Here On GP, Left Behind Employee Comments on Game Controversy
Here On GP, Left Behind Employee Comments on Game Controversy
January 3, 2007
While going through the overnight comments here on GamePolitics, we were surprised to find this one from "Sandi," apparently an employee of Left Behind games, publisher of the controversial RTS of the same name. Sandi writes:There has been alot of misleading information spun throughout the public and media regarding Left Behind Eternal Forces game. I encourage you to... download a trial version. I believe the first hand experience will allow you the opportunity to judge for yourself and put these rumors to a rest.
A lengthy statement from Left Behind Games CEO Troy Lyndon is appended to Sandi's comment. Lyndon's remarks include:
Our game DOES NOT encourage killing. Our game is NOT anti-Semitic. Our game is NOT anti-Muslim or anti-Islamic... 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.
GP: It is quite interesting to see Left Behind Games taking their case directly to the people by posting comments like this. The company is obviously feeling the heat from the nonstop criticism in the mainstream media. We're curious as to whether they hit any other sites' message boards overnight.
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Posted 07/04/09 at 07:58pm
GoodRobotUs: Which seems to be the only point Jack proved, that some people find some games offensive. i.e. Nothing.
GoodRobotUs: Which seems to be the only point Jack proved, that some people find some games offensive. i.e. Nothing.
Posted 07/04/09 at 07:57pm
GoodRobotUs: The discussion was supposed to be whether games were dangerous not 'Do you find some games offensive'...
GoodRobotUs: The discussion was supposed to be whether games were dangerous not 'Do you find some games offensive'...
Posted 07/04/09 at 07:55pm
GoodRobotUs: Some agreed, some didn't, but it was their choice to make, not the governments.
GoodRobotUs: Some agreed, some didn't, but it was their choice to make, not the governments.
Posted 07/04/09 at 07:55pm
GoodRobotUs: By asking the audience their opinion, he more or less proved that it's a matter of personal choice
GoodRobotUs: By asking the audience their opinion, he more or less proved that it's a matter of personal choice
Posted 07/04/09 at 07:55pm
GoodRobotUs: Meh, he ended proving Mark's point for him
GoodRobotUs: Meh, he ended proving Mark's point for him
Posted 07/04/09 at 07:26pm
Erik: Jack if you are reading this you are a LIAR. There is no legal weight to the MPAA's ratings.
Erik: Jack if you are reading this you are a LIAR. There is no legal weight to the MPAA's ratings.
Posted 07/04/09 at 07:24pm
JDKJ: I still think my buddy the midget who rides a unicycle backwards while juggling four bowling pins would have been a much bigger hit with that crowd. And he can make up statistics and misinterpret studies, too.
JDKJ: I still think my buddy the midget who rides a unicycle backwards while juggling four bowling pins would have been a much bigger hit with that crowd. And he can make up statistics and misinterpret studies, too.
Posted 07/04/09 at 06:33pm
Alyric: Of course, Mark falls into the common trap about Columbine, which had nothing to do with bullying, etc. See: http://slate.msn.com/id/2099203/?GT1=3256 for a more thorough explanation.
Alyric: Of course, Mark falls into the common trap about Columbine, which had nothing to do with bullying, etc. See: http://slate.msn.com/id/2099203/?GT1=3256 for a more thorough explanation.
Posted 07/04/09 at 06:32pm
PHX Corp: Read this http://www.destructoid.com/sgc-09-liveblogging-the-jack-thompson-debate-138502.phtml#ext
PHX Corp: Read this http://www.destructoid.com/sgc-09-liveblogging-the-jack-thompson-debate-138502.phtml#ext
Posted 07/04/09 at 05:54pm
PHX Corp: JT is afraid of such ban then advocates it That's what i call a total Hypocrite
PHX Corp: JT is afraid of such ban then advocates it That's what i call a total Hypocrite
Posted 07/04/09 at 05:50pm
PHX Corp: AE: JT is a -Bleeping- Jackass
PHX Corp: AE: JT is a -Bleeping- Jackass
Posted 07/04/09 at 05:07pm
Andrew Eisen: JT "knew it would be a good audience." Not what he said on Tuesday.
Andrew Eisen: JT "knew it would be a good audience." Not what he said on Tuesday.
Posted 07/04/09 at 05:01pm
Andrew Eisen: VG cause violent behavior. VG companies influence behavior to get sales. Yeah, that makes sense. (To be fair, the Twitter feed makes deciphering JT's point pretty tough.)
Andrew Eisen: VG cause violent behavior. VG companies influence behavior to get sales. Yeah, that makes sense. (To be fair, the Twitter feed makes deciphering JT's point pretty tough.)
Posted 07/04/09 at 04:52pm
Andrew Eisen: Yes, it's been proposed but as far as I know it has not been passed. Big difference.
Andrew Eisen: Yes, it's been proposed but as far as I know it has not been passed. Big difference.
Posted 07/04/09 at 04:50pm
Cheater87: http://www.gamezine.co.uk/news/formats/xbox360/all-violent-video-games-be-banned-in-germany-$1301757.htm
Cheater87: http://www.gamezine.co.uk/news/formats/xbox360/all-violent-video-games-be-banned-in-germany-$1301757.htm
Posted 07/04/09 at 04:49pm
Andrew Eisen: Far as I know, Germany has not banned all violent video games.
Andrew Eisen: Far as I know, Germany has not banned all violent video games.
Posted 07/04/09 at 04:44pm
Cheater87: Jack wants the US to follow Germany's total video game ban.
Cheater87: Jack wants the US to follow Germany's total video game ban.
Posted 07/04/09 at 04:42pm
Andrew Eisen: Note to JT, it is not illegal to sell kids a ticket to R-rated movies.
Andrew Eisen: Note to JT, it is not illegal to sell kids a ticket to R-rated movies.
Posted 07/04/09 at 04:39pm
Cheater87: Jack said we would be better with no rating sytem.
Cheater87: Jack said we would be better with no rating sytem.
Posted 07/04/09 at 04:35pm
Alareth: So what was the introduction used for Jack?
Alareth: So what was the introduction used for Jack?
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Comments
The game does have killing, but you are severly penalized for it. Yes you can pray to get your spirit points back, but what about the game point you lost when you killed? You can get that back...ever.
Bottom line - if you play as the Trib Force and you kill, you lose.
Where is the controversy?
I'm sure you knew my point wasn't to ignore it. And, I'm also glad that they chose to speak for themselves and their product.
I just wonder how much of the argument brought up at this point is original and not rehashed from earlier discussions.
I guess I'm just exhausted of holding the stick over the dead equine.
But it's not a representation of Christian beliefs, any more than Catholic views necessarily represent the views of all Christians.
It's a fiction account based on the beliefs of Pre-Tribulation Rapturists, aka Premillennialists. Believers in a literal train of events mostly described by Revalations, with some interpretations on what "left behind" means (physically or spiritually).
Why are we still talking about this? Every comment (sadly including this one) is only providing more publicity for a publicly-ranked poor and flawed game.
Lest we forget and have history repeat itself. ;)
It may be a crappy game, but the media is certainly exacerbating things by, as usual, resorting to crappy reporting. I think the producers have a right to at least have their say in response.
Doesn't mean I'll ever buy the game, but it's nice to see they consider GP an avenue for getting their side of things out to the masses. :)
Every comment (sadly including this one) is only providing more publicity for a publicly-ranked poor and flawed game.
I think it is safe to say that we all have pretty much heard the full gamut of opinions and have mostly made our minds up.
Yea, real great thinking there for something promoted along the lines of a game that religeous people should play. Might be a good system if it wasn't being promoted as such.
But they have every right to make the type of games, books, whatever they want. Bottom line, it's a mediocre (at best) game based on a poorly written book sereis. (based on what my gal tells me. I can tell it's not the kind of book I would be into so I haven't tried it, but she's usually a pretty good critic on literature.) So in the long run it makes little difference. The people out there who would take the hatefull meaning to the game, be it implied or nonexistant, are filled with hate already so there is nothing to worry about.
I can kill……then go somewhere and pray and get my points back.
Yea, real great thinking there for something promoted along the lines of a game that religeous people should play.
Hey, Catholics were doing it for hundreds of years. ;) Besides, it's a FICTIONAL account. If it was called Kr'Nathicism (or some other fantasy name), would people have cared at all? Or is it just the fact that it's vaguely related to an interpretation of Christianity that's got everyone up in arms?
Are games based off of "what if" historical fiction about Nazi's offensive to Germans? Should we be getting mad that Return to Castle Wolfenstein implies that the Germans developed zombies... Or was it ok because they were the bad guys?
http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/12/18/223118.php
Comment 7.
For another example of this behavior, I go to a private, religiously-affiliated college. The church we are associated with is politically moderate, and on some issues a bit liberal. An extremely right-wing church in our metro area employs three people full-time as "missionaries" to our college, who "recruit" students with tactics very similar to those used by neo-nazi groups. They then use their "friendship" with these students to gain access to campus, allowing further recruitment efforts, etc.