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.
Posted in

Comments

Submitted by Primetime - January 18, 2007 at 4:22 pm -0500
It's certainly not spamming. When the discussion is about the content of the game - and there is misinformation, isn't it nice to get the real story?

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?
Submitted by cyn1c42 - January 3, 2007 at 6:50 pm -0500
It would be amusing to see them defend the design flaws in a debate with someone from gamerevolution.com
Submitted by JohnnyQDoe - January 3, 2007 at 5:02 pm -0500
@Jabrwock

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.
Submitted by Jabrwock - January 3, 2007 at 4:39 pm -0500
@Jim

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).
Submitted by Jabrwock - January 3, 2007 at 2:09 pm -0500
Can't forget Populous & Populous II! Or Black and White. At least in Black and White, you didn't need to convert everyone, just the other guy's followers. Neutrals could be left alone (although they were always handy if you needed more followers later). And you had your choice of prayer types too. Simple worship, human sacrifice, offerings, etc. Each had it's advantages and disadvantages.
Submitted by Jim - January 3, 2007 at 2:17 pm -0500
I did download a trial version of the game a week ago from Gamespot. And as a "radically religious fundamental Christian right-wing conservative," and gamer, I have to say that Left Behind: Eternal Forces is the first video game that ever has truly made me angry (besides witnessing the ending of Halo 2). It's greatly disappointing to see this being put out as representative of Christian beliefs . . . or good gaming, for that matter. >.>
Submitted by BustermanZero - January 3, 2007 at 11:27 am -0500
Not the first game to involve prayer and religion, actually. Anyone remember Actraiser? You play a God and his trusty angel and oversee the people, whose prayers and offerings give you the strength to help punish those of the army of darkness. Granted you still have to fight, but it does encourage worship in a way.
Submitted by Jabrwock - January 3, 2007 at 10:59 am -0500
@JohnnyQDoe

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. :)
Submitted by JohnnyQDoe - January 3, 2007 at 10:17 am -0500
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.

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.
Submitted by BurntOutTech - January 3, 2007 at 9:05 am -0500
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. 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.
Submitted by Mister Gone - January 3, 2007 at 8:10 am -0500
Good, the company realises that all this religeous mumbo-jumbo is a fictional backdrop. I'm actually glad that they are willing to step up and admit that the Christian themes of this game are just myths and legends. I tip my hate to these guys. Here's looking forward to some more fictional games based on that great mythic character "God".
Submitted by Jabrwock - January 3, 2007 at 9:22 am -0500
@BurntOutTech

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?
Submitted by Ace of Sevens - January 3, 2007 at 8:28 am -0500
Whether it encourages killing is a matter of interpretation. I'd say, while it penalizes you for killining, it's essentially presenting it as a viable, just not ideal, solution.
Submitted by Matt Paprocki - January 3, 2007 at 8:44 am -0500
He posted the same comment over on Blogcritics as well:

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/12/18/223118.php

Comment 7.
Submitted by clam - January 6, 2007 at 3:05 am -0500
The fact that they are spamming blogs doesn't surprise me...lots of right-wing groups operate like this. They attempt to "infiltrate" different places in order to build up a false level of respect, while at the same time planting seeds of doubt in entities like "the media" or other perceived authorities.

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.
Submitted by 1 ancient flower life secret volume - January 16, 2008 at 7:22 am -0500
1gardencentercom center flower garden garden nursery black and white photo of flower life cycle of a flowering plant flower and wine for valentine day 1 ancient flower life secret volume charles flower in painting reid watercolor flower flower ohio paperback wild wild dried flower plant retail silk tree 1 ancient flower life secret volume

GamePolitics ShoutBox

Posted 11/22/09 at 11:48pm
ZippyDSMlee: AE:they feeding you well? I am enjoying win7 and heading to bed...uhg I need to get up early and start back to cleaning/painting blahg >< need tog et stuff done befor thanksgiving....
Posted 11/22/09 at 11:41pm
Andrew Eisen: Just got home from an eight hour recording session at Capitol Records. A lot of fun but damn exhausting.
Posted 11/22/09 at 08:44pm
BearDogg-X: 10 N. O. Who Dat?
Posted 11/22/09 at 09:45am
ZippyDSMlee: JD:I think doc phill is still sout about the break up with his wife he dose not fill holes as much as make them bigger these day
Posted 11/22/09 at 12:06am
JDKJ: You should get Phil McCraken to help you spackle those banisters.
Posted 11/21/09 at 11:57pm
ZippyDSMlee: Oh in the pirate hunter article I need my song ieda heckled DS,JD,Beemon sic im !!!
Posted 11/21/09 at 11:56pm
ZippyDSMlee: JD:no I am tried from prepping the banisters for painting , worked on them from 12 to 4 and 6 to 8...after I got back from the store...got up early got ready...blah...been up all day..I need a nap...
Posted 11/21/09 at 11:42pm
JDKJ: No. You gonna stay up late tonight soldering?
Posted 11/21/09 at 11:41pm
ZippyDSMlee: JDKJ:Don't you mean Mctite?
Posted 11/21/09 at 11:33pm
JDKJ: @Zip: Neil, Bob, and Lik McTaint. The McTaint brothers. LOL!!!
Posted 11/21/09 at 09:44pm
Flamespeak: I still think military personell, killing other military personell, on a military complex should be handled by military courts.
Posted 11/21/09 at 09:43pm
Flamespeak: I could see this a mixture of the two charges rather than just one or the other.
Posted 11/21/09 at 09:43pm
Flamespeak: I think this was mainly a person who snapped, but evidence is showing he definitely had strong inlinations to islamic-extremism.
Posted 11/21/09 at 09:41pm
Flamespeak: People are trying to claim that Hasan's actions were not terrorism. I don't jump on the 'terror train' like others, however
Posted 11/21/09 at 09:38pm
mentor07825: Britain certainly does deserve it! And the French! God damn it, it was a hand ball!!!
Posted 11/21/09 at 09:34pm
ZippyDSMlee: mentor07825:Well Brittan dose deserve it....
Posted 11/21/09 at 09:33pm
ZippyDSMlee: Alyric:I don;t hasliburton having to pay back billoins... don;t you love it when the rich roll over the goverment without a care?
Posted 11/21/09 at 09:32pm
mentor07825: I say we nuke the whales, for the benefit of both mankind and the environment.
Posted 11/21/09 at 09:28pm
Austin_Lewis: I say we try Al Gore too. I always said he was in on the racket.
Posted 11/21/09 at 09:16pm
Alyric: The leaked information proves these organizations knowingly defrauded governments (i.e., taxpayers) out of billions of dollars. Yet there will probably never be a trial.
Login or register to post shouts