'Convert or die' game divides Christians Some ask Wal-Mart to drop Left Behind

[RamboLiberal]

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/12/12/MNG8TMU1KQ1.DTL

Liberal and progressive Christian groups say a new computer game in which players must either convert or kill non-Christians is the wrong gift to give this holiday season and that Wal-Mart, a major video game retailer, should yank it off its shelves.

The Campaign to Defend the Constitution and the Christian Alliance for Progress, two online political groups, plan to demand today that Wal-Mart dump Left Behind: Eternal Forces, a PC game inspired by a series of Christian novels that are hugely popular, especially with teens.

<snip>

Left Behind Games' president, Jeffrey Frichner, says the game actually is pacifist because players lose "spirit points" every time they gun down nonbelievers rather than convert them. They can earn spirit points again by having their character pray.

"You are fighting a defensive battle in the game," Frichner, whose previous company produced Bible software, said of combatting the Antichrist. "You are a sort of a freedom fighter."

A Wal-Mart spokeswoman said the retailer has no plans to pull Left Behind: Eternal Forces from any of the 200 of Wal-Mart's 3,800 stores that offer the game, including just seven in California. The nearest are in Chico and Redding.

[Solly Mack]

uh..uh...damn

Now that's sick.

[nxylas]

4. Sick, but I don't believe it should be pulled

Freedom of speech includes freedom to produce games that some of us may find unpleasant.

[Brazenly Liberal]

15. Freedom of expression includes the game company's right to produce it, BUT

does NOT require Wal Mart or any other store to distribute it for them. Asking the government to disallow production of the game is where a free speech issue is to be found. Asking Wal Mart not to carry the game has no First Amendment implications.

[rodeodance]

31. I am going to send a letter to Walmart (pull it)!!--no 'family values" in this

game.

[MGKrebs]

16. I don't think anyone is asking for a law to ban it.

Just good ol' capitalist pressure.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

68. It's only censorship when it's the government that does it.

At least, that's what we are told when liberal ads or documentaries are pulled by the corporate media.

What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. Actually, I have plans to buy several copies of this

We wouldn't want this fabulous bit of extreme Talibangelical bigotry to get shoved down the memory hole, would we?

[On the Road]

3. Plus -- I Understand The Game Was Created

so you can play as the forces of evil and slaughter the Christians.

(Wonder why they would do that. Maybe counting on a few extra dollars in sales.)

[Deep13]

8. Really? Is there an I-Mac version?

:evilgrin:

[reprobate]

83. Sorry, but the iMac (or any Mac for that matter) is incompatible with evil.

[Wickerman]

5. the future camp value of this game is tremendous

At least, I hope. :scared:

I can't imagine spending good money on it, though... BT.

[TommyO]

17. It'll be in the $5 bin soon

Then, I'll grab a copy just to laugh at it.

[Occulus]

21. I'm sure you can find a torrent of it

:D

[Wickerman]

29. of a Christian game?

:evilgrin:

[VegasWolf]

35. Yes, probably! Those conservatives love to steal software. I'll grab a

torrent when its out. I wouldn't pay real money, even US dollars, for this crap.

[VegasWolf]

19. Me too! I want to kill and maim all those atheists! Teach them for being

so damn smart!!!

I'll wait till it hits the 5.00 bin though!

[Bassic]

38. I actually plan to play it

You can play for Satan's side :evilgrin:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

2. one more reason to never enter a walmart

imho

[mike_c]

6. or a christian church....

eom

[bianca2001]

10. I'm with you on that!!!

I signed a "do not shop at WalMart" petition, on line, a few years
ago and I have kept that promise!

[AlCzervik]

7. do i want a copy-no but i don't think it the game should be pulled either

[Dhalgren]

13. If there were a white supremacist game where the point was to kill

African-Americans, Jews, Arabs, etc. would that be o.k., too? This is horrible hate-mongering bigotry, at its worst. They're only selling a game about the hunting down and killing of atheists, muslims, jews, and other "non-believers", so that is free speech? This is a highly offensive product and only reinforces the "twice born" in their hatred for non-believers and their desire to see us all dead. But, hey, if it's "free speech" and all....

[VegasWolf]

22. What? You don't believe in the Christian 3 headed God? Shame!

/sarc

:toast:

[qwlauren35]

47. I felt uncomfortable

with the idea of a game that was entitled "Kill ALL HUMANS" or something like that.

I personally object to games that glorify killing... but I know I'm being hypocritical, because I read mysteries and watch crime shows.

I know that we (Americans) try to regulate racism... but as I meet people from other countries, I begin to think that it's pointless. When resources appear to be scarce (or someone gets greedy) then differences become fodder for prejudicial violence.

[Occulus]

71. Surely, you don't mean "Destroy All Humans", right?

http://xbox.ign.com/objects/681/681174.html

:evilgrin:

[Jamastiene]

70. There are games like those (white supremacist) from what I've heard.

I still think they are highly offensive games either way. I still say that until they lower (the standards to get into) heaven, we might as well raise hell.

[LiberalEsto]

9. Welcome to the 12th - 13th centuries

It sounds like days when the Teutonic knights got orders from pope Celestine III in 1193 to go christianize the Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians at sword point. These were the last peoples in Europe to be converted, and they fought hard, but ultimately lost.

No matter how they try to cloak it, Christianity remains at the root a violent religion just the way they portray Islam.

When will Mall-Wart start selling an Inquisition game?

[hippiechick]

11. wow, who would Jesus shoot?

:wtf: The premise of this game is just so twisted.

[Kelvin Mace]

25. Bust a cap for Jesus!

[VegasWolf]

36. ROFLMAO!!! nt

[Richard Steele]

43. ...

[Kelvin Mace]

48. Dude! That's the OLD Jesus

You need the new Xtreme Jezus™



The new X-treme Jezus™ takes out atheists, Buddhists, Trekkies and other unbelievers with his trademark .666 Magnum, the "Anti-Christ Automatic™".

[Ellen Forradalom]

53. Huh. X-Treme Jezus looks like David Bowie

circa 1985.

[Kelvin Mace]

62. I mentioned that to Jezus and

he was flattered. He then shot me in the leg.

[Lilith Velkor]

80. He died for your sins...now it's your turn.

[Bigmack]

12. Sick... but if they made one

where the goal was to hunt big-haired, closeted-gay, evangelical ministers and zap them with some kind of hetero-ray..... well.... that would be OK. :evilgrin:

[VegasWolf]

14. Super Christians with guns - what could possibly go wrong! nt

[olddad56]

18. I love these Christian Nazi video games. They are so in the spirit.

[Kelvin Mace]

20. Time to heat up htose phone lines, folks

They say they aren't getting complaints about the game.

Wal-Mart.com USA, LLC
7000 Marina Blvd.
Brisbane, CA 94005
650-837-5000

[TroglodyteScholar]

50. I wrote to the spokesperson quoted in the article...

Ms. Raddohl,

I recently saw you quoted ('Convert or die' game divides Christians: Some ask Wal-Mart to drop Left Behind, San Francisco Chronicle, Dec. 12, 2006) as saying you haven't seen many complaints about the ludicrous Left Behind game. I chose to contact you directly because complaints sent to other parties at Wal-Mart must simply be bypassing your desk.

I'm writing to let you know that neither myself nor my family will be shopping at Wal-Mart this holiday season as long as this vile piece of intolerance-promoting software is on your shelves. I know the same goes for thousands of other people whose emails were not directed at spokespersons. Please, if you would be so kind, take note of my complaint and pass it on to someone who would normally act on such items.

Also, please realize that I am not some "San Francisco values" ultra-liberal nut. I live in central Georgia where a large majority of the relatively conservative population will visit Wal-Mart at least once for their holiday shopping. I believe there are non-Christians and Christians all over the country who will take issue with Wal-Mart's willingness to make a buck off of this game's extremist message.

It is somewhat of an inconvenience for my family (or any southern family) to avoid Wal-Mart altogether, so I hope the next article I read on this subject will include the details of why Wal-Mart chose to pull this product from their shelves.

Thanks for your time,

[Occulus]

23. I wonder if there is any mod potential at all.....

:think:

[Kelvin Mace]

24. Nicolae Carpahtia is the anti-Christ

Wasn't he the bad guy in Ghostbusters II{/i]?

Way to get a promotion dude!

[TlalocW]

26. I've seen screenshots and gameplay examples

It's a sucky game. The only people who will buy this will be the small population of religious extremists that have both a computer and allow their brainwashed kids to play video games on it.

TlalocW

[VegasWolf]

27. Cool! To get an extra life all you need is to say 10 Hail Mary's and one

Our Father!!!

[MGKrebs]

34. Wow! Just like real life!

All is forgiven if you confess!

[Bridget Burke]

40. I'm sure Hail Mary's won't help

The Left Behind writers don't care for Catholics--or Jews, either.

[VegasWolf]

41. I'm sure you are right! The game said simply "spirit points" for "praying". My

lasped Catholic background kicking in I guess!

:toast:

[Nihil]

42. You're gonna burn for that one!

:spray:

:spank:

[AngryOldDem]

55. You mean that's NOT how it really works????

Damn. I'm disillusioned.

:D

[Ilsa]

28. Software that teaches kids to force others to pray?

How freaking lovely.

[olddad56]

32. I'd be praying for the right to not be forced to pray.

[HuffleClaw]

30. ok, first of all 'left behind' is NOT remotely 'hugely popular'.

like scientology and certain right wing 'authors' i could name, the people behind the left behind franchise have routinely resorted to the usual immoral and deceptive practices in an attempt to prop the books up on bestsellers lists. locally, the left behind books that are in the library always look to be in pristine brand new shape as they sit gathering dust on the shelves. the books are horribly offensive as well and are, imo, a religious version of 'the turner diaries' that are subtly racist, sexist, and generally offensive to anyone who isn't a fundamentalist evangelical christian.
that said, i see no reason to ban their silly video game. why do to them what they'd gleefully do to the rest of us? were it up to them our book stores, music stores, video stores and libraries would be virtually empty. its stuff like this video game which serves to expose them as the complete nutters they are, let 'em piss away millions of dollars to serve a very tiny (yet horribly vocal) minority.

oh, and the really funny part? MOST of their intended audience won't even permit their kids to do something as 'secular' as play a video game, no matter what the topic.

[rodeodance]

33. now it will be.

[LeftHander]

37. Simpsons's Jesus Blaster - "You didn't convert that one..."

Almost, he's a Unitarian now.

[Barrett808]

63. "Nah, just winged him."

"Turned him into a Unitarian."

[VegasWolf]

39. Very clever! They can sell this game in Iraq too. Just replace the name of Jesus

with Mohammed and presto, instant sales.

What has your religion done for you lately?

[Miss Chybil]

44. So as long as you pray after you kill somebody everything is ok...

I guess that's it in a nutshell.

[Posteritatis]

45. "Campaign to Defend the Constitution" calling for banning stuff? Nice. (n/t)

[MrPrax]

46. Metacritic gives it a 42...

Which is a low rating...content aside, most of the reviews say it is too hard, the interface is problematic and the story and effort is not worth the learning curve.

Yahoo Games has a demo (191 megs), but the system requirements are for 'newer' machines, so if in doubt -- according to their home page, the minimum requirements are normal enough :
* Windows® XP SP1
* Pentium® IV 2.0GHz processor or faster
* 512MB RAM
* Minimum 1GB free hard disk space
* 8x CD/DVD-ROM drive or faster
* 32MB DirectX9.0c compatible GeForce 4 MX440 or ATI Radeon 8500 video card or higher
* DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card
* TCP/IP for LAN or 56 Kbps modem (2 player games) or Cable/DSL modem (3-8 player games) and an Internet service provider account required for Internet multiplayer.
* Microsoft compatible keyboard and mouse.

Multiplayer!! Ha Ha Ha...oh that gives me an idea for some harmless 'fundie' black op skull fucking..."Would Jesus run down a hooker?...hell no" ;-)

[genieroze]

49. Convert or die, I wonder what HELLory Clinton would say? lol

[dethl]

51. Already up on the torrent sites.....n/t

[zreosumgame]

52. no the games should not be banned. However

any parent buying one for their kid(s) should be reported to Social Services in that area, and anyone buying it for themselves should be posted on-line like sex offenders so you can know if a nut-job is stroking his 'gun' close to you...

[LanternWaste]

66. I kinda agree...

but I'd have to place the Grand Theft Auto franchise in that category, also.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

85. Grand Theft Auto is a fucking great game franchise.

I was shocked as hell when I got carded for buying it, though (I'm 23).

[fujiyama]

54. Where the fuck are Hillary and Joe?

I thought video game violence is their main topic?

Oh well, I suppose it's OK if it's religiously motivated violence...After all, it's not just carjackings and running over hookers. This is for a worthy cause.

Wal-Mart is a store run by hypocrites. Ban GTA, but this is OK...Suuuure...

And this will be the real test for Hillary. After all, here she has to stray from pandering to the religious right....

[Lilith Velkor]

56. I feel a Circle Jerks fit coming on

With God on my side
The holy army's gonna ride
We're gonna go on a rampage
To rape, plunder, and pillage!

Insanity's everywhere
Must be something in the air
I wanna blow them to pieces 'cause IIIIIII'm...

Killing for Jesus!

:headbang: :headbang: :headbang:

[kestrel91316]

57. Oh, NOW I get it - I was confused for a while................

Muslims killing all unbelievers = BAD
Christians killing all unbelievers = GOOD

Makes perfect sense.

[Sapere aude]

58. Religion is getting to be one of the most insidious inventions of man.

I really think the end of life as we know it will come at the hands of the faithful.

[kestrel91316]

64. The bible says money is the root of all evil. I disagree. Money runs

a close second to organized RELIGION, which IMHO is the root of all evil.

[SemperEadem]

75. It's the love of money that's the root of all evil. n/t

[Katzenjammer]

59. What a lovely way to make the point that it's all just fantasy

Imagine if there were a God like the one those nitwits claim to believe in. He would get seriously pissed at the blasphemy and disrespect involved in this game, and there'd be an awful lot of fatal lightning strikes out of cloudless skies.

[shanti]

60. "freedom fighter"????

omg, :puke: this term is so misused!

[mc jazz]

65. convert to freedom or die!

[Doctor_J]

61. Penalty for slaughtering non-believers - "lose spirit points"

:wtf:

[NoodleyAppendage]

67. So, Walmart won't have a problem with a game where you kill Xtians???

I think it's high time for a video game where scientists and persons of reason "either confuse or kill religious nutballs" for fucking up our world. Come on, Walmart...prove your bullsh*t isn't biased.

J

[crim son]

69. I don't see a huge difference between this game and

any other one where the aim is to kill your opponent. It's in bad taste, sure, but so are all of these games. It's fantasy. So what?

[salin]

72. So when does this game become an explanation

for some future, horrifying, school shooting? :-(

[Cass]

73. So its pro-life to gun down people who disagree with them?

Unbelievable. I wonder if the game has abortion doctors as characters? They would really get their rocks off then. This game is a great example of pseudo-christian hypocrisy.

[Earth_First]

74. Remember that Christianity is the religion of peace, tolerance, and understanding...

Anthrax mailings, God Hates Fags, Planned Parenthood bombings, Jesus Camp...

What boils my blood is when these fundamentalist wackos tell you in a condescending way how "Islam is the religion of peace..." and proceed to spout off their myriad Fox News based information about Islam as though they were the definitive source of information on Islam.

[jtm111]

78. Christianity is a religion of peace

I refuse to condemn all of Christianity because of the actions of a few kooks.

[MindPilot]

79. As compared to what?

Those warlike Atheists? The bloodthirsty Agnostics? The crazed parent who kills the kids because "nothing" told them to? Wherever you find lunacy and violence, religion is there.

Recall Mindpilot's basic law of advertising: Whatever they have to make a big deal telling you something is, it probably isn't.

[knight_of_the_star]

76. Lovely

So you gun down the non-believers then pray for their souls to get back spirit points. How "pacifistic".

[citizen snips]

77. I will not buy that piece of trash.

check out the review it got.
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/leftbehindeternalforces/review.html

[GoddessOfGuinness]

81. Just another violent video game.

If they pull this off the market, they'll have to pull the Grand Theft Auto series, Mortal Kombat, and all games of that ilk.

I don't like them; and I wouldn't let my kid play them. But I don't think they should be pulled. They simply shouldn't be purchased.

[Yukari Yakumo]

82. As for the pros...

IGN-- 5.9

"Ultimately, our opinion of this game is based less on the message it contains than the way it looks and plays. The basic design of the game is intriguing and worthy of a better treatment than it gets here. Fighting for and keeping recruits requires some thoughtful and persistent strategies and the fact that you have to do it without shooting or stabbing your enemies adds even more depth. Unfortunately, the inconsistent behavior of your recruits means you'll spend more time fighting the interface than the Antichrist."

Review: http://pc.ign.com/articles/745/745956p1.html

= = = = = =

Gamespot-- 3.4

"The Good: Interesting concept that strays from the kill-'em-all RTS norm.
The Bad: Mission design and pathfinding issues; storyline veers from religious devotion to self-parody; ugly visuals and too many identical unit models; very unstable."

Review: http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/leftbehindeternalforces/review.html

[Occulus]

84. I wonder if it has an editor

I want to edit the christians into Swampy's Lizard People.

[yasmina27]

86. I bought this for my BIL

for xmas. He is overall a great person, a democrat, hates Shrub, worked hard to get rid of tricky ricky santorum, and is very active in our mainstream Presbyterian church.

He is no fundy wacko who thinks that anyone not like him is going to hell. Yet, he totally believes that we are in the last days and will see Armageddon in our lifetime. He has devoured the entire Left Behind series.

So when I was out shopping one day (NOT at Wallyworld), I saw it and had an "ah hah!" moment and bought it for him.

I know he will treat it as a game. He can live out his fantasies of the next coming, yet I guarantee you he will stay grounded and realistic