Christian Game Developers Conference - July 30-31, Portland

#21 Stefan, Nobody's saying you have to be a Christian to develop games. This just happens to be a conference aimed at Christian game developers. Just like the IGC is aimed at Indie game developers. If you're not an Indie, you're probably not interested in the IGC. Likewise, if you're not a Christian, you're likely not interested in the CGDC.

However, if you want to go anyway, Tim has already said it's open to non-Christian's as well (read his second post). If you're simply interested in writing moral games, or targeting the Christian market, this still might be of interest to you.

As far as segregation goes - this is simply a group of like-minded people getting together to discuss ideas and support each other. If that's segregation, I guess we'll have to abolish every conference (game development or otherwise) - not to mention forums, clubs, community groups, ...

#22 Oh wow, I guess I should request that GG provides a forum topic without any reply capability ... oh yeah, a calendar item! :) That way Stefan would still not like my post but I wouldn't know about it and therefore not like the fact that he doesn't like it, "truth be told". We've been listed at Gamasutra.com (calendar) and I'm sure other sites.

Anyone is welcome to attend but knowing it is "Christian" should let folks know what to expect (Prayer, fellowship, etc.). If you don't think this will offend you, then come. The request is that you don't intentionally be disruptive (like trying to high-jack a discussion). You can definitely share your opinions and view though.

The goal is to encourage the developers, just like IGC is a great encouragement to Indies (yes, I've been to both IndieCons). There is exciting activity going on in our community that will be announced/further detailed, like the formation of a distribution group, the association is nearing completion, several developers will be announcing their latest titles there, etc.

Again, I invite any questions -> Tim AT CGDC DOT org

#23 Glen

I still can't connect how Christian and Indie are the same things to Game Development. Is it the genree of games? If so then I understand.. a Christian would maybe make a religious aimed game, but other than that.. I see no difference other than the final product.

Tim

I see, irony. Well, I wasn't trying to be an ass, I was asking questions. Apparantly that didn't fit. I understand that now.
My excuses!

Edit: Also, people who dislike others because of their religion are stupid people. It's the same thing around.

#24 Stefan,

With the exceptions of very few teams, most developers associated with our community are Indies. Many one-man and two-man teams. Many virtual teams! I had a helper in England of all places!

Quote:I don't like this post at all.

Sorry if I misinterpreted your post. So, you are saying you don't like the post because you don't see the connection of Christian and Indie related to Game Development.

Let's not debate what a "Christian" game is. There are many that are trying to be that (both debate it and to make them).

Would you agree that there might be some Indie developers that also profess to being Christian? For that individual, we want to encourage them both in their faith and in the vocation.

I hope this makes sense. To clarify, there are many that come to our conference that are working on "secular" or non-Christian games. But that developer is still a Christian and therefore very much encouraged to attend this conference designed for them.

Take care,
Tim

#25 Tim

The quote, alright. I see what you're saying now. I could have phrased that alot better. My mother is christian too. I'm not, and the quote above was in no way meant to offend you nor make it look like I dislike Christians.

What I meant was merely that I didn't see why Christians were allowed to participate, and not others. And how the connection between a Christian and game dev was. I dont think it matters as long as you are a civilized individual and make games.

A civilized individual is not one who steps down on others because of their religion, IMO.

That's just my thoughts and they probably differs from yours.

#26 Stefan, Let me try it this way:

The GDC is aimed at people who are interested in making games right? And (while I haven't been to one) I'm sure it must cover such topics as AI and Graphics. Yet I'm also sure there's quite a few people out there who are interested in AI or Graphics, but who have no interest in making computer games. So do you think the GDC is discriminating against them? Or trying to put them down?

I'd be surprised if you do. But in that case, why do you feel that way about the CGDC? It just happens to have narrowed it's focus down even further, that's all.

#27 Glen,

Reread the first post, substituting the word 'Caucasians' for 'Christians' and you might recognize how someone could find that notice discriminatory at first glance.

Of course, I think we know Tim didn't mean it that way, but minorities of any stripe can be sensitive.

#28 There is just way too much political correctness going on. I guess I won't be allowed to announce the Spanish Game Developers Conference or the Female Gamers Conference or even the annual Gay & Lesbian LAN party and conference that takes place down here in Key West every year. The world is a big place and people need to learn to grow up and not to get offended at everything that happens.

#29 Well, certain things do affend me, if i have a gay guy behind a counter saying "Ohhhh i'd love to see you in that", i'm gonna jump across teh table and ring his neck, but most problems accure because of the way things are put, for example my statement above, could be taken 2 ways, taken that i'm a violent person and i like beating on people, i hate gay people, i had a bad day, or i don't like gay guys looking/thinking at me like that , political correctness is needed, PERIOD, if we have a lieing cheating, dumbass president and a poor leader, our GOV will decline, so we have to correct that prob and vote/impeach him

#30 But the House did vote to impeach Bill...but he convinced the Senate to not remove him.

#31 So Chris, when you're drunk and doing the same to a female, should she wring your neck too ?
Man, you're quite an arse, or make it clearer it's just an example and not your opinion :)

This is also hijacking this thread : why not start another one on this topic (PC and all that jazz) instead of twisting this one ?

#32 Political correctness is the bastion of those who are two cowardly to express how they really feel, and too weak to deal with how others really feel about them.

Say what you mean. Being polite while you do it is great, but using made up words to remove the value from speech is pathetic.

#33 Jay Moore will be speaking this year! Thanks Jay.

Some more workshops are lining up including a couple from Digital Praise, one on art from Michael at Brethren Entertainment (brethren-et.com) and a unique workshop from Dan Olds (unitygame.com).

We should have more press representatives there based on the interest so far. In previous years, there was only one rep each year.

Registration is open and early birds (before July) get a $5 discount.

#34 For reference.

How this thread went was a real positive mark on the community here at GG.

I'm a Christian myself and though there are people here who some how feel 'segregrated' at having a conference relevent to Christians. I have the exact same response at NOT being allowed to have such conferences. Remember the days when black people werent allowed to congregate? We arent forcing you to attend, we cant, and we arent forcing you not to attend, your can exclude yoruself by your own decisions.

Half the time WE dont agree whether or not we are saved, how the heck are we going to tell if you are? :D Never mind the fact that the whole basis of the theology is to get people who arent 'saved' informed and invited to activities that we are involved in.

To every spiritual/politicla/whatever conversation there are two sides. And either side can say the other side is 'abusing/slandering/segregating them' simply by existing.

I have been in gaming communities where if you so much as hinted at taking your own personal spirituality or even plain old morality seriosly, people started cursing up a storm and calling you names and kill stealing you just for kicks.

The fact that we had a 20 some odd post conversation about spiritually centered cummunity issues and only had really one person go off the rocker tells me that the spiritual muaturity all around of GG is a lot higher then the 'average' across the games that are out there in the commericial world.

I'm definitely here to stay.

Sorry if thats too OT but I felt it needed to be said.

#35 Religion is always a loaded topic, but I think we should look at this like a sporting club. For example people who play baseball that want to make baseball games. Nothing wrong with people making games for their specific interests in my opinion.

Would anyone complain about a BBGDC? I think not.

I suppose some people would think these games would be dull or require religious figures. Not at all, you can do alot with a christian gaming model. You can re-enact famous biblical battles, part seas, raise the dead during battle etc... build spiritual powers and develop your character like "City of Hero's"

Speaking of religious battles (and if you like controversy) I wonder if anyone thought of making a crusaders game. That would be a lot of fun, controversial, timely and not at all dull or boring in my opinion. It would probably sell very well too.


Another good idea would be a game based on El Cid and the Spanish Inquisition that followed.

Just a couple of ideas that would be sure to get some attention and be a lot of fun.

#36 By the way here is a pretty cool looking christian game.

Shadows of Light So I say the concept is cool and has merit.


Edit--- Drat. Should have known there would be a crusader game... But it looks like a RealmWars FPS style crusader game has not been done.
Heaven Games


Ofcourse other groups should be welcome to have their own conferences and make posts here too.

#37 Britton, Eternal War:Shadows of Light is interesting.

I encourage everyone to try it - they have a demo available.

Here is my review of it:
[url="http://www.christiananswers.net/spotlight/games/2004/eternalwar.html"]Review at Guide2Games dot org[/url]

Tim

#38 Though I am sure there is some sort of market for 'religious christian' games. I personally believe (as it was mentioned above) that the reason 90% of the 'religoius christian' games flop is because, quite frankly, being that overt and 'doctronized' is a bad business plan. :D Spiritual or money based.

If you really want to reach someone about christianity, most people in todays churches know, the last thing you do is look like a church! :D (When our church opened up everyone thought it was a shopping mall. :) Bout the only people deeply othodox christian games are going to reach are deeply orthodox christians! :D (Not knocking the market, if there are enough around to sell to go for it.)

Too often in the faith and in the sales systems I see Christians trying to market Christianity as if all the wrapings and trimmings were the important parts.

Instead we should be keeping the morality of the development team higher and allow that to seep over into the quality of the developed content. Keep in mind this does NOT mean having a "Do you believe in Jesus? Yes/No. question on the front door of the human resources department. A christian, and there for a Christ centered development team, should be accepting of anyone who is willing to live within their morality view. And believe it or not, atleast in America, thats a pretty large portion of the populace. Its just that a Christian is not afraid to show it and are willing to lay their jobs on the line because of it.

What we really need are more 'devout moral' development teams. Except that nearly everyone has a different definition of morality. This is precisely where Christ comes into the equation. Christians say 'We know what morality is, He defined it for us 2000 or so years ago.' And so we can take that definition of morality and apply it to the work place. If you dont like our morality, we dont mind, just go find a company that agrees more with you. :D

Wouldnt you want to work in a place where you knew you could go to yoru colleages for help any time. Where if you had a problem with the kids and you needed someone to watch them while you finished up this code for a deadline you could find someone? Where you didnt have to worry about your partner on this 10 week project calling in sick to go fishing a day before the deadline is due and all his code is on his harddrive at home?

I am making some exagerated points here, but my point is that YES nearly everyone wants that kind of a work place. (Except maybe the people that do that kind of stuff because they would be out of a job.) But nearly everyone I have met wants that kind of morality in the workplace.

Christians do to. Its just that Christains have decided to use Christ as the plumline for that morality. But again, lots of people fit that plumline that dont know Christ and because of that a lot of these 'Christian' organizations such as development teams, kill off a lot of good quality creators for their team.

#39 Also keep in mind that a good creative stew (all the minds of a team brought together) require variety. If you filter out all but 10% of the creative abilities of the people that come in through your hr door your going to have a stagnant development team. AGAIN, why 'christianizing' the development team, doesnt work.

Christianity is all about fellowship and bonding. Its about getting to know other people Christian and non, being involved in their lives and helping them in their struggles and you in yours. Apply that to the work force of an explicit Christian business and you have a small community devoted to the whole person. Not a set of 20 or 30 strangers that come in to work each day. Indie teams may be slightly different, but still, indie teams can benefit from this, I bet even more then simple cubicle dwellers. In my expereince so far, indie teams are already more on the social and less on the business side of relationships.

Also keep in mind that you dont have to use purified doctrinal definitions to define your game characters either.

Ever see Shrek? or Finding Nemo? Shrek is about as Christian as you can get and not have Jesus figures and motifs all over the place. The sad relationship scene even has a balad thats talking about David from the bible and his harp playing for the King and goes on about One Note. :D

So it wasnt all about Christian heros and villans and so forth and yet in its silent ways it witnesses both Truth and Love. You dont have to say Christ to show Christ to know Christ.

What am I really saying here?

The quality of the game is not defined by the characters or the game system or even the engine (duck) :D its defined by the quality of the developers. If you have a moral development team then youll have a morally secure game and it doesnt matter what genre or motif you try your hand at.

And again, I am not saying Christians have the cornerstone on morality. i am just saying that if you base your development team ON morality then over all youll be a stronger development team. It just happens to be that Christians use Christ as the meter stick for that morality because so far no one else has been able to come up with one and keep it. (Sorry, had to end with a little fire. :D)

Heh, didnt mean to turn that into a big ole production. I hope its ok.

#40

Quote:because so far no one else has been able to come up with one and keep it. (Sorry, had to end with a little fire. :D)

Partly because christians are so good at using fire on those that do? ;) (totally tongue in cheek there folks, no offense meant!)

For the record, I agree totally. Everyone uses their own moral and ethical compass in their day to day life; all parts of it, certainly not to exclude game development! So if there are enough people who use the same, or roughly the same, standards, well... There is certainly a call, perhaps even a need, for conferences or other means of those people to communicate and express their ideals to each other.

I think there is a lot of room out there for varying points of view! So long as people remember to refrain from the "one true way" attitude, and listen at least as much as they speak, everyone can get along fine.