And while Christian targeted games are nothing new — see Left Behind: Eternal Forces, Bible Adventures and Catechumen — there are some genres that escape its influence. The sandbox style crime spree, for example, popularized by Grand Theft Auto.

MTV Multiplayer asked the CEO of Digital Praise Tom Bean just how feasible a project that might be.

"It comes down to what kind of things do you want to do in that world," Bean says, noting that the developer has designs on such a thing, "But creating those kinds of games is not inexpensive." We say go for it, Tom, but lets do this Crusades-style. Keep it fun.

‘Guitar Praise’ Developer Ponders Christian ‘Grand Theft Auto’ [MTV Multiplayer]

The PC game features stealth gameplay, with the only announced weapon being a "high tech slingshot" used to take out surveillance equipment. According to the following press release, the game is also notable for having the "largest environments ever seen in the Christian gaming world" and for zzzzzz... Damn it. I'm just so bored thinking about not killing things!

Keep your eyes peeled for forthcoming media and impending controversy. Michael McWhertor

Tribulation Knights Official Site

Christian Video Game Tribulation KnightsTM in development

ST. LOUIS, MO Dec 31, 2006 - Tribulation Knights is a brand new video game in a series of Christian video games. The first of the series is a stealth based third-person adventure for the PC, developed and published by Atomic Design Laboratory.

Storyline:
The main character, whose name has not been released yet, is a recently trained agent of the life saving organization known only as the "Tribulation Knights". A "Tribulation Knight" is an agent of a secret organization created by a now destroyed Christian church association. Their mission is to insure the freedom and safety of the new Christians existing during the time of Tribulation. This period after the rapture known as the Tribulation will be a time where new Christians worldwide will experience persecution for their faith.

The storyline is an interpretation of the Bible concerning the end days. A worldwide cult organization is gaining control of the planet and is planning to incarcerate Christians who do not join them. The Tribulation Knights aim is to prevent that. The missions range from gathering intelligence to releasing fellow operatives from interrogation cells, to saving groups of incarcerated citizens from the clutches of the powerful Enforcers.

GamePlay:
Tribulation Knights features stealth as one of the most important and critical aspects of gameplay. What truly sets Tribulation Knights apart from other games on the market are its game rules. Shooting and killing of game characters is absent from this game. A high tech slingshot is one of the primary tools available to a Knight and it is used to take out surveillance and alarm systems. An on-screen partner provides critical information in your time of need.

If the player is detected by any of the various types of surveillance, World Rule Enforcers, or by citizens loyal to the World Order, an alarm will sound attracting unwanted attention. If an alarm has been triggered then the mission might end prematurely, or the NPC enemies can become more aware when triggered. The enemy can capture the knight, which forces the player to replay the level or start again from a remote prison cell. The missions require the player to remain almost invisible to the enemy for most of the game. This requires taking less traveled routes like the ledges of tall buildings, going down dangerous back alleys, crawling through air ducts, and navigating miles of sewer tunnels. Sneak peaks can be found on the website http://www.tribulationknights.com

Release Date:
A release date has not been announced.

About Atomic Design Laboratory:
The interactive entertainment developer Atomic Design Laboratory is a startup founded by John Nelson. The company is located in the Midwest United States in the St. Louis metropolitan area.

Every jaded journalist and cynical blogger I talked to about the Left Behind demo was super jealous that I received the coveted appointment to view Left Behind: Tribulation Force. Left Behind's Christian RTS pits you (the good Christians) against the bad (rock stars, cult leaders, demonic hellspawn, etc.). I suppose that every other materialistic, spiritually devoid staffer wanted to go in and have a quick giggle at their quaint little God game. I know I did.

But then it turned out to be kinda good. Kinda damn good. And the people were so nice. So damn nice. Who's nice anymore?

Left Behind: Tribulation Force doesn't look like it's going to be shatter any RTS conventions. It's still a resource harvesting, unit gathering action strategy title, it just that the resource is human beings and it sports tons of Bible scripture and Christian rock.

I have to hand it to them, they know what they're doing. The game is an instructional, inspirational tool and packaged in a way that, if you don't know the Left Behind brand, wouldn't shove the whole "God thing" in your face from the get-go.

Yes, you can play on the side of the anti-Christ. Yes, you get power-ups in the form of Bible scripture. Yes, you have to pray to keep your spirit levels up. Yes, there is a ton of violence and carnage. Yes, Kirk Cameron is in the game. Maybe. I think I saw his righteous afro on an in-game billboard. But, no, we can't make fun of it just yet.

Damn it. Why'd it have to be good?!

Culture" Gamers' Good News [MSNBC]