Why is magic blue?

[Scumbag]

Image memes explain it all:

1242534005480.jpg

[NathanH]

Is that a leaked version of the new Mass Effect ending?

[Bankrotas]

Corruption is purple because purple is the color of sickness and death.

WTF, since when?

[Nalano]

WTF, since when?

Since ever for just about everybody not Roman.

[Bankrotas]

Since ever for just about everybody not Roman.

Except it's also a colour of royalty, wealth and power?

[Ravelle]

WTF, since when?

in most fantasy and RPG games it's often shown as purple floating bubbles.

[Nalano]

Except it's also a colour of royalty, wealth and power?

One of these days you will realize that humanity doesn't have one common cultural zeitgeist.

It will be a very interesting revelation for you.

[Bankrotas]

One of these days you will realize that humanity doesn't have one common cultural zeitgeist.

It will be a very interesting revelation for you.

No way... You lie! I won't allow it!

[gwathdring]

I've never heard of that particular interpretation of purple, Nalano. Perhaps you could provide a source or at least mention which specific cultures you are referencing?

@OP The symbolism of color isn't a very good thing to base your design on unless you're working from a very specific philosophical or cultural angle that lends nicely to such symbolism. It varies so wildly from place to place and era to era. Heck, decade to decade it can change because of major events incorporating colors. Social movements frequently add cultural significances to color either explicitly or implicitly. Purple, for example, has had significance in Apartheid politics and [Iraqi -ed] elections (I don't know enough about the situation to say if the Purple Finger thing was important outside the context of western-backed [Iraqi -ed] politics, though ... at the very least it was important to outsiders looking into Iraq for change). Green means something very different in contemporary America than it did a decade ago. Communism changed the purpose of Red in many cultures. Not all of these changes are long lasting, and they don't always overwrite old color definitions, of course.

[Berzee]

One of these days you will realize that humanity doesn't have one common cultural zeitgeist.

Unless that zeitgeist is the meaning of purple for just about everybody not Roman?

[Bhazor]

I once had a fascinating discussion with an interesting shade of purple.

[mickygor]

If I had to hazard a guess, it's because there's very little in the way of naturally occuring blue substances. It's the same reason plasters in kitchens have to be blue - none of the food you're gonna prep is blue so it stands out like a sore thumb (I can't decide if the pun is unintended or not there...).

Bear in mind that if you use red to represent health and blue to represent mana, people with Tritanopia are gonna hate you. Just like they probably hate every other game developer in existence.

[random_guy]

Maybe it's just because of the Elder Scrolls games, but I associate green with stamina.

It is Octarine, you idiot. As we are not of magical nature we cannot appreciate it correctly.

Octarine is a sort of greenish-yellow purple.

[Splynter]

@OP The symbolism of color isn't a very good thing to base your design on unless you're working from a very specific philosophical or cultural angle that lends nicely to such symbolism. It varies so wildly from place to place and era to era. Heck, decade to decade it can change because of major events incorporating colors. Social movements frequently add cultural significances to color either explicitly or implicitly. Purple, for example, has had significance in Apartheid politics and Iranian elections (I don't know enough about the situation to say if the Purple Finger thing was important outside the context of western-backed Iranian politics, though ... at the very least it was important to outsiders looking into Iran for change). Green means something very different in contemporary America than it did a decade ago. Communism changed the purpose of Red in many cultures. Not all of these changes are long lasting, and they don't always overwrite old color definitions, of course.

Yeah, I'm not actually planning colour design through symbolism, I was just thinking about how ingrained blue is as a colour for magic in games and wanted to explore why that is. Ultimately it's not really my decision as I'm a programmer, not a designer.

To mickygor, I've wanted to implement a colour blind mode, and just tonight found http://colorlab.wickline.org/colorblind/colorlab/ in preparation for this.

[Hypernetic]

I'm guessing it's because some game designer way back when thought blue looked right under/next to red on the UI and it's just been that way ever since.

[Velko]

I once had a fascinating discussion with an interesting shade of purple.

This is from somewhere. I have most definately read this line... Hitchhiker's Guide?

[c-Row]

This is from somewhere. I have most definately read this line... Hitchhiker's Guide?

I am pretty sure it is.

[Heliocentric]

Magicka is the main ingredient in blue WKD.

The Void got it right, magic is every colour and no colour at all.

Super Mario got it right too (ref:star invincibility)

[Ravelle]

Magicka is the main ingredient in blue WKD.

The Void got it right, magic is every colour and no colour at all.

Super Mario got it right too (ref:star invincibility)

Isn't gold his new invincibility color now?

[Sparkasaurusmex]

I believe Terry Pratchett wrote a reference manual on magic's colouring.