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Gaming for God

Posted on August 4, 2005 by iksib

So apparently last week’s Christian Game Developers Conference was noteworthy enough for Wired’s John Gartner to write not one but two articles on game publishers striving to, according to one CEO, “…shake up the industry in a positive way.” Given Rockstar’s recent avalanche of bad press surrounding GTA: San Andreas, I suppose the timing of such articles couldn’t be better.

Perhaps it’s just me, but one of the games Gartner writes about, Timothy and Titus, from Australia’s White Knight Games, really perplexes me. The simple fact that a company has designed a role-playing game emphasizing increasing love, hope and faith points instead of health or weapon skills kinda leaves me dumbfounded. As an educated, fair-minded and tolerant person I’m not passing judgement on the validity of such concepts in video games, but perhaps because I was raised on car racing, Goomba bashing, ID’s gory shooters or the wonderful work of Sid Meier, Maxis and Blizzard, my mind is not equipped to even process the existence of a game where you can pray for foes or use the “finger of God” to convert them. That’s right…YOU CAN USE THE FINGER OF GOD TO CONVERT THEM. Am I the only one who’s really hoping this topic becomes the subject of a Penny Arcade comic sometime in the near future? If so, just go ahead and use the damn finger of God on me already. I guess I deserve to be purged of my inner heathen.

UPDATE (7:42 am PST 8/5/05): Check the comments for a clarification on Gartner’s article. I guess my inner heathen might be safe after all!

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4 thoughts on “Gaming for God”

  1. natlas says:
    August 5, 2005 at 12:12 am

    This may be the first foray into it for computer games, but ever since the D&D furor of the late 70s and early 80s, the Christians have been trying to use RPGs for their own ends. This has led to such games as “Holy Lands” and “DragonRaid,” the latter of which made the game to turn people into “couragious Christians.”

    Reply
  2. Mitchell Nunis says:
    August 5, 2005 at 3:55 am

    Hi!

    As a representative of White Knight Games, i would like to clarify the comment made by Wired’s John Garner in regards to the article in question.

    The finger of God ability in the game is NOT to convert others into christians, but to drive evil spirits out of in-game possessed hostile characters. This ability is designed to represent the Biblical activity of the early disciples who drove out evil spirits with the ‘Finger of God’ (Luke 11:20)

    We are by no means trying to ‘convert’ others, just trying to create a wholesome entertaining experience for Christian gamers and their children, who would prefer a specifically Christian alternative to secular games.

    We have contacted John to clarify this misintepretation. I thank you for your time, and apologise for the misconception that has arisen from the error.

    Thanking you for your time,

    Mitchell Nunis
    White Knight Games
    mitchell@whiteknightgames.com

    Reply
  3. oiy mammi says:
    August 5, 2005 at 8:56 am

    whats going on with all these reviews? blah blah blah! i need more content!

    Reply
  4. iksib says:
    August 5, 2005 at 9:05 am

    Just tell us what type of content you’d like to see and we’ll do our best to bring it to you.

    Reply

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Jeremy Toeman is a seasoned Product leader with over 20 years experience in the convergence of digital media, mobile entertainment, social entertainment, smart TV and consumer technology. Prior ventures and projects include CNET, Viggle/Dijit/Nextguide, Sling Media, VUDU, Clicker, DivX, Rovi, Mediabolic, Boxee, and many other consumer technology companies. This blog represents his personal opinion and outlook on things.

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