We had the opportunity to attend the 2007 Christian Game Developers Conference in Portland Oregon and saw some really exciting titles in development, specifically designed for game players and families interested in a positive, biblical message in their games. There were entries from many of the major genres including action, adventure, dance, educational, role-playing, and even massively multiplayer. We have the inside scoop on all the latest from top Christian game developers.
Digital Praise is one of the larger, more famous of Christian game publishers. They?ve published games in the Adventures in Odyssey series, Max Lucado Kids: Hermie and Friends series, and developed the acclaimed, Christian DDR dance game, Dance Praise. According to a Digital Praise spokesperson, Dance Praise 2 is in the final stages of development and will be shipping this fall along with a new dance pad, both included with the game and sold separately. We?re told Dance Praise 2 adds a fourth, easier difficulty level, more exercise tracking functionality, brand new, licensed mainstream Christian music, and many improved features based upon user requests. This much improved version of the popular dance game will offer the most control and tracking of burnt calories and promises to make your workout even more productive and fun.
Rebel Planet showed us two upcoming titles including Rebel Planet: Orion and a slide-scroller adventure title from the creator of The Axys Adventures: Truth Seeker called Monster Island. Monster Island is due to come out later this year, though little information is known about the project. Rebel Planet: Orion is a role-playing game that has been in development for several years and is due to come out in 2008. The pre-flood setting is unique and shows much promise. We saw a short clip from the game and the dinosaurs look fantastic. This is one game you?ll want to keep your eyes on.
Haven?s Blessing Tiny Zoo is in development with a first-person massively multiplayer online title set in the second century holy land, called Visions. This is the first attempt at an MMO that we know about by a Christian developer. With three quest tracks, Ancient Roman history, professions and skills, and biblical history quests (Visions Quests), Visions plans to be a full immersion in the history of the formation of the early church beginning in 100 AD during the reign of Trajan.
Inspired Dream has been working on their first game entitled Little Angels due to come out this summer. This puzzle game targeted at younger children, combines biblical stories with enjoyable casual games like matching pictures or colored objects. The game?s colorful and magical visuals are sure to grab the attention of your youngster and contains a positive, educational message that means they will receive more than simply entertainment value. The five games included are Noah's Ark, Easter Egg Hunt, The Tower of Babel, The Ten Commandments and The Rainbow.
Clicktoy Interactive was created by former Electronic Arts developer, Ken Kavanagh and is in development with its first game, which is being developed for young children who are just beginning to get into educational games. Clicktoy has designed this game to be like an interactive book with each key on the keyboard corresponding to an action on the screen. For the first time parents will be able to feel safe allowing their kids to play on the computer, free of any damage occurring to the computer since the game runs completely from the CD and even has a mode that locks down all keyboard and mouse functionality so that a child cannot accidentally leave the game environment.
Dimensions Vertical is attempting to create an action/RPG called Progress 21 based on the Pilgrims Progress book. It?s up to the player to find the full Armor of God and prepare for a final battle against the dark one. This three game series does not yet have a release date.
Christian gaming has many great looking titles on the horizon, even for the more hardcore gamer. The games we saw at the CGDC are all currently being developed for the PC (and MAC in some cases), however, Digital Praise, among others, expressed interest in developing for the Nintendo Wii. It?s all a matter of time until we begin seeing games creep up on other platforms. Currently Veggie Tales is available on the PS2 and Nintendo DS, published by Crave Entertainment.
» By Stephan Mack, Plain Games. Published 8/3/2007 2:29:09 PM.
