Thursday, August 28, 2008
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Guitar Praise: Guitar Hero/Rock Band - Christian Style!
by mr. oak
Software company, Digital Praise, just released "Guitar Praise." It's basically Guitar Hero but with Christian songs!
So - we know this was bound to happen. And frankly, I strangely want this.
I'm sadly addicted to technology - I have 2 guitar hero controllers, the full rock band set, a wii fit, xbox360, wii, etc. I would be that kid that had the nintendo power glove if i could've afforded it back then. I'm also that kid that follows the group of cool people and says "hey guys, wanna come over? I have nintendo!". I'm THAT kid.
So when I read this, I strangely wanted it. I love praise so the idea of playing "Jesus Freak" by dc Talk on here - AWESOMENESSSSS.
But now it makes me pause a little.... we know how cheesy stuff like this can get. And I wonder if this is going to start a trend in Christian gaming. I think it all matters on who makes them.
Man - imagine a "Grand Theft Auto: The Promise Land." Where you get points for sharing the Gospel to random strangers on the street. Instead of missions, you do volunteer work. And you get minus points for missing church on Sundays. * removes tongue in cheek *
Bottomline - this can get promising. For some reason - as long as a video game has more current and progressive stuff, like dc talk, flyleaf, relient k etc....I would try it.
What do you think - do you think Christian video games - if made by the right people, can work?
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Comments (60)
Personally, in re Guitar Hero, I confess that I can't see why people don't just go out and get actual guitar lessons. Wouldn't that be more fulfilling in the long run?
However, reality is a step ahead of you: Check out Dance Praise (no points for guessing what it's a rip-off from) and Left Behind: Eternal Forces. Stranger than fiction!
I also remember a Bible-themed game for the original Nintendo, back in the day. Points were lost for dropping the baby Moses into the Nile.
DUDE SIGN ME UP FOR THIS!! I'm so addicted to guitar hero.
Anyways ... there are already christian video games out there ... I just wish they made them WELL. maybe this will be a change
Why must we continually "Christianize" every seemingly secular thing? Since when are things secular or sacred? I really don't mind some Christian music, but if I want to listen to musically good tunes, I generally avoid the genre.
So how challenging could Guitar Praise be, when most Christian music is ridiculously easy to play?
@GodArt@xanga -
I really doubt all christian songs are easy to play ... I play for my
church and there are some songs we stay away from because they are too
complex - especially for corporate worship. There are many secular
songs that are easy to play too ... very simple.
as for secular vs sacred? I guess a better thing to say would be carnal and sacred in which case there is such a thing ...
I am excited! Although, I'm more the kid who is about two game systems behind the times...I do love guitar...and actually, I kind of like your idea about Grand Theft Auto....not the missing points for Church stuff, but it might actually be interesting to see what gamers come up with in sharing the gospel....
Anyway, I'm a pretty cheesy person, so my opinion might not count. :)
@shanella - I suppose my main complaint with "Christian alternatives" is that they often lack the excellence found in secular society. For example, I can't think of any Christian artists (and maybe you will prove me wrong) who rival Hendrix in guitar skills. Yes, there are a plethora of simple secular songs and some downright horrible ones, but if I'm in the mood for good music, my first thought is rarely, "Hey, how about some Christian tunes!"
If Christian artists really wanted to woo the world with the message of the Gospel, their songs would have excellence in both form and lyric. But Christian artists don't have to sing about Jesus all the time either. Those are the ones I like a lot.
I'm sure any game in any genre can be big as long as the right people develop it the right way. I'm like you (Guitar Hero, Rock, Wii, 360). If the goods are good, I'm willing to play it.
Grand Theft Auto: The Promised Land... i dont' know...
my thing is... if you really wanna cater to the crowd... especially when so many Christian fellaz are rockin the casbah with HALO...
just make a GTA version save for killing Canaanites and Midianites... like you're Joshua and you're replaying the book of Joshua... obviously rated M for extreme violence...
and granted the whole idea will not be welcomed by the church in majority... but i know some kids who can't outright kill ppl period due to that whole thou shalt not murder commandment... it is safe to say just take out your aggression on the pixels rather than the flesh...
i'm not a proponent of violence by any means... but a boy should be allowed to be aggressive... unless some chick decides boys should be nice guys and emasculate them which happens in churches sad to say...
GTA: The Promised Land... or GTA the Joshua Chronicles...
or make a game that is good that replays the book of revelation... you know... the bloody war between the saints of heaven and the armies of hell... and make it brutal to the core....
but yea... i saw this Guitar praise and I was like dood that's so cheeseball... but maybe playing You are My Joy by Crowder on this game may not be so bad...
you know Flyleaf is on Rock Band (i think)...
@Pass_the_Aura@xanga - I had some sort of scripture-based Gameboy game back when Gameboys were huge (in size, I mean).
This is so ridiculous. Why Christianize a game for the sake of Christianizing a game? Besides, look at what a flop the Left Behind games were. There was so much focus on trying to spread God's word, that it turned out to be a worthless, and very poorly made game.
On another note, we need to be offering people the Lord. Not some latest gimmick (ie. christian video game) for those who don't know Him. Offer them the Lord. And the latest way to reach people for the Lord is so preposterous. God intended, and wants something bigger than that. And on another note, (sorry with the notes!) if you're Christian, don't you have better ways to build a Christian community then gathering round the old T.V. and just playing "Christian Guitar hero"? Please...
@GodArt@xanga - I see what you're saying ... I think though one of the drummers of a xian band is counted as a great drummer.
David Crowder's drummer is excellent with instrument modulations. I'm sure there are others out there.
@shanella - I just wish there were more...
UGH! I hate stuff like this... why can't Christian's come up with an original idea, instead of making some cheesy, rip-off version of a secular game? It's ridiculous.
The first thing that bothers me is the terrible quality of all the Christian games I've played. They're all, quite obviously, low budget. And, they're never for a good game system... playing Guitar Hero or DDR on a 15 inch computer screen isn't really appealing.
Besides that... doesn't the Bible say not to conform to the patterns of the world? So, why should we try to copy the secular gaming market? Doesn't it make more sense to make something original. Something all our own that is made in excellence.
I don't understand why every Christian video game has to include the Gospel, either. Sure, the Gospel is an important message, but why can't we make good quality games that are simply more moral than secular games? Why do we have to make something so incredibly cheesy? How awesome would it be if non-Christians actually enjoyed our games as well?
Just food for the thought... but I've never been impressed with an Christian video games that I have played.
@Pass_the_Aura@xanga - The Left Behind game sort of leaves a sour taste in my mouth...for a number of reasons. It's like a Grand Theft Soul game.
@GodArt@xanga - Hmmm yeahh. I'm a Christian and I mostly enjoy artists that don't feel the need to mention Jesus in EVERY SINGLE SONG. Why can't Christians just sing about life in a more moral way? What's wrong with that? The worst part is that a lot of the artists that do that are shunned by a lot of Christians because they play in the secular market. It seems to me that they should be applauded. But, that's just my humble opinion.
@leadworshipper82 - Yup Flyleaf is on Rockband! Good song...
It's funny, usually I'm not a big fan of "Christianized" products (or even of video games for that matter), but just the other day I was wishing there was a Christian or at least more family-friendly version of Guitar Hero or Rock Band. I love the idea of a game that fosters an appreciation of music (and hopefully gets kids interested in learning to play REAL instruments), but from the few times I've played those games I was kind of put off by the suggestive outfits worn by the game characters and the somewhat "Satanic" theme of dueling with the devil in the last round of G.H. Maybe that sounds picky or legalistic, but I know that if I had kids, I wouldn't feel comfortable with them playing those games because of those elements. I know you can't shelter your kids from everything, but I feel like they get bombarded with enough of that stuff enough as it is. So my opinion is that "Guitar Praise" might actually be a good thing in that respect.
"Man - imagine a 'Grand Theft Auto: The Promise Land.'"
Haha, that makes me think of that Coke commercial where the guy goes around doing good deeds and spreading the love instead of stealing cars. It makes me smile every time I see it! Seriously, is that really such a bad idea for a video game?
@GodArt@xanga -
"For example, I can't think of any Christian artists (and maybe you
will prove me wrong) who rival Hendrix in guitar skills."
Check
out Phil Keaggy. There is an urban legend that Hendrix actually
proclaimed him to be the world's greatest guitarist. Whether it's true
or not has never been proven, but I have to say he's pretty darn good.
@skacoustic@xanga - i would also note that Lincoln Brewster is up there too....
oh and BTW ppl... you can download patches of Christian songs for GH2 and 3... I've seen on youtube that you can play "Everlasting God" by Lincoln Brewster on GH... i think it's for the PC version so i'm not too sure but... yea....
as well as Jesus Freak on GH3 (i think... again, not too sure but I did see it on youtube...
I would play it, for sure. It would be a great thing to bring to Youth Outings for hosts who would be a bit nervous about some of the other songs in Guitar Hero/Rock Band. And you forgot about Testa Mints, in your weirdest Christian version entry. Little breath mints with a Bible verse on each packet.
@Crazy_Train_9000@xanga - testa mints? hahah that's hilarious!
I think this version would be cool to play. I'm so not musically talented but I totally envy praise leaders that play guitar. I can finally stop air guitaring to my fav United songs. hehe
@leadworshipper82 - Ooh, good call on Lincoln Brewster!
Keith Cooper rocks as well. Probably not as well known, though.
I think I seriously want to get Guitar Praise. The song list is actually pretty decent. 2 Spoken songs, 3 Skillet songs AND a song by Caedmon's Call...whose music I greatly appreciate as an acoustic guitarist.
The best part is that it is PC based, which is great for me since I don't own any gaming systems (not even old-school Nintendo or Atari!)
a lot of people seem to think that things like this will sanctify secular activities or products. i think it just ends up destroying what is supposed to be special about Christianity: the sacredness.
I love the idea of this! It really starts to become a drag when your 4 year old (girl) goes around singing "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" in front of her grandparents. Then you start getting into Slayer and GNR...no thanks. I'll have to check this out, cuz our wii guitars have sat idle ever since it started to turn our stomachs.
Granted, there will be a cheese factor, to be sure. I doubt they'll have good bands like Red, Project 86, Day of Fire, etc., but it will be better than the alternative IMHO. :)
I don't really get why we can't just have a game with Christian and regular music? Maybe Guitar hero does, I don't really pay attention cause I'm too busy playing it. XD
An all Christian game is just like an all non-Christian game. Kind of the same thing. Why can't we just have a game with music from both? I like music for music not what the band preaches. =]
It's awesome cause it has FF5 though, they are a huge favorite of mine. I didn't see any Underoath on it though. Kinda wierd, either way, probably not gonna get it anyway.
@kevinrollins@xanga - It does have Red from what I remember, I looked at the song list.
@GodArt@xanga - Bwahahahahaha! Of course; this must be an easier level of the game, since you only need to know three chords and where to put your capo.
Now if they ever make an "Organ Hero"...