Does anyone get killed in the game?
People do perish in our game just like some do in the book series. This is a real strategy game, so the gamer controls his forces just like you do in chess game.

Have you made any efforts to tone down the violence in the game?
We expect our game to be rated “T” and be widely accepted by the mainstream and Christian marketplaces, just as they have accepted Star Wars games which are “T” for teen rated. Think of the “T” rating in games like the “PG-13” rating in movies.

Why does this game have to contain violence at all? Why is it necessary for a fun and successful game?
Violence is not required to make a fun game. However, it is required to make a game about the end of the world in the Left Behind book series. We have taken great care to make certain that there are real consequences for poor gamer behavior, unlike most games in the market. For instance, unnecessary killing will result in lower Spirit points which are essential to winning.

Are you concerned that the Christian community won’t want a game in their home where lives are taken and people get killed?
Absolutely not. How often do you hear about the Christian community up in arms about PG-13 movies? I suppose there might be a very small number that do, but we do not expect this represents the majority of the mainstream and Christian marketplace.

Interesting. The people who made and designed this game, packed with violence and killing, are confident that Christians won’t be turned off at all. They’ve studied their market, done the focus groups, they know this market like the backs of their hands. They have faith in their market.

What is the level of violence in the game?
Our game includes violence, but excludes blood, decapitation, killing of police officers, etc. … We have taken great care to make certain that consequences for poor gamer behavior will adequately reflect the gamers actions. Accordingly, unnecessary killing will result in lower Spirit points…Our game includes no intestines, no blood spatter, no severed limbs, no vulgar language, no sexual conduct, no morally reprehensible conduct – such as cop-killing, prostitute-bashing, or other criminal behavior, no Bible-bashing believers, no Bible thumpers, no radical extremists killing in the name of God, no abortion clinic stalkers…

Wow! That’s quite a list of bloody gore and mayhem they left out. But what they left in…Jason, Jason, Jason. C’mon. No convert-or-die missions? Are you playing semantics here? The whole war – Armageddon, after all – is about convert or die.

No killing in the name of God? In whose name, then, are all those who don’t choose God being killed? Read it yourself in the FAQs:

Are guns used by Christians against non-Christians? Why or why not?
The storyline in the game begins just after the Rapture has occurred – when all adult Christians, all infants, and many children were instantly swept home to Heaven and off the Earth by God. The remaining population – those who were left behind – are then poised to make a decision at some point. They cannot remain neutral. Their choice is to either join the AntiChrist, which is an imposturous one world government seeking peace for all of mankind, or they may join the Tribulation Force, which seeks to expose the truth and defend themselves against the forces of the AntiChrist.

You have to choose either the Anti-Christ (the one seeking peace for all mankind) or the Christ (the one seeking…what? converts?). If that isn’t convert or die I don’t know what is, because we all know from Revelation what happens to the Anti-Christ.

Does the violence depicted in the game run contrary to Jesus’ message on “love your enemy”?
Absolutely not. Christians are quite clearly taught to turn the other cheek and to love their enemies. It is equally true that no one should forfeit their lives to an aggressor who is bent on inflicting death. Forgiveness does not require absolute defenselessness. Apparent contradictions on behalf of Christians are often the result of them placing greater importance on the message, than in caring for others.

The forces of good are fighting – trying to kill – the AntiChrist’s Global Community Peacekeepers. They’re trying to kill U.N. peacekeepers, Jason!There are battle tanks and “modern military weaponry.” OK, see any contradictions here? What are the tanks for? Make the Forces of Satan pee themselves?

Another contradiction: “This game does not include references to any religions.” Well, there’s an anti-Christ, which presumes a Christ, and the whole thing is dreamed up by Christians.

As far as “promotes peaceful solutions for winning the game over violent warfare” (your words), if Jesus Christ is so interested in peace, and the Antichrist is leading Global Community Peacekeepers…I mean, what are they fighting about? Who’s got better peace?

Y’know, the usual parcel of videogames, from demons to elves to the streets of San Andreas, must drive the fundies bananas as it is. It’s never been clear to me exactly how killin’ and mayhem have snuck into that world-view though.