Gameology: Commentary and Resources for the Game Studies Community

Ars Technica has some news about this game that might interest you, Zach. Apparently, some "progressive" groups are trying to get Wal-Mart to pull it off their shelves because it teaches intolerance.

If they're successful, we might have to get rid of Space Invaders, too. ;-)

There has been alot of misleading information spun throughout the public and media regarding Left Behind Eternal Forces game. I encourage you to visit www.menofgod.us & download a trial version. I believe the first hand experience will allow you the opportunity to judge for yourself and put these rumors to a rest.
Here is a statement from the CEO, Troy Lyndon, to clarify some of the misconceptions and propaganda:
LEFT BEHIND: Eternal Forces
A PC Game

FOCUS ON THE FAMILY endorses our game. Read below to find out why!
Our game DOES NOT encourage killing.
Our game is NOT anti-Semitic.
Our game is NOT anti-Muslim or anti-Islamic.

It is anti-EVIL! The ultimate bad-guy is the Antichrist who wants to eliminate all faiths and all religions, except his and he is deceiving the entire world.

Our game does NOT teach the pre-tribulation theology of the book series, except that this worldview is utilized as a FICTIONAL backdrop of the game.

In the past several days, numerous people have been and continue to spread misinformation about the game.

Our game is the first game ever to encourage the use of PRAYER and WORSHIP as the most effective means to resolve conflict.

Physical warfare is discouraged as the LEAST EFFECTIVE means for resolving conflict…and a gamer loses points for using a gun.

This is the world’s first high-quality inspirational game which intends to model positive behavior by discouraging physical warfare.

Please play the game for yourself and help us to get out the TRUTH.

In an industry which creates so much gratuitous violence and gore, LEFT BEHIND: Eternal Forces presents a healthy alternative. We need your help to get the word out!

PLAY THE GAME and find out for yourself that this game is about the battle of good versus evil.

Here are a few things said by others:
- The Anti-Defamation League, although they speak out against the book theology, says “Conversion to Christianity in the game is not depicted as forcible in nature, and violence is not rewarded in the game.”
- AOL says it is a “Positive Moral Message”
- Focus on the Family says “Finally! A game Mom and Dad can play with Junior”
- Concerned Women for America says “A game we can wholeheartedly recommend!”
- Wired Magazine “Few are as ambitious and polished as this PC title.”
- ArsTechnica.com “This is a game that Christian parents can buy their kids, and one that Christian kids can play themselves without any guilt about "questionable content."”
- Women of Faith says “In an industry that is full of destruction with no hope, the LEFT BEHIND game
- Clint Thomas from Chaos Theory says “For years we’ve been telling kids what to run from and not what to run to, until now!”

Should you have any concerns about this game, please go to the contact us page on our website at www.leftbehindgames.com and we’ll do our best to connect with you.

Sincerely,
Troy Lyndon
CEO, Left Behind Games Inc.

One thing I find interesting about the controversy surrounding the Left Behind games is the fact that what a lot of people seem the most offended about is a pretty standard trope of video games (and texts of any medium, for that matter) - the struggle between groups established as good and evil. Rockstar notwithstanding, a definitive majority of games puts the player in the position of anti-Evil.

In a video game setting, we feel a lot better squishing Goombas and blowing up aliens than fragging Muslims simply because they won't convert. Even in realistic games (again, Rockstar notwithstanding), there's usually some sort of "acceptable" justification for the blanket of death that the gamer often lays in gamespace (ie, AI is impossibly hostile and not eligible for redemption).

I remember at the last UF conference, there was some discussion of how Warcraft races tend to align light and dark skin color along the lines of good and evil. This is not a new problem, and games like Left Behind simply bring this complication to the surface. Putting real-world names and faces on the notion of Evil in a game that is not meant to be parodic changes everything significantly. The real problem is the irresponsibility of the representations - but in this respect, Left Behind is a bit more honest than most games.

Hey, with so many people having an opinion about this game, how many have actually played it? And what credibility do they have? Focus on the Family has publications which can set the record straight for everyone…at http://www.pluggedinonline.com/thisweekonly/a0002989.cfm

I've played it (the demo, that is -- I'm not paying for it), and I believe my opinion is entirely credible. Are you saying that Focus on the Family's publication is more credible because they're sympathetic to the game's objectives?

Those are spam agents from left behind games. I've sent a letter to their president and to my representative. Crazy.

That's kind of what I figured, but I wanted to comment below them so these kinds of statements weren't being listed as the "final word" on the discussion. Thanks for following up on this. I see you've gotten these as well.

My guess is they have a list somewhere of reviews they didn't like and they've sent people to troll on their behalf.

hehehe...