An article was published this past Friday in response to the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo, where new video games are previewed and test marketed. This particular article was about a new line of "Christian" video games being rolled out. The biggie, based on the Left Behind series, has you in control of a group of fighters from the 'Tribulation Force.' 
You go around smiting, (read: blowing away), the forces of the Antichrist. The makers of the games make no secret of their desire to compete with, (read: be violent enough for teenagers to think it's cool), GTA and other vile, misogynistic, violent games. They also make no secret of this video game movement following in the steps of 'The Passion.' (read: cartoon dollar signs going "Ca-ching!" in their eyes.) See their preview site for the game here.
A few excerpts from the article:
" 'Left Behind' has the Antichrist, the end of the world, the apocalypse," said co-creator Jeffrey S. Frichner. "It's got all the Christian stuff, and it's still got all the cool stuff."
"The reason that I think this game has a chance is that it's not particularly preachy," said Michael Pachter, an analyst at Wedbush Morgan Securities. "I will say some of the dialogue is pretty lame - people saying, 'Praise the Lord' after they blow away the bad guys. I think they're overdoing it a bit. But the message is OK."
"The game is set in New York City, where the Tribulation Force clashes with the Antichrist's Global Community Peacekeepers in a tale that makes the United Nations a tool for Satan."
"In multiplayer games, participants can choose to command the Antichrist's forces."
You read that last one correctly. Any of those quotes raise any eyebrows? My take is simple: If Christians want to really be a presence in video gaming, they missed their entry point by about 15 years. At this point, it looks like exactly what it is: Troglodytes masquerading as Christians making a shallow and heavy-handed attempt to preach at young heathens while making money off of Jesus' name. How do you justify mass murder as the focal point for a Christian activity? How do you sleep at night after putting a product in children's hands where they characters slay someone and then say, "Praise the Lord?" This is more horrid and offensive to me as a Christian than the Da Vinci Code could ever hope to be. This threatens the reputation and effectiveness of the church. It cheapens our Lord, it spreads corrupted theology, and the worst part is that we're doing it to ourselves. At least the Da Vinci Code came from a non-Christian.
Read the whole article here. What do you think? Am I overreacting? Am I right on? Is there a viewpoint I'm missing?
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29 Cachinnations
Another quote from the original article:
"Games "will be a new tool to get the two-minute generation to think about matters of eternal importance in a way that isn't religious," said Troy A. Lyndon, one of the "Left Behind" game's creators."
,,,matters of eternal importance in a way that isn't religious...huh...and all in two minutes...great.
Posted on 5/14/2006
No you're right. I just heard about the game this week. I would say: what is the world coming to? Really, I should be asking: what is the church coming to?
Posted on 5/14/2006
interestingly, the Da Vinci Code has actually sparked a great deal of interest in the history of the Christian faith, and I would think any discussion and even questioning of belief by the general secular public/media/whatever, is a good thing.
I would agree, the game is horrifying, and I think any attempt to imitate the mainstream culture with a parellel "Christian" replacement is doomed.
I prefer the approach of companies like Walden Media (Chronicles of Narnia, Holes, Hoot, Because of Winn Dixie) who while not preaching a specific religious message, are trying to provide high quality mainstream films with a more wholesome message, filling a gap especially for pre-and early teens, who are too old for Winnie the Pooh and Disney, but really should not be watching most movies aimed at "teens"
Posted on 5/14/2006
All i can say is...
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!!!
I just hope the games are sorry...
Posted on 5/14/2006
No. Christian propaganda is horrible and evil. God's word is timeless enough to stand on it's own. we don't need to make it "cooler" or "market" it. We just need to live it. That's it. Anything more just doesn't seem to follow God's heart.
Posted on 5/14/2006
I can see where you're coming from Kat, but when you consider the size of the platform that this game will command, we're talking about an attempt to reach millions of young people. And that's not a good thing. I think the chances of someone coming to Christ because of this game, (not one of the game's stated aims, by the way), are so much more remote than the chances of raising up a generation that more than ever associates Christianity with war, power, and money that there is no justification for this game's existence alongside the word 'Christian.'
And no, you didn't read wrong the part about commanding the Antichrist's forces.
As for the "they're doing more than me" thoughts, I think that anything that offers conviction to us to share our faith should be taken to heart. However, it shouldn't be viewed as 'something is better than nothing.' Those simply aren't the only two options. It's not a vile video game or no opportunity to encounter Christ. There is plenty of witness out there. And like I've said before, a witness is a person, not a device. (Or in this case, a game.)
Posted on 5/14/2006
I heard (and was disgusted) about this when it was first in development. One big reason I oppose this type of thing is that it becomes what Christianity IS for those to whom it is their first exposure to Christianity.
For those parents who choose to let their kids play this instead of another video game where they kill people, do they rationalize it by saying "at least they're killing in Christ's name"?
That's just what we need...
Posted on 5/14/2006
I guess it all comes down to whether or not we believe that the book of Revelation, supposedly what the left behind books are based on, is more of an allegory or is to be taken literally. Is God going to come back peacefully or in blood?
however, I tend to also think that we need to be focusing on the love that Christ preached and coming to Him as a Savior to the unsaved masses, and save the Revelation discussions for christian people. But,how do we know that non-christian people are even going to be attracted to anything that has Left Behind's name on it, therefore, is it harmless? Yet...overall, I still think that it seems a little too much like another religion that says, "Kill the Infidels."
Posted on 5/14/2006
I know this is not the poit of your post, but I checked out the site and the game actually looks boring. I'll take frogger, dig dug and missle control over this crappy excuse for a video game anyday.
Pertaining to the post, I don't know about you but I think its high time we start to clean out the money changers start turning over some tables and as my atheist friend put it: "gather our Nuts." I am so sick of being represented by the fundamental right, Pat Robertson (not to be redundant) and these money changers I could puke. This is what we battle.
I mean can you immagine a Jewish video game called "stone the whores"?
Posted on 5/15/2006
Would that be like "Grand Theft Auto: Tel Aviv?"
Posted on 5/15/2006
The game makes me sad.
Not really much more to say. I guess the only thing to do would be to love those around us so when these kids leave there games they will realize there is more to life?
Posted on 5/15/2006
Well, even though the people doing some of these games claim to be Christian, it seems like they are really just regular video games (and not particularly good ones at that), with a "Christian" label slapped haphazardly on top of them.
In fact, if you think about it, it really seems quite patronizing toward real Christians, because anyone can mockingly use the same words and phrases as are common in the Christian subculture, but misappropriate them so that they mean something completely different.
It's like you'd be playing the game and thinking it was funny, but they'd be laughing at you, not with you. (Does that make sense?)
It's a lot like we were talking about recently with having "Christian Day" at theme parks. The park is still the same, the rides are still the same, but a couple of Christian musicians show up for a concert, and a lot of flyers are sent out to churches declaring it "Christian Day", trying to get all the youth groups to plan trips to the park that day.
So, yes, it's just a shameless attempt to captitalize on the name of Jesus for things which really have nothing to do with Him.
I think Seth's point about other video games shouldn't be overlooked -- if you really want to spend a couple of hours sitting in front of the TV with a game pad in your hand, then fine, do it. We all need a little down time. But don't try and pretend that these sorts of idle entertainment have something to do with the Lord.
Posted on 5/15/2006
I think it's the same thing as the whole "Christian movie" surge we've gotten recently. While I don't really question Mel Gibson's motives behind "the Passion" (which was never "supposed" to be as big as it turned out to be), you'd have to be blind not see the dollar signs floating all over "Narnia", which, like the Left Behind game, was bigger, louder, cooler, and more Peter Jackson-esque than I think Lewis EVER intended his story to be.
But hey! It got butts in the seats!
Do you HONESTLY think the entertainment industry (movies, video games, etc.) is motivated by concern for the well-being of your eternal soul??
Posted on 5/15/2006
There is a tendency to say "If it saves one soul then it's worth it." Makes sense.
But surely there's a limit to this right? Where is it?
I blogged once about a "Stripper for Jesus" I met on the road once. She came to my show - I did not go to hers. She claimed to be evangelizing by taking her clothes of and witnessing to men (as they no doubt masturbated under the table).
Using the orgasm to save a soul. Is that OK? How about waging war on Iraq in hopes of converting Muslims eventually through the spread of the Gospel in a "Free" nation without religious persecution?
My point is that if we want to say "we can do anything as long as it saves one" then we'll do a lot worse than command the forces of the Anti-Christ in a game.
Orgasm anyone? How about a machine gun? Alright, just a joystick for now...but someday.
SG
Posted on 5/15/2006
Well, then you come to the question, "What actually saves people." Video games, carefully crafted Church services, convincing arguments; these things do not save people.
It is the Holy Spirit that brings people to Jesus. It is the love and prayer of the saints being obedient to their call that brings people into the Kingdom. Not cool video games.
You can sell a worldview, but you can't sell Jesus.
Posted on 5/15/2006
I've long believed Pong is tied to Eastern philosophy and religion.
Posted on 5/15/2006
I still think Ms. PacMan is WAY cooler than any of those blow 'em up video games. And she is just so cute with the pink bow in her hair!
Posted on 5/15/2006
I'm with Tracy.
When did this blog get all serious?
When "the Prince of Egypt" came out, a friend and I noticed the lack of toy tie-ins, especially considering this was a big-budget cartoon for kids and families. We thought we'd send them our idea for a "Prince of Egypt"-themed board game for kids. It was called "Don't Smite the Hebrews".
We thought it might save a few souls.
But we were wrong.
Dead wrong.
Posted on 5/15/2006
I would like to personaly thank Shaun for the masturbating under the table visual. It just made my Chick'filet nuggets SO much more tasty.
Posted on 5/15/2006
Shaun Groves does WHAT under Chik-fil-a tables?!?!
Posted on 5/15/2006
See, people, that's how rumors get started!
Posted on 5/15/2006
what rumor?
anyway, all this atari talk reminded me that you can go an download all those fun atari games FOR FREE. I think that the White Stripes (on of my personal fav's) offer free downloads on their site. Another good reason to visit their site.
Posted on 5/15/2006
As for the topics and feel of this here blog, M. le Fourchette, we haven't gone "all serious." I personally found the topic mighty absurd in many ways. It's true, I have an over-developed sense of the ridiculous. But most of us have quite an interest in art, faith, culture, etc. We can laugh and have stimulating discussion.
Posted on 5/15/2006
My understanding of biblical scholarship is admittedly unsophisticated, but I do know that the book of Revelation ends by warning people to neither add nor subtract anything from the prophecy. The punishment is severe, including removal from the book of Life.
Revelation prophecy just doesn't seem like something you should mess with by making it into novels or video games.
Posted on 5/15/2006
Speaking of Revelation...
As far as Biblical Eschatology (Study of the Endtimes) goes, Left Behind is a very narrow view with alot of gaps to explain.
It is not a fair representation of what most Biblical scholars believe. Rather, it is more representative of what pro-Israel, White, Middle Class, Americans who have a specific political agenda believe.
Not only is it an exploitation, its an exploitation with questionable theology included.
Posted on 5/15/2006
Is there any other kind?
Posted on 5/15/2006
Video game entrepenuers see there is a Christian market out there that want less gratuitous violence. They think that if they offer a game with violence, but less gratuitous violence, that they are helping us Christians out and making a buck at the same time. They can't really make a video game with violence that we will buy, unless it deals with good verses evil. So, because a couple of guys wrote a multi million seller series on the end times, they pick that one.
What they are doing is lightening and corning around with the content of the book of Revelation so that a game will be appealing to the "two minute generation."
Please Mr. Lyndon, sell your games. Make your money. But please do not degrade my faith by telling me that children of the A.D.D. generation will have the opportunity to consider eternal matters by deciding whether they will play the commander of Jesus' army or the Anti-Christ's.
Posted on 5/15/2006
While we're on the subject of unspeakably horrible video games... check this out.
Posted on 5/16/2006
This statement is posted from an employee of Left Behind Games on behalf of Troy Lyndon, our Chief Executive Officer.
There has been in incredible amount of MISINFORMATION published in the media and in online blogs here and elsewhere.
Pacifist Christians and other groups are taking the game material out of context to support their own causes. There is NO “killing in the name of God” and NO “convert or die”. There are NO “negative portrayals of Muslims” and there are NO “points for killing”.
Please play the game demo for yourself (to at least level 5 of 40) to get an accurate perspective, or listen to what CREDIBLE unbiased experts are saying after reviewing the game at www.leftbehindgames.com/pages/controversy.com
Then, we’d love to hear your feedback as an informed player.
The reality is that we’re receiving reports everyday of how this game is positively affecting lives by all who play it.
Thank you for taking the time to be a responsible blogger.
Posted on 1/17/2007