(no subject)

[lbd_nytetrayn]

It's too bad, in a way.

Was reading this article over on Wired, and Red was overlooking at a sidebar link to "God Games Seek Souls, Not Profit."

$500,000 for a game to be produced? It all begs the question from me... why does it almost seem like Christianity and Quality don't go together?

One of the earliest instances I know of regarding the attempted use of a mainstream pasttime to "keep the faith," I guess, is Bible Adventures for the NES. If I'm not mistaken, there were some other titles of this ilk as well, and none of them were even licensed by Nintendo, basically making the games themselves holy hacks, biblical bootlegs. That they drew more attention from "worst games ever" lists than from gamers trying to keep the faith, I would imagine, says something about their quality. Or their lack thereof.

Even worse to me was some years ago when they had this trend going on that did a bit better than the above. What they did was essentially steal corporate logos, slogans, and the like, and replace it with Christian themes. Remove "Pepsi" from the middle of the red and blue half-circles and replace it with "Jesus." "You got the right one, baby" indeed. Of course, that was only the tip of the iceberg. I can't even remember all of the piracy they committed, but it seemed there was no end to it. And of course, it seemed they were essentially immune from the law in doing so: who's going to sue God? It'd be corporate suicide. And so it stood.

I have to admit, on that note, that I find it quite amusing to see the number of that sort of paraphernalia decrease in favor of being replaced by more lowbrow stuff like "Sexsi" between the two circle halves. I can expect it of something as low-brow as the guy with a push-cart selling t-shirts, but God? I used to work in advertising and graphic design in community college when I first met Red, and I know a bit about what goes into this stuff, and have a degree of respect for it. Seeing it blatantly stolen for the purposes of such propaganda disappointed me quite a bit.

So this has always been one aspect of Christianity(which I admit I no longer directly associate myself with) which has disappointed me. Partially because of the half-assed capitalization of what's going on around them, but also because of the lacking of any sort of identity for themselves beyond Jesus nailed to a cross.

I'm not asking them to go to Buddy Christ lengths here, but come on! Be original! Create your own identity that doesn't involve violating the eighth commandment.

Incidently, I have to admit, that from what I know of it, I admire the concept of Veggie Tales. It seems like a cute concept, and certainly seems to be original, and from what I know, it has earned its own claim to fame without ripping anyone off and just doing what it was supposed to. More stuff like that may be in order.

This whole bit isn't really a knock against Christianity itself, just how it "markets" itself. "God Games Seek Souls, Not Profit" may sound noble and all, but I can't help but feel that they're looking to whip together some cheap, poorly put-together trinket no one will take notice of and will ultimately fail them not only in recuperating losses spent to make it, but to enlighten anyone as well.

I realize that they probably aren't going to get much done with the money granted them, but I also imagine that they are probably counting on devotion and faith to make up for some of that, if not a lot of that.

But I can't help but feel that, if this turns out to be another Bible Adventures, that the whole concept fails. Christianity has a pretty good history behind it(and typing that makes me want to laugh, given that it feels like a huge understatement) which they can take advantage of.

What sells today? M-rated games. It may seem immoral, but I think that this is the ground they should take. And it doesn't have to be full of sex or cursing or the stuff that M-games are known for; just sell it on realistic portrayal of violence, taken from events throughout their history. Make games on Joan of Arc(was she Christian? I know she believed in God, but...) or the Crusades or something where there is bound to be some bloodshed. I'm sure if they really got into the real meat of the Bible and used their imaginations, they could probably make a game that not only doesn't suck, but maybe even get a real developer on board to help fund it, and perhaps even sell more than 10 copies. I'm sure more people would at least take a look at them.

On a side-note, it'd certainly make for an interesting case regarding kids playing M-rated games. The whole thought brings to mind the story of the pastor for a church's youth group who had a friend pirate Passion of the Christ and showed it to the kiddies. Granted, that's not what we want happening, and so I could easily see them foregoing the chance there and aiming more for T-rated games. That, or defending their content as acceptable for children. It'd be interesting, that's for sure.

Over on the t-shirt side of things, I'm sure they can come up with something better than "John 3:16" in WWE font.

So in conclusion, they may not be profit driven, but I think it might serve their purposes more if the people behind these concepts acted more like they were. And by profit, I of course don't mean "quick buck," but moreso the idea of a longer-standing enterprise that may bring some better fame and credibility to their faith.

I mean, really, the point is to get the attention of the people so that they'll delve deeper into the Good Book, right? So give them something worthier of attention than pirated products that only the most devout followers would buy in the first place.

LBD "Nytetrayn"

Bart: When I'm feeling low, you know what always cheers me up?
Todd: Is it love?
Rod: Kindness?
Bart: Ooh, tough room. Videogames! Whaddya got? [grabs a videogame off the shelf, and reads the title] "Billy Graham's Bible Blaster?"
Rod: Keep firing; convert the heathens! [cut to a pixilated video screen. Heathens cross the street, as a Bible gun shoots the Holy Book at them. When a heathen gets hit, he turns into a conservatively dressed man with a halo]
[cut back to the boys]
Bart: Got him!
Rod: No, you just winged him and made him a Unitarian.
Todd: Look out, Bart! A gentle Baha'i! [cut back to the video screen. A Baha'i, sitting cross-legged and wearing a turban, floats past. Bart zaps him, and turns him into another suit-wearing conservative]
[cut back to the boys]
Bart: All right! Full conversion! [puts his arms around Rod and Todd] Thanks guys, this really cheered me up.
Video: Second Coming! Reload, reload!
Todd: Can we play now?
Bart: We are playing. We're a team.
Rod + Todd: [pause] Yay!
-- "Alone Again, Natura-Diddly"

Comments

[thenekomancer.livejournal.com]

They're never going to be good games because the primary focus is placed on teaching about the bible rather than making a good game. Admittedly it does seem unoriginal, especially when they go as far to make a religious game using the Doom engine, but it's essentially harmless. I imagine Pepsi might not be so thrilled that their corporate logo is being ripped off, but they don't stand to lose any profits from it. Otherwise, if they really wanted to sue the church, I think they could get away with it. But it's to be expected. Priests and cardinals and bishops and so forth generally don't pick up skills in graphic design or programming during their lifetime. I think all this ripping off is just the gradual change of conforming with today's culture. They'll probably get better at it within 50 years or so.

Regardless, I don't think making religion based games is a good idea anyway. Not only is there a lack of focus on the game dynamics, but really, who's going to buy them? Religious parents of course. For their religious kids, whom they're already teaching religion to. It's a pretty good example of the term "preaching to the choir."

[lbd-nytetrayn.livejournal.com]

They're never going to be good games because the primary focus is placed on teaching about the bible rather than making a good game.

That's the problem as I see it, and until they can do the latter, no one will care about the former.

I imagine Pepsi might not be so thrilled that their corporate logo is being ripped off, but they don't stand to lose any profits from it. Otherwise, if they really wanted to sue the church, I think they could get away with it.

Precisely. Corporations have sued for more over less, but this is GOD we're talking about here. Imagine the headlines... and it's not just with Pepsi, either.

Sure, they could do it, and they'd probably win, but at what cost?

But it's to be expected. Priests and cardinals and bishops and so forth generally don't pick up skills in graphic design or programming during their lifetime. I think all this ripping off is just the gradual change of conforming with today's culture. They'll probably get better at it within 50 years or so.

According to one of the authors, they've got a number of guys proficient in programming sitting around, surely at least one person in the religion knows something about putting together an attractive motif.

Regardless, I don't think making religion based games is a good idea anyway. Not only is there a lack of focus on the game dynamics, but really, who's going to buy them? Religious parents of course. For their religious kids, whom they're already teaching religion to. It's a pretty good example of the term "preaching to the choir."

Never know. The best way to go about it would be to not play up the religious aspects of it, and simply promote it as being a historical reenactment. They can endorse it heavily in whatever religious publications they have, but for the mainstream, just make it a game.

LBD "Nytetrayn"

[thenekomancer.livejournal.com]

The best way to go about it would be to not play up the religious aspects of it, and simply promote it as being a historical reenactment.

[lbd-nytetrayn.livejournal.com]

Well, there are bound to be exceptions. Didn't that one do well at the box office?

LBD "Nytetrayn"

[steelthorns.livejournal.com]

Make games on Joan of Arc(was she Christian? I know she believed in God, but...) or the Crusades or something where there is bound to be some bloodshed.

Joan of Arc is a Patron Saint in the Catholic Church; you can definitely categorize her as a Christian. As for the Crusades, Muslims would scream bloody murder (not necessarily the ones who live in North America).

There are very few marketing ventures for Christians that actually work, and many that do are not well-known outside of the Christian circle. Music-wise, and there are many fantastic bands that should get more attention. Book-wise, on the other hand, suffers from two-thirds of the material being obnoxiously preachy, not entertaining. Fashion-wise, there are some neat t-shirts, but they appeal to a small crowd among Christians, and a lot of major Christian stores don't sell them. Game-wise... well, the idea of a Christian game just seems weird. Christians can actually enjoy things that don't have a Christian message from them, contrary to some in the media's belief.

[frash.livejournal.com]

Noah's Ark 3D with the Doom type thing going where you shoot food at animals.
Now that game was crazy.

[storm-wolfe.livejournal.com]

Ya know why there's not going to be a good game based on Christianity? Honesty. The Bible is so overloaded with plagues and deaths and oh so bad things that it could NOT translate to a game that today's conservative Christians would find palatable. And this stems from the simple fact that Christianity today isn't about religion. It's all about political correctness. Mark my words, you make a good game on the Bible that tries to portay events as they are recited and you'd have the entire country in an uproar. Idiots.