Watching the web

Ten years ago the computer gaming industry was primarily aimed at the younger generation. But as that generation has grown up and technology has increased, the content of mainstream games has become ever more ‘adult’. These days family games are not good business; the biggest games are marketed as if they were movies and carry age restrictions like videos.

Against this backdrop a number of Christian games companies have sprung up; seeking to sell clean, fun and family-friendly software. The industry is still fledgling, but has recently held its fourth annual conference (http://www.cgdc.org/conference.asp).

In terms of material, there is a wide variety available, although much is still in development. http;//www.n-lightning.com offers downloadable demos of two of the biggest games: Catechumen, in which players rescue Christians from Roman catacombs, and Ominous Horizons, where the object is to battle through ancient landscapes in search of a copy of the Bible. Victory at Hebron, which finds you posted on a secret mission by commanders Joshua and Caleb, will be available from http://www.brethren-et.com later this year.

For younger children the producers of Veggie Tales have created the colourful http://www.bigideafun.com, which is packed full of online games that promise Sunday morning values, Saturday morning fun.

A catalogue of Christian games is available at http://www.christiangamesnow.com and Christian reviews of secular and non-secular games at http://www.ccgr.net.

Stephen J. Doggett