Are Christian games better than secular shoot'-em-ups?

If the kids played 'em there wouldn't be another Columbine, apparently

By Robert Blincoe, 8th March 2001

Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Backup/Recovery

Christian e-tailer Newday has got in touch with The Register to see if we could help it with some background research. It is preparing to go on a church lecture tour warning about the dangers of video games to the nation's youth. We're not booking our seat.

It's not a new line, or one we believe for a second, but Newday partner Derek Clare is of the opinion that Doom played a big part in the Columbine tragedy, and Carmageddon copyists caused deaths in Swansea, Wales.

Regarding the Columbine shooter, Clare said: "He was playing a game, and then he went and played it for real."

Interestingly Newday is offering an alternative to secular violent video games. And it has a one title it reckons is a match for anything in the market, and it includes a bit of killing but no gore. Newday gives the impression the game is right up there with Quake III, and every kid who's had a go on it has been hooked.

"Graphically it's as good as anything in the secular market," said Clare. "It's very playable without the violence."

The game, a platformer, is called Catechumen. The plot is requires you to nobble some Roman soldiers who've been possessed by demons. It is set in the days when Nero ruled the Roman Empire and the Christians were being persecuted. In fact, "A darkness was settling over Christianity, evil in nature, that threatened to destroy the Christian religion only a few centuries after Christ founded it at the cross. "

The Reg would be interested if Christian games are every bit as good as their secular counterparts, so download the demo and let us know what you think.

A downside for some gamers out there might be that Newday's titles don't feature any gaming stereotypes. These include "fourteen-year-old Japanese girls with huge bosoms," says Clare. ®