Gamespot's Fourth Annual Christian Game Developers Conference Article

[Chosen Raven]

There's some very interesting stuff here. It looks like some of us will be getting that M-rated Christian game we wanted sooner than we thought.

Here's the article: http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/08/01/news_6130117.html

[Azier the Swordsman]

The article doesn't quite make me that enthusiastic.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: As long as the Christian Gaming Community continues doing nothing but catering to soccer moms, it will have never have any respect.

[Debitt]

I agree with Azier completely. While the idea of things like a Christian FPS seems good, I figure there are relatively few people out there who would even dare try, more or less successfully create a game of that nature, simply because of the painfully vocal "soccer mom" Christians.

At this point I wouldn't get my hopes up. Half the games mentioned seem to be trying to "dumb down" popular games to make them more "acceptable" for Christians. We're going to need a lot more originality that that to make an impact on the gaming industry.

[Chosen Raven]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: As long as the Christian Gaming Community continues doing nothing but catering to soccer moms, it will have never have any respect.

At this point I wouldn't get my hopes up. Half the games mentioned seem to be trying to "dumb down" popular games to make them more "acceptable" for Christians. We're going to need a lot more originality that that to make an impact on the gaming industry.

I found it somewhat encouraging. Only the last half of the article, though. I mean, c'mon, this Rapczak fellow is making an M-rated Christian game where you have the option of playing as a side trying to mow down innocent civilians. That is a huge departure from normal Christian games.

Then there's the fact that De Margheriti, a man who worked on Fallout Tactics, is making a Christian MMORPG.

This makes me believe that there may be hope yet for Christian games.

[BigZam]

interesting that he sez hes a "hard-a** Christian"

[Debitt]

I found it somewhat encouraging. Only the last half of the article, though. I mean, c'mon, this Rapczak fellow is making an M-rated Christian game where you have the option of playing as a side trying to mow down innocent civilians. That is a huge departure from normal Christian games.

This is encouraging. However, MAKING the game is only half the step - having it do well is the battle that needs to be won. I'm not really blaming the makers of Christian games here - more the consumers, whom I think need to be a little more even handed, especially on the Christian side of the spectrum. A lot of people seem very quick to condemn video games in general unless they're 100% family friendly, and so sickeningly sweet that they'll make your grandmother's DENTURES rot. It sounds to me like the game is going to get chewed up by places like Focus on the Family, and being based on a book of the Bible, I'm not entirely sure a secular crowd is going to go nuts over it either.

[Chosen Raven]

It sounds to me like the game is going to get chewed up by places like Focus on the Family, and being based on a book of the Bible, I'm not entirely sure a secular crowd is going to go nuts over it either.

Focus on the Family will most likely bash the game to pieces. I lov'em to death, but they're no judge of games as evidenced by PluggedIn Online's reviews of Doom 3 and RE4. As for the secular community....maybe, just maybe, if the game is good and game mags actually review it(very important), it'll sell well enough to be considered a success.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

You definetly have a point there and it doesn't only apply to Christian games but all other things like books, music etc. The Christians in charge of these media need to realise that Christianity isn't a sanitised version of reality. Its the same but we have Jesus at our side to help us through life and for us to look to. Its not that you loose all emotions once you become a Christian. These people need to realise Christians have problems to and just avoiding the issue in media is damaging to our Christian witness through entertainment. Just my take.
Christian music has improved greatly in this respect and Christian books have improved greatly also (but there are still many dodgy ones).

[skynes]

interesting that he sez hes a "hard-a** Christian"

The guys an Aussie, what did you expect?

I'll certainly be keeping an eye out for this M rated game.

[uc pseudonym]

Hm. Jerry Moore's comments didn't particularly impress me, and I really hope that he makes Pilgrim's Progress something other than a FPS. "Timothy and Titus"... I'd rather not talk about that.

Otherwise, I have a generally bad feeling about this M-rated game. It isn't that I don't want Christian games that can be taken seriously and have more than relentlessly nice content, but a number of things ring "wrong" to me. We'll have to see; I shouldn't judge too quickly.

[mastersquirrel]

I must say that the M-rated game doesn't seem like it would reach people that aren't Christians and drive away people who are. Let me explain:

The Christians will probably not like the fact that you can play as a minion of the antichrist. Now you can say all day that you don't have to play as that, but it's an option and that's not good.

The non-Christians probably won't be reached with this game because they can just take the Christian-based story line and say that it's just like playing a fantasy game. Basically meaning, "Just because you play it, doesn't mean you believe it." However, I may be wrong...

That's just my take, though I hope and pray that I"m wrong.