Design Innovations | author = Edge Staff | date = 2007-11-01 | access-date = 2008-12-28 | publisher = Edge | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100924064303/http://www.next-gen.biz/features/50-greatest-game-design-innovations?page=0%2C3 | archive-date = 2010-09-24 }}</ref><ref name="IGNhof">{{cite web | url = http://games.ign.com/halloffame/populous.html | title = IGN Hall of Fame: Populous | website = [[IGN]] | year = 2008 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131104120533/http://games.ign.com/halloffame/populous.html | archive-date = 2013-11-04 }}</ref><ref name= "whatsnext">{{cite web | url = http://www.designersnotebook.com/Lectures/God_Games/god_games.htm | publisher = Designer's Notebook | author = Ernest Adams | title = What's Next for God Games | year = 2008}}</ref> Developed by [[Peter Molyneux]] of [[Bullfrog Productions]],<ref name= "IGNhof" /> the game established the gameplay template where the player's godlike powers would grow in proportion to the population of their worshippers.<ref name= "whatsnext" /> The game gives players supernatural powers over land and nature that could be used for good or evil,<ref name="IGNhof"/> and some of this gameplay was emulated by other [[real-time strategy]] games with more direct control.<ref name="whatsnext" /> Notable hybrids of the genre include ''[[ActRaiser]]'' for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]] in 1990.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://wii.ign.com/articles/793/793000p1.html | website = [[IGN]] | title = ActRaiser VC Review | author = Lucas M Thomas | date = 2007-05-30 | access-date = 2010-05-23 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090214113908/http://wii.ign.com/articles/793/793000p1.html | archive-date = 2009-02-14 | url-status = dead }}</ref> It was also an influence on the [[real-time strategy]] hybrid ''[[Dungeon Keeper]]'',<ref name="whatsnext"/> developed by Molyneux in 1997.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/dungeonkeeper/ |title=Dungeon Keeper on PC|website = [[GameSpot]] | access-date= 2008-02-14}}</ref>

Both Molyneux's ''[[Black & White (video game)|Black & White]]'' and ''[[Godus]]'' were heavily influenced by the [[Populous (series)|''Populous'' series]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://pc.ign.com/articles/082/082486p1.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20020421073805/http://pc.ign.com/articles/082/082486p1.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = April 21, 2002 | title = Top 25 PC Games of All Time | website = [[IGN]] |date = 2000-07-24 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.polygon.com/2013/8/31/4676802/populous-to-godus-the-rubbish-filled-road-of-peter-molyneux | title =  Populous to Godus: The rubbish-filled road of Peter Molyneux | first =  Megan | last = Farokhmanesh | date = 2013-08-31 | access-date = 2014-12-03 | website = [[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] }}</ref>