Mikesoft Member Posts: 20 From: London, England Registered: 05-28-2005 |
I have been thinking about Christian games for a long time now. All the Christian games I have played have had a Christian theme. However would it be possible to make Christian games and simply put a message behind the game? I have been thinking of messages that could put behind games but so far I have only thought of one. Does anyone have any ideas of messages that could be put behind games? |
Jari Member Posts: 1471 From: Helsinki, Finland Registered: 03-11-2005 |
Yea, I think one approach would be to create an adventure game where player seeks for a wealth and fortune but he/she finds out that not all that is gold glitters... See the idea here? Was this the type of message you ment? Welcome to the forums btw. ------------------
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Mikesoft Member Posts: 20 From: London, England Registered: 05-28-2005 |
Thanks for the welcome! Yep, that was exactly the type of messages which I meant. |
Brandon Member Posts: 594 From: Kansas City, Mo, USA Registered: 02-02-2004 |
Welcome to CCN! There are many different messages that can be put behind games, here are a few; The vastness of Creation (Spark interest for something more.) Most of my ideas are for RPG games. Those ideas aren't much, but can be expanded upon. ------------------ |
ArchAngel Member Posts: 3450 From: SV, CA, USA Registered: 01-29-2002 |
Mike, the kinda games you're talking about are great ideas. Has the potential to teach, without being cheesy. ------------------ |
HanClinto Administrator Posts: 1828 From: Indiana Registered: 10-11-2004 |
Mikesoft, Yo! I think that you're hitting on a very important subject here. Many games and stories don't have a specifically Buddhist or Shinto or New Age message, but many of them definately have such a message. I think you're right on with seeking to find a way to have a message that isn't dependent on the theme. In Christ, ------------------ |
kiwee Member Posts: 578 From: oxfordshire, england Registered: 04-17-2004 |
if you make a multipal choice RPG, you can portray the idea of the hard road to heaven or the easy road to hell ------------------ |
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Mikesoft Member Posts: 20 From: London, England Registered: 05-28-2005 |
I really want to try and make a Christian shooter. However I do not like the idea of destroying demons. Has anyone got any ideas they are willing to share for a Christian shooter? |
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ArchAngel Member Posts: 3450 From: SV, CA, USA Registered: 01-29-2002 |
oh come on, destroying or "banishing" demons is awesome. okay, anyhow. ------------------ |
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HanClinto Administrator Posts: 1828 From: Indiana Registered: 10-11-2004 |
quote: Maybe, but it's not very applicable to the Christian life, nor is it very sound doctrine for people coming into the faith. I think it's cool that he wants to make a game that doesn't follow this trend. --clint ------------------ |
GUMP Member Posts: 1335 From: Melbourne, FL USA Registered: 11-09-2002 |
Personally I'd like to see a game based upon the Crusades that tells how it was and not some mushy revisionist version. |
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ArchAngel Member Posts: 3450 From: SV, CA, USA Registered: 01-29-2002 |
I personally would like to see This Present Darkness made into a game. Gump, Mack, Zookey... start talking to Peretti. ------------------ |
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HanClinto Administrator Posts: 1828 From: Indiana Registered: 10-11-2004 |
Arch: You really think that would be good? I read it last year in hopes that it might provide a good premise for a Christian video game. But what would the goal of the game be? To rally "prayer cover" to strengthen the angels? Or would you play the part of an angel? I dunno' -- I'm not convinced that Peretti's books are all that truthful with regards to how the spiritual world works. I do like a lot of how he names demons and temptations and such -- but his whole theology on the vanquishing of demons and the death of angels is a little odd to me though. It doesn't sit quite right. --clint ------------------ |
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ArchAngel Member Posts: 3450 From: SV, CA, USA Registered: 01-29-2002 |
oh, play the Angels, of course. and, for one, he's of course not going to get it totally accurate. He's a human, and it's a fiction story. but Demons can be "killed" in a way. remember that story when Jesus let those demons possess those pigs? maybe Angels can do that also. maybe the Lake of Fire is a form of Demon Death? ------------------ |
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Mikesoft Member Posts: 20 From: London, England Registered: 05-28-2005 |
Didn't Jesus only give us the power to cast demons out of people? I heard that it would be wrong to make a Christian game about killing demons. Also I want to make normal games that have a christian message hidden behind them. If I had demons many people may not like it and I want to keep away from Christian themed games if I can help it. |
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ArchAngel Member Posts: 3450 From: SV, CA, USA Registered: 01-29-2002 |
quote: haven't heard that, and it's not in the Bible. atleast not specifically. but, sure, do whatever you feel you are led to. ------------------ |
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HanClinto Administrator Posts: 1828 From: Indiana Registered: 10-11-2004 |
Arch, I don't think it was in the Bible that he read that -- that would be absurd. :-P He might have read it in discussion on here, or other places. I know I've been in a couple of discussions on here where we've discussed that topic. And as far as for Biblical references -- read any of the passages about teaching false doctrine or leading "little ones astray". Respectfully, ------------------ |
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ArchAngel Member Posts: 3450 From: SV, CA, USA Registered: 01-29-2002 |
making a story and teaching false doctrine are two different things. the intent is totally different; it is the motivation that matters. God looks at the heart. Just lusting after a woman, not doing anything, you are still guilty of committiing adultery in your heart. Paul says we are no longer bound by the Law? Why? because we came down to the spirit of it. To Love God. Once you get the heart straight, the actions will follow. making a story or a game like This Present Darkness cannot be equated to Teaching False Doctrine. Is he trying to mislead people? I don't think so. But let's say he does believe in what he has written in his book. Is it really false doctrine, or is it just under question? ------------------ |
Realm Master Member Posts: 1971 From: USA Registered: 05-15-2005 |
quote: OT: I know... thats why im lucky... girls hate me, i hate them! MWUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAH*cough cough* AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH *wheeze hack*AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHEEEEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHHHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOOOOOOHEEEHHAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *cough cough cough wheeze hack doubleover die* ON TOPIC:... Well im not sure where i stand on this, yes the angels and the praying is a controversial issue, but Arch (i think i was arch) is right: he's human, were not perfect. Christian shooter: i had an idea for that once. IT was bascially like this: You were a marine in the year... um... 2567 ? Your not a christain. wish i could remember what he said... ach, just check my "My Christian Game Idea..." thread, its all there. ------------------ Blessed are those who show mercy. Blessed are those who suffer for doing what is right. [This message has been edited by Realm Master (edited June 11, 2005).] |
HeistheOne Member Posts: 26 From: PA, USA Registered: 06-24-2005 |
Mike, I too have been working at making "Christian games that don't look Christian" as I put it... the elements of the story that make a game appear Christian are unimportant really. Like you search for, the meanings, morals, teaching etc. are the important part of games. My opinion on ideas for games is that you can take just about any real Bible teaching, that is the Word of God, and apply it and surely multiple others to a story, a conflict and is it resolution. Here's a strong point I want to reiterate with proper credit.
quote: That's what Christianity is after all, a lifestyle. My main focus is also RPG's so perhpas I'm not being completely helpful. But yeah, like the Sprite guy says: "SHow 'em my motto!" ------------------ |
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Lava Member Posts: 1905 From: Registered: 01-26-2005 |
I am 100% for the Christian message games, even making a game that is morally correct is good. |
Ereon Member Posts: 1018 From: Ohio, United States Registered: 04-12-2005 |
Excellent question Mikesoft, this is exactly where Christian Gaming needs to go. Being a Christian is not just about being "morally sound" its about spreading the love of Jesus, and taking his words to the world. The subject you've presented is a manifestation of this, a way to utilize the media of "games" to present and spread Jesus' glory and the messages in the Bible to other people who would normally not have any other way of getting it. If any of you guy get a chance stop by the video game design part of the board and check out my Soul Catcher post and tell me what you think. I've tried to incorporate alot of "behind the game" message into it, and I'd like to know what you think. ------------------ The old that is stong does not wither From the ashes a fire shall be woken Renewed shall be blade that was broken |
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Ereon Member Posts: 1018 From: Ohio, United States Registered: 04-12-2005 |
Oh yeah, in refrence to the demon question I think I have a solution. In Soul Catcher I've decided to not make the demon's "killable". All you can do is destroy their physical form, you cannot effect them as a entity until later in the game, after the main character (Karth Farrow) gets saved. Then you can overcome and banish demons (al la Revelation 12:11) and through the Blood of Jesus he has the power to permanently cast them out of their physical form and render them powerless in that form. I think that Frank Peretti did and excellent job in his books, and I like many of the ideas he presented, but its important to remember its a story, fiction, its not meant to be a theological thesis on the operations of the spiritual world. As a result, as fame designers we should seek to practice sound doctrine in our games, but at the same time not be afraid to use our imaginations in areas where scripture is either sketchy or non-existant as far as commenting on the particular subject. ------------------ The old that is stong does not wither From the ashes a fire shall be woken Renewed shall be blade that was broken |
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ArchAngel Member Posts: 3450 From: SV, CA, USA Registered: 01-29-2002 |
quote: wrong again. those two are about the same. being christian is about accepting Jesus as your lord and savior. I'm sure you know; I'm just addressing the overemphasis on spreading the gospel. a game does not need to spread the gospel. frankly, I don't think it'd be too effective at that. it could happen, and it has, but I doubt that is it's main strength. ------------------ |
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Ereon Member Posts: 1018 From: Ohio, United States Registered: 04-12-2005 |
Well what good is being a christian if you hold it to yourself, Jesus said to go out into world and tell the good news. Granted, we don't need to hit people over the head with it, but everything we do needs to follow that command and in some way, shape, form, or fashion share something about Jesus. ------------------ The old that is stong does not wither From the ashes a fire shall be woken Renewed shall be blade that was broken [This message has been edited by Ereon (edited August 23, 2005).] |
Tonnyx Member Posts: 140 From: Indiana, USA Registered: 08-02-2005 |
quote: Sure, but what good is it to go out into the world, tell the good news, and be a hypocrite? Anyway, I'm not here to bash anybody, I just wanted to clarify that the Great Commission is a command, but it's certainly not the only command given to us. The Bible spends a lot of time telling us about aspects of our life and conduct that do not ostensibly have to do with evangelism. got to go eat dinner...more later.... |
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GUMP Member Posts: 1335 From: Melbourne, FL USA Registered: 11-09-2002 |
I might be missing something but how is Ereon being hypocritical? EDIT: Heh, somehow forgot to type the word "missing". The irony... [This message has been edited by Gump (edited August 23, 2005).] |
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Tonnyx Member Posts: 140 From: Indiana, USA Registered: 08-02-2005 |
I wasn't implying that anybody is hypocritical - I just named hypocrisy as a moral failing that would severely compromise one's ability to evangelize. I.e., if you focus your energy on evangelism so much so that you do not pay attention to the rest of the Bible and its commands and moral teachings, you could easily become a hypocritical preacher of the gospel, and then where would you be?. |
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ArchAngel Member Posts: 3450 From: SV, CA, USA Registered: 01-29-2002 |
my question is how come being morally sound isn't a part of being a good christian, but evangalizing is? ------------------ |
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Ereon Member Posts: 1018 From: Ohio, United States Registered: 04-12-2005 |
When I said share something about Jesus I meant the rest of the Bible as well. It doesn't have to be just about evangelizing, I'm just saying that only incorporating good morals into a game (such as no blood and gore, no cussing, no santanic symbols, no stealing, ect. ect.) does not mean anything if Jesus is not behind it. Anyone can make a "morally sound" game, if we're going to be a witness through our games we have to put something different in them then just morals, morals are good, but if we put nothing more than good morals in our games then we're not doing anything to glorify Jesus or show him to others, we're just making a "good game". ------------------ The old that is stong does not wither From the ashes a fire shall be woken Renewed shall be blade that was broken [This message has been edited by Ereon (edited August 24, 2005).] |
mjohnson Member Posts: 48 From: Registered: 08-03-2006 |
I'm a little confused...are you asking whether if you made a game without the Gospel of Jesus Christ in it, would it still be considered a Christian game? If so, I would say that is a little self-explanatory... What makes something/someone "Christian"? Well, the prescence of Jesus Christ in a manner that is truthful to who He is. So, if Jesus Christ is not truthfully represented in your game, then it would not be Christian. If it is just about "morals" then it would be considered "family-friendly" which a lot of things fall into the category of being...all of which are not neccessarily Christian in content or nature. ~Michelle |
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Ereon Member Posts: 1018 From: Ohio, United States Registered: 04-12-2005 |
Exactly, that was the point I was trying to put across. It seems logical to me that since it's the God's presence (through Jesus and the Holy Spirit) that santifies us and allows us to even be Christians in the first place, it makes sense that it would be a similar presence within a game that would sanctify it as well, which was along the lines of the point I was trying to make. Welcome to CCN btw  .------------------ Of course God knew what would happen if they used their freedom the wrong way: apparently He thought it worth the risk. Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: What! You too? I thought I was the only one. |
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mjohnson Member Posts: 48 From: Registered: 08-03-2006 |
Yeah totally! ~Michelle |
Max Member Posts: 523 From: IA Registered: 09-19-2004 |
Wow, a year between posts on this one. That's cool. I agree with that too. A "good" game is not necessarily a christian game. Look at Harvest Moon! It's a great game with nothing bad in it, but it's not a Christian game. ------------------ Blind belief is dangerous. - Kenyan Proverb Computers are useless. They can only give you answers. - Pablo Picasso |
Suddenly demonic spirits find a way out of the spirituall world and into ours to kill us. You have to fight them only because your life (and a bunch of others) depend on it! Of course its really really hard to kill them. Then the marine discovers Christ and become a Christian, but he still has to fight for his life ot get otu alive. Since he knows God is on his side, his weapons become more affective agaisnt the attacking deamons.