Wal-Mart gets earful on dropping 'Christian' video game from shelves

Let's turn it around for a moment: suppose the video game cast players as Satanists who have to convert others to Satanism for an apocalyptic battle against Christians, Jews, Buddhists, and other non-Satanists -- and players can renew their strength by giving tribute to Satan. Would the folks supporting Wal-Mart and the "Left Behind" game support such a similar product?

It seems to me that this is not a matter of political ideology, but of intolerance and common civility; from the perspective of the "Left Behind" books and games, non-Christians -- Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Atheists, Pagans, and even Catholics -- are pawns of Satan who must either be converted or opposed. If people are willing to ban games due to high levels of sex and/or violence, why shouldn't they also be willing to ban games due to high levels of intolerance?

It really makes no difference what Wal-Mart does. There is a paid organized group whose strongest drive is to challenge whatever Wal-Mart does.

If this exact same game were in Arabic instead of English, the game designers would be in Gitmo. But instead, somehow it makes it onto Wal-Mart's shelves? Something so racist and extreme shouldn't be allowed to even make it to store shelves.

god we are such a pussy country

@Mr. Jung.

The "Left Behind" series is in no way portraying non-Christians as pawns of satan. Nor are they about converting or opposing the same non-Christians. Instead they are portrayed as "lost" souls who have yet to see the truth. There is no intolerance towards the non-Christians, instead they are a group attempting to share what they believe with others. If this is labeled as intolerance all advertisements in print today should also be labeled as such. Not to mention the various war games that depict other nations as the enemy.

+dt

Most video games these days are really violent and promote violence. Games can still be really addictive and non-violent such as mario bros, sports games, etc.

Who's going to buy this game anyway. Mild Christians won't care, hardcore Christians probably don't play many video games. I'm not buying it. Mostly because of the whole atheist thing...But the religious intolerance is ridiculous too.

agreed. Who cares? If you don't have anything better to do than complain -- find something better to do.

I bought this game to see what all the controversy is about.

first of all, this game sucks, and despite its uberchristian message is likely to fail because I hate playing it. it is slow, counter intuitive, and just plain dumb.

But, there is no reason why to remove this thing from the shelves just because some wackjobs dont like christian mythology. the pretense is that you are trying to build a church and community after the rapture. Ive gotten through as many of the scenarios as I can stand (about 5), and its not violent at all, if anything, as the player, its more about building a 'flock' and defending them from agression. Im sure you will reach a point in the game where offensives are taken, but I sincerely doubt that the goal of any of the objectives in this game is to 'kill'.

compared to half the video games on the market, this one is weak, not only weak for gamers, but very weak on violent potential.

much ado about nothing.

The game is based on the left behind books which are very good i think but i am sorry to say the game does look awful, and it clearly defines the anti-christ as a character from the book named nicolae carpathia. The books are a great read for christians or non christians its just fiction based on a book in the bible. The people who complained about the game being christian need to grow up just like the people who complain about the GTA games...If you don't like the content don't friggin buy it

I think most people would argue that businesses should be able to sell what they want. And in the Chicagoland area where I live, if I don't like Wal-Mart or they choose not to sell something, there are other choices. But when you go to the towns where Wal-Mart has become the only option, then you face an issue.

When Wal-Mart claims to be our conscience by pulling or refusing to carry other products, based on violence, vulgarity or moral values, of course as they see it, they open themselves up to these kind of attacks. Why is no one screaming at Best Buy or Target? Because they carry the other games and books that Wal-Mart won't.

I agree with Robert Jung. I say keep it on the shelves, screw it, if you don't like it don't play it. And the same goes with many thing that the far-right seems to complain about. The Far-Right and the Far-Left are just a bunch of hypocrites. You're allowed to have games where you are taught intolerance, which goes against Jesus' teaching, but your not allowed to play games that go against their brain washing. And vis-a-vis, you can play an asinine, poorly made game that teaches intolerance, but a game where you run over people with cars is ok. This can also be expanded to social life as well, al la gay marriage and other things. If you don't like it don't do it. I will stay out of your personal business if you stay out of mine.

--Nera

There is nothing wrong with this game when you compare it to other games of the type. 90% of video games clearly establish a good side and a bad side, and instruct you on how to defeat the bad side. ALL these games "teaches" the player to be "intolerant" of the bad side (Yes, even Mario and Sonic- clearly non-violent games). Just because the sides are based on groups who exist in the real world does not mean that it needs to be pulled. I think Americans are smart enough to realize that it is just a game (with the exception of a few nuts).
I wouldn't buy the game because of the fact that it IS based on something that exists in our real world. Typically games or shows based on something in the real world have some type of agenda behind them, and I don't like to have religion or politics pushed on me in ANY form of entertainment.
When I play a game, I do it to escape this world. I would much rather spend my time and money with Command & Conquer.

I say leave it on the shelves. I'm usually against right-wing christians but this time we're just talking about a game, and like any sort of media I think it should be covered under the freedom of speech portion of the constitution.

And maybe if religious nuts spend all their time playing the game they'll spend less time heckling us.

The thing that this article ALMOST brings up is WHO the game defines as the anti-christ. Since it's based on the Left Behind series of books, you may already know the answer. It's a UN global peacekeeping and world government movement. Oh, the horror of the devil.

mark

You're all a bunch of morons. Who cares what any of you think. The only one that had anything smart to say was the person who said we are a "pussy country". Geez! what worthless debates and causes!

This statement is posted from an employee of Left Behind Games on behalf of Troy Lyndon, our Chief Executive Officer.

There has been in incredible amount of MISINFORMATION published in the media and in online blogs here and elsewhere.

Pacifist Christians and other groups are taking the game material out of context to support their own causes. There is NO “killing in the name of God” and NO “convert or die”. There are NO “negative portrayals of Muslims” and there are NO “points for killing”.

Please play the game demo for yourself (to at least level 5 of 40) to get an accurate perspective, or listen to what CREDIBLE unbiased experts are saying after reviewing the game at www.leftbehindgames.com/pages/controversy.htm

Then, we’d love to hear your feedback as an informed player.

The reality is that we’re receiving reports everyday of how this game is positively affecting lives by all who play it.

Thank you for taking the time to be a responsible blogger.