WP: Violent "Left Behind" computer game sparks controversy

[DeepModem Mom]

Fire and Brimstone, Guns and Ammo
By Mike Musgrove
Thursday, August 17, 2006; Page D01


Eternal Forces isn't due out until October, but its violence has attracted considerable controversy already. (Left Behind Games)

As the camera pans over a smoldering representation of New York City, the booming voice says it all: "For those left behind, the apocalypse has just begun!"

That's the tail end of the promotional trailer for Left Behind: Eternal Forces, an upcoming computer game based on the best-selling book series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins.

The "Left Behind" books, which center on Armageddon and the Second Coming of Jesus, have sold more than 70 million copies and are the basis of three movies, making the franchise overdue for a video game. The game, which will soon be marketed in churches and video game stores across the country, is due out in October.

In Eternal Forces, which is based on the first four books, the rapture has occurred and billions of people have disappeared from the planet. Players command the left-behind Tribulation Forces and battle the forces of the Antichrist, who happens to be employed as the head of a U.N.-like world government organization. The game's action takes place across 500 carefully re-created New York City blocks, stretching from Wall Street to Harlem.

The object of the game is to recruit the members of New York's remaining "neutral" population to the side of God during a seven-year reign of the Antichrist. Players have to win over the remaining agnostics and unbelievers of New York City or kill them -- either before or after they are pulled to the forces of evil....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/16/AR2006081601764.html

[shugah]

1. that will be nice for the children of fundies

it must kind of suck not to be able to play violent games like their peers do. most of the bible based games are "lame." this one sounds like it has potential to appeal not only to certain religious parents who might otherwise restrict the games their kids play but maybe even to real gamers.

it will be interesting to see how sales are when it is released.

[zreosumgame]

10. yes, perhaps it will channel all thier bully tactics

and harrasment of 'infidels' so schools can teach in more peaceful surroundings.

[gratuitous]

2. I know one church that won't be marketing this game

Though we will probably have a number of negative things to say about it in sermons and discussion groups.

[DeepModem Mom]

11. From the article --

Miami attorney Jack Thompson, already famous to a generation of Xbox and PlayStation owners for pitching campaigns against game companies, argues that games are rotting the minds of young people. But, as a practicing Christian, he says, he has more reasons than usual to dislike the latest target of his ire. The Eternal Forces game "breaks my heart," he said.

"The game is about killing people for their lack of faith in Jesus," he said. "The Gospel is not about killing people in the name of the Lord, and Jesus made that very clear."

[Ian David]

3. I'm tempted to sign-up online to kick fundie ass alongside The Antichrist

But that would mean I'd actually have to give those assholes money.

I mean, teaching Christian Fundamentalists to attack civilians... what could possibly go wrong?

[blm]

4. Make sure you let fundies know that all this Tim LaHaye BULLSHIT was

engineered and fundied by RevMoon. This is how mind control techniques have adapted to modern day entertainment and politics.

[leesa]

6. They haven't a clue. I didn't know he started the anti-UN stuff.

[blm]

7. This goes back to the 70s but they ramped up in 1980 with CNP.

Moon has been trying in recent years to co-opt the UN, too.

[leesa]

5. Anti-Christ as the head of the UN. Is this where this shit comes from?

Is Tim LeHaye the one spouting this BS? And since LeHaye is the spawn of Reverand Moon...

[bmbmd]

8. The violence in the book

perpetrated by the "Good Guys" is what led me to realize that Mr. LaHaye was, indeed, a false prophet.

[Beelzebud]

9. The left has given this game enough free publicity.

Look... I am a gamer. I follow games.

NO ONE in the game community had heard of this game until a bunch of blogs started posting about it...

IT's FREE advertising.

The one game site I found that reviewed it, gave it a D-, and said it was too buggy to be an enjoyable game. So not only does the message stink, but the game just sucks too.

So enough free advertising for this crap game... This is still a free country, and these religious freaks can sell this shit if they want to.

[mccoyn]

12. I saw someone promoting it once.

He said something like "look, you get 2 points for converting someone and lose a point for killing someone." I can't remember the last game I played where I was worried about points.

[Matariki]

13. These IDIOTS can't even get their bible lore right

Billions of people disappear? The number in the bible is 144,000 people. That's what - 0.002% of the world population? With a number that small, i'm assuming these people would be the spiritual creme de la creme - which therefore would preclude politicians, pop-stars and tv evangelists. No, probably it would just include humble people living simple lives - probably Tibetan monks. So no one would even notice - hell, the 'apocalypse' has probably come and gone already and we're none the wiser.

Not that i believe in that fairy tale. At best it's kabbalistic symbolism best left to rabbis and mystics to decipher, at worst, the confused ranting of a fungus eating vagrant.