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Our
Christian
Oriented Ratings
System Our
rating system has three parts, Christian Sense (CS), Game Engine
(GE) and Game Play (GP). These combine to make the final
Overall
Score (OS). All ratings are from 0-5, 5 being the best of the
best. The purpose of this system is to help Christians
identify games that are both awesome and won't make your Christian
sensibilities puke. It also recognizes that Christian content
isn't everything in a game. Someone who doesn't care about the
CS score will still be able to get something helpful from the
reviews. Below is a complete explanation of a
proposed system. This system is not currently set in stone and will
be tweaked in the coming months, but it shows
what we are shooting for. Comments are welcome. 
Christian
Sense (CS) This
is simply how well this game fares from a Christian perspective. We
do take into account the type of game and its intent. For most
game makers the intent is simply to make a fun game that sells
well. In general, there isn't a dark agenda to destroy
Christianity and promote Satan's agenda. Those
that do include satanic/occult symbols do so for the shock value
rather than out of any conviction those symbols hold valuable life
lessons. They are trying to take advantage people's
emotional reactions to help promote their product. Usually
games simply don't take into account Christian sensibilities and
when they do it's usually haphazard, stereotypical or just plain
dumb.
For those that do
intentionally offend Christians it's because we're an
easy target that's relatively easy to manipulate. They are counting on the shock value and the publicity
such offense generates for them. The
game, Postal (which is
a pretty lousy game) sold hundreds of thousands of copies,
helped greatly by the controversy and publicity the subject matter gave them.
This is because those who play the game are not dissuaded by the
controversial subject matter. In fact, that's what draws them
to the game. The controversy just helped get the word out. And so, our offense becomes
part of their marketing strategy. We don't intend to take the
marketing bait. That's why we have the Stupid and Ignorant
categories. Keep in mind that this category isn't there just
to judge secular games. Christian games could potentially fit any of the categories.
0=Antichrist:
(Satan's pet project) Christian Sensibilities intentionally and
highly offended or blatantly presents clearly heretical doctrine (see our
statement of belief for the basis on which we make this judgment).
1=Stupid:
Non-Christian game tries hard to offend but in tired, lame, clueless and
stereotypical ways. Christian game presenting Christianity in a
stupid or foolish fashion that provides
good laughs for non-Christians and offers up new avenues to ridicule
Jesus Christ (foolishness isn't a biblical mandate).
2=Ignorant:
Stumbles over Christian Sensibilities or handles Christian themes
clumsily. Unintentionally propagates lies or myths or lesser
heresies (yes, there is such a thing). Hidden
agendas weigh it down. Bumbling.
3=OK:
Secular games which are not particularly
insensitive to Christianity or have minor to non-existent problems.
A Christian game that handles the
Christian presentation reasonably well even though it can be heavy
handed or preachy at times. A Christian game in this category
has little appeal to non-Christians.
4=Heavenly: has content that is positive
toward Christian sensibilities or does a good job of presenting
Christian themes, even if not always in a positive light.
Intelligent or just plain good. Both Christians and
Non-Christians can enjoy this.
5=Second
Coming: Intentionally promotes Christian values
and sensibilities and does it well without being preachy.
Or, it treats Christianity with honesty and/or respect without the
intent to cause harm, even if the outcome isn't particularly flattering. Gameplay
(GP) This
is pretty straight forward. How much fun is it to play?
What's the depth of the game and is it worthwhile to finish and to
play again? How appropriate and
well thought out are the interfaces? 0=Torture:
A good game with which to punish the unbeliever in Hell. Insipid
and unplayable. 1=Painful:
Very little that's fun, painful to use. Sorely lacking
in features and playability. Buggy and almost
unplayable. 2=Dreary: Poorly executed but contains some fun
elements. It contains all the necessary components of this
game type but handles them inconsistently and usually badly. 3=Average:
Some highlights but basically familiar game play with average
execution. Multiplayer works and has normal capabilities.
4=Solid:
Fun to play, solidly executed with some excellent moments. It has
implemented all appropriate features and done so reasonably well or
very well. 5:Inspired: Loads of fun, original
and provides excellent multiplayer/online game play. Truly one
of the best. All the features you'd expect are there and even
some new ones. Game
Engine/Mechanics (GE/GM) Applies
to
computer games (GE): The
game engine is the code that presents the game to the player.
There is the graphics engine, the multiplayer engine, the AI (how
fun an opponent the computer creates for you), etc. All
these pieces add up to one big presentation engine. Graphics
are the eye candy: the pretty pictures, textures and architecture of
the game. If the engine isn't up to the task, everything else
suffers. Games are judged on how how well they use the current state of the art in
the presentation of the game. Sound
is important along with multiplayer capabilities (Online, LAN, Serial,
IPX, Telnet, etc), appropriate and
well thought out interfaces, smooth performance and the ability to
customize the interface. Applies
to other game types (GM): This
concentrates on the game mechanics and how well they allow the
player to enjoy the game. Is it overly difficult to
learn? Is it awkward? Is the packaging attractive?
Does the box fall apart after opening. Are there lots of small
parts? Does the choices in game mechanics enhance the game
play
and present it effectively? Applies
to
all game types: The appropriateness of the technology is
critically important here. For instance, using a cutting edge 1st person
shooter engine for a text based game doesn't make sense and would
likely make the game unwieldy but a highly efficient text interface
that greatly enhances the game play would earn it a high
score. The question here is if technology is right for this type of game and
does it do its job well. 0=Abysmal: Bad use of old technology, hurts the
eyes, ears and hands and soul. Trying to use a type writer to
fix a leaky pipe. 1=Icky: Tired technology or poor use of new
technology. The Game Engine clearly holds this game back
2=Potential:
Inconsistent with a few decent elements, incomplete technology or wrong technology
used for a good idea. 3=Average: Nothing to
write home about and nothing particularly bad. It's an average
use of relatively current technology or a good use of older
technology. 4=Good: Good, solid use of current technology, sound,
graphics, interface with some Top-notch elements. An
excellent use of older technology. 5=Inspired:
Cutting edge technology used
superbly. It's the top of its kind and blazes some new trails. Overall
Score (OS) This
is an average of the three individual scores. While we aren't
likely to recommend any game that scores less than a 4 on CS, you
can use the breakdown to decide for yourself. For instance,
you might not want to play any game that scores less than a 4 in CS
or you might not want to play a game that scored 5 in CS but low in
GE or GP. 0=Well
this one's for the trash
heap. It's a good reason to burn software
in giant piles if only to keep us sane. If you see this for
sale in a store, flee immediately. 1=A
good example of a BAD game. It might have had potential.
It might even have had some good elements but at least one fatal
flaw has condemned this game to the flames of a painful death.
Don't buy it. 2=If
you're desperate for a game, you might get some enjoyment out of
this one but it contains serious flaws and is at best a mediocre
game. Avoid it. 3=Average
game that contains enjoyable parts. It might have some nasty
lows but offers enough fun to keep your interest for a time.
This one we can't recommend but you might think differently if it
scores well in one area that's really important to you or it's in a
genre you can't resist. 4=Solid
game that is very enjoyable to play. Few problem areas.
Good replay value. Handles the genre well. This is a
keeper worth your serious consideration. It's a game we
recommend. 5=Classic
game that does almost everything right. This is the cutting
edge. Lots of replay value and something well worth your
dollars. We highly recommend this game. |
