Ideas for a perfect Christian game

[willard3]

After browsing these forums for several years each, WhirlwindMonk and I began to wonder: What would be the aspects of the perfect Christian game?

Be general and specific, but try to avoid suggesting things like "no swearing"...that's a given.

Thanks for your input!

 

[ShinigamiMommy]

An MMO where you act like a Jesus type person and you heal sick people, cast out demons, and give to the poor. But stay away from those nasty Romans trying to kill you!

 

[Gottservant]

I talked to Dad about this a little while ago and I had the idea that a GTA set in Jerusalem would be awesome. The crucifiction of Jesus would be the central event but there would be heaps of other side quests you could do. The point would be to experience life as an ordinary person all while Jesus' supernatural stuff is going on.

I doubt it would make sense if you could change the outcome of the cross, however.

That to me would be the perfect Christian game anyway, because you could give it to people and let them decide to become Christian all by themself (they would have fun anyway). I can think of other game ideas that wouldn't necessarily be perfect games.

In principle, I think gaming could change dramatically if you simply changed existing games into Christian games. Instead of shooting people, you pray for them. Instead of healing yourself, you heal others. Instead of collecting ammo, you give bread. The goal would be to get a maximum peace score.

That said, Christian games could be a lot smarter than existing games. I can imagine a game where the sole point is to try and argue with Pilate that Jesus should be set free - you would always fail but it would be a great way to acknowledge Jesus and you might learn something about Pilate in the process. Games like that would be less about you and more about someone else.

Christian games could be simpler too. Imagine asteroids but instead of blasting asteriods to pieces you simply jump between them. Mindless destruction has its place but its not really satisfying on its own. An asteriod game where you explore and asteroid field this way (to get home perhaps) would be a more uplifting experience.

Speaking of uplifting experiences, I think whatever game you chose to make and interesting challenge would be to address specific sins. That means consequences (games don't often have consequences). Imagine a game where you can steal but the people you steal from track you down or a game where you get addicted to a drug and for the rest of the game you struggle to feed your addiction. Suddenly doing the wrong thing would more obviously be the wrong things because of consequences.

What a rant I just made! Anyway, I really like this thread idea and I will be sure to read other people's replies. Thanks for reading my reply.

 

[Whiteshark1075]

and I had the idea that a GTA set in Jerusalem would be awesome.

No....just no...

I can imagine a game where the sole point is to try and argue with Pilate that Jesus should be set free - you would always fail but it would be a great way to acknowledge Jesus and you might learn something about Pilate in the process. Games like that would be less about you and more about someone else.

Or... how about he can win and go free or he can whip out some sort of huge automatic gun and blow them all away, you did after all say this would be along the lines of GTA.

 

[The Theory]

Games are a form of escapism. The simple replacement scheme above (praying instead of killing, breaking bread instead of stealing. Or whatever), besides being ridiculously boring, would fail to provide a means of escape.

You can argue that it shouldn't be that way... yet that is just reality. Besides... I suspect that actually praying and actually breaking bread would be more productive than a video game of such. The way my music professor said, "There are video games out there that simulate bowling. Why wouldn't you juset go out and really bowl." (A loose paraphrase...)

I don't think a "perfect Christian game" is really possible. It is no more possible than a "perfect Christian book" or a "perfect Christian music album." In all probability, though, it would be almost exactly like this:

and this:

(now let's see how many people get the references!!)

 

[Gottservant]

Games are a form of escapism. The simple replacement scheme above (praying instead of killing, breaking bread instead of stealing. Or whatever), besides being ridiculously boring, would fail to provide a means of escape.

You have made a really good comment. I think its fair to say that if something is boring it doesn't constitute good entertainment. However, there are a couple of problems I have with simply giving up on the simple approach to Christian gaming.

My first problem with ditching simple Christian approaches to entertainment as boring is that the concepts have not been adequately defined for judgements of entertainment value to be passed on them. What I suggested were principles, not game designs. If you were to create a multiplayer game where the point is to run, hide and pray for enemy bots before they shoot you while making a pilgrimage across a foreign land, I'm confident you could make it equally fun or boring depending on your level of commitment to the game design. Why couldn't it work? Ask yourself, honestly, would you ever have said stealth games won't work?

I'm just daydreaming here but I can think of all sorts of prayers you could pray... people to walk in the way of the bad guys... food to appear... the bad guys guns to jam... the bad guys to take the wrong path... which one would you choose? how much time would it take? would you surrender your life so others could go free?

The second objection I have to your comment you might find a little hard to accept. Basically, I disagree that a bigger adrenaline rush makes for a better game and that seems to be the brunt of your argument. A Christian definition of fun isn't necessarily maxxing out your reflexes because it triggers a pleasant spasm in your neo-cortex (brain); a Christian definition of fun is simply learning to value you what the Lord values. If that means reading a book, that's fun... if that means tediously telling people what they need to do to be saved, that's fun.... if that means playing a game where you don't immediately get rewarded for pulling cool tricks on your controller but you do discover new ways to use your faith, that's fun.

Consider this tangent, I started playing "Flatout 2" the other day; now, if you don't know it, "Flatout 2" is a much slower game than something like "Burnout" but it still takes skill to control. I booted up and started on a simple circle track and so far, the circle track is all I've played. Why? Because I just keep doing the circle track. A lot happens in a small circuit in "Flatout 2", almost none of it has anything to do with racing. You run into things, you skid out, someone hits you from the side, the turbo is risky. Actually, I like just jostling with the other cars. Is this the point? No. What about being number one? It doesn't matter to me. The point is that as random stuff happens around the track, I learn different things about driving - what it would feel like to be in a car wreck, what you should do when the car gets out of control, how to control road rage, etc. Christian games should be like that too. Christian games should be about discovering yourself in connection with the Lord, not monsters in connection with the developer's twisted imagination.... whatever the adrenaline rush might have been. Who needs monsters?

 

[Victory of the Cross]

kotor type game

battles etc would be fine

christains don't have to be wimps , warriors are common among us

 

[The Theory]

You have made a really good comment. I think its fair to say that if something is boring it doesn't constitute good entertainment. However, there are a couple of problems I have with simply giving up on the simple approach to Christian gaming.

I wouldn't claim that a Christian approach to gaming isn't possible... just not the way it was outlined. I even listed two games which were made by Christians from a Christian approach. However, when most people say "let's make a Christian game!" the result is invariably going to fail. The reason goes beyond what my first post outlined (though those are fantastic points, if I dare say so myself...)

Anytime you try to "Christianize" something, it invariably feels like a gimmick. Things get even worse when there is an agenda behind the gimmick (and there most certainly is when "Christianizing" takes place). Things with an agenda are invariably artistically hindered. They aren't hindered because of the Christianity... but because the reason they are being made. The best Christian books are those where the author is simply trying to write a good story, not trying to be sure to fit in key Christian elements (look, for example, at Madeline L'Engle or JRR Tolkien). The best Christian musicians are those who are not trying to appeal to the Christian subculture or fit in a certain number of Jesus-per-minutes... they just want to write good songs (look at Sufjan Stevens, Over the Rhine, etc). The same will (does, should, would) true for video games.

 

[Gottservant]

[...]

They aren't hindered because of the Christianity... but because the reason they are being made. The best Christian books are those where the author is simply trying to write a good story, not trying to be sure to fit in key Christian elements (look, for example, at Madeline L'Engle or JRR Tolkien).

[...]

The same will (does, should, would) true for video games.

Ok, you have made a good and fair comment there. You can't just take what the world has and fix it so its entertaining for Christians. The reason is set out in the bible where it says that Jesus came forth to destroy the works of the devil (not improve them) - John's letters, from memory.

That said, I was thinking more of competing with the world's works, rather than patching them up.

But ok, start fresh, what would Jesus want to play? The first thing that comes to my mind is a game where you defend sinners from the law. I'm thinking of a role-playing game where people get in trouble and you have to intercede by placating the people who have been wronged. That sounds like it would work...

You're right! Starting with what Jesus wants sounds like it will work a lot better than starting out saying "how can we compete with the world?". That's basically what you were saying in your post. That is a good call.

 

[Sketcher]

Being as there's no such thing as a perfect game, I don't see how we would be able to make or play a perfect Christian game this side of Heaven. But I do think that a Christian strategy game would be both truer to the faith and far more interesting than a Christian action game. And how about one that doesn't make the mistakes of Left Behind?

 

[The-Doctor]

Seriously how about one where every good deed you do like saving someone or healing the sick etc gets you blessing of goodness points that you can use to upgrade you healing or strength etc.

 

[Celestina321]

Lots of good suggestions and discussion so far. I personally love RPG’s, but of late I have also really enjoyed simulations games. One that I loved was Animal Crossing, but one of the things that frustrated me with this game was how the game designers avoided any holiday with a remotely religious over tone. I always thought that a better approach than excluding such holidays in these types of games would be to allow the player to choose the available holidays in the set up or start of the game.

Along these lines I think a harvest moon style game could be really fun. One possibility here is maybe one similar to the latest RPG/simulation mix Harvest Moon Rune Factory. This might be stretching it for some folks but you could even have the Christian hero battling demons and such. Maybe some of the monsters are animals that have been “possessed” and then through the power of Jesus the animal is freed when the demon is “cast out” of the possessed animal. Then the animal can be one of the ones that produce milk or eggs ect. on your farm. I don’t want to get into a theological debate over this though. Basically, I’m making a point of one alternative scenario.

There are lots of RPG’s that have religious elements but they are always tainted with many other non-Christian perspectives and concepts. Just having a good quality RPG simply based in a Christian world view would be really a neat thing. But you would be battling satan’s minions rather than humans. I think you would want to avoid anything that seemed similar to the crusades or something though.

But if I may now argue against my own idea, ultimately many of these would fail because they are only trying to “Christianize” something already out there. Let’s face it that is just tacky. So we are back to your original question. The tick is coming up with something original.

I liked the idea of walking around ancient Jerusalem or the surrounding areas. Maybe as a disciple of Jesus. The start of the game would be Jesus sending you out two by two and then the various adventures as you travel. Maybe you could put this idea in a modern setting or even a medieval setting. Each time you are sent out to fulfill some specific calling of God. I wonder if a game on Joan of Ark or another hero of faith would be interesting. Again there could be various problems depending on who the good guys and the bad guys are; but I’m just tossing out an idea.

It would take a lot of doing; the best foundation is a good storyline in my opinion. Then developing the game play, battle or prayer system, then the graphics and music, (to be taken seriously they would need to be top notch.) I think the theme would need to be relevant, thought provoking and not boring.

[FONT=&quot]I don’t know how original those ideas are, but certainly it would be original if something like this could be done at the quality found in secular games. Just having a game that doesn’t avoid the Christian faith and doesn’t compromise it would be cool. [/FONT]

 

[Gottservant]

Along these lines I think a harvest moon style game could be really fun. One possibility here is maybe one similar to the latest RPG/simulation mix Harvest Moon Rune Factory. This might be stretching it for some folks but you could even have the Christian hero battling demons and such. Maybe some of the monsters are animals that have been “possessed” and then through the power of Jesus the animal is freed when the demon is “cast out” of the possessed animal. Then the animal can be one of the ones that produce milk or eggs ect. on your farm.

Ok this is definitely the best reply I've read but besides that I have to say that this is a great idea!

• it is easily recognisable
• it is simple
• it is easily executed
• it helps people focus on the good
• it leaves people with a good feeling

When will games have consequences that don't necessarily revolve around dead bodies? I know I used to find it entertaining... but only for a little while.

 

[willard3]

A clarifying question: Is this a more benign type of Christianity, or will there be obvious evangelism?

 

[ShinigamiMommy]

I know what

screenshots of the game (it existed)

 

[morningstar2651]

Your first step is to choose your goals. Here is a question to get you started:

Is your target audience Christian, or non-Christian?

 

[Celestina321]

Ok this is definitely the best reply I've read but besides that I have to say that this is a great idea!

• it is easily recognisable
• it is simple
• it is easily executed
• it helps people focus on the good
• it leaves people with a good feeling

When will games have consequences that don't necessarily revolve around dead bodies? I know I used to find it entertaining... but only for a little while.

Thanks! I'm really glad you liked it!

A clarifying question: Is this a more benign type of Christianity, or will there be obvious evangelism?

Your first step is to choose your goals. Here is a question to get you started:

Is your target audience Christian, or non-Christian?

These are great questions and good points regarding the first thing you need to do when creating any form of entertainment ... think about who your audience is.

Both audiences are certainly allowable, but you would need to decide which you are aiming for.

I think it is perfectly okay for this to simply be a form of entertainment for a Christian i.e. no evangelizing, but something that allows a Christian to enjoy this genre of entertainment without having to give a blind eye to the many non-Christian values found in many games.

As far as this being an evangelism tool, here is a question for ya' all: How far would you take the evangelism? Would you have the game lead the player in the sinners prayer? Or is that something that should be done by a flesh and blood human? If your answer is yes it should be done by a person, then what about all of those people who have come to the Lord in the seclusion of their own room whilst reading the Bible? The responsible thing to do if you did consider letting the game lead the player in the sinners prayer would be to STRONGLY encourage them to follow up by going to church, or at the very least calling some pre-set up prayer line.

I wouldn't be against a game that did actually go as far as to lead the player in the sinners prayer, not in the least, but my personal sense of it is that really the human touch is preferred, (not mandatory, just preferred.) After all the Holy Spirit can better lay impressions on a Christian of how best to encourage the fledgling believer, where is once a game is programed, you have what you have.

Another odd idea struck me. I wonder if a form of interactivity could be placed in an evangelizing type game. Kind of like a real life quest. For example the game could ask the player to find a church in their area and visit it. Then ask the player to enter the name of the church and then give some kind of virtual reward, or unlock a new level or something. Of course it is up to the player's own integrity as to the the honesty of any answer, as always, but the idea has some potential ...maybe?

 

[Gottservant]

Another odd idea struck me. I wonder if a form of interactivity could be placed in an evangelizing type game. Kind of like a real life quest. For example the game could ask the player to find a church in their area and visit it. Then ask the player to enter the name of the church and then give some kind of virtual reward, or unlock a new level or something. Of course it is up to the player's own integrity as to the the honesty of any answer, as always, but the idea has some potential ...maybe?

That's a great idea too!

Although people might say "but you would have to make a different game for every church" the reality is that you could copy most of the game (the code, graphics, sound, etc.) directly over for each new version of the game. Imagine meeting people in the game... and then meeting them in real life!

Morningstar, you make a good point about focussing on your audience. I would ask "What should the audience believe?" Like, "should they believe in God?", "Should they believe in the resurrection?", "Should they believe in freedom from sin?". It might sound blase to say "it doesn't matter whether they are Christian or not, as long as they believe", but ultimately what people believe is the point.

 

[Maranatha27]

I love Rpgs, I always wished that I could could give one of those Japanese writers a script. The games setting would take place in the tribulation. You are a Jew in the land during the last half of antichrists reign. You and your party are fighting off the administers of the mark of the beast. You do small tasks like get food for the remnant in Israel, explore caves for water for your people....you know the dumb things you do in Rpgs. The final boss would be the man of sin. You fight him as long as you can without prevailing, he is Destroyed at the Lords appearing in Glory.... yay

 

[Maranatha27]

I know what

screenshots of the game (it existed)

Looooooooooool