Christian Software & Christian Computer Games

Tips for Teaching with 3d-style "First Person" Bible software games

2011-04-14T10:49:00.008-04:00

Kids love 3-d style "first person" games where they navigate a player through a landscape.
This style of gameplay leads them to be quickly become engrossed and engaged, --which is a state of mind most teachers only dream of in their Sunday School kids.

"3d" refers to the "point of view" of the player in the game. In some gaming circles this point of view is also called "first person" In the example here on the right, your kids navigate Robin the main character in Joseph's Story CD. They see her back most of the game. Lots of kids video games also feature this point of view. Think Wii Bowling for example.
Some teachers are initially confused by this type of software because they didn't grow up with it and don't play these types of games. They are more comfortable with up/down, left/right moving games (think: Atari 2600!).

Sunday Software has produced a number of "3d - First Person" style games, including:

One reason we like this type of gameplay is that as the player moves through a landscape, we can present elments of the Bible story in sequence. This is particularly nice for BIG stories like Joseph's story. At various points in the game they must "solve" something or find something in order to move along. This allows us to slow the player down to deal with content. Narration by 'actors' in the landscape also impart Bible content and directions.

Neil's teacher-to-teacher tips about teaching with our 3d games:

Read the full article at http://www.sundaysoftware.com/articles/3dtips.htm

1. Preview the game with our outline in hand. Take notes. "Read the cheats!"

Our free guides are at www.sundaysoftware.com/tips

2. Understand how things work. The teaching guide will tell you, but basically, all 3d games work by your character moving around and "triggering" events. They first find this, then walk into that, and a door will open, etc etc. And if you try to do things out of order, the game won't let you advance.

For example, in Exodus Adventures, you can't leave the Burning Bush level until you've found all the places where God wants to talk to you (there are three of them, and they must be triggered in correct order). If you're all thumbs with these games, read the guides and get a teen to help you.

3. Decided what to key on, where and when to pause, what to skip, -and what you may want them to come back to after they've finished. Games are great to "play again". Schedule the time.

4. PUSH your kids along as needed. Note the "secrets" about certain parts of the game and dole them out to the kids to save time. . For example, in Exodus Adventures' game inside Miriam's Library: read the guide about bypassing Mirriam's Song Game if you're short on time. Or in the Land of Goshen, TELL them where to find Dabney's video recording (inside the Hebrew home) rather than having the kids wander around looking for it after they meet Dabney down in the digsite.

5. Play along with them. If you're not going WITH your students, you're not using the software the way it was designed. Sit with them the computers. I have specifically put in questions, comments, and misc content that I KNOW the kids will bypass. Kids will be kids. But they are there for YOU the teacher to grab hold of and comment about during or after the lesson.

6. If you can't be right there, give them a worksheet which has questions about the content they are going to be playing through. This will slow them down and get them to READ. In some cases, we have printable worksheets with game guides for the kids. Check our teaching tips for each game.

7. Have them SAVE their locations as they play. Many of our 3d games have a "Save/Load" feature. These "saved spots" can be a way for you and the kids to GET BACK TO certain locations for further discussion. Some games do not because the expectation is that you can finish the game in under 35 minutes.

8. When you are teaching with a game for the first time, it is easier to FIRST BREAK IT IN with the OLDER KIDS. Their level of gaming proficiency will help YOU become better acquainted with the software. Then use it with the younger children.

9. YES, you CAN use 3D game software with NON-readers. They will love it, but need a lot of help. So make sure you invite some of those older kids to help you -who've already learned the software with you in a previous class.

10. With more complicated games, have High Schoolers help you, and make sure you leave PLENTY of TIME to play the software during class time. The more hands and eyeballs, the better the teaching & gaming experience.

Need help? That's what I do. Email neil@sundaysoftware.com

Read the full article at http://www.sundaysoftware.com/articles/3dtips.htm

Faith Through the Roof CD released

2011-01-01T09:51:00.000-04:00

Sunday Software (we) have released a new CD titled "Faith Through the Roof" ...the story of the man let down through the roof from Mark 2:1-12. This 3d style Christian computer game begins with the player steering a boat across the Sea of Galilee towards Capernaum.

Aboard is Peter who introduces the story. Once ashore, the player meets the friends of the paralyzed man who are trying to get their friend into Peter's house to see Jesus. The player must find the stretcher and then help carry the man up on the roof.

After lowering him down, and following a presentation of what happened in the house, the player meets Jesus and speaks to him. Afterwards, the player goes back to talk with the friend before leaving on a fishing trip with Peter. In the middle of the Sea, the player takes a quiz and is then awarded with a wonderful music video featuring the song, "We'll Follow the Son."

Ages 6 to 16. Windows XP/Vista/7 only. Minimum 1.4 mhz processor, 32mb videoram, 1 gb RAM.

www.sundaysoftware.com/peter

Why this story by itself on one CD?
From time to time Sunday Software has released one story on a CD, rather than our usual "several." Some stories and budgets warrant it, and we felt Mark 2:1-12 was another one of those ESSENTIAL BIBLE STORIES that deserved such a focus. The story reveals the essence of Christ's mission, compassion, and identity. In addition, it also highlights an evangelical note: friends bringing friends to meet Christ.

Realizing that church budgets have been strained by the recession, we have priced this CD below the typical new release price. For more details, go to www.sundaysoftware.com/peter

What's in the Bible? DVDs --an awesome new series

2010-05-21T16:14:00.000-04:00

What's in the Bible? DVDS
--the new series for the creator of VeggieTales.

From the creator of VeggieTales comes a brand new series of really fun teaching videos that take your kids through the Bible.

Fast-paced and humorous "shows" about books of the Bible featuring "muppet quality" puppeteering, songs, and lots of great animations and illustrations, --and infused with the humor kids love, and parents have come to expect from the creator of VeggieTales.

In What's in the Bible #1, In the Beginning, kids are introduced to the Bible and Genesis by your host, Buck Denver, and his cast of friends puppet. Kids will learn about the key people in Genesis and the important lessons their stories teach us.

In What's in the Bible #2, Let My People Go, kids are introduced to the book of Exodus: the oppression of the Israelites and the birth and rise of God’s chosen leader, Moses. The DVD also answers the question, who wrote the Bible? in a way kids can grasp.

In What’s In the Bible #3, Wanderin’ in the Desert, Buck Denver and his cast of friends take us through the next three books of the Bible—Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy—helping kids understand how these books fit in with Genesis and Exodus to make up the Pentateuch and to set the stage for the trials and victories of God’s people.

$17.99 each. More DVDs to be released!

Ages 5 to 12.

ORDER THEM NOW via our Sunday Software online order form
www.sundaysoftware.com/order.htm
(Look for them in the "Videos" section at the bottom of the form)

I love great new media for kids, and the What's in the Bible? series is great stuff.

Neil MacQueen
http://www.sundaysoftware.com/
www.sundayresources.net/biblevideos

Teaching with Computers and Software within the Workshop Rotation Model

2010-03-17T09:16:00.000-04:00

I originally started experimenting with software in my Sunday School back in 1990 when my church created what has become known as The Workshop Rotation Model for Sunday School.

Computers were brand new to education back then and there was very little Christian software in existence, but we couldn't ignore the dramatic increase in ATTENTION our kids were experiencing in our early computer lab. Begun with two donated 386 IBM PCs, we used some simple quiz programs, and Bible trivia games. (Pictured right: two of my students in that original computer lab circa 1992 with the 386 computer).

The Workshop Rotation Model (WoRM) is a natural for incorporating computers into Sunday School. Why? Because in the WoRM, the kids go to a different workshop each week for four to five weeks while the teachers stay put. And all the grades are working on the same story in each workshop each week for four or five weeks in a row.

This means your computer lab teacher sees a different grade group each week.

Benefits include:

You don't have to have new software each week because the kids are always changing.
You can reuse software every month or two because each grade only come in every month or so.
After the first week of a "rotation" the teacher really knows the software and is already improving their lesson plan.
As the kids rotate through different workshops, their story proficiency grows --making a computer quizzes easier to use because they have a growing knowledge of what's in the quiz.
As kids rotate, they don't get bored with any one teacher or medium.
They anticipate coming into the computer lab with great excitement.

Read more of my articles ABOUT the Rotation Model at:

http://sundaysoftware.com/rotation/articles4rotation.htm

You can also order the Workshop Rotation Book at www.sundaysoftware.com/order.htm
Look for it at the end of our online order form.

Neil MacQueen

Name Badger -- Single Nametags made Easy

2009-12-04T08:14:00.004-04:00

Sunday Software releases it's first non-game title:

Name Badger

The point of this software is simple: Give Sunday Schools and Churches a simple interface for walk-up users to find and click their name on a laptop, --which prints out a single nametag from a thermal label printer.

Nametags are an essential fellowship tool, especially for the members (staff people often don't understand the importance of nametags because they know lots of people).

The problem with nametags, however, has been daunting:

People don't wear permanent ones. They tend to forget about them.

People lose their permanent nametags, or walk out the door and leave them at home.

New members and visitors don't get permanent tags for a long time.

Kids mangle permanent nametags.

And everyone's handwriting is either TOO SMALL or completely UNREADABLE

Enter Name Badger... installed on a used/free laptop, placed at the point of ENTRY for whatever even you need nametags for, and hooked up to a fast thermal label printer.

Release Date: January 10, 2010

www.sundaysoftware.com/namebadger

Name Badger is a great example of the type of church software niche programmers have been ignoring. Yes, there are nametag printing programs if you want to make them IN BULK. And yes, there are nametag programs for preschool security check-in, if you want to pay hundreds of dollars. Name Badger is $35 and works on older equipment hooked up to an inexpensive label printer.

Joseph's Story 2.0 ~ A 3d style "lesson game"

2009-09-18T15:35:00.007-04:00

September 2009
Sunday Software just released Joseph's Story CD version 2.0. Our first version was a lot of fun, but had some technical issues, and it took too long for the average Sunday School class to play. So we committed to completely rebuilding the game. Version 2.0 is richer in detail, has tighter code, and its game fits in the average length of a Sunday School class.

www.sundaysoftware.com/joseph

We call it a "lesson game" to differentiate it from the 20 level 3d shoot'em ups that have plagued this category of Christian software.

By "lesson game" we mean: the focus is on teaching the story and the story's meaning, and not on whacking things or solving puzzles.

To be sure, Joseph's Story 2.0 IS FUN, but not in the typical "first person shooter" way that most associate with 3d style software of this genre. Rather, Sunday Software is using 3d game engines to travel through a story landscape, and teach the story's meaning in an engaging "adventurous" way.

Robin, the main character in Joseph's Story 2.0, does get to blast a few spiders in the opening level. But the rest of her adventure consists of finding her way through the "ruins of Joseph's Egyptian Palace" ...found beneath the sands of Egypt by her Grandfather, Sir Dabney MacTavish. Sir Dabney acts as a guide in the game, teaching Robin about key parts of the story.

The "game" part of the content consists of discovering parts of the story, following through on instructions, and finding your way through mazes. Kids love "playing through" a story like this.

The CD's storyline is that "the ruins were created by Joseph to teach his story to future generations." When Robin falls through the well, it's a bit like going down the rabbit hole. The ruins begin to think that SHE is Joseph.

After being sold to Potiphar, Robin finds herself by the pool and Potiphar's wife. The guards arrest her as she approached the wife, and Robin is thrown into prison, until her grandfather comes let her out. Afterwards, she must find the baker and cupbearer, meet Pharaoh and interpret his dream, and find the Cup of Benjamin, --which unlocks a scene at the end where Robin can talk to 3 of Joseph's brothers.

For more details, go to www.sundaysoftware.com/joseph

Review: Bongo Loves the Bible

2009-05-29T11:38:00.003-04:00

Bongo Loves the Bible CD is a "Bible Knowledge" 3D adventure game from Sunday Software. We made it to fill a HUGE hole in the Christian software offerings: a game "about" the Bible that wasn't just a pile of Bible trivia. read more about it at (www.sundaysoftware.com/bongo)

Question: How many priest did Saul kill at Nob?

Answer: Who cares. Knowing this isn't going to make you a better Christian!

Rather than trivia, we created 80 questions "about the Bible" that we thought every older elementary students and young teen SHOULD know the answer to. Bongo's four level Bible game has questions like: "What does the word 'Gospel' mean?" and "What were the names of Abraham's two sons?" and "Which book of the Bible is a collection of poems and lyrics?" We researched our 80 questions using a number of "about the Bible" curriculums and books published by a number of denominations. The 80 questions are split into four levels. Bongo runs through the

But Bongo Loves the Bible CD doesn't stop there. Also included is a game about the Books of the Bible.. where Bongo must jump on them in the correct order to cross a canyon and win the treasure chest.

Bongo Loves the Bible CD also has a game about "How the Bible Came to Be" (great for Confirmation classes), and yet another game about "How does the Bible describe itself?" ...light, lamp, treasure, etc.

All these games take place in a 3d environment. Students navigate Bongo through jungles and caves and canyons using their keyboard. Bongo is occasionally chased by Surf Mummies and Bongo-eating plants, which he can repel by slingshotting bananas at them!

Some older gamers will think the game is too easy, and it probably is. We made it for play in a church environment where, on average, students only have 40 minutes of class time to use the computer. We also made it to run on older Windows 98/Me/XP computers... which is the typical kind you'll find in a church or kid's home computer in their bedroom.

For more info go to www.sundaysoftware.com/bongo

<>< Neil

Where O Where is the Christian Game Software?

2009-05-29T10:51:00.004-04:00

The 1990's were the heyday of Christian software development. But other than our 15 or so new titles since 2002, and a couple of other nice titles from other developers, the Christian software market has failed to grow. In fact, most of the developers from the late 90's and early 2000's have moved on.

Why?
Economics ...Some producers tried to develop Christian titles like they developed secular titles ...with big budgets and teams of developers. However, the sales of their product never allowed them to keep such a business model going.

Bad decisions ...at one point we kept count of all the Noah software that had come out. We were up to 16! (Thankfully, most are gone and forgotten). Some poor apples spoiled the barrel too. Worse, some of the big $$ projects aimed at teen boys and young adult males --trying to compete against $50 million dollar Halo and Gears of War titles. Whereas, most ignored the preschool and early reader market.

Poor distribution channels. ...Bookstores don't want software that's two years old. And they don't know how to sell software from a shelf. ONline stores often only tell you a little bit about the software.

"Failure to Embrace" ...the Church talks about negatives in the culture, such as violent games, but does little to support the non-violent Christian game industry.

What's needed?
We need the denominations and their publishing arms to embrace this medium. They have a built in need to educate their young people, a sales and marketing apparatus, and the "imprimatur" of their name behind the product (i.e. if it comes from the Methodist Publishing House, 14 million Methodists will trust it). EXAMPLE: Every denomination has a need to teach Church history to young people, especially with those annual Confirmation programs. Why is there no interactive Church history program or online interactive presentation?

Every denomination sells Bible books to children. Why then aren't they ALSO backing an interactive Bible for children?

Part of the answer or 'reason' to all this is the Church is historically behind the times and underfunded for new initiatives. And as the rate of change speeds up in society, this makes the Church seem increasingly irrelevant and out of step with the needs of its members. Yet small developers ARE creating such resources and the internet is helping them distribute on their own (http://www.sundaysoftware.com/ is one such example!). The denom's should be partnering in this.

<>< Neil

New Tech and its Implications for the Church

2009-05-29T10:45:00.003-04:00

I'm not just a "Sunday morning software guy." I follow and dicuss and write about technology issues for the church as well.

This past week's TIME magazine had an article about a church using TWITTER during worship services. Members were encouraged to use their cellphones and laptops to 'talk back' especially during the sermon... and their comments were projected on a big screen.

I wrote about Twitter and churches several months ago, -explaining it to pastors and volunteers, and how it can be used to instantly broadcast important messages. (Not sure I'd recommend it for worship however!)

The article also discusses using instant messaging, live chat at church websites, and Facebook in your ministry. You can read the complete article at http://www.sundaysoftware.com/articles/newtech.htm

<>< Neil

Scripture Memory Software with a difference

2009-02-11T09:45:00.007-04:00

A number of scripture memory programs have come and gone over the years. I started looking at them back in 1992 and have seen most of them. I offer the following discussion especially to those who might be thinking of making scripture memory software. Most developers keep making the same mistakes over and over again, and that's not good.

Here are the main mistakes which most scripture memory software games make:

1. They don't come with a VERSE EDITOR.
This means you have to select what someone ELSE thinks are the verses to memorize.

2. They come with limited TRANSLATION options. ie... all the verses are in the KJV or NIV, but you might prefer the NLT or NRSV. This means you have to memorize verses in the translation the publisher could afford to include (KJV is free, so most of them use that).

3. Most of these programs can FAIL you. You play against a clock that counts down. Unfortunately this means that a 3rd grader and a 12th grader and a pastor have the same amount of time to learn a verse. Or it means time can run out on you. 'Presure' is not conducive to memory.

4. Most of these memory verse programs have been BORING to play.

Sunday Software to the rescue!

In 2002, my friend Mike Gale and I set out make a scripture memory game that didn't make the same mistakes others had made. Using some our classroom experience, a sense of humor, and some very cool "biovirtual" technology, we created "Cal and Marty's Scripture Memory Game CD" ... You can learn more about it at www.sundaysoftware.com/luther-calvin

Verse Editor
Cal and Marty comes with a a built-in verse editor. YOU put in the scripture verses YOU want to learn. (You can cut and paste them from a Bible program if you like.) Better still... what we realized years ago was that kids love to type, and love to type-in their own verses. This starts the memorization process even before the game is started! And you can type verses in any translation you please.

A Clock that Counts UP
Rather than counting down, we simply reversed the clock. This allows younger or less experienced students to take all the time they need and not feel like a loser. Of course, the shorter time you take, the better your score.

Add Comments and Add a Quiz
Along with each verse, you or your students can add a detailed 'comment' to each verse that pops up after it has been played. You can also add a 3 question quiz to each verse. Once again, that's a way to encourage students to engage the verse and add their own content to it.

"BioVirtual" Fun
We used an application from biovirtual.com that animated the famous portraits of John Calvin and Martin Luther to make them "the hosts" of the "Cal and Marty Show" (the scripture memory game). They appear on screen with very bad french and german accents, telling jokes, and encouraging students. More interestingly, the biovirtual software makes their eyes and head FOLLOW your mouse cursor. It's eerie, and eye-catching, --and makes the kids want to play it again and again. And THAT is the name of the memorization game, because "repetition is the cornerstone of all learning."

We also have Cal & Marty briefly introduce themselves and present some brief details about the Reformation in a special section tucked-away in the program.

Neil MacQueen

www.sundaysoftware.com/luther-calvin

List of Christian Software I don't like

2008-11-26T08:54:00.004-04:00

Over the years, I've taken some heat for maintaining a list of Christian software & Christian computer games that I DO NOT recommend. I've called it "The No Shelf" because we used to keep samples of all the games people sent us on a shelf in our stockroom.

You can view that 'NO' list by clicking this link: www.sundaysoftware.com/noshelf.htm

Some developers who's CDs are on my "No" list have called it "un-Christian." But here's my theory: if they are giving it away, then I'll take it off my "no" list. But as long as they are asking for your money, then an opinion and recommendation is legit. Paul would have called it "discernment."

Is it a conflict of interest to make our own software and then say "no" to other people's software? No, and here's why: we carry many other people's titles! If we like a program, you can get in our catalog. We're 'picky,' not stinky. The "No" list also contains some "Maybe" recommendations.

For a list of the Christian software and computer games we DO recommend... go to www.sundaysoftware.com/software.htm

Note to developers:
Want to know how to AVOID getting "no" listed? Talk to me about your program before you are finished with it. Not only will I give you free advice, but some of it might even be GREAT advice! ...based on having seen many CDs and their developers come and go, and based on knowing at least what OUR customer tell us they like.

Might some of our software be on someone else's "no" list? I suppose! I guess it depends on your criteria. We're up front about ours.

Review: Interactive Parables CD

2008-11-26T07:48:00.004-04:00

Interactive Parables from Graceworks Interactive
(yeah, we carry it!)

Tim at Graceworks is perhaps most famous for his dedication to the Christian Game Developers Conference held annually in the Pacific Northwest. In 2007 he created Interactive Parables CD. Honestly, when I first saw it, it was raw. But to Tim's credit, he was committed to improving his first release, -something other developers seem less willing or able to do. He adopted a couple of my suggestions and when we started to test the game with our customers, they liked it. Sales have since done pretty well, - a testament to both Tim, the game's appeal, and the fact that the game fills an empty niche on the shelf: parables.

Overview:
In Interactive Parables CD, you select from one of 24 Jesus parables to learn and be quizzed about. You learn and play them in a 3d game maze. You can select the style of 3D MAZE to play in (over a dozen maze choices). In order to win the game, you must find your way through the game maze and answer questions correctly about the parable. The questions appear as multiple choice text and True/False.

Details:
You begin by reading the Bible story, then you enter a maze of rooms. Each room is filled with pop-up questions to answer, keys to find, things to jump over, run from and otherwise avoid, plus game objectives to complete, and bonus points to claim. Challenges include chasms, moving floors, barrels to jump, power-up stars to collect, and traps to avoid. Nothing scary... just challenging and fun. (See my note below about the need for better story graphics and interaction.)

In each game you'll meet "Mr. Green Jeans" (pictured right) -a young lad who is confused about the story. You must answer his questions with the correct response in order to receive gems that allow you to complete the level. This is one of my favorite features in the game... it really gives it some "content." Maps and inventories of each level are at your fingertips, though they are a bit obtuse.

On first glance, "gamers" might think the game environment a bit dated, and it is. The game engine is decent, but not as robust as some other 3d engines. The graphics are good but not great. "Better looking" games exist, and some of them are quite good. But IP has a key factor: it's fun to play and it has lots of action. There are better looking games that bore you.

What we'd like to see in a future version:

Better Bible story graphics. They're rudimentary in this early release. Hire a graphic artist Tim!

More game play options, such as, "a short game" ...so that kids who only have 20 minutes in a Sunday School class can play a parable. Currently, a parable takes about 40 minutes to play for a 5th grader. This is a great example of a KEY feature which would make the program even more marketable.

More varied level environments. Most have a basic warehouse or square rooms look. Would be nice to see levels tailored to the story itself. Studying the Sower's Parable? Make the level a farm theme. In games, the visual environment should reinforce the story.

Now here's the cool thing: Tim would like to see some of these improvements too. Many developers play their cards close to their vest. Many never get to version 1.2 or 2.0. And I can tell you from OUR sales of IP, that Tim should be able to afford to continue to improve the game.

Note to game developers:
IP is a good example of a modest game engine with modest graphics (compared to today's 3d extravaganzas), but appealing game play. Tim includes 24 parables and tons of game options, which is good example of "Less could have been More." He could have put in HALF the parables and level options and nobody would have noticed them missing, -then he could have spent more time on making the story content itself, and graphics, a little more interactive. And he could have released a second CD with the other 12 parables. Not that we're complaining... the 24 stories are a blessing of abundance.

Check out the game at www.sundaysoftware.com/image/interactiveparables

Windows only, as are most Christian software computer games.

Christian Software Game Design Tips

2008-11-25T22:27:00.002-04:00

I've been to the 7th level of Captain Bible and run the Unibot, ...and played most every other Christian Computer game that ever was. It's part of what I do... and have always done since I began teaching with software in 1990. Amazin Blazin? Bible Builders? Onesimus? Gil's Bible Jumble? Bongo Loves the Bible? Heavenword? Catechumen? Played them all.

More importantly, for over 18 years I've been next to the KIDS who were playing these games. Here are some of the important things I've learned and often share with Christian computer game developers:

1. Pay Attention to What Other Developers Have Made
This would seem to be obvious, but I run into developers all the time who have never seen ANY of our software, or played any of the more popular Christian computer game titles out there. They are just all fired up about THEIR concept. Do the research and talk to other developers. Most of us are very willing to share our experience and advice. Some of it may even be correct.

2. Teach to the mainstream. Don't teach your peculiar brand of Christianity.

There's a game out here about a new world order coming to power and trying to put down the Church. Seriously, you are welcome to such a belief, but it's not going to win you many converts or sales. And you DO want to make more software, right?

A corollary to this is "have a sense of humor." Quite a few Christian software games are a bit too serious, and quite a few 3d Christian games have such dark themes that you'd think "battling evil" was what 3d game engines were designed to do!

3. Keep it simple.
Overly complex games lose players, and more importantly, YOU lose the opportunity you wanted to share the Gospel through your game. Don't make your game overly long either. Most kids and youth are not hard-core gamers. I know from personal experience that it's hard to objectively evaluate the level of difficulty of a game you have spent MONTHS working on. Always put it before new testers who've never seen it before. Watch them play it. In every game we've ever made, we've had to make the navigation easier, and the gameplay more obvious. Many of the games we evaluate from other producers could have used these same adjustments.

4. Don't overspend on layout and graphics, and underspend on the presentation of Bible content.
I see this mistake all the time. Game developers spend too much time on creating cool levels, and the actual Bible content looks crappy, or like an afterthought.

In fact, don't overspend at all. Keep your projects small and on a really tight budget. The Christian software market is smaller than you think.

5. Avoid getting locked into ONE distributor.
I've lost track of the number of developers who have "distributor done me wrong" stories. Diversify. And as you develop your title, ask various distributors to preview it and offer suggestions. I've played many programs that I WISH we could have suggested changes to BEFORE they went out and made 5000 copies of it , ...and those changes would have made it appropriate for OUR catalog, and maybe a few others as well.

Bongo Loves the Bible CD is a great example of a Christian computer game designed to fill a much needed CONTENT and MARKET NICHE.

www.sundaysoftware.com/bongo

Bongo Loves the Bible CD is FUN, and has a sense of humor.

It's for both children and youth.

Each of its four games can be 'won' in under 35 minutes.

It covers basic Bible content, but also Books of the Bible, and "How the Bible Came to Be" ...all popular topics in many churches. Yet it is fun to play at home too.
It's 3D games can run on slightly older computers (the kind many churches have)
And it was done on modest budget.

Article: How to teach with 3D games

2008-11-25T22:14:00.000-04:00

For some reason, teachers and parents seem to back away from the computer when there's a game on the screen. Yet many Christian computer games are BEST played when there's an adult playing right alongside the young person.

Here's the link to the full article: www.sundaysoftware.com/articles/3dtips.htm

Christian Software developers are encouraged to read it as well to gain some extra insight into how their "game" software might be better designed for better learning.

For example, I tuck-in extra content in our games KNOWING that a teacher will be there to point it out. Kids, of course, will be kids and try to bypass anything that slows them down.

I also often design the flow of the game to follow the Bible story outline, so that just by playing the game, they learn how the pieces of the Bible story fit together (Our Joseph's Story CD is a good example of this www.sundaysoftware.com/joseph)

Review: Attack of the Sunday School Zombies

2008-11-25T12:45:00.000-04:00

This Christian computer game CD is NOT going to do big sales.
Not even "modest" sales.

Why? Because it has the words "Attack" and "Zombies" in the title. Kids love the title, but they don't buy software. Parents and teachers buy software, and they've told me they don't like the words "attack" ...sounds too violent, or "zombies" ...sounds too ghoulish. But I adore the title, and the game, and the concept of what the game is trying to achieve.

So this "review" is actually a lesson in THE MARKETING of Christian game software. ;-)

The 3D Game:
Players navigate "Super Kenz the Bible Kid" around a 3d church, flinging donuts from her "donut flinger" at 8 different 3d characters. The 8 characters have been turned into "Zombies" (not the bloody kind, but the church kind) who have a bad attitude or the wrong reasons for going to worship and Sunday School. Did I mention "donut flinger" ?? Super Kenz must find boxes of donuts to reload it. And they're chocolate, so they leave a mess.

After quite a few donuts "hits," the Zombie stops and talks to Super Kenz. First the zombie spouts their complaints about church ("it's boring," or "I don't like some of the people," or, "people are hypocrites."). It's all familiar stuff, unfortunately. Kenz sympathizes a bit, then opens up her handheld iTell Bible Computer and shows them a couple of Bible verses that address the specific complaints. The zombies comes around, and returns to normal. After all 8 zombies are found and corrected, they all show up in the sanctuary to thank her.

I wanted to make fun little game about the RIGHT REASONS to go to worship. I wanted a game that addressed all the EXCUSES I've heard over the years from kids in the various churches where I've served and taught.

But I know what churches buy: they buy software about Bible stories, not topics. "Why you should go to church" is not on their curriculum! So by creating Zombies, I'm trying to force the subject. Because frankly, if you've taught for any length of time, you know it is "THE" topic.

Notes to Fellow Developers:

If this were the only game I ever developed, it would be my last, because most every developer needs to make some profit out of a project in the first year. I could only develop it because I had other more successful titles. So in a very real sense, Attack of the Sunday School Zombies CD is my gift, an indulgence. And because I can carry the title for many years, and keep it in front of my audience, I'll probably eventually make my development dollars out of it. Production houses and bookstore chains can't do things this way.

I knew I needed to make a FUNNY game. (and there's a difference between "fun" and "funny" btw, and games should be BOTH). I knew it had to be a game kids would want to play long enough to get them to hear themselves complaining, and maybe get little attitude adjustment along the way. The game's narrated scriptural "reasons" and attitudes also give teachers and parents something to grab and discuss.

I'm no dummy. I know kids will want to bypass the content and keep shooting donuts. That's the key in my designs: balance. "Balance" means make the game interesting or fun enough that the content catches them with their guard down.

And because of everything I've just said, I knew I needed to make it a "short" game, and not a 10 level 12 hour epic. Epics cost money, and this game would only get bought by church folks who have on average only 35-45 minutes of class time. Zombies takes about 20-25 minutes to play.

Learn and see more at http://www.sundaysoftware.com/zombies

Note about Violence in Christian Video Games...

I've had some customers who don't like the fact that Super Kenz SHOOTS donuts at people. Any kind of "shooting" or "hitting" bothers them. For most developers in this small market, you simply can't make choices like that. You have to appeal to as many as you can to be able to make a ago of it. But once again, because Zombies was a "pet" project, and didn't have to pay the mortgage, I could indulge my strange sense of humor. I think shooting donuts at the pastor is hilarious, and quite appropriate to get him to loosen up a bit. (yes, the pastor is one of the zombies)

Review: Tomb of Moses CD

2008-11-25T11:27:00.000-04:00

Tomb of Moses is the latest 3d Christian game to hit the market and one of the best, if you like multi-level, multi-hour, complex mystery games, and can manipulate the keyboard and mouse at the same time. If you like to run around and shoot stuff, this game isn't for you.

Developed in conjunction with the German Bible Society, Tomb of Moses uses the A6 game engine to achieve a really good looking 3d game environment. Copyright 2008. It comes in both English and Spanish versions. http://www.tomb-of-moses.com/

The plot:
"Professor Fog" has left a trail of clues to his whereabouts, which the player collects and follows through 7 3d levels. Lots of stuff to find, use, figure out, with the eventual goal of meeting Fog and discovering the Tomb of Moses. But the Exodus content itself seems to take a backseat to the mystery, gameplay and graphics. For example, the Burning Bush scene is merely an old-fashioned looking graphic of Moses at the bush, with a voiceover.

I've used software with children since 1990 and I can tell you that older kids are going to get bored. Teens, 20's and adults who like computer games are going to like it, if they enjoy mystery style games, and have plenty of time of their hands, and don't frustrate easily. Teachers are going to be disappointed that the Exodus story itself isn't really the main focus and that the game takes so long to play. That said, T.o.M. does come with extensive documentation and student worksheets.

One big disappointment:
I didn't like the navigational options they choose to design into the game. Players must manipulate the A,W,S,D keys on the keyboard to move forward back left right. But you must also use your mouse to change your point of view as you move. This gives the game a "side scroller" feel when you press the A key to move left. This left & right hand navigational scheme also requires some keyboard/gamer coordination that many children/adults will be frustrated with. Took me a while to get used to it too.

And they didn't have to make it like that. They had choices in the A6 game engine to choose a different, more natural way of moving through the 3d landscapes. Wish they had used them. Perhaps in version 2, --it would be a BIG improvement.

Disclosure:

We have just finished version 1.1 of our own Exodus Adventures CD using the same game engine (see graphic at right of Sunday Software's Exodus Adventures CD >>>). www.sundaysoftware.com/Exodus

The screenshot from Exodus Adventures here shows the character whom the players navigate, and some of the 3d models from the story with whom she interacts to learn the story. The Egyptian guard, for examples, presses her to make mud bricks for Pharaoh's buildings. Tomb Of Moses has no such characters or open landscapes.

While their are some similiarities, the extensive dissimilarities mean Exodus Adventures and Tomb of Moses are NOT in competition with each other. Exodus Adventures has three adventures, each designed to teach part of the Exodus story in under 40 minutes. Tomb of Moses is an epic game that could take you 7 to 8 hours to play. Exodus Adventures focuses on encountering the actual story of Moses. So for example, the encounters the Burning Bush in a 3d environment, whereas in Tomb of Moses, the burning bush is a 2d graphic and voice over.

In Exodus Adventures CD, for example, you go to Pharaoh's Palace to learn about the plagues, or to the Well of Marah to figure out how to make the water sweet and interactive with an Israelite. In Tomb of Moses, the focus is on the Professor's storyline... he's gone off and you must find his clues, keys and eventually him. You try to figure out how to open locked doors, etc. As you look for him, you can find Exodus story content. But there are no 3d characters from the Exodus story. (I could go on, but you get the idea.)

Both CDs, strangely enough, feature a 3D game level patterned after St. Catherine's Monastery at the foot of Mt. Sinai. But the similarities end there. In Tomb of Moses, the monastery is mostly a level you once again try to find clues and keys to get out of. In Exodus Adventures, it's a base of operations from which the player goes into Egypt, or flys into the Sinai desert to play a game. Exodus Adventure's 3d monastery level is bigger and more wide open to exploring. And, for example, it's a place you come back to at the end of the story. Exodus Adventures CD's monastery also has INTERACTIVE content rich areas, such as "Miriam's library" which features an interactive game to learn Miriam's Song.

Exodus Adventure's navigational controls are much more natural. You can run forward and turn left or right at the same time using just your forward key and the left or right arrow key. In Tomb of Moses, you must press the W key with your left hand, while aiming your mouse with the right hand. This is quite a problem if you're playing on a laptop! Really gives your touchpad finger a hard workout.

And oddly enough, both CDs feature an older gentleman "guide" if you will. In Tomb of Moses he appears as a stiff graphic with only his mouth moving. And his narrations are cryptic, and one reviewer said his voice was "creepy." In Exodus Adventures "Sir Dabney" is a full fledged 3d character who appears throughout the game with instructions, but also with comments and questions for the player to ponder.

The DIFFERENCES in the two games illustrate a key problem I've seen for years with Christian software developers. They know how to build complex games, but they don't devote "creative programming enthusiasm" to the actual Bible content which their games attempt to include. In T. of M. you can literally wander around for 20 to 30 minutes in a level trying to figure out HOW to "get out" of that level and move forward in the game, ...without having any of the Exodus story reinforced to you because you've already read what little they put in that level.

Other "Christian" games barely include ANY content. Tomb of Moses includes quite bit of the Exodus content, but it's buried by the gameplay.

I know, I know.... Tomb of Moses isn't trying to be an "educational" game, -it's tryng to be a game for gamers first, and perhaps teaching about the Exodus to players who otherwise wouldn't get the story. But it's a false assumption, IMHO. Few people who don't know about the Exodus story are going be buying this CD. And secular gamers aren't going to like the lack of "action" in the game play.

They obviously had some talent and funding. Let's hope they upgrade this game with some 3d models, better navigation, and giving the Exodus story itself a little more front and center UMMPFF.

The Christian Software Blog Begins!

2008-11-25T10:28:00.001-04:00

Hello, and welcome to my Christian software and Christian computer games blog. I've been spreading the word about Christian software since 1990. I make it a point to look at most everything that comes on the market and have an OPINION about it. No 'press releases' masquerading as 'reviews' here!

I started playing & teaching with Christian software in 1990 when I was an associate pastor at a Presbyterian church in suburban Chicago. In 1996 I started Sunday School Software Ministries to help teacher find and use Christian computer games, -to teach God's Word to kids who were bored with traditional methods. We've now morphed into a software producer and distributor. Unlike many who have come and gone in this genre, we're here to stay.

I have a Christian software website that has always included a short discussion list of software we didn't like (and why) (http://www.sundaysoftware.com/). This blog is intended to broaden and invite discussion. I have designed and produced several of my OWN Christian software game titles, so I know but what the challenges are -both from a technical and content side, as well as, the distribution and marketing side. (And btw... we GLADLY carry other developer's software if it meets our criteria.)

If you have any questions, or want to go deeper, don't hesistate to contact me at 614-527-8776, or email me at neil@sundaysoftware.com

Neil MacQueen