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Biblically Themed RPG Discussed

Posted by simoniker on from the very-very-odd-concept dept.

Thanks to an anonymous reader for pointing to an RPGRadar interview with the creators of biblically themed PC RPG Eon Of Tears. This title, which the makers stress is not "..an edutainment title or a game under the pro-Catholic banner" is set to "show known events in a new, fantasy light." The main concept behind this early-in-development Evillusion-developed RPG is that the player will "...get a shot at the biggest events in the Bible: unleashing the ten plagues of Egypt, seeing the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, leading the conquest of Canaan, or performing some of the miracles as Jesus Christ", and it's intended that your game actions affect your playable characters - "..a player that acts evil most of the time won't get to play Jesus, but Judas instead, or a Pharaoh's troop commander instead of Moses."

7 of 140 comments (clear)

  1. Hmm.... by Mantrid · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This seems like a pretty lame idea to me. I just can't see how it would work. Christians will probably be offended, and non-Christians probably just won't be that interested.

    1. Re:Hmm.... by TalMaximus · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Being a Christian, I'm not necessarily offended (IMHO), however I don't really think it would be very beneficial. Reading Scripture has taught me that God is never someone I could emulate so a game which allows me to exact judgement ("unleash the twelve plagues on Egypt") wouldn't really be edifying nor would it teach me how I am to live as a Christian. I have no governmental or divine authority to pass judgement of any sort, so practicing it on a video game probably wouldn't be beneficial. I understand that video games are all about pretending to be someone you aren't, but for my own personal life, I'd rather not pretend to be God. Philippians 2 teaches that even though Christ was in His very nature, God, He didn't consider equality with God something to be grasped but rather humbled himself as a servant. As a Christian I desire to emulate Christ, and if Christ didn't consider equality with God something to be attained, then neither will I.

      Scripture does teach us to be Christ-like, so I suppose from that point of view, the aspect of performing the miracles He performed is not completely far fetched. The book of Acts portrayed disciples such as Paul performing miracles, but Scripture also reveals that it wasn't Paul himself, but the Holy Spirit through Paul. Paul was just a willing servant to what God was doing through him.

      Basically, though I do appreciate the effort to introduce a Biblical game to the market, I don't think the game would be edifying for a Christian for the reasons above and many others. The final decision is between the gamer and God. I just thought I'd offer a Christian's perspective.

    2. Re:Hmm.... by Mantrid · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I am a 'real Christian', and I don't think that this game is going to be cool...I just don't see how they can pull it off without making the game sacreligious (sp?) (unless it's a matter of a nearly non-interactive theme park). I would think that a allegorical game would be a better route for a Christian themed game - Narnia or something like that. I shudder to think what someone RP'ing Jesus would do...

    3. Re:Hmm.... by Pxtl · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I agree - althought I'm agnostic, I'm marrying an Anglican, and am learning about the Christian perspective. For one thing, actually playing the part of Jesus seems egotistical and silly. It reminds me of the part of the Wolfenstein games where you actually, personally kill Hitler. It is one thing to set a game in the historical backdrop and import themes, its quite another to have the player fictitiously enacting (playing or killing) the icons of history/religion. Maybe it would be better if it weren't an action/rpg game. You know it will be some monstrous childish game of levelling up and dungeoncrawling suchlike - and it seems wrong to include such important characters in such low-minded a game. That'd be like having a paper-doll game or dating sim game about Princess Di. It just feels tacky.

      Actually, I think the best game I played that could be adapted for teaching values in a religious perspective was a SNES game called ActRaiser. It was a hybrid action-strategy game where you played an angel. Black&White would be good as well for teaching values - but I don't think Polytheism is popular.

      I would think if someone wanted a religious-minded game, a less directly biblical route would be the way to go (and also more attainable to non-Christians as well). For example, a game of Sim Village, demonstrating how to care for your people - the life of a small 19-th century village revolves around its church.

      I heard of another game - an FPS where your weapons don't kill the enemies - they make them fall to the ground and pray. Wow, it sounds like Rod and Todd so much its not funny. Why not something more reasonable? Like a game where you play a knight protecting your people from disaster/bandits/warfare? A game that shows you the importance of mercy, and protecting the innocents, etc. Prayer could be incorporated as a way to strengthen your abilities, heal, and protect your people. Something like a religious version of Toys For Bob's "The Horde".

      People who want stuff like this should keep VeggiTales in mind - the stories are told in allegory, and often are barely recognizable as the Biblical stories they represent. Because of that, and because of the quality of the stories, they are popular. That is how to give people religion in a way that's palatable - not in some "Buddy Jesus" sort of mockery.

      I'm not a religious person, but I think more games with a good value-system would be good for the kids today. Personally, I play violent games, and enjoy them - but when I have kids, I want them to have better options then hack&slash games and stupid puzzles or sport games. Well, until they're old enough for the violent stuff, at least. Like everyone says here - I want to raise my kids eductationally - and part of that is going to be in their entertainment.

      Then again, the story of Joan of Ark would make a good religious-based hack&slash type game.

  2. Games are where the player tells the story by Rares+Marian · · Score: 2, Insightful

    This'll never work. We already know what happened.
    And people still don't get it.

    --
    The message on the other side of this sig is false.
  3. NEW fantasy light? by jtheory · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Oh, so they want to "show known events in a new, fantasy light."

    For a lot of people, that's not a "new" light in which to view events like the parting of the red sea, the Creation, etc. etc..

    The Bible is a collection of stories gathered over thousands of years, some drawn from different cultures and myths of earlier religions. The different elements of the Creation story are almost all drawn directly from the Creation myths of cultures that existed long be Judaism. Some of them certainly had some basis in fact, somewhere along the way... but not most.

    No, the Song of Solomon is not about Jesus' loving relation to the Church. It's poetry that was included because of its cultural value. No, there was no flood that wiped out ALL LIFE on Earth except what was in Noah's boat (though there may have been a big flood).

    I have no problem with people seeking wisdom in the Bible; there's a lot of stuff in there, and some of it is bound to be helpful. Jesus (from what we can tell) had some interesting ideas.

    Ah, that's enough ranting. Anyway, I can't imagine a way to cast this game to make it acceptable to any mass audience. People tend to be very specific about their faith -- and some will be offended by the idea that some gamer can play Jesus, some will be offended by variations in the game from the "official" script, and some will simply shy away from religious overtones.

    --
    There are only 10 types of people: those who understand decimal, those who don't, and, uh, 8 other types I forget.
  4. Fantasy? by DamienMcKenna · · Score: 2, Insightful

    "show known events in a new, fantasy light."

    I thought it was all a fantasy anyway?