131 réponses à ce sujet

[Vortex13]

 I would like to think so, but I have (unless I am missing something) yet to see any video game produced on a Christian foundation that deals in with a dark/mature setting.  

What's out there consists of memory games for children about Noah's Ark, or the Ten Commandments; nothing over an "E for everyone" rating. Where are the teen and mature titles? 

Games like Darksiders or Dante's Inferno have references to Christianity (Dante's Inferno moreso then Darksiders) but the games in and of themselves are not Christian based. Typically the games feature God as cruel or disinterested in humanity, in fact several stories involve the protagonist striving to free humanity from the rule of God or Satan, good or evil, to forge our own path. I have nothing against such a story, but at the same time said story is NOT Christian based. 

I remember reading an article several years ago that said something along the lines of how a Christian video game wouldn't work because in Christianity, God has already done everything, and players wouldn't want to play a game were God could show up and fix everything. It is true that gamers want to feel like they actually acomplished something when they play, but can't that work within a mature Christian setting? Judging by the games on the market one would say no, but I believe such a game is possible; what do you think, am I right? Wrong? Crazy? Tell me what you think.

[Vortex13]

EntropicAngel wrote...

 It depeneds on what you mean by a "Christian video game."

I'll examine the phrase by examining another phrase commonly used: "Christian band/singer."

This phrase is used to refer to both a Christian who sings music--often with Christian themes, or more specificially a Chrisitian who sings music that is all purely about God--occasionally called P&W (praise and worship).

Now, there are lots and lots of bands or singers that fit into the first definition. On the tamer end, artists like Matthew West or MercyMe or Casting Crowns. And there are some on the far end as well--like Anberlin, The classic Crime, Red, Skillet, Owl City--bands or musicians that are popular. Their music isn't about God specifically, but it's written from a Christian standpoint.

Now, from the way you form your question, it sounds like you're asking from the second definition: that the game has to be about God specifically. These were the types of games that you mentioned. However, one could argue there could be a game in which the story, the world is approached from a Christian standpoint, and it could be a Christian game.

Good point. So then would a game based on the second definition be plausible in a mature setting? 

Technically a game like the now cancelled "Demonic" was set in a 'Christian' setting, but I wouldn't really call it a Chrisitan video game.

[M Hedonist]

Every game that rewards Christian values is Christian enough in my book. Empathy, altruism, etc.
What else do you want?

[Vortex13]

Erik Lehnsherr wrote...

I'm sure it is marketable, but until I'm given specifics, no-thanks.

What sort of specifics, if I may ask? I would agree that the concept of such a game would need to be well done, but apart from that, what other specifics are you referring to?

What about a game set during Lucifer's rebellion wherein you play as an angel fighting demons? 

Thats just something off the top of my head, I'm sure, given enough time and resources, a developer could make a more interesting concept then what I proposed. 

[Sigma Tauri]

Sauruz wrote...

Every game that rewards Christian values is Christian enough in my book. Empathy, altruism, etc.
What else do you want?

They're not exclusively Christian values.

A Christian game's biggest challenge isn't the fact that God's there, so I reject that article you mentioned. The Bible has stories often tell about people's own challenges.

A Christian video game markets dogma, which is no bueno.

[Kaiser Arian XVII]

Knight of the Temple? That's about a Christian Templar and a corrupted Bishop...

[happy_daiz]

Beliefs aside, I think putting a "Christian" label on a video game would be the kiss of death. I mean, that indicates that the content would revolve around religion. Christianity in particular. (If I'm understanding this correctly.) I mean, where I live, I've seen the Christian Book Store open and close, over and over again. They keep trying, but every time I drive by the store, it's empty. Obviously someone thinks we need more religion where I live, but the populus disagrees.

Putting a religious label on a piece of entertainment seems like a conflict of interest. And it would alienate people with other religious beliefs (or none at all).

What exactly would be happening in said game? Would there be shooting? Killing? Lying? Sneaking? Stealing? Would there be a religious judgment imposed if you do any of those things? Would the pc be beaten with a bible every time (s)he did something "bad"?

If you're just talking about using Bible-based happenings, that might work. I mean, most of that stuff is pretty unbelievable, which could work with a video game...but honestly, it all just seems like a bad idea to me.

There are probably games already out there that have "stolen" or repurposed things out of the Christian bible anyway, but they were smart enough to avoid using a religious label.

[M Hedonist]

monkeycamoran wrote...

Sauruz wrote...

Every game that rewards Christian values is Christian enough in my book. Empathy, altruism, etc.
What else do you want?

They're not exclusively Christian values.

A Christian game's biggest challenge isn't the fact that God's there, so I reject that article you mentioned. The Bible has stories often tell about people's own challenges.

A Christian video game markets dogma, which is no bueno.

Yes, that's what I'm saying. Games shouldn't specifically promote Christianity, but the values that Christianity is based upon. Which doesn't mean that those values are exclusive to Christianity.

[Sigma Tauri]

happy_daiz wrote...
Beliefs aside, I think putting a "Christian" label on a video game would be the kiss of death. I mean, that indicates that the content would revolve around religion. Christianity in particular. (If I'm understanding this correctly.) I mean, where I live, I've seen the Christian Book Store open and close, over and over again. They keep trying, but every time I drive by the store, it's empty. Obviously someone thinks we need more religion where I live, but the populus disagrees.

Maybe they needed to open a gun range in the basement. Or a XXX section in the back.

[Kaiser Arian XVII]

Sauruz wrote...

Which doesn't mean that those values are exclusive to Christianity.

^ That.

[Sigma Tauri]

Sauruz wrote...
Yes, that's what I'm saying. Games shouldn't specifically promote Christianity, but the values that Christianity is based upon. Which doesn't mean that those values are exclusive to Christianity.

There's no point in appealing to universalism. A society will promote values that they believe is essential to their faith. A Christian-based game is made for a particular audience.

[Abraham_uk]

Okay. There are a lot of obvious arguments like dogma bashing the audience with a moral sledgehammer etc.

I haven't played any of these "Christian" games. It wouldn't surprise me if my preconceived notions of moral sledgehammering turn out to be correct, but I could be wrong.


Give me an example of one of these "Christian" games. Let me play ones of these "Christian games". Then I'll come back to you on this topic!

[ObserverStatus]

Sometimes I think it would be fun if there was a SRPG where America's culture wars actually become violent. In the Secular Humanist campaign you could wage war on Christmas, in the Conservative Christian campaign you could defend it and use roadblocks to stop trucks shipping textbooks full of Satanic lies etc.

[Vortex13]

Sauruz wrote...

monkeycamoran wrote...

Sauruz wrote...

Every game that rewards Christian values is Christian enough in my book. Empathy, altruism, etc.
What else do you want?

They're not exclusively Christian values.

A Christian game's biggest challenge isn't the fact that God's there, so I reject that article you mentioned. The Bible has stories often tell about people's own challenges.

A Christian video game markets dogma, which is no bueno.

Yes, that's what I'm saying. Games shouldn't specifically promote Christianity, but the values that Christianity is based upon. Which doesn't mean that those values are exclusive to Christianity.

True, you'd have all of that to deal with. I would imagine that any developer looking to make such a game would have to deal with such issues, but I wouldn't say that a story framed around a belief in a particular religion would automatically make the game horrible. I mean Mass Effect and other Sci-Fi settings propose the idea of aliens existing, and that idea being fact within the setting. A game that involves the player as a believer in God and treats Christianity as true within the given setting would be similar.

Would that alienate people? Yes, but games that hold one political stance (for example) to be true would suffer from the same thing. Granted any religious game is bound to have more controversy around it then a polictical one, but every piece of entertainment is bound to have people that don't like or agree with it. 

IMO the best way a developer could approch such a subject would be to have the player as 'outside' humanity, as a guardian angel, that way the foundational belief could be presented without people questioning why they have to believe that way. An angel would be a part or that belief, so while players could say that they don't believe in such a religion but the character would, since they are a part if it.

[billy the squid]

Do I get to play God, like in Black and White?

[Addai]

Aren't people tired of the crass commercialization of their faith? Do we really need a "Christian video store" alongside the bookstores and TV networks?

I'm not in favor of games that promote any kind of agenda, be it political or religious or whatever. If it's overtly marketed as such, I'm 99.99% guaranteed not to buy it, no matter how good it is. Bioware is actually treading close to that mark as they seem to be embracing a social justice angle. I'm not going to pay to be sermonized, by anyone.

[Kaiser Arian XVII]

Addai67 wrote...

Aren't people tired of the crass commercialization of their faith? Do we really need a "Christian video store" alongside the bookstores and TV networks?

I'm not in favor of games that promote any kind of agenda, be it political or religious or whatever. If it's overtly marketed as such, I'm 99.99% guaranteed not to buy it, no matter how good it is. Bioware is actually treading close to that mark as they seem to be embracing a social justice angle. I'm not going to pay to be sermonized, by anyone.

People cannot live like lone panthers. Humans need to live in society like successful creatures e.g ants, horses, penguins etc. Moreover of living in a society, the necessity for a government and a dominant ideology should be fulfilled (because of free will and the possible trend toward wicked acts). A nation (consisted of the society and the government) has its laws, morals and customs. Like it or not you will be preached by persons in the society, the corporations or the big guys in the government. So STOP WHINING or go live in a cave alone.

[TheJediSaint]

Abraham_uk wrote...

Okay. There are a lot of obvious arguments like dogma bashing the audience with a moral sledgehammer etc.

I haven't played any of these "Christian" games. It wouldn't surprise me if my preconceived notions of moral sledgehammering turn out to be correct, but I could be wrong.


Give me an example of one of these "Christian" games. Let me play ones of these "Christian games". Then I'll come back to you on this topic!

The only major overtly Christian game that I can think of was Left Behind:Eternal Forces, based on the rather attrocious books series.

Aside from being just a bad game in an of itself, it preached the rather narrow-minded and-to put it mildly-dated morality of the afformetioned Left Behind books.

Games like that are not maketable as their appeal is very narrow.

However, as Sauruz put very succingly, games that have Christian themes (altruism and empathy) are going to be far more appealing because those are things that people in general, across the faith specturm, are going to find appealing.   Of course, themes are just one part.  The actual game needs to be good, too.

Modifié par TheJediSaint, 01 avril 2013 - 07:20 .

[Ninja Stan]

Let's try and keep the political discussion out of it, please. THat kind of thing gets threads locked.

On topic, what about Left Behind: Eternal Forces?

EDIT: Ninja'd.

Modifié par Ninja Stan, 01 avril 2013 - 07:18 .

[Vortex13]

Ninja Stan wrote...

Let's try and keep the political discussion out of it, please. THat kind of thing gets threads locked.

On topic, what about Left Behind: Eternal Forces?

EDIT: Ninja'd.

I didn't know about that game, sounds ... interesting. At the very least it proves that such a game is possible; one just has to handle it correctly. Looking at a darker, more mature side of things, I was interested to see that the game actually let one play as the Anti-Christ faction; but you do run into the problem of it representing people as belonging to the anti-Christ faction, which of course brings up all the finger pointing and criticisms that Left Behind got.

IMO, the best way a developer should approch this genre is by dealing with the spiritual/supernatural side of it; Angels vs Demons that kinda thing. That way you don't have to deal with potential backlash of including people as the enemy, and it could get away with alot more mature themes then it could otherwise. For example: The Demons are trying to convince a person to commit murder or suicide, and you as the angel have to battle them to remove their influence. 

Yeah, it's a little GOW-ish but that's just something off the top of my head.