So I did a search for topics already posted about games based on the belief of Jesus and boy has there been problems each and every time. I'm not saying that the problems were or were not justified or at least inevitable, but I AM hoping that this doesn't end up in the same off-topic boat. So here's the intent. I (that is... me) want to create some games centered on teaching that which is in the Bible. I do not wish to find some non believers (of Jesus) and attempt to convert them. I do not wish to teach morals through some emotionally involved interactive story (other discussions have shown this to be a moot point for many off-topic reasons). I do not even wish to target a broad audience. Matter of fact, I don't even wish to appeal to adults (although that would be a plus). I don't wish to change anyone's opinions or force anything on anyone who doesn't wish to be exposed to it (hence the word force). I certainly don't want to offend anyone. As far as I can tell this isn't much different than wanting to create a game centered on any other single-minded purpose. If I missed any pre-defense "I don'ts" than I will be sure to add them later. The point is I don't want a controversy. I intend to make these games for people who share the same faith or those who are curious and would like to learn about it. Well, actually, for their kids. (Perhaps different games for different ages?). It's like if you went and downloaded a Bible Study aid off the internet or went out and bought one. You got it because you intend on studying the Bible no? Well, that would be the idea here. Now without getting into the reasons of WHY I want to do this (as that would also be off topic and inviting discussion that really isn't necessary), here's the question - the topic of the post. Starting from around 2 years old, and working up... what would you incorporate into a game to teach the children (teach them anything for that matter...)? For instance: My son got a VTech baby learning game thingy for Christmas which I thought was kind of cool. He never plays it! Not only does it not capture his attention, but the gigantic controller with huge buttons that sits in front of him has the on/off switch quite easily accessible so he goes to fiddle with his game and just turns it off every 5 seconds (it happens to be his favorite switch on the whole controller actually). Do they even test these things?? Anyway what kind of games would a 2 year old (too young? 3?) play. 5? 10? I imagine the design would be vastly different for even small age gaps the younger a kid is. What if your teenager was *willing* to play some Bible games in order to learn about Jesus. What would best keep them involved? There are many games that are just Bible lessons hidden in some simple puzzle etc., but I want to look in a different direction. They don't seem to really be that effective, even to those who wish to learn this stuff. If I need to be more specific let me know. Remember - I don't intend on selling anything or targeting "everyone". Please comment with constructive ideas on the topic. (Not that any game actually targets everyone... but I digress) Thanks -Scott

Here's my opinion on what I would do.

The biggest problem with teaching about Jesus himself, is he does not lend well to a video game. As a pacifist and teacher, there is very little adventure involed in his life.

What I would do if I wanted to teach the bible is make an old school platformer of the likes of mario/alladin/sonic etc. Or even the Super Star Wars games.... Where each stage is a different portion of say Genesis. Between each chapter is a series of stills/flash animation that tells part of the story. Stage one might be Adam going through a stage to talk to God and have eve created. Stage 2 might be Noah gathering animals or ark materials. Stages 3-5 might be freeing the Israelites, wandering the desert, and retrieving the commandments.

You may look at doing mini games that cover various stories of the old testament. I remember seeing a game where you are matching groups of animals for an ARK. After the time limit the flood started and game over.

Above all focus on the gameplay, then tie the theme/story to a certain portion of the Bible and I think you'll be ok.

The key is to keep it fun, introduce the concepts, and above all avoid being preachy. That is one thing that turns me off of pretty much anything "Christian" Whether it is music, books, movies etc. When the portion of it moves from relaying the story/morals/etc. and moves on to worship and praise God, God is great, etc. It drives me away.

Again I think you may have trouble translating the struggles and confrontation of the Bible, especially the new testaments, into a viable entertaining game.

I would suggest exactly the opposite of what robert4818 suggested: if you just make "Super Moses Brothers" then you're not teaching anything. Just as I ignored the "Mario Saves Teh Princess... Again!" storyline in the SMB games as a kid, I would ignore the "Moses Splits Teh Red Seas" just as much.

Biblical stories are entertaining in their own right, but if you just use them to wrap a standard genre you're going to find that kids will ignore the story and just play the game. Devs in the 8/16-bit days tried the whole "Force the player to answer trivia questions in order to continue" schtick, but that's a dirty hack that makes the Bible learning into the forced, boring part, and you don't want that.

I think the reason people have had so much trouble with it is that they feel it necessary to put the player into the "Main Character" role... as soon as the player takes the role of Moses or Noah, you have to take away all choices the player may make that don't fit the real story you're trying to teach. So why not put the player into the role of one of their followers instead? You want to tell the story of Moses? Tell it from the point of view of one of the slaves. Build an interesting game that ties into the scenario, and then let the player watch how the story unfolds as they play. The player can then be free to make his own decisions (and possibly even effect the non-crucial parts of the story, to improve interactivity) while simultaneously becoming engrossed in the bigger "Biblical" story that is going on around him.

You need to be careful that the additions you make to add this "player character" doesn't contradict the Bibles teachings, or take the focus off of the real story you're trying to tell, but if you're smart about it you could do what nobody else has been able to do: make a good game that also teaches the Bible.

Good luck!

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Original post by popsoftheyear So I did a search for topics already posted about games based on the belief of Jesus and boy has there been problems each and every time. I'm not saying that the problems were or were not justified or at least inevitable, but I AM hoping that this doesn't end up in the same off-topic boat.

Such debates are a side-effect of the industry: game development is tantamount to playing god for a living. We create (virtual) worlds and populate them. We are omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent within our virtual worlds.

This aspect of our industry alone can easily spawn umpteen philosophical and theological debates.

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So here's the intent. I (that is... me) want to create some games centered on teaching that which is in the Bible.

Adapting a linear story medium to a non-linear format is fraught with difficulties. A number of shallow interpretations have taken the old "Jesus: The Platform Game!" route, but I'd steer a long way away from this. Probably the ideal route is to start with the *teachings* of the Bible and build from there.

You could go for a mostly-linear approach, in the vein of the old "Monkey Island" games by LucasArts (a genre recently revived by Telltale Games with their "Bone" and "Sam & Max" titles). This would allow you to effectively re-tell Bible stories by setting puzzles for the player to solve; the reward being the progression of the story.

For a more interactive approach, you'll need to look beyond traditional storytelling techniques and try a more metaphorical approach, such as putting the player in a scenario within which moral and ethical dilemmas are played out. There are other approaches too, but I could write an entire book on this subject. (I advise buying this one instead.)

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Starting from around 2 years old, and working up... what would you incorporate into a game to teach the children (teach them anything for that matter...)? For instance: My son got a VTech baby learning game thingy for Christmas which I thought was kind of cool. He never plays it! Not only does it not capture his attention, but the gigantic controller with huge buttons that sits in front of him has the on/off switch quite easily accessible so he goes to fiddle with his game and just turns it off every 5 seconds (it happens to be his favorite switch on the whole controller actually). Do they even test these things??

Two-year-old children are usually too young for this kind of moral / ethical teaching. Most are still learning to talk and discovering the world around them. Designing for such young ages is *extremely* difficult and even professional toy and game designers fail frequently -- as your own example attests.

Yes, they do test toys and games. One of the purposes of that particular game will be the very nature and varied purposes of those different buttons and switches. (You'd be amazed at how much input child psychologists have on toys and games these days.)

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Anyway what kind of games would a 2 year old (too young? 3?) play. 5? 10? I imagine the design would be vastly different for even small age gaps the younger a kid is.

I'd aim for the age when children are beyond the "Ooh! Brown stuff! I wonder what it tastes like?" stage and are at that Constant "Why?" phase. At this point, the children have moved on from the "What?" and are ready for the more philosophical discussions, such as the nature of Right and Wrong; the idea of faith; and so on. In my experience, this is usually around the age of 4-6.

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Original post by robert4818 The biggest problem with teaching about Jesus himself, is he does not lend well to a video game. As a pacifist and teacher, there is very little adventure involed in his life.

What about Jesus' parables?

In the context of a videogame, I personally would avoid teaching the moral of the story and such posh, because it simply doesn't translate as a game. However, so far as the mythology and history goes, the Bible does lend itself well to some pretty sweet battles, which I would absolutely love to play. I suppose, if you take the time to look back, it goes without saying that that chunk of the bible would not be kid-friendly.

You're quite right, what you're looking for is just little games that small children would enjoy and could have Christian messages tacked on.

My best suggestion is to make a point-and-click adventure game. Put in funny drawings and animations that would capture a toddler's interest, but embed moral lessons in the progression. That is, don't make a level where you're the old lady and have to find your coin, only to end the level with a boring monologue, incorporate the morality into the actual game, by making the "puzzles" just little quizzes on virtues and values and such. I don't think this is a great game design, and it sure isn't something I would play, but I'm sure kids would eat it up if it was done right.

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Original post by eedok Quote: Original post by robert4818 The biggest problem with teaching about Jesus himself, is he does not lend well to a video game. As a pacifist and teacher, there is very little adventure involed in his life. What about Jesus' parables?

The whole Judas bit, followed by the getting-nailed-to-a-tree bit, then the vanishing act from the tomb all seem a bit adventurous. Plenty of conflict there, albeit a tad one-sided for game design purposes.

The parables are still linear stories. They're just stories-with-in-a-story, so you don't gain anything gameplay-wise with those.

The trick is to identify exactly *what* it is you want the player to discover about Jesus and his teachings and work from there. You may well end up with a game in which Jesus only appears in cut-scenes, rather than being the player's avatar.

You could certainly use it as a way to show the players some of the historical context. Morals and values were certainly very different back then.

Cut scenes in a kids game? Sounds like it's 1) Overkill, and 2) going to take away from their attention span

For teens it might be okay, but wouldn't they be more interested in the apocalypse? :p

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Original post by eedok Cut scenes in a kids game? Sounds like it's 1) Overkill, and 2) going to take away from their attention span For teens it might be okay, but wouldn't they be more interested in the apocalypse? :p

Depends on the cut scene. You wouldn't be doing Final Fantasy cut scenes. Your cut scene could simply be 5-10 seconds long. Even when I was 8-9 those didn't drive away my attention span.

The reality is that to keep kids entertained you will be shaving the story down. Even in Bible School they keep the stories shorter and highlight key points.

Again, above all else the focus should be on FUN. I don't care how great the story, morals, or what have you are. If the game isn't FUN then you'll fail in your goal. Few kids would like a point and click game. Adults would, but I don't know many kids who do.

Again, that's why I suggested just spicing it up with funny drawings and characters. I'm sure there's a better solution, but kids I've known seem to be drawn in by that sort of thing.