'Convert or die' game divides Christians Some ask Wal-Mart to drop Left Behind

SanFranChronicle ^ | 12/12/06 | Ilene Lelchuk, Chronicle Staff Writer

[GeorgiaDawg32]

Liberal and progressive Christian groups say a new computer game in which players must either convert or kill non-Christians is the wrong gift to give this holiday season and that Wal-Mart, a major video game retailer, should yank it off its shelves.

[GeorgiaDawg32]

I didn't see this posted. If it's a duplicate, I apologize..

[Uncle Miltie]

Isn't that Mad-Mo's program?

[jboot]

I've seen this game. It is almost an exact duplicate of a ten-year-old Windows game called Syndicate Wars. It might even be the same game with new graphics.

You could convert people in Syndicate Wars, too (with a sort of "psycho gun"). They would follow you around and do your bidding, including killing your enemies. It was an odd sort of game, and hardly my first choice for a Christian title.

[heywaitadarnminute]

America has turned in to a nation of wimpy thin skinned people who have forgot that they have the option of using the "off" button. Whether it be TV, the Internet, radio or video games they can all be turned off. Nobody has to buy the game.

[tfecw]

Nice thesis statement. The implication is that non liberal & progressive Christians feel it's okay to give a game that kills non Christians.

Oh well, time to sit back and read the 100 or so posts to do with how the game makers 'featured' the wrong religion in the game. ;)

[Issaquahking]

Popcorn marker ping

[Semper Vigilantis]

My first thought as well.

[EarthBound]

You could convert people in Syndicate Wars, too (with a sort of "psycho gun"). They would follow you around and do your bidding, including killing your enemies. It was an odd sort of game, and hardly my first choice for a Christian title.

I agree, but it sure was a fun game during its time. The mind-control weapon was the Persuadertron, the most fun weapon was satellite rain. =)

[TomSmedley]

GIGO. Garbage in, garbage out. Wretched theology, wretched novel, wretched movie, abyssmal collateral marketing.

My favorite item in this genre is the Left Below episode of The Simpsons. Now THAT was a work with some artistic and theological sophistication, that got the apocalyptic hysteria just right! While skewering all the cliches that have crippled evangelicals for all too long.

[2banana]

Where can I buy the video game at Wal-Mart that shoots pig heads at Mad Mo?

[AppyPappy]

Uhhh...it's a game.

[Always Right]

Liberal and progressive Christian groups say a new computer game in which players must either convert or kill non-Christians is the wrong gift to give this holiday season and that Wal-Mart, a major video game retailer, should yank it off its shelves.

Sounds like a mischaracterization of the game. You do try to convert, but you try to avoid killing. The liberals have the game confused with real-world Muslims.

[PeteB570]

Will they make a muslim version?

[Always Right]

Nice thesis statement. The implication is that non liberal & progressive Christians feel it's okay to give a game that kills non Christians.

Actually, the SF Chronicle is mischaracterizing the game. The whole key to the game is to be as non-violent as possible, but you do fight when you come under attack. At least that is what I get from reading the reviews of the game. If I had to chose who is more trustworthy, the SF Chronicle or some anonymous internet reviewer, the anonymous internet reviewer wins hands down.

[Always Right]

Will they make a muslim version?

Yeah, and they show the results every night on CNN. Surprise surprise though, the SF Chronicle mischaracterizes the game by making it sound as if you are trying to kill non-christians. The goal of the game is to be non-violent.

[popdonnelly]

This has nothing to do with the game, and everything to do with Walmart. Walmart is the enemy of all correct thinking "progressives".

[ichabod1]

It's so prottie.

[ichabod1]

How do you convert them? Witness until their heads explode?

[ClaireSolt]

More censorship from the totalitarians.

[jboot]

Oh man, blast from the past! I liked the Satellite Rain attack too.

I can still hear the cop saying "Move along...move along!"