Jesus is coming, look busy
Anastasia screamed in vain.
From GamePolitics:
If you haven’t heard about the Left Behind series of novels, welcome back from the biosphere. The dime summary is that Christian “true believers” are sucked back up into the happy shiny place, while the rest of us sinners are left on this shithole to pick up their slack and do battle with the anti-Christ.
In the game, you lose points for killing people, and gain points by saving their soul. But watching the ABC News video, sure looks like shootin’ is a lot more fun. Double-fun is the announcer’s intro for the game: “for those seeking salvation in the violent video game industry.” That’s funny, considering the player has access to an arsenal of real weapson, including guns and tanks.
Unfortunately I don’t see this game appealing to either the saved or the damned. We heathens are notoriously flaky about playing games with a message, although firearms and tanks do pique our curiosity. On the other hand, fundamentalists, even though they have the word imbedded in their title, are notoriously flaky about playing games that are fun. And those who fall in between are probably comfortable enough in their beliefs that they don’t feel the need to save pixelated souls. There just doesn’t seem to be a well-defined audience for this title.
I’ll be interested in seeing how Left Behind: Eternal Forces does. The novels are hugely popular, and perhaps the publisher will be able to capitalize on their success. Certainly it has the potential of being more popular than those other religious titles you may remember, such as…um…well you get my point.
May 16th, 2006 at 9:43 am
I bet the addition of weapons is a way to test the players resistance to the temptation of sin. Kind of like when Mom would put a cheescake in front of me and hide around the corner with a taser.
May 16th, 2006 at 12:40 pm
I'm trying to discover my own spirituality/religion lately and at the risk of sounding arrogant, I've noticed there are multiple ways people “experience” their religion and some people just like being simply spoon fed. Nothing wrong with that, I suppose, it works for them.
Not having played this game, (I'm going to season my foot so it at least tastes good later… ) I have a feeling this game is one giant pixelated spoon. It is analogous to getting your medical news from USA Today rather than JAMA. Like I said, that's necessary for some people because it easily reinforces their beliefs and brings them closer to their religion, with little to no cognitive wear and tear.
For me, games like Black & White or Knights of the Old Republic are actually quite meaningful as religious exercises. They actually make me think about my moral compass and probably do so less blatantly, which for me, is always more powerful than shoved in my face.
May 16th, 2006 at 1:35 pm
Ohhhh! Ohhhh! I hope there’s a bonus level where those of us seeking salvation with the Lord on Kolob er Kobol can rescue Elizabeth Smart. Until this game is released, I will have to resort to playing Legacy of Kain, on Sundays no less in order to help save the damned.
May 16th, 2006 at 1:52 pm
Commenting on an un-released game is usually fraught with peril. However, your odds of predicting the future on this game are very likely right on, Amber. Knowing your audience is the key to a successful game or book. The author of the book series knows his audience, that much is clear. Like Ken I'll break out the foot seasoning as I say this, but the developer of this game seems to be trying to cast too wide a net. It has nothing to do with being a religious game, and everything to do with knowing your base. It's like trying to make a pokemon first person shooter spelling tutor.
May 16th, 2006 at 1:53 pm
Dose anyone here remember Captain Planet and the Planteers, that was an cartoon was made by environmentalists, but it did quite well as a cartoon, I have no clue what it did for the environment however.
For those of you that don't remember or never saw it,
here's the Captain Planet Song, and if you have never seen it, you well get the drift.
http://www.retrojunk.com/details_tvshows/23-captain-planet-and-the-planeteers/
My point is, who knows, it might be a game worth playing.
May 16th, 2006 at 1:59 pm
And I'm no longer Anonymous.
May 16th, 2006 at 9:05 pm
Okay, I just have to say it:
Sympathy for the Devil, The Rolling Stones.
Do I win a prize?
Dave (someone stole my cool internet name)