The Virtual Ninja Project is a research project hosted by Asiascape.net, part of the Modern East Asia Research Centre of Leiden University in The Netherlands. It forms part of a larger research agenda into the political and philosophical significance of techno-culture in the contemporary world, particularly as it originates from or concerns East Asia.

Through a series of questionnaires and other activities, virtualninja.net seeks to explore the question of whether (or under what kinds of conditions) training for violence in videogames is analagous with training for violence in the 'real' martial arts. That is, when (if ever) can playing 'Ninja Gaiden' or even 'Halo' be understood as an exercise in spiritual cultivation?

Beginning in October 2010, virtualninja.net will host a series of questionnaires and other activities designed to investigate these questions. After analysis by our team at Leiden University, the results will also be posted on this site.

The first virtualninja.net survey, ninja enlightenment, will go live on 29 September 2010. It is designed to assess the ways in which players interact with violence and the martial arts in videogames. The survey will remain live until 31 October. Please visit the survey page and contribute your views.

Questions & queries to: info@virtualninja.net