Game: Brutal Bible Blood Baths

[excreationist]

For an introductory university subject I'm working on a "serious game" prototype... (usually people are making board games for this)

Player experience goal: The player will feel shocked and overwhelmed

Serious purpose: to learn about some of the most shocking passages in the Old Testament

Target audience: open-minded people who want to learn about controversial parts in the Bible

It's got five levels:

2 Kings 2:23-24
Two bears and 42 youths
The prophet Elisha cursed
the youths for teasing him.
Make the bears maul 42 of them.

Judges 15:15-16
Samson vs 1000 men
With a donkey's jawbone,
kill 1000 men

1 Kings 3:4
King Solomon's Sacrifice #1
Kill 1000 animals

1 Kings 8:63 / 2 Chr 7:5
King Solomon's Sacrifice #2
Kill 144,000 animals

Deuteronomy 20:16-17
Invading the promised land
Kill everything that breathes
so they don't lead you astray

The original prototype didn't have any hurt sounds or dead bodies... but then a Christian play-tester said that he didn't find the game shocking at all - so I decided to include a lot of blood, gore, and screaming....

In the final game it might start with the kid friendly version then have this:

Were the stories shocking?​

a) Not at all

b) Yes

If you choose (b) the confirm screen exits

If you choose (a)

Why not?
​
a) God is a holy God
a) God is perfectly just and holy
a) ????

b) I'm a small child or psychopath.

if you choose (a) then the brutal mode begins

Let me know if there are better Christian "why not?" responses.

If you would like to play-test and don't mind pointing out lots of problems, could you answer these questions?

Could you elaborate as much as possible about how you feel during the game... i.e. emotions...

Also:
How long did the play testing last?
Was the game shocking? (explain)
Was the game overwhelming? (explain)
Was the game fun? (explain)
Any other comments?

Also about the 5 levels - bears, Samson, animals #1, animals #2, promised land.

To play the game:
https://scratch.mit.edu/download

https://brutal-bible.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/scratch/prototype17d.zip

To unlock the brutal game mode you need to

Show

hold B and R

 

[excreationist]

An idea for the screen that shows when you finish all of the levels:

 

[Keith&Co.]

Don't forget the better Christain responses like 'you're taking it out of context.' Or 'that's not in the Bible.'

 

[ideologyhunter]

Game isn't fair unless you're fluent in Hebrew and read the originals.

 

[Learner]

Could be vunerable to hacks... making it properly Christian by inserting Jesus in the gaming code e.g. with "Justs stick to the two greatest commandments... it's easier blah blah blah".

 

[Keith&Co.]

Could be vunerable to hacks... making it properly Christian by inserting Jesus in the gaming code e.g. with "Justs stick to the two greatest commandments... it's easier blah blah blah".

A fame about just how fucking bloody the Skybeast is, according to his own The Books, will be made 'properly' Christain by hiding Jesus in the code to deter hackers...?

 

[Rhea]

Could be vunerable to hacks... making it properly Christian by inserting Jesus in the gaming code e.g. with "Justs stick to the two greatest commandments... it's easier blah blah blah".

Are you suggesting that the bible is made more accurately Christian by tearing parts of it out that are not Christ-like?
Like, Revelation?
(or, like Paul? Or, like most of it?)



To the topic...

Player experience goal: The player will feel shocked and overwhelmed

Serious purpose: to learn about some of the most shocking passages in the Old Testament

In order to embrace them, or to reject them?

Interestingly, I feel that it could be embraced by some players, feeling a justification in behaving as the bible does. We've certainly seen that in the last 6 thousand years, right?

I personally feel that this is a very interesting exercise, because it shows how incredibly NOT Christian the old testament is, yet not one Christian that I have ever met is willing to tear out and discard the old testament. They all appear to feel that it MUST be true in order for the new testament to be true. I guess, like, Jesus MUST be a devout Jew in order to be worth listening to. Maybe it's because Jesus quotes the old testament and he can't be wrong, I dunno.


I think your game has an interesting premise - to really REALLY explore parts of the old testament that don't get a lot of discussion because they are truly monstrous. And how do we feel about that?

 

[Learner]

A fame about just how fucking bloody the Skybeast is, according to his own The Books, will be made 'properly' Christain by hiding Jesus in the code to deter hackers...?

Good point. This little discussions are great for ironing out little probs with suggestions for the game.

I suppose it doesn't have to be hidden in code, hackers can hi-jack the game and change things add new characters...but IF that becomes popular than the original game then well... Besides it wouldn't be properly Christian without some element from the NT.

Currently it could be mistaken to be soley for Jews?

 

[Learner]

Are you suggesting that the bible is made more accurately Christian by tearing parts of it out that are not Christ-like?
Like, Revelation?
(or, like Paul? Or, like most of it?)

To the topic...

Player experience goal: The player will feel shocked and overwhelmed

Serious purpose: to learn about some of the most shocking passages in the Old Testament

In order to embrace them, or to reject them?

Interestingly, I feel that it could be embraced by some players, feeling a justification in behaving as the bible does. We've certainly seen that in the last 6 thousand years, right?

I personally feel that this is a very interesting exercise, because it shows how incredibly NOT Christian the old testament is, yet not one Christian that I have ever met is willing to tear out and discard the old testament. They all appear to feel that it MUST be true in order for the new testament to be true. I guess, like, Jesus MUST be a devout Jew in order to be worth listening to. Maybe it's because Jesus quotes the old testament and he can't be wrong, I dunno.


I think your game has an interesting premise - to really REALLY explore parts of the old testament that don't get a lot of discussion because they are truly monstrous. And how do we feel about that?

It's only a game, open to suggestions in a not so serious way - just 'responding in 'like-wise manner' ... just an element from the NT would be nice. We don't always need to argue on everything single thing.

 

[excreationist]

Don't forget the better Christian responses like 'you're taking it out of context.' Or 'that's not in the Bible.'

Well I posted the details of this game on a popular Christian message board and they didn't make a good case for that. The only relevant criticisms was that the youth could be 12-30 (even though the KJV says "little children") and that mauling 42 youths couldn't be described as a "massacre". (the original name of the game was "Epic Bible Massacres"). I said that if 30% of the youths died from loss of blood then that's 13 deaths and the 13 deaths in Columbine was described as a massacre. As far as the ages go, I used an adult image and screams for the "youths".
The main problem I have with some Christians is that they didn't think it was shocking.... hopefully the gore and screams will change that.

 

[excreationist]

Could be vunerable to hacks... making it properly Christian by inserting Jesus in the gaming code e.g. with "Justs stick to the two greatest commandments... it's easier blah blah blah".

Yes Scratch games are easy to "remix".

 

[excreationist]

Player experience goal: The player will feel shocked and overwhelmed

Serious purpose: to learn about some of the most shocking passages in the Old Testament

In order to embrace them, or to reject them?

In the process of learning about these passages I'd like people to feel shocked but they might still think these massacres was justified.

Interestingly, I feel that it could be embraced by some players, feeling a justification in behaving as the bible does. We've certainly seen that in the last 6 thousand years, right?

Yes if I can make the game play fun enough...

I personally feel that this is a very interesting exercise, because it shows how incredibly NOT Christian the old testament is, yet not one Christian that I have ever met is willing to tear out and discard the old testament. They all appear to feel that it MUST be true in order for the new testament to be true. I guess, like, Jesus MUST be a devout Jew in order to be worth listening to. Maybe it's because Jesus quotes the old testament and he can't be wrong, I dunno.

I think your game has an interesting premise - to really REALLY explore parts of the old testament that don't get a lot of discussion because they are truly monstrous. And how do we feel about that?

Well I don't think this kind of game has ever been done before....

BTW here is a screenshot of "cleansing the promised land"

Show

 

[Learner]

Don't forget the better Christian responses like 'you're taking it out of context.' Or 'that's not in the Bible.'

Well I posted the details of this game on a popular Christian message board and they didn't make a good case for that. The only relevant criticisms was that the youth could be 12-30 (even though the KJV says "little children") and that mauling 42 youths couldn't be described as a "massacre". (the original name of the game was "Epic Bible Massacres").

It is an interesting bit of scripture, just looking at the verse. The two bears, seemed to be using quite a bit of energy - chasing 21 youths for each bear, expending even more energy if the youth were running in all directions and then killing them, one at a time. I suppose possible if they died of fright in unison or they were standing still, making it much easier for the bears . Massacre? Likely not, in my opinion.

I'm pondering if there's a significance of mentioning She bears. Not so ferocious as males bears perhaps? No worries, not claiming anything.

I said that if 30% of the youths died from loss of blood then that's 13 deaths and the 13 deaths in Columbine was described as a massacre. As far as the ages go, I used an adult image and screams for the "youths".
The main problem I have with some Christians is that they didn't think it was shocking.... hopefully the gore and screams will change that.

No deaths are mentioned at all and I would understand if there was this picture that these bears were grizzly-like perhaps being the first bear type that comes to mind. You could imagine all types of gory scenarios.... quite exciting for a game adventure.

The Syrian brown bear or close relative seems to be the likely candidate of the region (from Israel, Jordan, Turkey and other parts of the middle east) where the event was supposed to happen. It is the smallest of the brown bears, which doesn't suggest they're not vicious when they need to be, but... I am a little dubious to the massacre scenario or even the few deaths (not mentioned) which doesn't look like the intended portrayal imo.

 

[Learner]

Are you suggesting that the bible is made more accurately Christian by tearing parts of it out that are not Christ-like?
Like, Revelation?
(or, like Paul? Or, like most of it?)

To the topic...

Sorry Rhea, you were just discussing some points of interest.(I didn't read properly)

 

[excreationist]

It is an interesting bit of scripture, just looking at the verse. The two bears, seemed to be using quite a bit of energy - chasing 21 youths for each bear, expending even more energy if the youth were running in all directions and then killing them, one at a time.

Well to speed up the level the youths can't run past the edge of the screen.... that way it doesn't take that long to get youths that are running in opposite directions.

I suppose possible if they died of fright in unison or they were standing still, making it much easier for the bears . Massacre? Likely not, in my opinion.

Well I changed the game name from "Epic Bible Massacres" to "Brutal Bible Blood Baths". I think there would have been a lot of blood, even if no-one died.

I'm pondering if there's a significance of mentioning She bears. Not so ferocious as males bears perhaps? No worries, not claiming anything.

I wonder how people could tell? Maybe she-bears are a bit smaller than male bears?

No deaths are mentioned at all

42 youths mauled and not one person died of blood loss? Bears are good at killing things - maybe even better than wolves. Anyway in my game I only talk about bears mauling the youths - and a counter that says "Victims Left"... so my game is compatible with the idea of there being no deaths.

 

[excreationist]

I made a brutalbible.com website with the latest prototype....

Brutal Bible Blood Baths

 

[Rhea]

For the record, She-Bears are SIGNIFICANTLY more vicious than he-bears.

 

[Learner]

Well to speed up the level the youths can't run past the edge of the screen.... that way it doesn't take that long to get youths that are running in opposite directions.


Well I changed the game name from "Epic Bible Massacres" to "Brutal Bible Blood Baths". I think there would have been a lot of blood, even if no-one died.

I'm pondering if there's a significance of mentioning She bears. Not so ferocious as males bears perhaps? No worries, not claiming anything.

I wonder how people could tell? Maybe she-bears are a bit smaller than male bears?

No deaths are mentioned at all

42 youths mauled and not one person died of blood loss? Bears are good at killing things - maybe even better than wolves. Anyway in my game I only talk about bears mauling the youths - and a counter that says "Victims Left"... so my game is compatible with the idea of there being no deaths.

Yes good point on the she-bears.

Whether there were deaths or that they all survived, is down to what one reads in to the verses. And I'm NOT mocking your talent BTW. The game is just not for me, as I'm sure you can understand the perspective as a theist, with the viewpoint that this is mocking God etc..

 

[Rhea]

The game is just not for me, as you can understand my perspective as a theist seeing it in the viewpoint that this is mocking God etc..

To be fair, it's not mocking god, it's mocking the bible.

 

[Learner]

Perhaps, not too bothered about mocking Christians though (like myself) .

Good point on the she-bears too. This is what I find useful about discussions.