Computer Game Issues?

[Morrog]

I am not sure where exactly to post this...but I guess it's a struggle so it should go here... *shrugs*.

Anyway, I've noticed something about a lot of computer games. A couple of months ago I started playing Counter-Strike(yeah yeah, old game, but a lot of people still play it). It is a rather violent game...I guess not as violent compared to a lot of the games out there today, but still violent and violence-based. I started to notice a lot of sin-issues come up after I started playing that game. Mainly just the major "thorn in my side" that I have to deal with on this Earth. That thorn in my side became larger after I started playing this game. I figured it out and stopped myself from playing.

This same effect occurs with other games, but not to such a large extent. For example, if I play Tribes 2 in moderation, I'm basically okay, but if I play it too much issues come up again.

I'm basically just noting this for discussion and maybe to help others who are affected the same way but haven't made the connection I have.

For now I'm just cutting back on playing games that have doses of violence in them and trying to find alternative games. That and I'm a programmer, so I can just make my own games

 

[CHR15T05]

I dont want to play down what you've said at all. Neither do I want to boost the theory.

I do think that if you have a certain weakness and you KNOW that a certain game is a trigger, then by all means stop playing it. (If your eye causes you to sin, pluk it out....)

I actually know a good mate who, realising that he spent too much time on his computer and not enough with his family, took both his PC's (1 was brand new) and his monitiors outside and SMASHED THEM to bits.

For me that was a little extreme but hey, who am I to judge? The fact is he saw that they were the cause of some of his "sin" and he removed the temptation.

I think that we are all diferent and some people can be affected by diferent things. I used to play Counter Strike ALL the time. I then stopped when they shut the WON system down and I did so for 2 reasons.
1) I was spending too much time on it (Giving myself migrains and negleting my family)
2) I HATE steam!!!

I did not find it made me weaker in any other areas though. However, perhaps for some, the "thorn" is violence or a quick temper, and I can see how a game like Counter Strike would bring that out.

FOr me, this is not I problem. I recently re-installed STEAM and played CS again. I found I am still good, and can now play for 1 map and then walk away. However, due to STEAM, I find that most of the servers I used to play on are now empty, and all the "friends" i had made in the world of CS no longer play.

For me (and I;ll be open here). My thorn would more likly be lust than agression. CS does not make this come out. HOwever certain other games may play on this and so I too would be carefull to stear clear of them.

Summary:
I guess my point is this. No I do not think CS or any other violent game are ever the wide spread cause of "sin" or people doing wrong. However I am totaly behind what you have found and decided in your own life. The fact is "we are what we eat". Some people can't eat stawberrys. Some can. Same principle.

 

[peanutbutter12]

I agree, it is like music in that way. Some people can listen to secular music, some can't. It all depends on your maturity and where you are with God.

For instance, this past year I was on the concept and development team for a game (which will remain nameless) that esrb rated it M for the following: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Mature Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs. It's the first ever game to be rated "Intense Violence". But at the same time, I know spiritually that I can handle being around this game. I've even had the chance to talk to some of the others about spiritual matters as well. So it's been kind of a win win situation. Though some won't see it that way.

In any event, it's whatever you can handle.

CJ

 

[Morrog]

In any event, it's whatever you can handle.

That may or may not be true. If something is of an ungodly nature, and you can "handle" it, that doesn't mean you should go off into it all willynilly. You should never put yourself into a dangerous area unless you know it will be either A) helpful to you, or B) Helpful to others. In your situtation you said you were able to talk spirtually with others, hence B) helpful to others. If that wasn't the case, then what is the point of making a violent game that is so violent it pushes the very boundaries of violence ratings?

Let's say you can handle walking into a strip club. Does that mean you should go in just because you like the atomosphere, or because they have a cool arcade game in there? I don't think so. Why? Because by entering in you may not be affected, but you are affecting others, adding to the pile of people who say, "It's OK to enter into a strip club" Hence promoting it for others and maybe causing them to sin. Now, let's take the same situation but let's say your friend(non-christian with a sex addiction issue) has gone in. I would say that in that situation you can go in to help your friend leave.

Now that I think about it, this situation has got to be in the Bible somewhere....time to go research

 

[Morrog]

Found it! This should be what I'm looking for:

1 Corinthians 8


Food Sacrificed to Idols

1Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. 3But the man who loves God is known by God.
4So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one. 5For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"), 6yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.
7But not everyone knows this. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.
9Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol's temple, won't he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? 11So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.

Obviously read it yourselves and draw your own conclusions, the Bible is just that way, but from the way I understand it it's exactly what's being discussed. Most people know that violence in games is absolutely nothing, it isn't real. So those people are cool with it. "But not everyone knows this." Some people just can't handle the violence, like me. So "Be careful...that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak." Even though most people can handle violence, or some people can handle strip clubs, or whatever, doesn't mean they should use that freedom willynilly. Doing so will hurt the "weak brother, for whom Christ died".

 

[CHR15T05]

What I find interesting is that so many heros in the bible grew up, or spent a long time in Egypt. A land that was not following the laws of God at all.
They lived there and were blessed and given possitions of responcibility within the government and community.

They lived in that area but did not turn from the one true God.

To see a Christian in the gaming industry, involved in a M rated game gives me hope. I pray that you will prosper and be given greater and greater responcibility and that your career will advance beyond your wildest dreams.

Because one day, when you are in the place to do so, God will use you!

 

[Silent Enigma]

What I find interesting is that so many heros in the bible grew up, or spent a long time in Egypt. A land that was not following the laws of God at all.
They lived there and were blessed and given possitions of responcibility within the government and community.

They lived in that area but did not turn from the one true God.

Er... they turned from God quite a bit. Right after Moses went up the mtn they coerced Aaron into making the golden calf, etc. etc. Later various isrealites sacrificed their children to molech.

but anyway, regarding the subject of violent games-- humans are products of conditioning to a certain degree, and should be taken into consideration.

 

[Morrog]

Er... they turned from God quite a bit.

I don't think he was talking about the isrealites, he was talking about Jospeh and such.

 

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

I am not sure where exactly to post this...but I guess it's a struggle so it should go here... *shrugs*.

Anyway, I've noticed something about a lot of computer games. A couple of months ago I started playing Counter-Strike(yeah yeah, old game, but a lot of people still play it). It is a rather violent game...I guess not as violent compared to a lot of the games out there today, but still violent and violence-based. I started to notice a lot of sin-issues come up after I started playing that game. Mainly just the major "thorn in my side" that I have to deal with on this Earth. That thorn in my side became larger after I started playing this game. I figured it out and stopped myself from playing.

This same effect occurs with other games, but not to such a large extent. For example, if I play Tribes 2 in moderation, I'm basically okay, but if I play it too much issues come up again.

I'm basically just noting this for discussion and maybe to help others who are affected the same way but haven't made the connection I have.

For now I'm just cutting back on playing games that have doses of violence in them and trying to find alternative games. That and I'm a programmer, so I can just make my own games

Sure-certain games can bring out sides of our nature that they're meant to appeal to. II'm imressed you noticed what was happening-I know people who don't or can't, I'm not sure which. I'd just avoid it if it's causing a problem. And who knows. You might become very, very prosperous inventing wholesome games.

I'd love to see a Christian version of Starcraft, for example.

 

[Aburame]

for the record, everything needs to be done in moderation.

drinking isn't bad, IN MODERATION.

and i dont like the christian video games.

no blood, no good controlls, and no person who plays games to have fun, will enjoy them.

 

[christian-only]

I'd love to see a Christian version of Starcraft, for example.

How would that work?

 

[CHR15T05]

I don't think he was talking about the isrealites, he was talking about Jospeh and such.
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Yep, was, thanks. I did say "heros" but hey, at the time of writing I could see possible confusion for scan readers but couldn't be bothered to put more detail.

 

[Morrog]

and i dont like the christian video games.

I agree with you for the most part. Christian versions of a lot of things are underfunded and undersupported. But hey, Mel Gibson made the Passion, didn't he? That's blockbuster type stuf there, _and_ it's Christian. So if he can do it for movies, someone's going to do it for games.


Oh, and for drinking in Moderation: Remember the bible verse I posted. You may be able to control yourself, but others can't drink in moderation. It's either none or all for them.

 

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

How would that work?

Well, first of all, the Protoss and Zerg would always be Terran enemies. The player would get their technology without ever playing those races. The Protoss have their false temples and magic and what have you. Removing this element from the player's reach and actually presenting it as something to be destroyed would open more doors for creativity in the terran races. Without using magic, maybe the (Terran) players can get technology from other races by being able to capture or assimilate actual characters from these other races. Now, that would really add some good plot twists and is timely since new warfare (like our current warfare on a political but not necessarily national entity) entails this. It would be cutting edge.

Also, it would be nice to make Kerrigan's character more in depth onscreen. We read about her in the manual, but when we click on her she sounds kind of, well, racy. Besides being ungodly, I find it annoying; it's not something I picture in a real war hero. I'd like to see this part of Starcraft tie in with the current trends in marketing: women as strong heros. I think the unresolved romance between Kerrigan and Raynor is good-it adds a realistic element and makes the characters seem more believable. But some of the lines and voices could certainly be rewritten to promote godly character and still remain in touch with current marketing trends.

The firebat is a likeable character, but a little too stereotypical. More thought, less flirtation in his lines, especially since most of the people who play SC are guys anyway. Sure-have something to make it more appealing to a broader audience (women), but not that way. We want characters that fight a war and engage the player that way, not with flirtation. But engaging the player through the conversation and interaction with the characters is brilliant. Just-it should be with a godly worldview. So the Protoss are the enemies, not characters to be played. Use their technology, sure. But not their magic.

 

[Aburame]

I agree with you for the most part. Christian versions of a lot of things are underfunded and undersupported. But hey, Mel Gibson made the Passion, didn't he? That's blockbuster type stuf there, _and_ it's Christian. So if he can do it for movies, someone's going to do it for games.


Oh, and for drinking in Moderation: Remember the bible verse I posted. You may be able to control yourself, but others can't drink in moderation. It's either none or all for them.

Movies are ALOT different than video games. most christian games are far too prissy, and DOG GONE BORING! when i sit dowb to enjoy a game, i dont want to read a bible verse, or try to convert people. i wanna play some games, and have a good time.

and if you cant do it in moderation, then dont do it at all. i agree with that compleatly.

I would like to see a christian video game, how about your an angel, and you fight demons? but none of this no blood ****, i wanna grab there head, and pull it from the rest of there body. i wanna grab my buster sword, and cut some demons in half. ...but they would never go for that.

 

[Dark_Lite]

Movies are ALOT different than video games. most christian games are far too prissy, and DOG GONE BORING! when i sit dowb to enjoy a game, i dont want to read a bible verse, or try to convert people. i wanna play some games, and have a good time.

and if you cant do it in moderation, then dont do it at all. i agree with that compleatly.

I would like to see a christian video game, how about your an angel, and you fight demons? but none of this no blood ****, i wanna grab there head, and pull it from the rest of there body. i wanna grab my buster sword, and cut some demons in half. ...but they would never go for that.

Considering angels don't exactly have blood... I say use light instead.

 

[Aburame]

still, they wouldn't go for a M or T rated christian game.

 

[CHR15T05]

I would like to see a christian video game, how about your an angel, and you fight demons? but none of this no blood ****, i wanna grab there head, and pull it from the rest of there body. i wanna grab my buster sword, and cut some demons in half. ...but they would never go for that.

REQUIEM..... i dont know how many times I've said this but AM I THE ONLY PERSON TO HAVE EVER PLAYED REQUIEM??????

The full title:
Requiem: Avenging Angel.
It was AWSOME

 

[Aburame]

I did...it really wasen't that good. not good controlls, bad sound.

I would give it a 7.5 out of 10. 10 being the best.

but it was the best christian game i have ever played, hands down.

 

[CHR15T05]

Are we talking about the same game?

It was as good as any other FPS of its time (About the same time as the original Unreal) and used normal FPS controls, which of course could be fuly customised.

It was a "secular" game with Christian Undertones.

Originaly published by 3do and later published on budget labels.

Real game in real shops. NOt namby pamby "Christian Book Shop, thats our computer game section, on the dusty shelf over there, with games on tape for the C64" type stuff man

Hmm, I think I've talked myself into re-installing it

Here's quite a good review with screen shots to boot.
I'd forgotten that this game was the 1st to feature character shadow casting beyond a grey blob, so you could see enemies coming round corners.

Also had the "time warp" power which, in my view, was "bullet time" before bullet time was invented.
http://www.intelligamer.com/action/requiem/requiem.asp

Better Screen shots here (last one had no guns )
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/openpic.php?nid=0&article_id=7617