Discrimination in videogames is (as was posted earlier today) a topic that comes up frequently when it comes to videogames and representation. but, instead of ranting on about racism in videogames (merciless killings of Nazi's and ethnic cleansing taht is suggested in come games), i am going to talk about religious discrimination in a particular game called Left Behind: Eternal Forces. The game is about the Rapture - Jesus has come for a second time and taken all the Christians to Heaven with Him. The aim of the game is to walk around the desolate city and convert non-Christians. Here is where the religious discrimination comes into play - if your player is unable to convert them, you get to kill them (while onlookers shout "praise the Lord!"). Being a Christian myself, this game both horrifies me and makes me laugh. Of course, it created a lot of disturbance between gamers and the Christian community in America. This game seems to be made purely for the purpose to set ideas of Bible bashing into the minds of young children. (yes, think of the children!!). This games doesn't even subtly infiltrate a message into the players mind - it blatantly screams at them! The representation of the 'bad guys' moves from an assumed 'others' to 'non-christians are the devil".
Interestingly enough, there are no trailers for it on YouTube, maybe the comments were too abusive for the producers? But, for who is interested, here is the trailer:
Eternal Forces
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