I love video games, especially when I play with other students and everyone’s only goal becomes to beat their youth pastor! I tend to have at least an idea of what’s new out there in the video game world, but I still found WhatTheyPlay.com to be a tremendous resource. It’s geared toward helping parents (and youth workers) figure out what’s appropriate for their kids to play without making the parent play through the whole game first. The reviews are pretty neutral, covering the synopsis of the game and a brief rundown of anything that might be considered inappropriate (although the Guitar Hero 3 review failed to explain the extent of how far sexuality actually goes in the game). The parents are then left to decide if it’s ok for their kids to play or not. A rating at the end indicates what age level other parents think the game is appropriate for, as well as comments and insights from site visitors that I often found to be even more helpful than the original review itself. The screenshots and video trailers posted with each game are also helpful for someone who wants to see visuals of what the game is all about. Check it out: WhatTheyPlay.com

P.S. If you play on Xbox Live, let me know and let’s exchange gamer tags!

If you read my earlier post this month about how we underestimate video games and dismissed it, marketing companies haven’t. They understand the influence of gaming and use it in powerful ways.

This 30-second spot aired during college football on CBS two weeks ago and now has over a million views on YouTube. Take a guess at what demographic they’re targeting. (Personally, I think this commercial was done beautifully. I laughed out loud the first time I saw it. This use of WoW for marketing is nothing short of ingenious.)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2_ueohYRhU[/youtube]

(ht Terra Nova)

By now most of you have seen the the New York Times article, Thou Shalt Not Kill, Except in a Popular Video Game at Church. I was actually contacted by the author for an interview on the subject, but none of my content was used in the article. Oh well. I’ve received several emails about it, so I thought I’d address it here for everyone, answering the various questions people have asked me privately.

First of all, please avoid making judgments about ministries who use video games like Halo as a part of their ministry. I know it’s easy to jump to conclusions, especially if it’s your first impression of them, but try not to judge them or anyone else too harshly based on their approach to this issue. In regards to Dare 2 Share’s recent Bible study lesson on Halo 3, I know Greg Stier and can vouch for his personal integrity as well as that of his ministry. They seek to reach kids for Christ, just like the rest of us, and are doing a fantastic job of reaching them and equipping the rest of us to do the same. Just because they write a Bible lesson about Halo 3 doesn’t make them kin with the enemy!

In my mind, this is a very gray issue. It’s the same issue that arose back when The Matrix hit theaters. Christians raved about the clear gospel message in it (which I disagree with, by the way) and wanted to use it as a ministry tool even though it was rated R. The argument went two ways. 1) “The kids are going to see it anyway, so let’s watch it with them and help them process what they’re seeing.” OR 2) “Even if they see it anyway, that doesn’t mean we should support it or promote it at church.” Both approaches have merit and an element of truth.

The video game situation now is no different. Can God redeem something that’s worldly and use it for His glory? Absolutely. Every believer is living proof of that. Does that mean that we should intentionally seek out worldly things and use them as tools? Probably not. But if the best way of connecting with an unbeliever is to play Halo, should you do it? In other words, does the end justify the means? That’s an area of personal conviction, not a black and white standard. Jesus went to sinners and participated in their parties and drank wine, but he did so as the person who was the influence, not the one being influenced. I trust this is true of youth groups who use Halo. But conversely, scripture tells us to refrain from the very appearance of evil (1 Thess. 5:22).

Whatever a youth group decides, though, let’s be consistent about it. If a group bans Halo but goes on paintball trips or even plays laser tag, that sounds like a double standard to me. Maybe some can justify a difference, but then again you come back to, “Where’s the line?” And that’s my point: the line is gray.

Personally, I’m not sure where I stand on this issue right now. In the past I’ve used Halo 1 and 2 as a ministry tool and have gained tremendous opportunities through it. At my current church, I’ve let youth play it at my house if their parents are OK with it, but if even one kid’s parent isn’t OK with it, then no one plays. Is that the right decision? I’m not sure. There’s certainly a lot of positives to it that I won’t bother to list because that’s really not the issue. If it’s sin and communicates a wrong message to our kids, it doesn’t matter how many positive excuses can be made.

No matter what happens, though, please don’t recommend Christian video games as a substitute. They’re so lame and poorly done that Christians and non-Christians alike laugh at it and loose all respect for Christian material. (The “Left Behind” video game of converting people? DDR to worship music? Please stop.) Maybe one day they’ll be worth recommending, but not yet. Fortunately, Christian music just started reaching par within the last couple years.

I don’t know if this helps or not. It’s a great issue to discuss, but let’s discuss it in love and graciousness toward each other. If you think it’s black and white, that’s great for you! Flaming someone who has a different viewpoint doesn’t help anyone. I appreciate your passion, but harsh criticism and unfounded assumptions don’t help people think through the issue, it just turns them off to your message. Please and thank you.

[tags]Halo 3, Dare 2 Share, Greg Stier, New York Times, youth group[/tags]

I’m a pretty active gamer. I can’t afford to play all the latest video games as they come out nor do I even want to anyway, but I do have a couple favorite games that I’ve played for years. The adrenaline rush, the sense of heroic accomplishment domination and the excitement of out-performing opponents make for a very addicting mix.

A lot of youth workers talk about the media’s influence on culture in reference to music, TV, movies and celebrities and rarely in reference to World of Warcraft, DDR, Guitar Hero and Halo. The reality is that video games are no longer an entertainment genre for overweight geeks in suspenders and thick glasses. They’re mainstream now and have been for at least two generations. Last week Halo 3 broke the world record for the most revenue earned in a single day by any form of entertainment: $170 million in 24 hours! World of Warcraft has over 9 million players and experts say that up to 40% of them are clinically addicted. (I have my own theories about why World of Warcraft and MMORPGs in general are so addictive.) According to the Entertainment Software Association, the average age of video game buyer is 38 years old and 38% of them are women, meaning that video games are not just for young teenage boys with no jobs, as the common perception may be.

Video games are a living and breathing part of our culture and will only continue to grow. As youth workers, some of us make a necessary effort to stay up-to-date on music and fashion, but let’s also not forget to educate ourselves on video games and the fantasy worlds they create. We need to be aware of the messages and values kids are unconsciously swallowing and teach them to consciously filter it all through scripture.

[If you're not familiar with World of Warcraft, check out my blog series on World of Warcraft FAQs for Christians.]

[tags]Halo 3, World of Warcraft, DDR, Guitar Hero[/tags]

Is this whole area a place that demonic strongholds can affect a person’s life in reality?
It may be possible, but highly improbable. If World of Warcraft is having a negative spiritual affect on someone, my guess is that there’s something else much deeper going on that’s unrelated to the game. The root issue only manifests itself in how they play World of Warcraft and interacts with other parts of life. In other words, I strongly doubt World of Warcraft is the culprit of negative issues in a person’s life rather than just an expression of it.

I strongly doubt World of Warcraft is the culprit of negative issues in a person’s life rather than just an expression of it.

Should a Christian play World of Warcraft and other MMORPGs?
I can’t answer this for anyone other than myself. My personal conviction is that it’s fine for me to play these games for their entertainment and ministry value assuming all my other real-life responsibilities are met and balanced satisfactorily. I find nothing inherently sinful about these games or the communities they create, but I realize others may disagree for various reasons. Two verses seem to apply:

Romans 14:14:

“As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean.”

And 1 Corinthians 8:9:

“Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.”

If World of Warcraft pricks your conscience, then don’t play it. If you do play it, make sure that exercising you freedom in this area won’t be a stumbling block to someone else.

[ Read other "World of Warcraft FAQs for Christians" in this series ]

[tags]World of Warcraft, MMORPG, MMO, Guild Wars, spirituality[/tags]

What about the curses and hexes involved? Is this demonic warfare and does it desensitize players to true evil in the world?

Neither the skills nor the context of World of Warcraft are demonic in nature or have much to do with witchcraft or sorcery. Calling down fire from heaven or placing a hex on a foe to drain health doesn’t feel like personal control over nature as much as it feels like another strategic puzzle piece to defending yourself while defeating of the foe.

I would liken it to movies such as Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Wizard of Oz, The Matrix, or The Chronicles of Narnia. Are there spiritual overtones in these movies? Sure. Will watching them (even multiple times) have a spiritual impact on the viewer? Probably not. Watching Gandalf perform his magic and dramatically shout, “You shall not pass!” makes me tingle with excitement, but it doesn’t make me want to adopt his magical powers for my life.

Does World of Warcraft have spiritual overtones? Sure. Will playing the game have a spiritual impact on the player? Probably not.

That said, children are not able to completely discern fantasy from reality. (Who hasn’t watched Superman as a child and tried flying by jumping off the top bunk?) I would advise that elementary-aged kids not be permitted to play the game, but teenagers and adults, being more developed mentally and emotionally, are capable of making the differentiation.

[ Read other "World of Warcraft FAQs for Christians" in this series ]

What is an appropriate amount of time spent playing World of Warcraft?
I won’t try to suggest an hourly amount of what is acceptable gaming time for a Christian because I believe balance applies to all areas of life and may be different for each individual. How we invest our time isn’t just a gaming issue — balance in all areas of life is the issue. This applies to how much TV we watch, how much food we eat, and how much shopping we do. All these things can be addictive and must be balanced with the rest of our life. In the context of World of Warcraft and other video games, boundaries need to be set to decide what’s an appropriate amount of time for gaming.

For Teenagers:
Over at OpenSwitch.org, Ben Gray posted an excellent list of tips for Raising Technology Teens that may help guide parents specifically in this area. Here’s my summary that might apply here:

1. Be crystal clear regarding what is off limits to your teen. Then discuss the consequences of breaking the rules.
2. Consequences for breaking the contract should hurt. Each teen is different in this area. Consequences in the adult world can be brutal, so don’t mislead your teen by making their consequences laughable.
3. Take the time to learn about the digital devices your teen uses.
4. Use technology to help monitor your teen. Technology isn’t evil. Find ways to make it work FOR you.
5. If your teen has slipped up and made unwise choices regarding the Internet then you should feel justified in keeping a VERY close watch on everything they do online.
6. Talk to other parents of teens about what they do to keep tabs on their kids. You might get some new ideas and who knows, you might give them some ideas too.

Help you teenager make wise choices in how they spend their time. Don’t belittle their interests just because you may not understand it or have a personal interest in it yourself. Rather, come alongside them and even genuinely participate in their areas of interest. Get a World of Warcraft account yourself and join your teen’s server. Play together and give your teen an opportunity to teach you something for a change. After a little while, discuss it together. Teach them to make decisions concerning areas like WoW rather than making a habit of pulling rank and defending your answer with, “Because I said so.”

For Adults:

Real-life is more important than how well you can move pixels around on a computer monitor that looks in to a non-existent fake world.

Remember to keep your priorities straight. Roughly speaking, that includes:

1. God
2. Family
3. Work
4. Miscellaneous responsibilities
5. Entertainment and gaming

When all other areas are met satisfactorily first, entertainment is totally legitimate. Time spent with God, with the wife and kids, working diligently for your employer, and taking care of other responsibilities around the house and church always come first. With the leftover time, WoW it up!

[ Read other "World of Warcraft FAQs for Christians" in this series ]

[tags]World of Warcraft, MMORPG, MMO, Guild Wars, spirituality[/tags]

What are the positive aspects of MMOs?

• As a Christian, there a tons of ministry opportunities in these games! I’ve even blogged in the past about some of the ministry opportunities I’ve had in Guild Wars. It is an incredible way to meet unsaved people and share the gospel. I’ve lost count of how many opportunities I’ve had to talk with people about tough real-life situations and share the difference Christ could make in their lives. One person I know is even actively involved in church now because of it.
• It provides a great sense of release, especially during stressful times in life.
• Highly entertaining.
• Community is valued and interaction therein is required for success.
• It requires reading, strategy, critical thinking and puzzle solving. (Compare to movies and TV, which are both very passive forms of entertainment.)
• It provides a mental and emotional escape from reality that we all need from time to time. (Again, TV and movies also provide this escape.)

What are the negative aspects of MMOs?

• It provides a mental and emotional escape from reality, which is very dangerous in excess.
• They have the potential to become all-consuming, replacing everything else and becoming the #1 priority in our lives.
• In rare cases, reality and fantasy become confused.
• It’s easy to spend more time developing a virtual character than our own personal character.
• Self-worth may become wrapped in the identity of a virtual world rather than in our real world.
• There may be a lot of foul language by other players in the game. (Usually chat can be turned off.)
• People who do not have a strong personal identity, healthy relationships, sense of purpose and appropriate ways of exerting power in the real world will instead form them in a virtual world, usually with harmful results on real-life self-identity and social interaction.

People who do not have a strong personal identity, healthy relationships, sense of purpose and appropriate ways of exerting power in the real world will instead form them in a virtual world, usually with harmful results on real-life self-identity and social interaction.

Real-Life story of the negative affects of World of Warcraft and MMOs
Here’s a story from a guy who was at the “top of World of Warcraft greatness.” He was a council member on what is now one of the oldest guilds in the world, the type of position coveted by many of the 7 million people who play the game today, but which only a few ever get. What follows in his story is a cautionary tale about the pull an escape from reality can have and why he ultimately quit the game altogether.

[ Read other "World of Warcraft FAQs for Christians" in this series ]

[tags]World of Warcraft, MMORPG, MMO, spirituality[/tags]

Why is World of Warcraft so addictive?

When Paul Sams, the COO of Blizzard (the company that makes WoW), was asked why people play World of Warcraft, his answer was a bit depressing: “How often in your everyday world do you get to feel heroic?” he said. “How often do you get to step into a world and do something big and meaningful? People need an escape from ordinary life. It’s just something people need.”

What’s implicit in this statement is that our normal lives just aren’t good enough. Our life in WoW and other MMOs seem fundamentally better than our real lives.

But not only do we feel like we’re accomplishing something meaningful and significant, there’s a huge community attraction that’s praised by almost everyone I talk to about why they play WoW.

Thirty-year-old Ta-Nehisi Paul Coates writes about his former WoW addiction and says this:

What I came to understand was that WoW was not necessarily an escape, but a surrogate for a community that is harder and harder to find in the real world. I lived further from my parents and siblings than my parents had. I wasn’t raised in the church. In my 20s, I built a shocking amount of community around illicit substances and bars. But with age and a child, that was no longer as attractive or even possible. Into that void, I brought WoW, which instantly connected me with the world—not just mine, but others I could never have imagined or found on my own…. [Now that I've quit playing WoW] I miss my guild, Gnomeland Security, a loose cross-section of military guys, history majors, high school students, writers and singers. They were the place where everyone knew my name.

Community might be the number one aspect of MMOs that keeps players coming back for more — to earn a reputation and be accepted by other people.

Through many weeks of brainstorming and even analyzing some of my own attractions to the MMO game, Guild Wars, here’s a list of why I think the MMO gaming genre can become so addictive:

• You can be the best in the world at something.
• Because you are the best, you become valued and needed by your guild and others in the game.
• You are able to earn the admiration and respect of other players and thus make a name for yourself.
• There is a high level of aggression, which feeds a constant flow of adrenaline.
• You have complete ownership over building your character into whoever/whatever you want him/her/it to be (unlike other games that only give you a selection of characters to choose from, like sports games). You develop the character’s strengths and weaknesses, craft armor, build weapons, learn skills, perfect those skills, and, in some cases, even develop their unique personalities. It makes you feel that you have a unique identity, that you’re different and special from everyone else in a crowded world.
• There is a rewarding and satisfactory feeling of conquering and achieving something difficult.
• Interest in the paranormal and supernatural and controlling aspects of them for your advantage is very intriguing to teenagers and young adults. (Christianity even plays off this sometimes, too, doesn’t it?)
• Death is never the end or “game over,” it’s only a development of character or an annoyance, which feeds an internalized feeling of invincibility.
• The only laws/limitations are the laws of physics and sometimes even they can be overcome.
• Fantasy is always attractive. Everyone has fantasies and imaginations to explore and carry out.
• Relationships between real-life people abound and thrive in these online communities.
• All the women are beautiful and all the men are handsome.
• There are no families, only guilds and clans (of real-life people) that adopt members based on skill level, achievements and common goals. Thus, there is again pressure to excel and surpass everyone else.
• The feeling that you’re actually making a difference as the enemy is defeated/eliminated/forced to submit.
• There is no sleep, no need to rest, only the need to be better and stronger.
• There is no mourning, only revenge.
• Strategy and critical thinking are required to outwit and ultimately defeat your opponent. Victory does not always belong to the strongest — it often goes to the smartest and most knowledgeable. (A very attractive aspect for the little guys in real life who are often picked on or feel physically inferior.)

[ Read other "World of Warcraft FAQs for Christians" in this series ]

[tags]World of Warcraft, MMORPG, MMO, spirituality[/tags]

What are MMO games?
According to Wikipedia, “A massively (or massive) multiplayer online role-playing game or MMORPG is a multiplayer computer role-playing game that enables thousands of players to play in an evolving virtual world at the same time over the Internet.”

In my own words, MMOs are unique to all other game genres because they are totally based on community. Literally hundreds of thousands of players interact together in real-time in a virtual world. They form little groups and fight battles together, search for treasure and valuable items, and sometimes even intentionally serve as a nuisance to other players. Sub-communities called “clans” or “guilds” are formed as people commit to fight alongside each other, help each other and work toward common goals together. In a clan everyone is (usually) important because everyone brings unique characters with specific skills and abilities that are necessary for defeating the opponents, whether that be a virtual monster in a quest/mission or a fight against people in another guild. Because these guilds consist of characters played by real people, behind the scenes you’ll find a lot of the same drama that often take place in real-life communities (called “e-drama” in the gaming community).

Here’s an example of an in-game look at Guild Wars. (Click the image to see it full-size.) All the people you see standing around represent other real-life people sitting in front of their computer playing in the virtual world at the same time I am. I can privately or publicly interact with any of these people. In the example of this picture, everyone is dancing together to celebrate the end of a successful beta testing event. (See the one guy even doing an in-air cartwheel!)

[ Read other "World of Warcraft FAQs for Christians" in this series ]

[tags]World of Warcraft, MMORPG, MMO, spirituality[/tags]