Left Behind: Eternal Forces, a real-time strategy game based on the best-selling Christain fundamentalist book series, is due out later this year. It's clear that the brains behind the company are praying for a bountiful blessing of profits.

In fact, the game developer's parent company has left its old name behind. Formerly known as Bonanza Gold, Inc. (does that name tell you something?), the firm will now trade as Left Behind Games, Inc. A press release says, "Left Behind Games Inc. is committed to developing high-quality inspirational game titles for the computer and video game market."

The newly-minted game company's OTC stock closed at 2.60 on Friday.

GP: Expect Left Behind to catch a lot of heat - and a lot of publicity - when it launches. Game violence critics as well as segments of the Religious Right are sure to blast the game. Some already have. But as we saw with protests against 25 to Life, that only seems to help, not hurt sales...

I'll be meeting with the Left Behind folks at E3 and will have much more detailed info for readers following the interview.

Want to talk about it? You can discuss this story via the "comments" feature (click below), or in the new GamePolitics Forums...

The constitutionally-prescribed separation of church and state seems to have gotten a good bit narrower in Florida.

There, the Florida Baptist Witness reports that a Baptist "legislative consultant" is keeping an eye on a video game bill now before the Florida House.

The consultant, Bill Bunkley, told the Baptist Witness that upcoming national and state elections will influence the Florida legislature more than they normally would. For example, Bunkley describes how the state's Republican leadership may cynically revive a gay marriage amendment to the Florida constitution in order to whip up the political interest of the party base if things do not seem be be going well heading into November's crucial mid-term elections.

Among the bills Bunkley is monitoring on behalf of the Baptist church are Rep. Dennis Baxley's proposed video game legislation, HB647. The Florida Baptist Witness notes that Baxley, a Republican, is a member of the First Baptist Church of Belleview.

GP: That Baxley's religious affiliation should be deemed relevant to his legislation is rather disturbing. For previous coverage on Baxley's bill, check out GP's February piece, "Game Attorney's Close Encounter With the Florida Legislature.

Does a religious theme sanctify Grand Theft Auto-like game violence?

That question will have to be answered when Left Behind: Eternal Forces, a PC title, is released later this year. According to Newsweek, Left Behind deals with the plight of New Yorkers who don't make the cut for The Rapture.

In the real-time strategy game, these "left behind" types must look for converts for a paramilitary resistance movement against the forces of the Antichrist.

GP: So, in RTS game-speak, build a barracks and start pumping out infantry. And why doesn't the Antichrist just nuke everyone and be done with it? He has to resort to conventional weapons? What kind of down-at-heel devil is this?

CEO Troy Lyndon told Newsweek Left Behind's themes will appeal to viewers who didn't blanch at the violence in Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. But he does expect some backlash.

"We've thought through how the Christian right and the liberal left will slam us," he said. "But megachurches are very likely to embrace this game." The company plans to market the game directly to congregations as well as through standard game advertising channels.

The backlash Lydon expects from Christians seems to be starting already. Check out this piece by Joel Smoot, writing for the student newspaper at Michigan's Calvin College, which describes itself as a "distinctively Christian, academically excellent liberal arts college." Smoot's take on the upcoming game? Harsh - and passionate.

"The left and the right will slam this game mercilessly, he writes, and it should from all fronts. The day when trash like this is accepted by mainstream Christianity is the not only the day that all thought behind religion will cease, but the day I seriously consider starting a new faith based upon Jesus Christ."

"No comment."

So said Hal Halpin, president of the Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association (IEMA). GamePolitics was seeking Halpin's reaction to an e-mail sent yesterday by Miami attorney Jack Thompson to the IEMA and certain news outlets. The trade group represents video game retailers in the United States.

Thompson's letter was essentially a repeat of one he sent to the IEMA in October, offering himself as an intermediary between video game retailers and unnamed anti-game parties presumably in Thompson's corner. GP declined to publish the earlier version of the letter due to a lack of specifics on Thompson's part. Despite some reservations, we are covering it this time around because Thompson serves up some additional information, including an offer to address IEMA members at the group's 2006 Executive Summit.

Once again, however, Thompson's offer is framed enigmatically:

"I have certain things to say about how government regulation can be avoided... Your attendees really have no idea a) what 'we' really want and b) what is coming their way that will be hurtful to their and IEMA's interests. Trust me on that. I am in constant contact with 'our' side."

"Secondly, what is coming your way can in fact be avoided, but IEMA has to act fast. I am no fan of government regulation, but it is about to kick in... I can get Hillary off your backs, and if I were you, I wouldn't want her on my back."

"...I am also rather well wired into the political process in Washington on this issue (I don't need David Walsh's permission), and I can assure you that 'something wicked this way comes' for the industry... If I lose my law license in the process, it will be a profoundly worthwhile trade. I'm a student of the Old and New Testaments. That is how it works."

"...peace can be had through me. Peace is good. Profits are good. Government regulation, according to IEMA, is rather bad. I am your ticket out of where the industry is right now. This is not egomania. This is reality."
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