Christian Game Developer's Conference

S

SSquared

Member
Hi! I am planning to go to CGDC this year and was wondering if anyone else is planning to go. It'd be great to meet you.

Also, for those not able to attend, I am wondering if there are any particular questions you may want asked. Keep in mind, this isn't a conference for gaming, it is a conference to discuss a vision and future of Christian games and game developers.

I think groups like CGA, CCGR, and the rest can become a great influence in helping shape this vision.

I am VERY excited about this opportunity and am really looking forward to the conference.
 
It'd be interesting to know whether any of them have considered a "stealth" Christian release, whereby they release mainstream games to a mainstream audience that delivers a Christian message without beating people round the head and neck about it.

I mean - what's the point in preaching to the converted?

Eon
 
very good point Eon. I think they go for parent/kid safe games. nothing bloody or gory etc.
 
Eon, actually, I think that is a point of discussion at the conference. We will be discussing (and brainstorming?) this exact aspect of Christian game developers. Do we market specifically to Christians? Do we focus on non-Christians and hit 'em over the head with the Gospel? Should we focus on simply moral games? I think these will all be up for discussion.

Cheryl, I'm a bit confused by your comment. Sorry. Are you saying in general, you think this is what Christian developers are shooting for? Or that this is the focus of the CGDC, as in to provide games fitting that description?
 
The first step REALLY has to be learning to make games - no offence to the ones I've seen, but they REALLY have been shareware quality rather than commercial quality.

It all comes down to ROI - how many Christian Gamers ARE there?

Eon
 
Eon--I don't think it's so much that there's a lack of Christian gamers, but rather the Christian games out there aren't really any good from a gaming aspect.
 
<span style='color:white'>I don't go along with Mr Eon much, but this time he's got a point.

Some of the Christian games I've seen just don't quite measure up to some of the standards set by the top gaming industries; like EAGames, for instance.

I think that Christian game designers should focus on making great games, fun games, games that don't have the junk like GTA has in it. No cursing, and no gore! But enough violence to make the game real, for crying out loud! (a good example: Medal of Honor: Allied Assault)

That is NOT to say that these games shouldn't have Christian themes in them, though! By all means, add them! But do it in an entertaining way, a way that grabs peoples' attention.

I think we as Christians can make a difference in today's society without neccessarily having to go down to a LOW level, adding things that aren't Christian and that don't reflect the Christian way into the games we make.

Ok, I'm done. I'll step off my soapbox now.

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Sir_Ryan</span>
 
Hey! This is great. Thanks for the comments.

I'm not sure if it's a lack of game design knowledge or simply a lack of funding, time, and head count. For example, didn't Two Guys Software mention they didn't use a Quake or Unreal engine because it would just be too expensive to license? I thought I remember reading that here.

There ARE many Christian developers who have a background in BIG game companies (Sierra, Dynamix, and others). Some of them are part of the CGDC. For a great game by a Christian, check out Think Tanks. CCGR has a review and the demo for download. It's actually quite fun.

The thing is, I see the Christian gaming community in an infancy stage. The games will continue to be better defined, better designed, better marketed, better funded....all of that.

Feel free to rip apart what I said.
 
I was just stating that most Christian games are not stealthy but very kid safe. Which turns off secular gamers.
 
guys no offense but why not make a bloody game that protrays what david and the early Isrealites went through? i mean its the truth straight from the Bible and cuold be very popular mainstream...
 
hmm...David fights off Saul's minions to gain the throne

sounds like a nifty first person real-time rpg ala Diablo
 
Can't you do something that promulgates Christian values rather than Christianity, necessarily? A great example of that is the Paladin class in Neverwinter Nights, IWD:2 etc. If you play one of those guys, then you CAN'T come to terms with evil, won't take fiscal rewards for helping people and can't do evil acts. It's great roleplaying.

Make games that challenge and entertain the gamer, but reward him for doing the RIGHT thing rather than the WRONG thing.

I don't doubt that there are some talented developers within the Christian community but, and heres the sad truth, you can't tell it from their projects. Two Guys game was a classic example for me - even getting past the dodgy level design and the creaky engine, there were central gameplay Flaws that just wrecked the game, stuff that an experienced designer would have found and flagged during development.


Eon
 
...and I think we will be discussing the tradeoffs betweeen just moral games and Christian-based games.

Hey Eon! Wanna work for a Chrstian game company?
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Sounds like you could be a huge help. I like your thoughts and ideas. I know you have a good understanding and grasp of this stuff.

BTW, my reasons for going to the conference are not because I am a game developer. Because, well, I'm NOT a game developer. But I am in the software industry as a software developer. So I understand about teamwork, the process of designing, coding and getting a product out the door, listening to customers, etc. I'd like to offer help/suggestions in these areas. I'm also Christian and would like to encourage the game developers and help shape what these next-gen Christian type games will start looking like. Plus, being a member of these forums has helped me learn a lot about what Christian and non-Christians want from Christian-based development companies.
 
If a Christian Games Developer can show me a sound financial backing, meet my salary requirements (not as high as you'd think, I assure you) and sort out any visa issues, then I'd be more than happy to consider a post with them. I'm a Designer, at the end of the day, and I've worked with Jews, Atheists, New Agers and even Christians. I'm a professional. Would I join if recanting my beliefs was required? Not a hope in hell. ;)

Eon
 
I don't know. The best I can say is that I've read about 15 or so of people's bios, and they generally sound like your standard Evangelical Christian.
 
where is this confrence? and when?

I've never played an actual Christian Game, never saw one in any game shop. My experience has been turning secular Rpg's into a christian theam. Mostly we use Dungeons and Dragons as our game system. I was woundering what y'all thought about this issue of useing secular games in a christian way. ?

Take care and God Bless
Rand NobleBlade
Paladin
 
Sounds like a sensible use of resources - after all, if Running With Scissors can make Postal their way, then you can do your game yours, right?

I played a lot of Vampire: The Dark Ages. My two favourite characters were poles apart, in terms of their religion. The first was one of the Einherjar - a Viking who'd been sleeping for a couple of hundred years and woken up to become the reason Christians fear the dark. The other was a French nobleman who sought to reconcile his faith with the reality of his existence.

I'm guessing the first character wouldn't really fit in your game, Rand, but the second certainly would. Call him a metaphor for the Crusades, if you will. What happens when noble people are forced to ignoble acts, and whether they can come out the other side as anything but a monster.

Eon
 
Hey Rand! There are actually quite a few Chrisitan computer games, card games, and I think even D&amp;D type games. Christian Computer Game Reviews has reviews for some Christian games.

You should also check out Christian Gaming. They discuss ALL aspects of Christian gaming which includes lots of discussions on card games and D20 rule games.

As far as playing secular games and turning them into Christian, here is an interesting link to an article discussing this in relation to movies.
 
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