This is what I'd want to see: Core Christian principles introduced one by one (or in small groups) in story-heavy games (RPG's and interactive movies) particularly if it could be something as powerfull as Silent Hill 2 (I swear, that game changed my life, if only a little) If someone is presented with the concepts of forgiveness, different virtues, and the ideas that are central to salvations (the price for even the little things we do and the cost of redemption) and after all these things were layed out, the plan of salvation could come in as a side point (to make it central would raise those red flags)... Something that even the character could ignore. It would just be there. And, it's not like you'd see them go to hell if they chose wrongly-- though one game could demonstrate hell before that-- It's just that they could put all the pieces together and have ideas to think about.
The decission for salvation comes when people open their hearts to the suggestions of the Holy Spirit. This comes generally through the "message" partly, but also generally through experience... We can only give them pieces of the message to put together. We can plant seeds. Others will have to water them, understand? And if we get one person that comes to God out of this (particularly one who wouldn't have from a more blatently christian game) then it is worth all we can put into it...
It's something that would have to be done very slowly, and the people would have to establish trust among the console developers... It could be done.
Ky Kiske wrote:
Or Survival Horror
Character: "The Demons...They are out to get me!"
Gamer: "dude it kinda stinks the only weapon I have is holy water"
Metal Gear:
Bronze Snake: Colonel Operation Moses is underway.
Colonel: Snake press the action button to pray. Your objective is not to be seen by enemy soldier. However if you are spotted....CONVERT THEM.
Bronze Snake: Understood Snake out.
Sorry for the double post, but I didn't read this before, and it sparked a whole new
Another problem with people's thinking on Christian games is THAT. "Convert them... Pray" Yeah, since that of course consumes daily life for all christians exclusively and is demonstratable in video game format...
I think survival horror would be rather hard to do, but have you actually PLAYED Silent Hill 2 all the way through? I've been to message boards where people have had their lives changed by that game. I, actually, was one of them, sorta. It got them to strongly consider their lives. If something like that were to be done, the focus would have to be something OTHER than the scaring, and that would deflate it. However, if the focus were, say, sins in someone's life that needed to be dealt with, and it was shown spiritually in a very vibrant way with a horror-like motif, that would be different. That, by the way, can be shown without being so blatant about the Christian beliefs... Once again, planting ideas.
As for Metal Gear, what you could do inside a war game or espionage game is have things taking place the way they should (you know, fighting and keeping yourself alive) The only difference happens in what goes on with the character through the course of the game. Changes brought by interactions with other characters, friends and enemies alike, could include
small seeds helping direct people to Jesus. In that case, a Metal Gear type game that was God-influenced would be possible.
As long as people get out of very narrow view of what would make a game christian, and what would make it effective in evangelism, as a softener and support rather than an offensive... If evangelism is a millitary effort, Evangelistic Christian media should be more like the Navy (minus the seals) than the Army or the Marines or even the Air Force... Real evangelism should be face to face, in my opinion... Things like good games, movies, and TV evangelists (yes, I include them in this) and even sunday morning evangelistic pastors' sermons have their place, but they are all secondary to witnessing and serving...
If you make a great game that introduces these ideas, that will open up chances to talk to fans too... That's where the real stuff happens...
