Want to Walk in Jesus’ Footsteps? Check Out the World‘s First Facebook Game Based on Christ’s Life
- Posted on May 15, 2012 at 11:54am by
Billy Hallowell
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First they brought you Moses and his Biblical journey. Now, Lightside Games has digitized Jesus Christ to create what they claim is the first-ever video game based on the Christian Savior entitled, “Journey of Jesus: The Calling.” The new Facebook enterprise, which launches today, takes players through the Messiah’s footsteps, as they get an “authentic experience of Israel in Christ’s time.”
According to a press release, players will have the chance to choose paths, search for artifacts, overcome obstacles and delve into the political and religious schema that existed during Jesus’ life. The game has apparently attracted the attention of Darrel Bock, a professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary, who has endorsed it, among others.
A FAQ document further explains the user experience:
First, players have fun. That sounds so simple, but Lightside Games lives up to its name. We’ve had success in the past making engaging, fun social games. Second, players encounter challenges with missions to solve, mysteries to unravel and miracles to participate in. Players journey with Jesus through the Gospels, exploring the world of the Holy Land in that day. They experience the drama, the politics, the history of those times—all with accuracy and authenticity. Though it’s only a game, players can learn what early followers of Jesus faced in Israel at that time. Finally, as that word “social” implies, these games create community. Players need to collaborate with their friends, need friends to help struggling people, start conversations . . . share Bible verses. We think it’s definitely going to open conversations about faith.
Considering the social nature of church culture and worship, it will be interesting to see how players — both believing and non-believing — interact with one another to reach success in the game.
With online entertainment focused upon such prominent Biblical characters, Lightside is attempting to tap into the faith community to find people who have a passion for both religion and gaming. The “Journey of Moses,” which launched last year, already has two million players. The hope is that millions more will come on board to partake in “Journey of Jesus.”
“Players want a game that’s more than a game; we know that well,” explains Brent Dusing, the CEO of Lightside. ”One way we keep fun and interest high is to release new chapters — new ideas and information and challenges — by the week.”
Interested parties can learn more about the game here and can sign up to play it on Facebook today.
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Wartune
Posted on May 27, 2012 at 9:06amWartune is a browers games for players，not only can play with browers,also can paly with network,
Report Post »Wartune is browser-based fantasy game with hybrid gameplay revolving around city building,
single players training, multiplayer-based campaign exploring, and dungeon brawling
http://www.war-tune.com
http://wartune.r2games.com is a Strategy Hybrid MMORPG released by R2games.com. In this exciting strategy/RPG hybrid game, the action begins with the first click! Featuring three unique classes, single and multi-player dungeons, PvP arenas, competitive battlegrounds, thousand-player boss battles, a robust guild system, and… farming, WarTune combines some of your favorite features from multiple game genres. Whether you consider yourself a casual gamer or a hardcore veteran, WarTune will keep you coming back for more
Journey13
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 4:23amWartune
Report Post »Wartune is browser-based fantasy game with hybrid gameplay revolving around city building,
single player training, multiplayer-based campaign exploring, and dungeon brawling
Journey13
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 4:22amWartune
Report Post »Wartune is browser-based fantasy game with hybrid gameplay revolving around city building,
single player training, multiplayer-based campaign exploring, and dungeon brawling
http://www.dotmmo.com/wartune-9971.html
miln40
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 8:10amI like the way Jesus is surrounded by a bunch of adoring little kids. It’s very… Catholic. ;)
Report Post »luvnmycountry
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 8:04amThat Jesus looks just like John Stossel.
Report Post »edmundburk
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 10:34pmI think that this game makes the new testament too “cutesy”.this game raises more questions then it answers.
Report Post »JohnLarson
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 9:34pmI love the Fantasy genre.
Report Post »suz
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 7:13pmah, well, hate to be the downer here but it’s just a matter of time before this gets banned w/everything else religious or conservative.
Report Post »Kitkarr
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 4:49pmExodus 20:4 – You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea.
Report Post »Chris2
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 4:33pmHow long until I hit a paywall?
Report Post »MONICNE
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 2:36pmI think his fabulous eyes make him appear friendly, happy and trustworthy. What a perky messiah!
God bless Facebook-Americans for doing this miraculous marketing tool!
TEA
Report Post »edmundburk
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 10:17pmi don’t get you, are you suppost to be tea party member? or are you encinom?
Report Post »Winedude
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 1:59pmGreat…a fantasy game based on a fantasy person. Enjoy, all you suckers.:
“The United States is in no sense founded upon the Christian doctrine.”
–George Washington
“The purpose of separation of church and state is to keep forever
from these shores the ceaseless strife that has soaked the soil of Europe with
blood for centuries.¬”
–James Madison
“Religions are all alike – founded upon fables and mythologie¬s.”
- Thomas Jefferson
“The Christian God is a being of terrific character — cruel, vindictive¬,
capricious¬, and unjust.”
– Thomas Jefferson
“In no instance have . . . the churches been guardians of the liberties of the people.”
Report Post »- James Madison
affinity
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 2:35pmWow, you’re a really pissed off person.
Report Post »ROMANS 10-9
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:36pmGet behind me Satan in the name of Jesus Christ!
Report Post »eaglestuff
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 5:23pmHello WineDude-
I think you’re a little off target.
Your quote attributed to Washington comes from Article 11 of the Treaty of Tripoli which was authored by Adams – not George Washington. It was an attempt to reassure the Islamic ruling that despite America’s Christian roots – Our official position as a nation was that we bore no ill will toward Islam.
Art. 11. As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.
George Washington was a humble man full of faith and hope. I wish the same for you.
Report Post »ThriCeSLewis
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 5:47pmThis is called quote mining. Besides, you put words into George Washington‘s mouth that weren’t his:
“This statement was made by an official representative of the U.S., but is actually a line from the English version of the Treaty of Tripoli of 1796, initially signed by a representative of the US on 4 November 1796 during Washington’s presidency” – Wikiquote
You conveniently omitted this statement from Mr. Washington: “You do well to wish to learn our arts and ways of life, and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ. These will make you a greater and happier people than you are. Congress will do every thing they can to assist you in this wise intention…”
Also, condescending bumper sticker remarks aren’t persuasive. Even agnostic Bart Ehrman thinks the ‘fairy tale Jesus’ position is ludicrous. So much so he wrote a book. What makes the “God doesn’t exist” argument easier? Get rid of the historical Jesus. Shredding your credit card statements doesn’t make your debt disappear…
Report Post »Winedude
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 11:32pmThanks to Eaglestuff and Thricelewis…you were both right that the quote I attributed to George Washington should be attributed to John Adams. My bad…thinking of Washington when I was typing my comment and goofed. Thanks for keeping me honest…that’s a lot more than a majority of the folks on this site do.
Report Post »Locked
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 1:41pmPerfect for those who trust a facebook game to help them understand the Gospel, but are too lazy to actually read it! How could this go wrong?
I can actually think of several ways to make a decent, Biblically-accurate game; they would almost all involve choices like in Bioware games, where you can choose what kind of “character” you’ll be through your responses, and the ending would change based on those choices.
A player would actually need to know the Bible or at least be able to think critically in order to get the “right” ending. Others would end with your Biblical figure (not saying Jesus; could easily be Moses, David… heck, even Paul) falling to temptation, meeting an early doom… or even living a long life free of martyrdom, but devoid of God’s salvation; a trick ending where it seems good until you learn of the lasting damage wrought by not spreading God’s plan.
Just idle rambling. I can’t imagine a facebook game will actually delve into the issues or political and societal struggles in the time of Jesus, no matter how much they hype it up. Better idea would be reading the Bible in my opinion.
Report Post »mandmsgirl
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 4:16pmexactly, you’ll get very little out of facebook but a dumbed down version of farmville
Report Post »Bronco II
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 3:40pmI second that if they want TRUTH go to where the TRUTH IS IN GODS WORD.But I will say if it peeks peoples interest they may go to the Bible to compare not saying they will but you never know GOD WORKDS IN MYSTERIOUSE WAYS.
Report Post »s0ck_monkey
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 1:20pmSweet! Another reason for the self-absorbed, naracisstic, look-at-me morons to stay on Facebook…
FarmVille, CityVille, CastleVille…How about Get-Off-Your-Asses-And-Go-Outside-Ville…
Report Post »mils
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 1:42pmi get so damned many requests for these stupid games….i put them in special apps so that i never have to see the requests anymore..
Report Post »GET OFF YOUR BUTTS…go outside enjoy the world!!..get a job..do something…constant games..?..gees…
next we’ll have one about muslims..and it will lead you through the killing of infidels..stoning, bombing,honor killings, etc…
IMCHRISTIAN
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 1:13pmCook that is not a recommended trust website
Report Post »Ducky 1
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 1:03pmI will need to check this out.
Report Post »Joyce61
Posted on May 15, 2012 at 12:11pmit is about time!
Report Post »