Burning Bridges for a laugh? Maybe. (About BHG)

[schild]

From Gamespot

While Left Behind: Eternal Forces, the first interactive adaptation of the apocalyptic Left Behind Christian fiction series, was crucified by reviewers upon its release earlier this month, publisher Left Behind Games has already announced a sequel to its real-time strategy game.

However, the company isn't going it alone this time. The publisher has signed a multiyear technology licensing agreement with developer Big Huge Games, which has no shortage of experience in the real-time strategy genre. In addition to being the studio behind the critically acclaimed Rise of Nations and its Rise of Legends spin-off, Big Huge Games was founded by four veteran developers with plenty of RTS pedigree from working on genre hits like Civilization II and Alpha Centauri.

Released earlier this month, Left Behind: Eternal Forces has been the subject of controversy, most recently in the form of a boycott organized by a number of Christian organizations. A petition directed at Left Behind Games says Eternal Forces involves killing non-Christians and Christians who don't convert to a particular form of Christianity. The petition also claims it teaches teens that activists are "wolves in sheep's clothing," and that non-Christian aid workers like doctors and nurses are enemy forces who can be killed.

Left Behind Games CEO Troy Lyndon dismissed the groups' complaints, saying they haven't played the game through. He added that his company's only desire is "to have a positive impact on an industry that traditionally has had a dark influence on gamers and the world."

Oh man, that's rich.

[stray]

It got a 5.8 at IGN.

That's 3 points higher than PSU. 

A big Oi Vei goes out to BHG.

[Viin]

A petition directed at Left Behind Games says Eternal Forces involves killing non-Christians and Christians who don't convert to a particular form of Christianity.

What else are you suppose to do with them? At least, that's what we'd do if we were like them.

[stray]

At least, that's what we'd do if we were like them.

Yeah, it's not much different, I'm afraid.

Though the main difference is that Militant Christianity has always had some kind of "For God and Country!" theme to it (whether that be the French in the Crusades, or some patriotic hicks at an American baseball game). Holistic Nationalism, if you will. Militant Islam, otoh, doesn't really care about "Country".

If you take a glance at the Left Behind books, you'll find that it reads almost like a Rambo or Red Dawn story. God, America, and M-16's. Even the antichrist is Slavic, to play on old school commie fears.

[Big Gulp]

Even the antichrist is Slavic, to play on old school commie fears.

The antichrist is Slavic.  I just had him over for poker night last week.  Nice guy.

[stray]

Was his name John Malkovich?

[Venkman]

Holistic Nationalism, if you will. Militant Islam, otoh, doesn't really care about "Country".

Look up who defined their countries though ;)

Anyway, fun stuff on this game. I like how they want to have a positive impact on the industry by getting people to hate someone else. Nice job. 

[Stormwaltz]

From Gamespot

...plenty of RTS pedigree from working on genre hits like Civilization II and Alpha Centauri.

...Que?

[schild]

Brian Reynolds was the driving force on AC and Civ II. He should be credited as lead designer... as he was lead designer on them. Why it says RTS there, I dunno.

[stray]

I wonder if BHG would license their tech to skinheads.

[Sky]

Brian Reynolds was the driving force on AC and Civ II. He should be credited as lead designer... as he was lead designer on them. Why it says RTS there, I dunno.

Because he's a dirty, dirty traitor. RTS, bah. AC, Civ II and Colonization, Brian why must you go to the dark side and make RTS.

About the whole left behind gaming thing: Thou shalt not kill, morons.

[SurfD]

Isnt the premise of the whole Left Behind thing that the last judgement already happened, and the protagonists are those who were "left behind" instead of getting one of the limited slots beside the big guy upstairs?  Since your spot in the hereafter has already been filled, whats the point of still following the commandments?

(side note, Im pretty sure that that particular commandment was always "Thou Shall Not Murder".  Kind of hard to wage holy wars against the heretics when you arent allowed to kill them.

[HaemishM]

Wow, looks like I have a reason to not buy anymore BHG games. Not that I was buying any as it stood, but this just confirms that I'd rather buy EA games than these retard-enablers.

[stray]

Isnt the premise of the whole Left Behind thing that the last judgement already happened, and the protagonists are those who were "left behind" instead of getting one of the limited slots beside the big guy upstairs?  Since your spot in the hereafter has already been filled, whats the point of still following the commandments?

It's not the last judgement, it's the "tribulation" before the last judgement.

Without explaining a bunch of useless details on the Evangelical take on the apocalypse, I'll just say that in their scenario, there's a "rapture"....Whereby the faithful are taken up into heaven before any last judgement occurs. After this event, the tribulation period starts. After the tribulation, Christ makes an entrance and ends the suffering.

Those who are left behind in this tribulation period are still given a chance to convert, although they will have to deal with hell on earth (something the rapture spared previous faithful evangelicals from). In the Left Behind series of books, the characters are all from this group.

Just a sidenote: It's all nonsense though (obviously), and stems from a point of view called premillenialism. Or dispensationalism. Which were inventions of British and American evangelicals in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The vast majority of Christians (both now and before the 19th century) don't even acknowledge a "rapture" or any kind of scenario like this. Unfortunately, the view has been popularized in the media to the point that even outsiders think it's what every Christian believes.

Anyways...

(side note, Im pretty sure that that particular commandment was always "Thou Shall Not Murder".  Kind of hard to wage holy wars against the heretics when you arent allowed to kill them.

That's just the Old Testament. Which isn't a Christian document. If we were really to get literal, Jesus said:

You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, "You shall not murder'; and "whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, "You fool,' you will be liable to the hell of fire." [Matt 5.21,22]

"You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." [Matt 5.43,44]


Or in other words, technically (admittedly, not in practice) the Christian ethic equates anger with murder. Or at the very least, acknowledges that they come from the same place. And it doesn't even allow self defense when someone hassles you or makes war on your beliefs.

Granted, those are about the hardest directives to follow, but it'd be nice if "believers" even made a feeble attempt at giving them lip service. Instead, they encourage people to kill and destroy in the name of God.

[DeathInABottle]

That was a good, helpful summary of what Christianity should look like.  Though I guess if you're right it means I won't be able to kill my way through legions of heathens to get to the Pearly Gates.  Tragic.

[Chenghiz]

Christianity makes a distinction between righteous anger and wrongful anger. Because humanity is broken, most of our anger could be classified as wrongful anger, which Christianity equates with murder.

That said, Left Behind is silly.

[Sky]

Christianity makes a distinction between righteous anger and wrongful anger.

Yeah, remember when Jesus beheaded that one guy? That was awesome.

[sinij]

Though I guess if you're right it means I won't be able to kill my way through legions of heathens to get to the Pearly Gates. 

I was fairly disappointed by this. Well, if we declare him heathen and kill him , we can ignore his message and continue our jah^h^h^h crusade.