I am a video game designer, and also a Christian, so this subject interests me. What do you think of so called Christian video games? Games like Left Behind: Eternal Forces Real Time Strategy, Adam's Venture Adventure Game, Catechumen, Super Noah's Ark 3D, just to name a few. I see most of them as plagued with too much Bible quizzing, less game play, and too many glitches.

In light of that opinion, I'm trying to create a Christian game that hopefully provokes people to think of the gospel, but not in a quiz like form. I experimented with a few storytelling techniques in this very short downloadable PC game that I made called "Nativity": http://gamejolt.com/games/other/nativity/10880/

I do admit that the ending is fixed (since it is a Bible story) and that game play needs to be a lot desired. But basically, the point is trying to recognize video games more as an art than a propaganda or preaching tool. Art pieces don't preach at you, they show a picture that can tug at your heart when looking at details.

So, what are your opinions on Christian games? What would you like to see in one?

I don't have anything against Bible-based games, in fact I appreciate what the games attempt to accomplish. I just haven't found a game that doesn't seem, as you said, quiz-like or fake. I haven't gotten the opportunity to try out your linked game yet, but I hopefully will soon!

I would really love if there was a Total War: Israel or a Civilization scenario that gave 2500 years of history legit history. Maybe it could work in a Fire Emblem setting with chapters and the main character would change from Abraham to Moses to Joshua, etc. However, I don't think the Fire Emblem thing would work at all.

If anyone likes to code/scenario create, make these =)

What I would like to see in one? Same as in every videogame. But every "christian" game I have ever played have this unintentional camp humour quality in them. If you can fix that,great.  My top two on the wish list are  1. No bible quizzes 2. No shooter games.

I actually started a thread like this awhile back. You can find it here if you want. It does discuss both board and computer games, though never in very great detail.  Did you ever play any of the games listed in that thread?  (Don't feel obligated to go through it... just wondering if you do decide to read it.)  I never did get to go and try most of them myself, but I'd like to some day.

I do agree with you that too many 'Christian' games are quiz oriented. I once found an online game that wasn't -purely- Christian, but could have easily been tweaked into something more focused.  I loved the idea of the game, but the man wouldn't sell it for less than $3000 despite the fact that only 3 people actively logged in.  The page design and everything was great.  If I could remember the name of the website, I'd link you to it.  However, I do know it had a similar premise as the card game called Redemption.

I'd personally like to see a great Christian game like all of the popular mainstream games.  It's a shame no one seems able to do it thanks to society's fear of such a game being 'preachy'.  (No one likes to told their lives are being lived incorrectly, after all.) There are so many epic stories and possibilities within bible stories...... but the hurdle is simply too large to overcome right now. Maybe someday, someone will be able to catch the heart of the world with a Christian game based off the biblical stories.

Singelli :

I guess the problem with some Christian games have been that they underestimate the player. And I am not talking only about the ones who have been obvious rip-offs of more popular games. The lack of originality makes you feel like the game might as well push McDonalds happy meal to you instead of Jesus. If this cynical approach could be changed, I guess that would be a good start at least.

I agree with most of you guys. ?The games always seem to focused on biblical knowledge instead of an interesting game. ?Granted I haven't played any Christian games since NES days, but I do believe a game that could be made fun to play with a biblical story could not only be good for Christianity but also just fun to play.

I have found one "Christian" game that I liked alright. I can't remember the name, but it was just minigames with Bible characters in them. Unfortunately, I've yet to get a chance to try mybiblegames.com, but I have high hopes for them.

Most Christian video games are poorly thrown together, and feel like they're meant to be a Bible study or something. I play games because I want a game, not a lesson. I can read my Bible if I want a Bible lesson. I also feel like most Christian games feel more like propaganda than games. I've considered making one before, but I think the only way a Christian video game could ever reach the point of being fully enjoyable and not so cheesy or annoying, would be to just make it like any other game, and put a Christian character in it. It doesn't have to be injected with doctrine around every corner, or even quote fifty Bible verses. It can just abide by Christian standards and mention that the Character is Christian, and maybe include a reference or two to the Church or the Bible or something. Maybe even include an appropriate background song by a Christian group.

But this "run from the firey darts! Use the sword of the Spirit to slay the evil lying spirit!" sort of stuff is just...meh. No offense if that's what your game was like. : I can't check it out right now (I'm using my phone). But yeah, I guess that's my two cents. I don't really think we'll ever see a good union of the two, at least not by a major company.

Ha ha ha ha ha, no, that is not how my game is like. It is a more artsy kind of game that puts another perspective in the Christmas story. So it really is not a game - game, actually. Kinda put together in three days, but it has a bit of potential.

gmx0 :

Thrown together in three days doesn't sound very promising.

They try to make those games, but they never seem to work out right. They always are a good idea, but they have no idea how to do them right. I hope you can make one right.

Brigand :

True in a way. But most of video game making consists of bug testing and polish rather than actual game play mechanics. Also, it is hard to make a very systematic Bible quiz system in just three days I focused on story for this, as an art piece, mostly.

gmx0 :

So it is basically a bible quiz. Oh dear.

Well, I agree. I remember playing these games called "Bible Champions" when I was little. There were about fifteen levels per game, and I had all three. The point was to progress the story by collecting "Bible" icons so that the narrator could tell you the story. The gameplay was pretty fun, as you could go and complete several quests for many characters- for example, I remember helping Ruth find baskets for the fields, or just randomly helping out townspeople, such as this lady who for some reason wanted Persian rugs. In the Joshua level, you had to find the swords, spears, and trumpets for the people who will march around Jericho.

But it's true there was lots of preaching in it, mainly because it was intended for a younger audience to learn Bible stories- nowadays, I find those games a little boring, since they were made for children younger than me. Also, they were SO GLITCHY. Every single level, in all three games, had a glitch. That makes it 45 glitches total. Some were fun. I remember in the second game I found a glitch that allows you to transport to a hidden area that they planned to add into the game, trashed the idea, and didn't scrap the code from the game correctly. Others were really annoying, getting my character "trapped" so I had to exit the game and replay it.