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PlayStations of the Cross

theodp writes "Is there a place amid the witches, warlocks and diabolical monsters for Christian video games? The NY Times reports companies like Brethren Entertainment ('Entertaining for Eternity'), Digital Praise ('Glorifying God Through Interactive Media'), and N'Lightning believe that there is a market in faith-based video games. If the idea of Christian first-person shooters seems unlikely, so too did the idea of Christian pop music, which accounted for 7% of the total pop-music market and sold 43+ million albums last year."

21 of 267 comments (clear)

  1. FWIW by Otter · · Score: 3, Funny
    N'Lightning is a terrific name. Or maybe I just spend so much time reading about Mandriva, Linspire and Hairy Warthog that anything half-sane sounds good.

    "PlayStations of the Cross" is also pretty clever -- a bit too clever for a Slashdot submitter. Let's see, did he just copy the NYT title...yup.

    1. Re:FWIW by Naikrovek · · Score: 3, Funny

      yes, but did he copy the funniest department line every grace slashdot from the NYTimes article?

      from the forgive-me-father-for-i-have-HADOKEN! dept.

      (its even funnier than my suggestion of "from the stuff-that-antimatters dept" on a story relating to antimatter research)

  2. Crusades by austad · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm looking forward to a game, we'll call it Crusades: Kill the Heathens.

    You could run around and try to convert people, and when they won't give up all of their beliefs and conform to something they've never heard of, you can kill them.

    I know it's not realistic though, that would never happen in real life.

    --
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  3. Oh, the possibilities by Toast10101 · · Score: 2, Funny

    I, for one, can't wait for "Jesus Christ: Vampire Hunter"

  4. 100 Philistine Foreskins by putamare · · Score: 2, Funny

    Collect 100 Philistine Foreskins & win the princess. 200 for bonus points!

  5. Christian game reviews by Reignking · · Score: 3, Funny

    There are plenty of Christian-centered game review web sites out there...

    I can see it now..."You turn the corner" "You hear something" "You ask yourself, WWJD?"

    --
    One man's Funny is another man's Offtopic.
    1. Re:Christian game reviews by Meagermanx · · Score: 2, Funny

      That would make a friggin' hilarious text-based adventure game... If I had mod points, sir, you would get one.

    2. Re:Christian game reviews by Dr.+GeneMachine · · Score: 2, Funny
      Yeah, infocom-style, man!

      You are in a maze of twisty little dogmas, all alike.
      It is pitch black. You might get eaten by a heretic.
      >WWJD
      For hints consult your hint booklet.

      --
      This comment does not exist.
  6. Simpsons... by Reignking · · Score: 2, Funny

    Don't forget Billy Graham's Bible Blasters, the only video game owned by the Flandersesess -- Convert the Heathen!

    --
    One man's Funny is another man's Offtopic.
    1. Re:Simpsons... by blighter · · Score: 2, Funny
      Which scene also contains my favorite response to people who want to play when I'm playing a one-player game:

      Rodd and Todd - "Can we play now, Bart?"

      Bart - "You are playing. We're a team!"

      Rodd and Todd - "Yay!!!"

  7. Re:(Organized) Religion is always a cash-cow by Meagermanx · · Score: 2, Funny

    I always thought the problem was just that Christians are supposed to be kind, loving, and have amazing cheek-turning abilities.
    You would just end up with games like "Christ Christ Revolution" and "Desert Walker Alpha 3: Tournament Edition".
    Might convey the true Christian spirit, but having lame as hell games is NOT the best way to convert people.

  8. Re:As a Christian... by Meagermanx · · Score: 3, Funny

    So what you're saying is- Wait. Okay. So basically all Christa- Nope. I can't do it. Too easy.

  9. HWJF by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    How would Jesus frag?

  10. So... by Sylver+Dragon · · Score: 4, Funny

    So, when do we get the hentai game based on Lot and his daughters?

    --
    Necessity is the mother of invention.
    Laziness is the father.
  11. Murder for Christ! by Jeremiah+Cornelius · · Score: 1, Funny

    End a life, like Jesus commands.

    --
    "Flyin' in just a sweet place,
    Never been known to fail..."
  12. Re:Lots of money to be made by CrazyJim1 · · Score: 3, Funny

    When society is selling sex, drugs, and immoral behavior, of course Christians would not want to indulge in it. I used to like GTA:Vice City, but since God spoke to me, I threw it away and didn't buy GTA:San Andreas. There are definately video games out there that God doesn't want you to be playing. The trouble is that they're not always easy to spot. You could be playing an RPG, and then towards the end it could force you to worship some false god to continue. Video games are notorious for suprises popping up. Thats why it would be nice for some Christian games. Games a morally straight person won't have to worry about sinning in the heart to play.

  13. The original DOOM series. by Stoutlimb · · Score: 3, Funny

    The more you kill, the further you descend into the pits of hell. That sounds like a pretty good faith-based lesson for people. Go play Doom.

    Bork!

  14. Re:(Organized) Religion is always a cash-cow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    > You would just end up with games like "Christ Christ Revolution"

    Totally, I can never get that "wine wine water wine water loaves wine wine fishes loaves loaves" combo in level 7.

  15. Game titles by subl33t · · Score: 1, Funny

    What would be some good Christian game titles?

    Halo - oops already done

    GTA Jerusalem - (Grander then Thou Apostle) in which you tool around the holy land killing Legionaires (police) and prostitutes. Unfortunately it will be panned by non-Christian game critics as too violent.

    Jaded Empire - You're a highly disciplined monk wandering the agnostic land trying to convert or destroy non-beleivers.

    Holy Ghost Recon - You play a crack Judean People's Front insurgent agent.

    this is too easy...

    Crimson Skies: High Road to Revelation
    Silent Hell
    God of War

  16. Re:Not about conversion by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    Just a shot in the dark, but I'd guess batshit whacko judgementalism? Or maybe just hardline holier than thou?

  17. The Ultimate Market by popo · · Score: 2, Funny


    Face it: The Religious Right is *the* ultimate market. I mean this both politically and comercially -- there is no easier market to sell to.

    First off, the communications channels in organized religion are second to none. No other community of this size has such smoothly functioning internal communications regarding brand, product favorites and traction.

    Secondly, they are *by definition* non-critical of all things "faith related". (The entire definition of "Faith" is belief without criticism). The Church discourages criticism and independent thought -- as it always has. Products which appeal to core beliefs benefit from swift, non-critical product acceptance.

    Thirdly, religious institutions are increasingly commercial -- which means both distribution and marketing channels are increasingly bundled with traditional teaching, messaging and outreach programs.

    Religious video games are a sure thing. Religious anything is a sure thing.

    --
    ------ The best brain training is now totally free : )