The Left Behind Game Debate

December 21, 2006 Posted by Roger OvertoncloseAuthor: Roger Overton Name: Roger Overton
Email: rogeroverton@hotmail.com
Site: http://ateamblog.com
About: Roger Overton is currently pursuing a Masters degree at Talbot School of Theology. He has addressed various churches, schools and youth camps throughout the United States. Roger was co-editor of The New Media Frontier (Crossway, 2008) and God and Governing (Wipf & Stock, 2009). Roger can be emailed at rogeroverton@hotmail.com.See Authors Posts (570)

This was apparently sent out recently by the CEO of Left Behind Games to be posted by the game's supporters on critical blogs:

This post is
provided by Troy Lyndon, the CEO of Left Behind Games.
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY endorses our
game. Read below to find out why!
Our game DOES NOT encourage killing.
Our game is NOT
anti-semitic.
Our game is NOT anti-muslim or
anti-islamic.
It is anti-EVIL! The ultimate bad-guy is the Antichrist
who wants to eliminate all faiths and all religions, except his and he is
deceiving the entire world.
Our game does NOT teach the pre-tribulation theology of
the book series, except that this worldview is utilized as a FICTIONAL backdrop
of the game.
In the past several days, numerous people have been and
continue to spread misinformation about the game.
Our game is the first game ever to
encourage the use of PRAYER and WORSHIP as the most effective means to resolve
conflict.
Physical warfare is discouraged as the LEAST EFFECTIVE
means for resolving conflict…and a gamer loses points for using a
gun.
This is the world’s first high-quality inspirational game
which intends to model positive behavior by discouraging physical
warfare.
Please play the game for yourself and help us to get out
the TRUTH.
In an industry which creates so much gratuitous violence
and gore, LEFT BEHIND: Eternal Forces presents a healthy alternative. We need
your help to get the word out!
PLAY THE GAME and find out for yourself that this game is
about the battle of good versus evil.
Here are a few things said by others:
- The Anti-Defamation League,
although they speak out against the book theology, says “Conversion to
Christianity in the game is not depicted as forcible in nature, and violence is
not rewarded in the game.”
- AOL says it is a “Positive Moral
Message”
- Focus on the Family says “Finally! A game Mom and Dad
can play with Junior”
- Concerned Women for America says “A game we can
wholeheartedly recommend!”
- Wired Magazine “Few are as ambitious and polished as
this PC title.”
- ArsTechnica.com “This is a game that Christian parents
can buy their kids, and one that Christian kids can play themselves without any
guilt about “questionable content.””
- Women of Faith says “In an industry that is full of
destruction with no hope, the LEFT BEHIND game offers hope and a positive
message”
- Clint Thomas from Chaos Theory says “For years we’ve
been telling kids what to run from and not what to run to, until
now!”
 
Should you have any concerns about this game, please go to
the contact us page on our website at
www.leftbehindgames.com and we’ll do our best to connect with you.
 
Sincerely,
- Troy

Download the game's DEMO and decide for yourself. Just as I was thinking the game wasn't impressive on any level, and had built a small army of Christian soldiers, the demo crashed on me. Go figure. I haven't played SIMs, but my impression is that it's along the same style.

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