Note 10/1/2007: The post and comments below are based on initial information and preliminary reviews of Left Behind: Eternal Forces, some of which were inaccurate. Please search the site for later posts with updated information, including my own review after playing the game. Please note that the information below is speculation and commentary based on the information available at the time of its original publication, and is not intended as a source of current information. -Justin
Micheal Felker recently mentioned the forthcoming series of Left Behind video games, which he says is being hailed as “Grand Theft Auto for Christians.”
Left Behind: Eternal Forces comes out some time this year, and there aren’t a lot of details, but here’s the basic premise as I was able to infer from the website:
- The rapture has happened, so all the Christians are gone
- A bunch of people realize the error of their ways, and immediately become Christians after the rapture
- For some reason, it becomes necessary to blast the unrepentant to bits and hasten the destruction of the world
- Guns. Lots of guns.
Newsweek corroborates:
The game revolves around New Yorkers who are �left behind� after the rapture. Players scour the streets for converts, training them into a work force to feed, shelter and join a paramilitary resistance against the growing forces of the Antichrist.
Left Behind Games CEO Troy Lyndon, whose company went public in February, says the game�s Christian themes will grab the audience that didn�t mind gore in �The Passion of the Christ.� �We�ve thought through how the Christian right and the liberal left will slam us,� says Lyndon. �But megachurches are very likely to embrace this game.� Though it will be marketed directly to congregations, Forces will also have a secular ad campaign in gaming magazines. link
Violent secular video games are bad enough. There are some really good WWII sims out there that make you appreciate how terrible war is, and the gore factor is top-notch, but more and more evidence is mounting that these games have a detrimental effect on the minds of some people.
The idea of religious video games that celebrate the death and eternal destruction of non-adherents - worse yet, that makes their annhiliation the primary task of the Christian community - raises my abhorrence for the Left Behind phenomenon to a level of utter disgust that I previously reserved only for racism and genocide.
Left Behind is to Christianity what terrorism is to Islam. Both are narcissistic and destructive distortions of otherwise (mostly) benign religions. Believing in hell or something like it does not require us to take pleasure or desire to participate in the destruction of others. If God wants to kill certain people at a certain point in history, that’s his business. And he can certainly do it himself. He doesn’t need any help from a bunch of self-righteous, overcaffeinated adolescents with bad theology in one pocket and ammo in the other.
If someone released a jihad video game, right-wing bloggers would waste no time denouncing it and pointing out what a terrible idea it is to teach young minds that it’s a good idea to murder people who don’t share your beliefs. I fear that this will not happen with the Left Behind series of game, though; the blogosphere’s reaction is likely to go no farther than scoffing and incredulous eye-rolling.
We need to take a stronger stance against this distortion of the historic Christian faith. The novels were bad enough, and hopefully they have run their course. The video games take Left Behind’s insult to God’s sovereignty and mercy to an unprecedented level, and encourage Christian youth to stop caring about others. They push us into seeing only black and white, saved and unsaved, with ourselves as judge and jury - and now, executioner.
The Presbyterians anticipated this type of problem with premillennial dispensationalism in 1944:
It is the unanimous opinion of your Committee [the General Assembly] that Dispensationalism as defined and set forth above is out of accord with the system of the doctrine set forth in the Confession of Faith, not primarily or simply in the field of eschatology, but because it attacks the very heart of the Theology of our Church, which is unquestionably a Theology of one Covenant of Grace. (PDF link, p. 8)
In case it wasn’t clear that this game includes violence against non-Christians, Luke clarifies with some descriptions of the action in the game:
Slice of Laodicea agrees, despite our many other theological differences. The games will likely get a lot of attention in the Christian blogosphere because of this article yesterday from the Christian post.
Thanks for the shout out Justin. I read about the game a few months back in Time while waiting on the dentist. It made me think of a game that Rod and Tod Flanders’ own: “Billy Graham’s Bible Blaster.” It is a first person shooter where you change unenlightened tribesmen into card carrying Republicans. Oh brother. Great post though.
D’oh! Luke D beat me to the reference.
Amen and Amen!
When do we get to exercize the “profit driven distortion of the Gospel” moniker for more of the greedy bastards out there in the religious marketplace?
I simply can’t get my mind around the level of gross distortion of the Gospel, or the massive contradictions in Troy Lyndon’s thinking, that show up about this game and in the Christian Post article. I’m stunned. Does this game really have the blessing of the “Left Behind” authors? The mind reels.
Most telling quote: “We’ve thought through how the Christian right and the liberal left will slam us,” says Lyndon. “But megachurches are very likely to embrace this game.” I’d like to believe that statement is not true.
Hunter S. Thompson
You could also insert “Christian” before music business, or replace “music business” with “Christian entertainment business,” and the quote would still be valid. This kind of crap is noting new–it’s the same old crap.
So, uh, is Kirk Cameron doing voice work for this?
Maybe not if all the Christians got sucked up into glory…
[...] home fighting contact archives rss Thursday, April 20th, 2006 :: 5:41 PM “The [Christian entertainment business] is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There’s also a negative side.” (>> [...]
Unbelievable.
[...] Justin writes: Left Behind: Eternal Forces comes out some time this year, and there aren’t a lot of details, but here’s the basic premise as I was able to infer from the website: [...]
Robert, in the “The Christian Post” article, Tim LaHaye is said to be supporting the game developers.
Perhaps because I’m an avid PC gamer AND a post-evangelical, this title has always had this surreal aura about it. If I knew nothing about them, and if you put an ad for LB:EF side-by-side with an ad for Song Leader Revolution and asked me which of them was legit, I would have to look at them for a while before deciding.
I think that it will likely flop. RTS games have a steep learning curve, and tend to be bought by people who are already familiar with the genre. I’m guessing that the market of RTS-loving-premilleneal-dispensationalists-willing-to-try-a-mediocre-game-if-it-ties-into-LaHaye’s-Novels people is pretty limited. And I’m guessing that non-RTS people won’t “get” what they are trying to do, even if they are rabid LaHaye disciples.
Then, of course, there are the rest of us - who are just plain turned-off, if not offended, at the idea of trying to take a strained premise for a game and then fit it within an equally strained and overly-sensationalistic eschatalogical framework.
Are there ways to make some cool games within the Christian market? I actually think so. Simulation games, like Sim City or The Sims, and even role playing games, would seem to hold some promise in the right, creative hands. But those genres haven’t been done yet, because the only people willing to develop things in that market want to make first person shooters and RTS games.
What a shame.
Astonishing. Just astonishing. Why am I still surprised?
“Left Behind is to Christianity what terrorism is to Islam.”
[...] Left Behind Video Games: Possibly the Single Worst Idea Ever » Radical Congruency [...]
Whoa. While I agree with your assessment of the game, and I certainly would say that 1 John 4 is applicable in the sense of labelling the wrong spirit, I think it’s a little harsh and heavy to be labelling a person the “antichrist.” I understand you mean it in a generic sense, but too many people associate that term with the one, Satan-backed enemy of the church.
I sincerely doubt that Troy Lindon is such a person.
I won’t be buying the game, but I will be extending Troy and others the grace and respect that we are called to. It’s hard to dialogue with folks when you’re calling them names..
But thanks for the post and the heads up.
Jeff-
I see your point; however, I can’t think of any other way to express the level of disgust I have with this game and its creator.
You’re right - we probably shouldn’t go tossing terms like that around lightly.
Of course, we shouldn’t make the antichrist into a video game character, either :)…
[...] Previous | | RSS | PDF | Inlinks | eschatology, humor, left behind, premillennialism, videogames [...]
[...] link [...]
I have personally known Troy Lyndon for over 10 years and I know that he desires nothing more than to reach our youth for the Lord. We have personally(Troy Lyndon and I) led video gamers to Christ by engaging them with the very thing they are passionate about…video games. No one on this blog knows Troy personally and yet they offer their opinions of him. What Troy really needs are your prayers.
Suppossedly, over 70% of teenagers leave the church after high school and over 92% of kids are playing video games. Where are the “christian” video games? Why isn’t church relevant to our kids? Concerning the world, we understand that video gamers are an underserved market for values-focused Christian products. At Left Behind Games we are committed to providing Christians and non-Christians alike with opportunities to consider matters of eternal importance through the thought provoking content in our games.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey S. Frichner
President
Left Behind Games Inc.
[...] Jeffrey Frichner, president of Left Behind Games, has responded in a comment to my thoughts on the game: I have personally known Troy Lyndon for over 10 years and I know that he desires nothing more than to reach our youth for the Lord. We have personally(Troy Lyndon and I) led video gamers to Christ by engaging them with the very thing they are passionate about…video games. No one on this blog knows Troy personally and yet they offer their opinions of him. What Troy really needs are your prayers. [...]
What you have to consider is that there are billions of dollars being transferred into the video game industry, and those of us (Christians) who have been involved in that industry–and are enthusiastic consumers of it, desperately want to make an impact that will create prosperity, and increase the kingdom by influencing the unconverted toward a walk with Christ. I have been struggling with this myself for more than a decade, the result is my first novel, (shameless self-promotional plug alert) The Lords of Silica. I’m very critical in my thinking and this novel blew me away (Ok, I’m biased). But it is very cool (There is a video game connection within the story, so it is relevant to this discussion).
does not equal:
-scaring the unconverted about their fate at the rapture
or
-entertaining the unconverted while they blow away unsaved humans
If you want to see a successful attempt at a Christian vision of gaming, look into the Miller brother’s success with the Myst series of games. These games have no bombs, no death, and no violence. But they do captivate the imagination, teach critical thinking and curiousity, and pack a subtle but pervasive moral message about the consequences of our personal choices.
http://www.cornerstonemag.com/imaginarium/features/rand.html
I understand your point virusdoc–My point was not to suggest the inspiration for this article was a good game idea, I think it sucks, just to explain why Christians are interested in breaking into that industry at a level on par with the current standards. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like anyone with the proper financial backing is going to create a bleeding edge game that can stand toe to toe with the current forerunners. The multi-million dollar price tag of current game productions is discouraging anyone from giving it a serious try. I guess the closest thing right now is “The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe”. It had a multi-million dollar movie and classic novel to back it up, and it doesn’t seem to be truly competing with the current standard. Then we get a game idea like the one at the top of this article, and well, there you have it–Definitely a bad use of good money.
I’m glad we agree and sorry for misunderstanding your comment. You say:
Perhaps that’s because the current forerunners in the gaming industry (Quake, Halo, etc.) appeal to the basest urges of humanity, successfully and in blazing, nonstop, high definition gore. By definition, if that is the bleeding edge, it’s ground Christians must cede. But I’m not convinced that that type of game is the only one capable of capturing the imagination of the gaming community, as the (past) success of the Myst series evidences. I have no experience with TLTW&TW game. But adventure/mystery/role playing games appeal to only a certain type of individual who has been trained to enjoy such cerebral challenges. And I think we’re largely losing the cultural battle to try to foster that type of upbringing.
[...] McLaren in the article suggests that there is nothing more harmful about the theology in the Da Vinci Code than there is about the theology in the Left Behind series. Which may be true but hardly a good thing when the theology in the Left Behind series (now with video game available) is incredibly damaging. [...]
I dont see how this could be a bad game. Ok, first of all I’ve read that the creators of Left Behind Games aren’t trying to “throw” the Bible at us and make us Christians. That is the complete wrong point. They want to make a good game, first of all, and second, they want to make it teach a good lesson. You guys have it all wrong. Plus, this is true life… The Bible
Fair enough…but what’s the good lesson in this game? I can’t find one. “Kill non-adherents of our religion” is by no means a good lesson.
I don’t know the lesson that it will teach. And how can you search for a lesson about the game that hasen’t even came out yet.
This game might just hit the spot for not only Christians, but also anyone who likes this type of game. It looks like a high quality game. You can’t judge it on the name of it. Just because it is related to a Christian themed book doesnt mean its gonna suck. For all I know it Looks smokin. It will definately be a big game once it gets out and is heard. P.S. I am not a Christian.
I don’t doubt that it will be a well-made game. It seems that the developers are committed to making a game that lives up to the standards of the gaming community.
What bothers me is the specific theological message that is sent when the intent of a game is for members of a religion to kill non-members (failing their conversion). I don’t think this message should be sent on behalf of any religion, and as a Christian I have a problem with this (bad) theology being used in a video game published by Christians.
In fact, I don’t think it would bother me at all if non-Christians were making this game as a satire of Christians. But the “message” is being promoted as truth - regardless of how seriously you or I take it, it’s being sent.
Have you seen Left Behind the movie? This game isnt about killing non-Christians. Why would CHristians kill non-christians for not following their faith? It is unethical. The Christians are being hunt down by the “Big Man” because they are not following him! Christians have to defend themselves and take out the Big Man to lead more to True Life. I hope this clears up some stuff.
See the description above. While not emphasized in the description, it is clear that killing non-Christians is an element of the game play.
Again, if I’m wrong about this, I’d love to hear so from Left Behind Games.
According to this ABC News report on the game, you lose points for killing people, and gain points for converting them. That makes me feel a little better about it, but not much. I still don’t like the idea of a scenario in which Christians tote guns to fight the Antichrist.
I find it helpful to call these fools “Christianists” instead of Christian. That makes an exact parallel with “Islamism” as opposed to “Islam.”
This post in response to: Jeffrey S. Frichner, President, Left Behind Games Inc. who posted here on April 25th, 2006
Jeffrey, a couple of months have passed by since your post. Since then, more information has become publicly available. There have been press reviews from journalists who’ve seen the game in the flesh, and there have been news videos, also from journalists who were there in the flesh. So since you posted we’ve been able to see and understand more about your game.
I must confess Im horrified by the descriptions of it, and those are just the descriptions on the leftbehindgames.com website. You are conforming to the world and embracing it, instead of transforming it as Christians were commanded to do.
What were you thinking putting in feature that allows children to change sides and fight as demons! Are you mad? There is totally nothing, nothing Christian about that. The opposite in fact. You scare me, you people!
From the game’s FAQ:
Are guns used by Christians against non-Christians? Why or why not?
The storyline in the game begins just after the Rapture has occurred – when all adult Christians, all infants, and many children were instantly swept home to Heaven and off the Earth by God. The remaining population – those who were left behind – are then poised to make a decision at some point. They cannot remain neutral. Their choice is to either join the AntiChrist – which is an imposturous one world government seeking peace for all of mankind, or they may join the Tribulation Force – which seeks to expose the truth and defend themselves against the forces of the AntiChrist.
Not only do they not answer the question outright, but posit horrible, horrible theology.
The early Christians did not employ violence to overcome violence. They turned the symbol of peace through violence, the cross, into a symbol of overcoming evil and violence through suffering.
It’s funny, but you “Christians” on the blogs complain more than ANYONE else and ANY blogs. If you don’t like something, do something about it. Don’t just whine about things (although that is apparently what you do best). YOU are what give Christianity a bad name in the secular world. You believe that what YOU know is right and there is NO other way to reach non believers.
So, the game is based on Novels that were based on Biblical Prophecy. What is wrong with that? Maybe when all this goes down, Christians MAY have to take up arms against non christians in order to protect themselves (how farfetched!).
So, this game may not reach you. ARE YOU THE TARGET AUDIENCE?? Maybe if you spent less time complaining and bashing anything and everything in the blogs with Christian concepts and actually DID something constructive for Christ, maybe things can actually change for the better.
…but I guess it’s just easier to complain about things huh?
Steve-
I’m not sure what you would consider sufficient evidence that the people behind the “whiny” blogs you read (such as this one) are doing anything. After all, you are reading blogs. What do you expect to see? “Today, I overthrew an oppressive regime and brought Christ to a new people group. No time to comment on current events…”?
I and others have raised numerous valid concerns about this game. You have said, in effect, said we’re being whiny and not doing anything, which means you are whining and not doing anything about our purported whining and not doing anything. Gotta love the irony there.
If you will read the comments above, you will see that the company has responded, which I would consider a major success. The message has been sent, so something has been done.
If you think the game is a good idea, feel free to say so, but please be considerate enough to respond to the actual arguments being presented. I will do the same.
You are suggesting that Left Behind Games may be presenting an accurate view of eschatological events and necessities. Even if that’s the case, though (which I don’t think it is), is it a good idea to ingrain today’s teenagers with the idea of killing people who believe differently from them?
Do people seriously believe that it’s important to train people who aren’t Christians yet to become militant Christians after the Rapture, so they can effectively fend off the Antichrist and his minions? Do they really get that from scripture?
Some people are all upset over this video game, but haven’t major religions all over the world, including and probably especially Christian, done this for real? Bless the troops on both side of the war and send them out to kill one another in the name of God and country.
How can anyone who claims to follow Christ kill anyone?
It doesn’t make sense to me.
[...] Left Behind is to Christianity what terrorism is to Islam. Both are narcissistic and destructive distortions of otherwise (mostly) benign religions. Believing in hell or something like it does not require us to take pleasure or desire to participate in the destruction of others. If God wants to kill certain people at a certain point in history, that’s his business. And he can certainly do it himself. He doesn’t need any help from a bunch of self-righteous, overcaffeinated adolescents with bad theology in one pocket and ammo in the other. MORE [...]
[...] Ah yes, good ol’ fashioned videogame violence - Christian style. Read more about this game here and here. [...]
It sounds pretty extremist, but I guess true Christians believe others are going to suffer eternally, so they are predisposed to look down on them.
Would a game from the perspective of the 9/11 terrorists be any different? Victory would result in being united with 72 virgins, and defeating the White Devil?
Back in the beginnings of Christianity, Christians commited great crimes against humanity because they were successfully brainwashed by the most effective method of the day (books).
Today, the most effective methods are film (The Passion) and video games. When a child plays a violent video game, they understand it is merely that; a video game.
With violent games based around religion, the child’s experience is different. The character is violent because Christians are the one true religion; this idea will transfer to the children playing it, and they will grow up with the idea that people with different beliefs should be slain.
Children with these ideas may grow up to become extremists, taking joy from the suffering of nonbelievers in the same way they did from these “God games.” By that point, it’s not hard to imagine a president of the United States taking on a role similar to Hitler; kill everyone who is different.
Christianity is ruining this world. America destroys because Jesus saves.
Toby-
I think you’re overlooking the aspect of compassion that the vast majority of Christians have toward those who do not hold the same faith.
I agree that the game is destructive, but my point in this post is that the game runs directly counter to Christian values and mission, rather than supporting them. Nowhere are Christians ever instructed to take up arms against non-Christians, and no reward is offered for (literally) “fighting in God’s army,” so I don’t think the analogy with Islamist terrorists is valid.
You really have to go to the extreme fringes of Christianity to find anyone who thinks this is good theology. It disgusts me that this game is being marketed so widely. Unfortunately, it looks like all the distribution channels are fairly self-contained, so there’s likely no stopping it by appealing to major companies.
The idea of the game is to get you thinking about the truths in the bible lots of you belive the whats came true about whats written by nostradamus and he got got some of his stuff wrong. Everything what as come to pass in the bible has come to pass over the thousands of years.
Just like the fact one day you find out what the game was really trying to do / not what you think it was trying to do.
Personally I think you’re taking this entire game much too seriously. You’re taking a small label video game and somehow transforming it into the end of christianity as we know it. I also note that there is about 90% criticism without any solution. Is the better solution to have nothing at all? With all the statistics being accumulated showing a steady fall from the church, I would think that a game such as this, that SHOULD be purchased and played under parental supervision, would inspire curiousity and debate that otherwise might not be there.
To think that you need not enter the arena of the non-christian or borderline christian to inspire curiousity or discussion is very naive. My family is christian, my daughter attends a private christian school, one of the most conservative christian schools around, that I, my sister, and parents also attended. Am I offended or threatened by this GAME, no, not in the least. Would my daughter be able to play it, under my supervision? Of course. To simply toss out any activity involving christ or christianity without giving it a moments thought is at best narrow-minded.
If you think for one second that you can save crack addicts by handing them a flower, or teenagers by giving them a Veggie Tales game, you’re fooling yourself. I, for one, feel that if this game convinces one teen to ask “what is the rapture” or anything of the sort that inspires an exchange about Christ or christianity, then I call it well worth it. To believe that this game will inspire a generation of non-believer killing zombies is foolish and displays an unbelievable lack in the spirit of the christain faith and doesn’t bode well for our future, with or without the addition of this game.
Ron-
If this were simply a case of using edgy stuff from popular culture to appeal to people, I wouldn’t be outraged about the game.
However, this game not only uses violence, but it does so for specific theological reasons, with specific theological and ethical implications that I find grossly heretical and destructive.
This isn’t simply Grand Theft Auto-style violence; it’s religious violence, which no one has any business teaching to young people. This is the Christian (Christianist?) version of teaching a teenager to strap a bomb to his chest and blow up a city bus. Perhaps you earn souls or points instead of virgins, but the basic idea is the same, and is deeply offensive and dangerous.
As an atheist, I think christians are delusional and scary.
In October, scientist Richard Dawkins just came out with his newest book; “The God Delusion” and if after reading it you still think you are on the mark, then you ARE the solution to a problem of your own making. Sorry.
People blindfolded by their religious bias can’t see the blindfold because of the blindfold. Hence, it’s near impossible to open your eyes to non-biblical readings and to THINK your premises through.
This Left Behind game needs to turn the other behind and get slapped out of the gaming world as inconsequential and put the kids in a peer review science room before it’s to late for their wasted thinkingless minds.
What say ye?
Darrell B
ATTENTION all head-in-the-sand moralists!
I Agree with Ron (Posted by Ron | Tuesday, September 19th, 2006 at 1:17 AM ).
Do any of you naysayers have any BETTER ideas on getting millions of teens to even *think* of the word “church”?
No…because you’re all too busy prostelyzing among yourselves, arguing the finer points of God’s word, while your so-called ministers are buying meth and getting gay massage.
Wake up, you lunkheads! It’s a video game that puts Christian music, Biblical words and religious concepts of religion directly in front of those zoned-out teenagers who ignore you. And it does it for hours at a time!!!!
If they have to be brainwashed, for Christ’s sake, let it be with OUR message - not Hollywood’s!!!!!
Buy the game and gift it widely to your 12-18 year-old relatives and friends. Make this the biggest sensation in all of video game history!
Why?
So that Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft will invest in MORE Christian games as well. So this won’t be the *only* game on the market.
Of course it’s not perfect, but this is a step in the right direction. Do *something* for once and stop moaning about “morality”. Do you think Al Qaeda moans and cries about you? Does the Devil?
MOVE YOUR FEET AND PUT YOUR HANDS TO WORK. THE BATLLE IS HERE.
Olden-
Is that really productive if the wrong message is getting in front of kids? What if, in fact, it doesn’t nudge people toward faith in God, but gives them an utterly destructive misconception about the message of Jesus, while masquerading as a neutral video game or (worse) good theology?
I don’t think I agree with you that doing something, regardless of how harmful, is better than doing nothing. Getting kids thinking about Christianity is counterproductive if it’s done in a way that forms them into the kind of people who are incapable of understanding and living out the message of Jesus.
[...] When I first read about the game, I was not happy. Left Behind Games’ own description of the action was not reassuring - it indicated that Christian-vs.-non-Christian violence was a major element of the gameplay. [...]
Justin:
I sincerely apologize. I fully concede your point.
When it comes to Christianity, doing nothing IS far better than doing something.
Getting the message of Jesus out to the masses must, by definition, be done after we achieve perfection, world peace and bright sunshiny days, every day of the year. Until these things happen we need to all stay home and wait.
Our day will come.
Great thinking, my friend!
Olden-
I’m not saying we need to be perfect before reaching out. I’m saying that this particular attempt does more harm than good, because it gives people a horribly wrong view of God.
What if someone proposed going out with a stun gun, zapping people, and sticking bible tracts in their pockets while they lay on the sidewalk unconscious? Would you say that’s a good idea? Is that something better than doing nothing? What about running naked across a ballfield with a John 3:16 sign?
I don’t think you can seriously argue that any attention-getting activity, no matter how destructive, is preferable to no activity at all.
You’re also making it sound like supporting this game is the only way one can make a difference or get the word out. The choice is not between supporting the game and doing nothing - there are plenty of positive things to do.
Sigh… Im perplexed by this game, ive been a long term gamer for untold years, I really dont seem to care for this - if your going to put a religious infrence in a game, dont let the game blow. As far as I can see its not worth my money or time, Warhammer 40,000 Dawn Of War, Rise Of Nations, Starcraft, Warcraft, Command and Conquer, just a short list of games that blow this one clear into oblivion. Look aside from not RTS’s I play a large quantity of FPS (First Person Shooters) and ill tell you nothing is more satisfying than pinning an enemy to the wall with a crossbow bolt from across the map (Half-Life 2). I never have the “Urge” to do this in reality, thats beside the point. If you want a moral to get out dont make a crap product, I have a very good feeling that this game will fail misserably, regardless if parents want there kids to learn Micro Managing buy rise of nations. Dont be “horrified” by a large grouping of pixels be shaded red.
Email your argument - I heard about this game on “Glenn Beck” enlighten me…..
-Sypheros
sypheros@yahoo.com
Hi Sypheros,
I should clarify that I don’t have a problem with the game being gory or violent (which it doesn’t appear to be, at least not to a great extent). My main complaint is that it suggests that at some point in history, killing in the name of God will be acceptable (even necessary). I don’t think that will ever be the case, and I certainly don’t like the idea of a game that teaches kids that violence in the name of religion (even a religion I believe in) is OK.
Is the game badly made? I’d be interested to know, but I don’t know anyone who has played it. I know LBG was attempting to make it on par with Half-Life 2 and other games.
Dear Justin,
To answer your primary concern about killing in the name of the Lord, may I point you and your readers to the “Just War” doctrine…
Left Behind Games has been very diligent to approach this issue with great care and we believe that we have our accomplished our goal of teaching that there are consequences to conflict. Technically, you can win Left Behind: Eternal Forces without firing a shot! As you may have read, the focus of the game is spiritual warfare…and we could all use a little more prayer, couldn’t we?
Honestly, I’m surprised you haven’t played and reviewed Left Behind: Eternal Forces.
I do hope you and your readers will take a look at the positive review from Plugged In Online, a ministry of Focus on the Family.
There has already been tremendous acceptance of the game by mainstream evangelicals. Those who have had concerns such as yours have seen those concerns dissipate after learning of the ministry back-end of the product (Once you play - you will understand). Since the release, Left Behind Games has received at least 4 emails from people who have confessed their sins and and received the Lord Jesus.
Many blessings,
Jeffrey S. Frichner
President
Left Behind Games Inc.
Please tell me that you didn’t just associate Just War Theory with “killing in the name of the Lord”.
Jeffrey-
Thank you for the clarifications and links. I understand now that us-vs-them violence is not the main aspect of the game. However, it’s pretty hard to take a look at the game’s promotional materials and come to any other conclusion.
Regardless of whether you can play the game without making a Christian shoot a non-Christian, it’s obvious that the game encourages people to do just that. The scenario is a battle, and everyone knows what happens in battles.
I don’t know exactly how to respond to the whole praise-team and “spirit meter” thing other than to label it as unconscionably lame. If anything, features like that will make teens play for the other side, and will delight in gunning down the cardigan-wearing white male evangelicals. I can see why evangelicals would like the message that such elements (e.g. prayer, preaching, praise music) send, but I think it encourages people to focus on the external trappings of Christianity while reinforcing bad theology.
I appreciate your commenting here, and I appreciate where you’re coming from. I enjoyed reading the late Larry Burkett’s The Illuminati when I was a kid, and while I disagree with the eschatologies promoted by that book and the Left Behind series, I agree that it would be reasonable to expect that Christians who find themselves in that situation to defend themselves.
Frankly, I’m dumbfounded that you didn’t anticipate the reaction people would have to your game. I’m glad to hear that a lot of the fears were unfounded, and that the game is actually better (in all ways) than most people were expecting, but I hope you will be careful of protecting the reputation of Christianity (including any potential mischaracterizations or misunderstandings) when marketing future games.
The other point that needs to be mentioned regarding the Left Behind series and similar books such as Burkett’s Illuminati is that the world has changed a great deal since they were written.
Yes, it is reasonable to assume and expect that Christians would fight back if they were being persecuted. Some would choose the pacifist response, but I wouldn’t judge someone for taking up arms to defend their family from certain death. It’s dramatic and compelling to read imaginative stories about scenarios like this.
But we have to be more careful now, because much killing has been done on the name of religion in the past few years. Little or none of it has been related to premillennial Christianity, but it’s on everyone’s radar.
When games like LB:EF come out, everyone assumes the worst, and understandably so. It will take extra work to ensure that carefully planned efforts do not get misinterpreted or distorted.
Thanks again for clearing up the misconceptions. For the love of God, please be careful with stuff like this.
Let me see if I have this correctly.
According to the “christians” (no capital C earned yet IMO) who apologize for this game’s use of violence to destroy non-Christian characters in the game’s fictional landscape,
it is perfectly acceptable, and perhaps even preferable,
to do what Jesus Christ himself spoke against (idolatry, hypocrisy, violence, and hate) in order to get the attention of those young gamers that need to be converted?
I see.
No wonder Christianity is roundly ignored by smart teenagers. They see the hypocrisy and illogic practiced by its most outspoken purveyors.
Were Jesus the Biblical Son of God alive today, he would call Left Behind: Eternal Forces a tool of Pharisees.
And He would call posts number 20, 21, 22, 24, 27, 30, 32, 38, 45, 46, 49 and 56 to be abominable distortions of His teachings.
Jesus the Biblical Son of God never taught that one must commit sin after sin in order to gain followers. I defy any one of you who argues otherwise to offer Bible quotations that prove your point. And please explain how they make the proof requested. Do not merely give scriptural citations, as the citations themselves do not prove anything.
Wow. This has been a sad and disappointing bit of reading. So much anger, hostility and readiness to fight…and that’s just the postings!
I don’t want to add anything to the divisive tone(s) here; and offer the following comments without malice:
The game seems to be targeted at families; which makes me think children are part of their target audience, and
it claims not be too violent.
Having a game character shoot (ie kill, murder or whatever) seems violent to me. In that regard, the marketing seems to be a bit deceptive to me.
I’m not saying anyone that wants to play violent games is wrong, bad or anything. No judgment on people’s personal choices. I just think the promoters might want to consider being more realistic about the violent content of the game; or, at least omit any reference about violence.
In the end, the game can be returned to the store at which it was purchased if the buyer is offended. I’m just disappointed because while both war and religious beliefs are facts of life, I’m always saddened at their pairing.
Well I guess if you can’t make someone into the kind of Christian that your sect requires then scare them to death and teach their children that killing is justified. When some kid walks into a school and shoots all the students he preceives to be nonbelievers then maybe someone will see how dangerous this game is.
If this game is accepted why not have on abut the Inquisition where all those who don’t follow the ways of the old church are tortured and burned. Burned, yea, how about witch hunting and burning. There is no end of blood and gore we could use from the history of the religion of peace and love.
About to throw up, Charlotte
Not knowing much about this game, I am surprised to find that Ars Technica’s review of it didn’t just pan or mock it. The review is actually quite theologically savvy. They don’t attribute Left Behind theology to all Christians, or even all evangelicals, and I’m grateful for that.
Bottom line of Ars Technica’s review:
I can’t say that I’m suprised. Extremism runs throughout all religions in the world and we shouldn’t think for one moment that the extremists in the United States are any less capable of killing for their religious cause than the extremists in the Middle Eastern Countries. Pat Robertson has eluded to as much in his writings and in his lectures. George Bush and the current administration has done so with their actions and policy towards our current predicament in Iraq. George is a fundamentalist Christian. If that doesn’t wake up the American populous, nothing will.
God Bless America, in song and in phrase, has been proclaimed relentlessly since 9/11. How about “God Bless The Human Race”.
This game promotes hatred and intolerance. That’s not the Jesus I know and not the message he proclaimed in all of his teachings. In fact, the only time he was enraged in the New Testament’s recollection was when people were misusing the temple for selling and making money. I wonder if the authors and sellers of this game are living the real life of Christians and helping the poor and less fortunate with the earnings . . . even if they happen to be Muslim, Hindu or Jewish.
I think the only people worried about this game are people with no experience of being around videogames. The simple fact that anyone would compare it to GTA is proof of that. This game is RTS (Real Time Strategy) and not an action/adventure game at all. I think anyone playing the game wuld be aware very quickly that it wasn’t based on actual Theology…but for sure, all people who are too weak-minded to differentiate between Faith and Fiction should most certainly stay away from this game.
would (not wuld)
LEFT BEHIND: ETERNAL FORCES
A statement from Left Behind Games Inc.
Troy A. Lyndon, Chief Executive Officer
Recently, much controversy has ensued due to published articles in the media which discuss the violence in our upcoming game, Left Behind: Eternal Forces. However, references to “praise the lord and pass the ammunition” or “kill in the name of God” or others were made by journalists spreading misinformation, which is absolutely not true. And for this reason, I have published this statement.
There is no blood or gore in Left Behind: Eternal Forces. The game is designed to be a classic battle between good and evil, but it does not gratuitously depict violence or death.
Others are concerned about the pre-trib religious doctrine believed by the Left Behind authors. Left Behind is not the Bible, it is a fictional story and accordingly, situations resulting from the stories’ post-apocalyptic time-frame are used to encourage gamers to think about matters of eternal significance, a topic largely ignored by modern games.
Because our game is a ‘strategy’ game, never does a player click a key or press a button to actuate a first-person violent act. Instead, control is managed by the player in much the same way as an animated chess game would be when pieces fight for position, except that in ‘real-time’ strategy games, many pieces fight for position at the same time.
In Left Behind: Eternal Forces, the players’ objective is to find ‘tribulation clues’, which include Bible mysteries, codes and fascinating and eternally relevant information. In the initial missions, there is little emphasis on physical warfare and gamers are introduced to powers of influence which result in a battle for the hearts and minds of people. As missions progress, there are no ‘objectives’ to cause war physically. However, physical warfare results when the player is required to defend against the physical forces of evil; led by the Global Community Peacekeepers.
Several months ago, there was a news story with erroneous information about the game. Unfortunately, some readers accepted the misinformation as being factual, and then the rumor mill and the blogs were off and running.
If you hear someone making negative statements about this game, we encourage you to ask if they have personally reviewed the game. If they are merely passing on hearsay, it is false and misleading information.
At Left Behind Games, we are dedicated to making great games. Left Behind: Eternal Forces is coming to the PC and will be released on October 2006. We believe it will be a great day!
————————————————————
If you have a weakness of Faith, please don’t play this game…but if you can tell the difference between Fiction and Reality, give it a try. It is a videogame, and if you are afraid that your children will get it confused with the Bible, please do not let them play it.
Been a Christian since I was six years old. Love God with all my heart and soul. Just saw this unbelievably immoral, horrid, un-Christian, devilish video game. Horrible…just horrible. I think they should destroy these games immediately and ask for forgiveness…from God and others.
Did you play it, or just see the box and make a judgement from that? I will assume you probably saw the box in a store while buying Christmas presents to put under your Pegan Christmas Tree…
(The exact origin of the Christmas tree seems under debate, but it is safe to say that this symbol evolved from Pagan tradition.
The Norse pagans and Celtic Druids revered evergreens as manifestations of deity because they did not “die” from year to year but stayed green and alive when other plants appeared dead and bare. The trees represented everlasting life and hope for the return of spring.
The druids decorated their trees with symbols of prosperity — a fruitful harvest, coins for wealth and various charms such as those for love or fertility. Scandinavian Pagans are thought to be the first to bring their decorated trees indoors as this provided a warm and welcoming environment for the native fairy folk and tree elementals to join in the festivities. The Saxons, a Germanic pagan tribe, were the first to place lights on the their trees in the form of candles. Ancient Romans decorated their homes with greens at the Festival of Saturnalia, their New Year and exchanged evergreen branches with friends as a sign of good luck.)
Maybe before judging a fictional videogame, you should study your own actions. The “holiday” of Christmas has become a mixture of Pegan rituals like lighting Christmas Trees, alot of consumerism, and a little bit of Christianity to “keep it Holy”.
The game has never claimed to be based on truth, it is just a gme based on a fictional book. The book itself is based on the idea of Rapture, which wasn’t even mentioned in the Bible at all. The idea of a pre-trib rapture was created in the 19th century to help make being a Christian more appealing to people afraid of death. As a Christian of almost 30 years, I hope for a pre-trib rapture, but I am willing to suffer tribulation if called to. I am also strong enough in my own faith to be able to play a game without confusing it with reality.
I have played the demo version, and I must say the graphics are good, and most of the gameplay elements are on par with Age of Empires III, which I’m playing right now.
However, I had trouble figuring out what to do a lot of the time - even when it tells you want to do, the directions don’t make sense, and seemingly simple things are next to impossible. More later.
MikeM, I’m not sure where you were going with the Christmas tree thing, but I think I explained how I heard about the game. This post was written months before it was released.
I was repling to the girl right above me. She was saying how immoral the game was, and has never played it. She is probably ok, with celebrating Christmas according to the pegan rituals Americans have adopted, but she still feels free to judge a fictional videogame.
Sorry about the typos, I was going too fast, and there is no edit feature.
There has been alot of misleading information spun throughout the public and media regarding Left Behind Eternal Forces game. I encourage you to visit http://www.menofgod.us & download a trial version. I believe the first hand experience will allow you the opportunity to judge for yourself and put these rumors to a rest.
Here is a statement from the CEO, Troy Lyndon, to clarify some of the misconceptions and propaganda:
LEFT BEHIND: Eternal Forces
A PC Game
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY endorses our game. Read below to find out why!
Our game DOES NOT encourage killing.
Our game is NOT anti-Semitic.
Our game is NOT anti-Muslim or anti-Islamic.
It is anti-EVIL! The ultimate bad-guy is the Antichrist who wants to eliminate all faiths and all religions, except his and he is deceiving the entire world.
Our game does NOT teach the pre-tribulation theology of the book series, except that this worldview is utilized as a FICTIONAL backdrop of the game.
In the past several days, numerous people have been and continue to spread misinformation about the game.
Our game is the first game ever to encourage the use of PRAYER and WORSHIP as the most effective means to resolve conflict.
Physical warfare is discouraged as the LEAST EFFECTIVE means for resolving conflict…and a gamer loses points for using a gun.
This is the world’s first high-quality inspirational game which intends to model positive behavior by discouraging physical warfare.
Please play the game for yourself and help us to get out the TRUTH.
In an industry which creates so much gratuitous violence and gore, LEFT BEHIND: Eternal Forces presents a healthy alternative. We need your help to get the word out!
PLAY THE GAME and find out for yourself that this game is about the battle of good versus evil.
Here are a few things said by others:
- The Anti-Defamation League, although they speak out against the book theology, says “Conversion to Christianity in the game is not depicted as forcible in nature, and violence is not rewarded in the game.”
- AOL says it is a “Positive Moral Message”
- Focus on the Family says “Finally! A game Mom and Dad can play with Junior”
- Concerned Women for America says “A game we can wholeheartedly recommend!”
- Wired Magazine “Few are as ambitious and polished as this PC title.”
- ArsTechnica.com “This is a game that Christian parents can buy their kids, and one that Christian kids can play themselves without any guilt about “questionable content.””
- Women of Faith says “In an industry that is full of destruction with no hope, the LEFT BEHIND game
- Clint Thomas from Chaos Theory says “For years we’ve been telling kids what to run from and not what to run to, until now!”
Should you have any concerns about this game, please go to the contact us page on our website at http://www.leftbehindgames.com and we’ll do our best to connect with you.
Sincerely,
Troy Lyndon
CEO, Left Behind Games Inc.
Sandi,
I have played the demo and was extremely disappointed in both the silly storylines and objectives in the game as well as the game play itself. Unfortunately, the game is not “the world’s first high-quality inspirational game” - we’re still waiting for that.
I think that before you ship your next game, you need to get more feedback from people who play RTS games and listen to what they have to say - maybe then you’ll be able to ship a game I’d be willing to buy.
Hi David,
There is a big difference between the demo of the game published in August and the current version of the game. We recommend you download the latest demo available…the link is at the bottom of this page at http://www.leftbehindgames.com/controversy.htm.
Have fun!
Regards,
Troy Lyndon / CEO / Left Behind Games Inc.
The correct link is: http://www.leftbehindgames.com/controversy.htm
Sorry again.
Hi David,
There is a big difference between the demo of the game published in August and the current version of the game. We recommend you download the latest demo available…the link is at the bottom of this page at http://www.leftbehindgames.com/pages/controversy.htm
Have fun!
Regards,
Troy Lyndon / CEO / Left Behind Games Inc.
Troy-
Thanks for stopping by again. I must say that playing the demo (in December - I downloaded it from GameSpy) revealed that what you’re saying about the game is accurate. It doesn’t encourage violence against non-Christians, even if it is possible within the game’s parameters.
Thanks for the clarifications.