Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Strad on November 12, 2007 at 5:50pm

I'm a pretty big gamer - my wife and I own a wii and 360 (though my 360 just red-ringed). I've often been frustrated by some of the games out there that look really captivating, but have a negative or sin-drenched story line. There's many games which I've refused to touch because of this. I understand artistic expression and wanting to have a more adult story line. But some of this goes beyond that.

As far as game ideas, I've always wondered about exploration games. If you've seen Arthur and the Invisibles or Honey I shrunk the kids, I've been intruiged about how this would translate into an exploration game with adventure or action elements. Such as a backyard where you have to find small pieces of trash or lost items to create flying machines or boats to progress further into the yard. You may be able to ride ants or beetles, harness dragonflies for riding, or build a house out of small twigs. You could explore underground ant tunnels and help defend them from harmful predatory insects. Or swimming down a river that is created when it rains. It would be an open world in some aspects with various story driven missions you could take at your choosing. I'm certain you could work a biblical theme of the magnitude and wonder of God's creation.

I think a Christian game should offer up something different from the norm. Something completely new and creative.

What do you think about a game that takes place in the past? Perhaps a Christian who works to spread the gospel further into Rome and eventually deeper into Europe? Again, this would be adventure and exploration theme with perhaps bits of RPG elements.

Or you could also have strategy based games of Israel rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem and defending it with various units from attackers.

There's a huge amount of material in the Bible to work with that could unlock the imagination and hearts of children and adults, enlightening or provoking further thought about God's word!

Permalink Reply by Vincent Callahan on November 12, 2007 at 9:31pm

Pretty awesome stuff Strad! I have to agree with you on the fact that there are a lot of negative games, but with beautiful graphics and intuative gameplay. I think that Christian creators need to do a lot of "outside the box" thinking. For example: Narnia by C.S. Lewis. Here is a fantasy based story with biblical elements within the characters and plots. Personally I believe that it is possible to create a high-octaine game that has white-knuckle madness with faith based elements in the characters and plots.

One idea that I had is a game called Angels: Heavens Elite. The story allows the player to play as a new angel in creation at the beginning of it all. You can pick your class of angel a little while later and progress through your 'training' in the realms of heavens in distant lands to become stronger and play an important part in the story of the fall of Lucifer. At the end of the game you see scenes from the next game which you battle through the ages against the fallen angels for the souls of men up to the present day. And then a third game after that.

A very nice trilogy if you ask me. I haven't worked on any ideas for the third game other than that it will be present day to the return of Christ and the armies of heaven to set up his kindgom on earth. I think it can work great because if game creators can create games where evil sets up kingdoms on earth why can't Jesus. I'm sure a lot of people wouldn't like it a first, but with intuative game play and action second to none it would be a huge sucess!

Permalink Reply by Anthony Rodriguez on November 13, 2007 at 12:37pm

I like those ideas. THe first one is like a christian "Animal Crossing", and the second could like Age of Empires. Maybe there could even be one with a bit of TimeSplitters flavor to it. Forgive the comparisons, Its just something i do to sent the game up in my mind.

Permalink Reply by Anthony Rodriguez on November 13, 2007 at 12:39pm

I like that idea. I had a similiar one, slightly more vague though. But an angel character would be great. I think a platform similiar to Legacy of Kane or God of War could work.

Permalink Reply by Anthony Rodriguez on November 13, 2007 at 12:50pm

This is something i give a lot of thought to. I think it would be great to have great, adult oriented games. I love the Vegetales and Larryboy to, but every now and then you need some meat and potatoes. :) I'd love to see a christian game in every genre: Racing, fighting, platformer, sports, Survival horror. I think it can be done.

The racing game could be like F-Zero, only with time machines that race through biblical scenery.

The fighting game could be like Puzzle fighter, where you land hits by solving the puzzle. Or even like the Fighting in the PC Monkey Island, where you land blows by coming up with clever quips, only they could be Bible verses.

Platformers are probrably the easiest. You can really do anything.

Sports? Hmmm...... Maybe an RPG where every time a person has to make a decision the player has to engage in a game of Angels vs. Demons. Or it can be as simple as having a regular sports game with christian themes and events.

Survival Horror? Yes it possible. We just have to concetrate less on the gore and more on the real horror: People going to hell. You could play as a guy who has to keep death away from his friends while he has to try to find clues that will lead to them getting saved, all the while fighting off the Grim Reaper.

Permalink Reply by Strad on November 13, 2007 at 6:46pm

One of the biggest challenges to creating a game is finding a good story, interesting and unique characters to populate the story, and then - pulling together an awesome team that are really going to be able to deliver the product on time and share the belief and passion in the game. We've all seen plenty of terrible games (poorly constructed, delayed endlessly, or never come out). Even bad games with good stories that are nearly unplayable or not fun to interact with. Games by and large are different from movies because they're interactive. If the interactive experience isn't fun, interesting (good level design), and appealing to look out, beautiful to hear, and captivating in the story, it'll tank. Are there enough Christians out there in the various industries (Design, story-telling, management, coding, human relations, marketing) that could get this done?

Permalink Reply by Strad on November 13, 2007 at 6:52pm

Yeah, don't get me wrong - I really like the Halo series. What's the mass appeal of this? Is it Master Chief? Or is it the epic story with amazing environments and a fun supporting cast? Weapon design is also pretty important too, as is balance of weapons. I do like the Monkey Island idea of landing blows with clever quips. The only problem I have with angels vs. demons story is that it would seem easy to take it in directions that have already been done (playstation had one I believe) like Frank Peretti's story line. You know, I really liked the depiction of angels in movies like The Nativity - in that they were obviously holy and awe inspiring, but not covered in golden armor with flaming swords and laser-beam eyes.

Permalink Reply by Anthony Rodriguez on November 14, 2007 at 11:30am

Halo? Its the story definetly. Halo is gonna be the Video game version of Star Wars or Lord of the Rings. But also getting together with friends and family and talking smack while whalin' on each other. I love family get togethers because of the Halo tournements. Me and my son just beat Timesplitters 3 and we had a great time and bonded and stuff. So the violence thing doesn't really bother me that much especially when you consider that people are crippled and killed in more "accepted" pastimes like football, or boxing.
I don't think i've seen the Angels vs. demons thing before, but i haven't played a lot of Playstation games. And i'm not very familiar with the works of Frank Peretti.
And Angels? I like different visual for different occasions. Warriors, Messangers, etc.

What we really need is a great Christian FPS. You would think that wouldn't be possible but i've heard good thing about Catchumen.

Permalink Reply by Anthony Rodriguez on November 14, 2007 at 11:44am

I don't know, but since Left Behind: Eternal Forces came out i would have to assume there are. I think there is actually a convention for Christian gamers and programmers. I haven't looked into it because i'm always looking up Christian comics. :) But i mean Design, story-telling and so-forth. I'm sure there are more than enough. And while all the things you mentioned are important in a game, i would venture to say that Story and gameplay are the most important. You have to be interested in the game, at least somewhat, and you have to have fun playing the game The hardest part is creating a scenerio that is interesting, which necessitates conflict, which in turn necessitates at least some level of violence. I'm sorry, but the Christian gaming genre cannot simply consist of board games and Trivia games.

Permalink Reply by Vincent Callahan on November 15, 2007 at 10:30pm

Man you guys are on point with a lot of things. I know one thing I have been wanting to do as a lead up to making games, is creating cgi short films on different biblical topics. I know one I would spend a lot of time doing spiritual warfare, that's what GOD has given me a lot of. I don't know about a FPS though. If anything it would have to be something like Elder Scrolls. I think a good game would be a modernized story of David on the run, like in the Old testement. Imagine escaping a crazed king, gather an army and allies along the way, getting better skills, building a city and then going to war...awesome.
As gamers we know what is apealing and what not only sells but what creates a memorable game that will go down as a great game no matter what the story. I know I intend to make that game.

Permalink Reply by Devin Parker on January 15, 2008 at 6:18pm

I'd agree with you on this last comment. The Old Testament era is so rich in ancient cultures, epic conflicts, and moral quandaries that it would be an excellent setting for an Elder Scrolls-like RPG.

Likewise, a game set in the first days of the Church - say, beginning at Pentecost and following an early Christian in doing missionary work, founding churches, and avoiding persecution by the authorities - or even during the persecution of the Church under Roman Emperor Nero - would present great possibilities.

While physical conflict could certainly be a part of such a game (especially in the Old Testament setting), there are lots of possibilities for non-combat drama. Companies like The Adventure Company are creating atmospheric games which are primarily concerned with mysteries, puzzles, and character interaction.

Still, it never hurts a game's marketing to include a good combat engine...

The thing I would add to the conversation is that I think it's important at the get-go to decide what it is you want to do with a "Christian game." What makes it "Christian"? Is it the setting? The theme? Whether it has Bible verses in it? What is the purpose for making the game? "Entertainment" needs to be the primary answer, of course - people don't buy games to be preached at, except in the case of specifically educational games - but what else?

Permalink Reply by Anthony Rodriguez on February 1, 2008 at 9:33am

Yeah, Like Sim-Church, or those Civilization games.

What makes a Game Christian? I think looking at the world and life though the christian mindset is what makes it christian. What makes people christian? Quoting Verses? Going to church? People become christians when they get saved and view the world anew. I think this new outlook is whats "christian". A game, or movie even, can have a Christian outlook and have nary a verse in it.

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