Christian Games...Anyone?

[Dervish]

Wow I just asked a simple question last night at like two and already have 2 pages of comments course only about six of those are on topic.  In reality I had not idea how to proceed on a game or have a story I was just wondering what some feedback would be...I don't think this is really the place to discuss wether the gospels are accurate or not... My hope would be of course that a fun christian game could bring about a faith in people who might have not had before or at least asking questions about it but I am not out to convert everyone... I just thought those who might be interested might want to have some sort of discussion about a possiblity of a mature christian game....(also I didn't mean to imply that it be too serious... I enjoy veggietales and find thier humor a great asset to parents looking for children programming with a message. I just was looking for something that wouldn't be like those Nintendo Bible games like Noah's Ark and other tripe.  
I know it was probably silly of me to have introduced this without much a foundation for the games I am talking about.  I just wanted to kinda see who might want to have an honest discussion about what a fun christian game could be or would be.

[MrColossal]

Parody=mocking? Not in the sense I was meaning...

EDIT: One question, Space Boy... Why Star Wars can be parodied, and Religion not?

Nacho, drop it. Please. Go start a new thread if there is something you want to get off your chest.

[Babar]

So many ways you could go about it:
You could do it Ben Hur style, with a contemporary character and reasonably accurate history mixed with fiction
You could do it symbolic style, like the Narnia stories
You could do it completely disconnected from the actual 'history' of the Bible, but about teaching a moral lesson, or learning a lesson.

Question is, what exactly are you trying to get across? The second way, or perhaps a subtle version of the 3rd way would be most widely 'accepted'. However, I see no reason you should shy away from making a full-on CHRISTIAN christian-game, especially if you do it right. People shouldn't be afraid of expressing their beliefs.

[BOYD1981]

it's people like Nacho that give us atheists a bad name.

[Nacho]

Well, you had what you want! This, is a slice of reality. If you do this game, you have different ways to do it.From "parody" to "Literalistic", a wide range!  And it will create controversy, that's for sure.

No matter which degree you chose. Some people will see it boring and don't give it even a tiny opportunity. That happens with everything, no matter the topic you chose.

So, do it. As far as I know, doing a "believer" game, the worst that can bring to you is indeference.

Edit: Eeeeeek... Three replies till I was writing. This was refered to Dervish.

[space boy]

Parody=mocking? Not in the sense I was meaning...

EDIT: One question, Space Boy... Why Star Wars can be parodied, and Religion not?

I didnt say it cant be parodied. I just meant you make it sound like being a skeptic means having to automatically parody religion. I'm not a big fan of religion myself, but this topic started really innocently, with no reason to turn it into a discussion about whether religion is stupid or whatever. The man was just asking for help with his game. If you wanna represent the skeptical side you need to learn how to talk with people without verbally punching them in the face. Even if you are right in a debate, that doesnt give you the right to insult the other side. It just makes you look like a cynical religion hater. Thats the image that true skepticism is trying to get rid of. Be skeptical, but dont be agresive.

And thats all I wanted to say about it. Over and out.

[MrColossal]

The tough thing with symbolism is that so much media has christ figures in it already that if you want a game to come across as specifically christian you'd have to do something very specific. I don't think Narnia instilled christian values in someone who didn't already have them the same way The Matrix didn't.

Also other media are full of lessons that you'd still have to do something that stands out from the pack of sitcoms with lessons and David The Gnome stories.

It's tough to get any idea across without specifically stating it because I feel people have become so used to lessons or morals or themes just being a part of storytelling that if there's a specific lesson or whatever people just gloss over it and accept it as part of the story but don't apply it towards anything, which is ultimately what the creator would want.

[Stupot]

I'd happily play a game despite its Christian undertones, but I wouldn't play a game because of them.

Just Like I'd happily read Narnia, even though they reek of Christianity, because they tell a good story and they are not preaching to me (well, maybe subtely they are, but subtle is fine).

I don't want to play a game that's going to tell me I'm on my way to hell because I don't believe in God... But on the other hand, I don't mind the idea of a game that deals with moral issues as long as it doesn't tell me what to do.

I'd even play a game based on bible stories... in fact, I think that would be awesome.  To be fair, I might be an atheist, but the bible is responsible for some mindblowing storytelling.  You gotta hand it to Matt, Mark, Luke, John et al. for imagination.

[Ghost]

Ah, I see. Okay, I want to contribute to the thread too. I am a classic "I dislike god for not existing" non-believer, I am jewish, German and also lesbian, and each week I make sure to kick a kitten. Ooo, and I use Stickam.

Go on, ruin it further!

[Dudeman Thingface]

I just was looking for something that wouldn't be like those Nintendo Bible games like Noah's Ark and other tripe.

Then might I suggest a somewhat serious, yet twisted theological view on the scriptures.

For example (this is used purely for example) the Antichrist. It is written that apparently when the Antichrist walks the earth, he will turn all to his side, but 3 years into his reign, he will kill all of those without his mark and have complete control over those with it.

How about twisting it up, making the Antichrist a business that opens a theoretical physics test facility, his somewhat deluded, yet workable, ideas manage to unit the interest of all countries. They do not bow to him, but all show great faith in what he has to offer.
Then it happens. He believes he has discovered a genetic pattern in the manipulation of the human genome, he thinks he may be able to create super soldiers. He was wrong. After injecting himself with the genetic fluid, he changes into something else. His body ages and his heart stops, yet he remains alive.
He goes on a journey to discover what's wrong with him, seeking help from a variety of characters with different religious views. As he does so, he blacks out numerous times, and when he wakes up, they are all gone. He searches for the sudden lost people while discover more people, others. The world deteriorates as he searches for answers and eventually finds scattered resistances against an "unholy threat", they take him in, but then realise he is the cause of all of this. His confusion leads them to show compassion and they show him what he's done. Zombies, everywhere. Those who haven't been bitten die out, and those who do, are under some sort of demonic control. A resistance leader puts a gun to the Antichrist's head and the last words the Antichrist hears are from God's mouth. God tells him (something along the lines of) "Thank you, you have done your part, like Judas for my son.". The Antichrist looks up and the last thing he sees is a brilliant light, in the middle of which, the gates to heaven open.

Whew, all of that off the top of my head. Purely hypothetical that is.

[Trent R]

Why don't we make an Oregon Trail clone of the Jewish Exodus?

~Trent

[Dervish]

I guess the key would be to make something fun.  I mean no matter if it is relegious or not people aren't going to play a game if it is boring.  I have an idea for a story but some of the ideas in it might not be embraced by a person who is relegious and at the same time be mocked becuase of the relegious content.  But I am not just looking for one game I am looking for a whole bunch of ideas and possiblities for different games.  As far as what I can contribute... I am can pretty much do anything but I am by no means an expert on anything.

[Dudeman Thingface]

Perhaps I shouldn't have jumped the gun, sorry, I got excited.

So, Dervish, what ideas are you actually looking for?, what direction are you intending on going with them? (I mean apart from a fun adventure game - I mean from a story perspective) and what ideas do you have already?

EDIT - sorry if I'm repeating anything anyone else has asked, but I want to get this thread back on-topic.

[Trent R]

I believe Babar already asked what Dudeface Thingman is asking.


~Trent

[Dervish]

haha Actually the Jewish Exodus thing sounds like it would be fun.  Well right now I have an idea for kinda a scifi symbolism christian game.  If you would want me to post what I have so far I guess I can....
....
In 1971, the world ended.  The cold war grew hot, and it was the shortest active war in history.  No one is sure who launched first or whether it was an accident or not.  Not that it even matters nowadays, however, after the first ICBM was launched the concept of mutual destruction was put into practice, and within mere hours nothing was left to fight over.  For the humans that were left it was no longer about thriving only about surviving.  Small groups scratched out their tiny niches in the new world, and built ramshackle communities that were held together only by people’s need to live until the next day.
      Some sixty years have passed since the beginning of what some people have termed man’s final age.  In the town, which was once Las Cruces, New Mexico, a small monastery has been created from the remains of a junkyard. The stacked skeletal remains of cars create the high walls, which provide the much needed protection from the elements and marauders.  Although religion now seems futile to many, this collection of monks have maintained their faith by knowing that it wasn’t God who created this mess only the greed and stupidity of man.
   Brother Ford woke up and peered out the crack in the wall he scarcely called a window.  He saw that the dark of night still engulfed the landscape.  Why had I awoken, he thought.  Then the slight tapping on his cell door made him realize someone was interrupting his sleep.
...
That is not all of it just kinda the intro... basically the idea would be that the seven days of creation were not seven literal days and that each day respresented possibly millions of years.  and that the 7th day was when god was literally inactive in the world and let men freewill run amuck (so the seventh day would be what happened during the events of revelations)... basically it would be about what happened on the "Eighth Day" (Basically Brother Ford would find some way to redeem all of mankind)... so like I said not truly dealing with the bible but dealing with a christian main character in a inhospitable world.... And please do not post how this is completely inaccurate the point is the main character's faith. 

But like I have said I want to kinda create a group of people who could come up with something far greater then my own ideas. 

[Dudeman Thingface]

... I like it, you've got a lot of free reign for a diverse range of characters, you have a very defined environment and I like the idea of the point being not about scriptures or commentaries, but about faith. Plain and simple.

It sounds really good, I'd love to be a part of it.

[voh]

I'm an atheist and that intro made me want more. I think you're aiming at the right thing when you say that the game has to be fun no matter what the material you're working with is about. Christianity has a really deep history, with a lot of different things to draw inspiration from. I've never shunned a movie, band or even game simply because it was christian.

The most important thing to remember is to make the game you want to make. If it's good, it'll be played. If it isn't, well, that's a good way to learn

[Trent R]

Post-apocalyptic is always cool
And yes, even though it conflicts a bit with my personal beliefs (Mormon) I'd totally play that based on the intro.


~Trent

[Dervish]

Well, I am a baptist and have fairly conservative beliefs in my faith...that being said I don't think that way about creation I just thought it would be a neat idea for a story but like I have said I don't nessecarily want to make this particular game... I just want to get people together who would want to create games for christians weither it be kids games or adult games whatever... I just feel a calling to start producing games that christians and nonchristians can play and provide a balance to what is currently out there.

[voh]

Hey - I'm all for that. I won't participate in the creation of such games as my personal beliefs don't quite agree with christian beliefs, but I'd be more than willing to beta test and proofread and whatnot.