Mainstream Media FAQ

Who is the target audience for LEFT BEHIND: Eternal Forces? (age and market segment)
Our target audience includes gamers and people looking for an alternative to the standard game offerings. Gamers (typically males from age 13-50) are going to love the deep strategic gameplay. The millions of parents – and many casual players of games – that are looking for entertainment that also offers positive, inspirational content will flock to this title.

Do you expect the primary customer to be the purchaser of the Left Behind book series?
More than 63 million books have been sold from the Left Behind series. Of those millions of fans 72 percent play video games.

What is the most important thing players will “take away” with them after having played the game?
We expect gamers will find themselves “having a great time” while “thinking and talking” about matters of eternal importance.

How closely does LEFT BEHIND: Eternal Forces follow the Book of Revelation?
The LEFT BEHIND book series is fictional. We have developed our game in a manner consistent with the fictional characters and events of this tremendous popular fictional book series.

What is your relationship with Tyndale? With Left Behind books?
Left Behind Games has licensed the right to create electronic games based upon the popular Left Behind book series, authored by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, which was published by Tyndale House Publishers.

How closely does LEFT BEHIND: Eternal Forces follow the Left Behind Book series?
Fans of the series will enjoy seeing their favorite characters – Rayford and Chloe Steele, Buck Williams and Bruce Barnes. LB:EF is not an exact recreation of the events within the books, but occurs within the time frame of the series. The action of our first release takes place in New York City.Readers will notice numerous references and parallels between the games and the books.

What is the appeal of Left Behind adventures?
Readers have written letters to the authors about how they can identify with the main characters from the book series in an apocalyptic world.

How many levels of play are there in LEFT BEHIND: Eternal Forces? How long does it take to play through each level?
Eternal Forces shipped with 40 missions. The average time spent to complete each mission varies on the ability of the player, but average gamers should complete them in 20-40 minutes for each mission.

What aspects of the game will keep it challenging to the players?
The storyline play within the game allows the gamer to defend themselves from the forces of the Anti-Christ using 2 separate types of warfare, ending in a major battle for the streets of New York City. In multi-player game mode, gamers will command the Tribulation Forces and Global Community Peacekeepers and defend themselves from total destruction.

What distinctive features differentiate LEFT BEHIND: Eternal Forces from other RTS games on the market?
Parents need a substitute for the degrading moral values of games like ’Grand Theft Auto.’ We’re giving the industry an RTS game that is fun to play as well incorporating inspirational content. Unique features include 2 distinct types of warfare, individual life stories for every unit within the game and links to inspirational websites and musical content via iTunes.

Why do you see Christian video games having crossover appeal and a place in mainstream gaming?
History tells us there is. Christian music has experienced tremendous growth, as have Christian themed movies including The Passion of the Christ & Chronicles of Narnia. As high-quality Christian themed video games come to market, the same American buying audience is expected to continue to be interested in inspirational entertainment.

What is the level of violence in the game?
Our game includes violence, but excludes blood, decapitation, killing of police officers, etc. Our game is expected to be widely accepted by the mainstream and Christian marketplaces, just as they have accepted Star Wars games which are “T” for teen rated. We have taken great care to make certain that consequences for poor gamer behavior will adequately reflect the gamers actions. Accordingly, unnecessary killing will result in lower Spirit points.

How does your game compare to more widely known games such as Grand Theft Auto or 25 to Life?
LEFT BEHIND: Eternal Forces was developed to provide an alternative form of entertainment to those desiring more positive game content, while still engaging core gamers in battle. The difference is that our game features fictional battles set on the stage of an apocalyptic world. Our game includes no intestines, no blood spatter, no severed limbs, no vulgar language, no sexual conduct, no morally reprehensible conduct – such as cop-killing, prostitute-bashing, or other criminal behavior, no Bible-bashing believers, no Bible thumpers, no radical extremists killing in the name of God, no abortion clinic stalkers…or other such content in the games you mention.

Is it rated and if not, what rating do you anticipate?
The game has been rated T (for Teen).

Are guns used by Christians against non-Christians? Why or why not?
The storyline in the game begins just after the Rapture has occurred – when all adult Christians, all infants, and many children were instantly swept home to Heaven and off the Earth by God. The remaining population – those who were left behind – are then poised to make a decision at some point. They cannot remain neutral. Their choice is to either join the AntiChrist – which is an imposturous one world government seeking peace for all of mankind, or they may join the Tribulation Force – which seeks to expose the truth and defend themselves against the forces of the AntiChrist.

Does anyone get killed in the game?
People do perish in our game just like some do in the book series. This is a real strategy game, so the gamer controls his forces just like you do in chess game.

Have you made any efforts to tone down the violence in the game?
LEFT BEHIND: Eternal Forces has been rated “T” for Teen and is widely accepted by the mainstream and Christian marketplaces, just as they have accepted Star Wars games which are “T” for teen rated. Think of the “T” rating in games like the “PG-13” rating in movies.

Why does this game have to contain violence at all? Why is it necessary for a fun and successful game?
Violence is not required to make a fun game. However, it is required to make a game about the end of the world in the Left Behind book series. We have taken great care to make certain that there are real consequences for poor gamer behavior, unlike most games in the market. For instance, unnecessary killing will result in lower Spirit points which are essential to winning.

Does the violence depicted in the game run contrary to Jesus’ message on “love your enemy”?
Absolutely not. Christians are quite clearly taught to turn the other cheek and to love their enemies. It is equally true that no one should forfeit their lives to an aggressor who is bent on inflicting death. Forgiveness does not require absolute defenselessness. Apparent contradictions on behalf of Christians are often the result of them placing greater importance on the message, than in caring for others. LEFT BEHIND: Eternal Forces is a game which provides great entertainment while encouraging fascinating discussions about matters of eternal importance.

Are you concerned that the Christian community won’t want a game in their home where lives are taken and people get killed?
Absolutely not. How often do you hear about the Christian community up in arms about PG-13 movies? I suppose there might be a very small number that do, but we do not expect this represents the majority of the mainstream and Christian marketplace.