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.

Comments

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?
It would be amusing to see them defend the design flaws in a debate with someone from gamerevolution.com
@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.
@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).
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.
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. >.>
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.
@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. :)
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.
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.
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".
@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?
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.
He posted the same comment over on Blogcritics as well:

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

Comment 7.
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.
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Posted 11/07/09 at 10:58am
JDKJ: Which could be explained by both (a) and (b).
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:56am
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: You forgot C) the fact that, for some reason, every time he did something that would suggest he shouldn't be in the military, let alone an officer, higher ups ignored it or let it slide.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:51am
JDKJ: Part of the problem is, I believe, that (a) the Army had a lot of time and money already invested in him and which they were unwilling to simply write-off and (b) an increasing need for the type of skills and services he provided.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:48am
JDKJ: And that even if he was begging not to get cut loose, he was apparently a real good candidate for being cut loose, anyway.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:11am
JDKJ: @chada: And while Kennedy once noted that there's usually more than enough blame for everyone to get a slice, the possibility that the Army was unwilling to cut loose someone who was asking to get cut loose could be a factor.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:07am
ZippyDSMlee: *noms on his feet*..nomnomnomnom*droooll* ...wuuutttttt uuu looking at?
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:05am
JDKJ: I'm no psychologist, but I'm told that crazy people have a tendency to do crazy things.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:03am
chadachada321: Whoops, was out of the convo for awhile. I do wonder what type of ammo he used etc, but the real issue is WHY he did it, not HOW
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:56am
JDKJ: But if it turns out that they actually did, they'll have Hell to pay.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:45am
JDKJ: And I'd tend to rule out the possibilty of FN Herstal supplying restricted ammunition to someone merely because they're ordering it from a military base.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:37am
JDKJ: I know you don't leave your gated community and get around much in dark alleys, so you may be surprised to learn that there's this thing called "the black market" where, if you've got enough money, ain't too much of anything which can't be bought.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:36am
Austin_Lewis: Or, maybe he or someone else at the base ordered the SS190 from FN Herstal.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:32am
Austin_Lewis: the hands of private owners. They run about 300 dollars minimum for a box of 50, and boxes of AP 5.7 are extremely scarce, mainly residing in the hands of Class III stores or individuals who for one reason or another got a demo box of it.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:30am
Austin_Lewis: There are other firearms that fire the 5.7. However, I too would like to know where he got the ammo and what kind was used. Maybe Hasan, planning not to live through this, went out and bought one the boxes of SS190 that are floating around in
Posted 11/07/09 at 08:44am
JDKJ: And it isn't yet clear what type of ammunition Hasan used. It's strange that he purchased a gun but didn't purchase ammunition for it at the same place and time. Especially because the calibre required is peculiar to the actual gun.
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