Christian MMORPG in the making.

[Godly Paladin]

Okay, to get there, follow these directions:

http://www.therebelplanet.com/

Now click on "Links". It's the first button on the header bar.

Now Partners.

Now Remnant Entertainment.

Now Products.

Now Tales of the Unwritten.

Now discuss on this thread.

[Godly Paladin]

Answer the survey!

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

I've known about this for about a year now. It looks great! Its awesome to see a Christian MMORPG being made and the graphics and gameplay look markedly improved compared to those Christian games on the market at the moment. I thought it was called Orion though? Or did they change the name? I belong to another forum called http://www.christiangaming.com and some of the members there are staff for the game.

[Godly Paladin]

Oops. Didn't know it was such old news!

[Fsiphskilm]

Yay! You

[Ninja Rob]

Besides the couple of character models, there weren't any screenshots of the game, which means I don't know what it looks like. Graphics don't matter to me that much, but I want to at least see what I might play eventually.

How long has this been in production? 2 years?

[Yojimbo]

This isn't an MMORPG it's just an RPG akin to Morrowind. In fact it looks so much like Morrowind in the video that I'm almost positive it uses Morrowind's editor for alot of stuff in the game. Of course with the new animations, models, etc. The sad thing is Morrowing came out 3 years ago and it still looks better than this. I mean see for yourself.

http://www.elderscrolls.com/games/morrowind_overview.htm

Hate to be so negative about one of the few Christian games that seems to be trying to make something entertaining with a message and not just a Bible lesson. They still have a year to go so that's good. But with Elder Scrolls IV:Oblivion coming out later this year for the PC this game will probably be swept under the rug, since they're in the same league of RPG's. They'd be better of making a mod for that anyway. Less cost, and it would probably reach a much bigger audience anyway, since there's no way that someone's going to buy Oblivion and this. That's like Madden competing with Gameday. (if SCEA still had the rights)

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Seriously mate, this is a big step forward for Christian games and there gameplay has never been up to secular standards in terms of graphics and gameplays but it does look better than other Christian games out there. Stop being so negative.
Just so you know the guys who did Morrowind had tons more money and resources than these guys. I also don't believe this is the Morrowind editor.

[Yojimbo]

Seriously mate, this is a big step forward for Christian games and there gameplay has never been up to secular standards in terms of graphics and gameplays but it does look better than other Christian games out there. Stop being so negative.
Just so you know the guys who did Morrowind had tons more money and resources than these guys. I also don't believe this is the Morrowind editor.

Oh because they have a website, a video, and a very general explanation of their game? Oh can't forget 3d graphics, combat, and seven levels. For a game that's been in development two years we know next to nothing about it. I don't care if they're Christian or not that's just a bad way to go about it. Yeah it's not the TES Construction Kit I see that now. It's a new engine but it sure could of fooled me. I've logged serious hours in Morrowind and I was hard pressed to tell the difference. Except for the fact this looked blander than the blandest area in Morrowind ever did. Forgive my pessimism...I just don't have high hopes for it.

And they're have been plenty of guys with virtually no resources, no staff, starting from scratch, with no publisher support starting off that made fantastic games. Like S2 Games with Savage, or Peter Molyneux's Bullfrog and Populous, or any number of others.

I don't see why the majority of Christian development teams out there feel they have to create a completely new game. I would take advantage of the way PC RPG gaming is at the moment and make indepth mod projects. With easily modable games out there like Morrowind and Neverwinter Nights you already have the tools there, a huge installed base who own the game, and no where near the cost it would take to make a completely new game. At least that makes more sense to me than putting something out that looks like it was done almost 4 years ago.

[Ky Kiske]

ouch.
well I dunno man you probably hurt alot of earnest Christian developers feelings there. I think everybody knows it isn't going to be a great graphical achievement.
But the people making this game are trying to make something for us...and they know they won't make much money out of it but they are doing it anyway to try to get the message out.
Look I know this is a "dark era" for Christian games.
They have some crazy stuff competing against them.
But show some heart man.
If we don't at least encourage these people, their won't be any more christian games ever, because they will believe the lie that a "good" Christian game can never be published.

I have a kinda wish that all Christian game companies would unite and form into one so they would have the money to make a great christian game.

[Yojimbo]

ouch.
well I dunno man you probably hurt alot of earnest Christian developers feelings there. I think everybody knows it isn't going to be a great graphical achievement.
But the people making this game are trying to make something for us...and they know they won't make much money out of it but they are doing it anyway to try to get the message out.
Look I know this is a "dark era" for Christian games.
They have some crazy stuff competing against them.
But show some heart man.
If we don't at least encourage these people, their won't be any more christian games ever, because they will believe the lie that a "good" Christian game can never be published.

I have a kinda wish that all Christian game companies would unite and form into one so they would have the money to make a great christian game.

If they're extremely sensitive maybe. Look a developer can make great games, with great graphics, on a small budget. Small poorly funded dev teams face the same challenges these guys do. How do you think Peter Molyneux or Sid Meier got started? They had nothing but they still made games that looked and played better than anything out there. I fail to see why just because they're one of the few Christian development companies out there that makes it acceptable that the game has to look like it came out of the late 90's. They're honestly shooting themselves in the foot here with what they got so far. But what else do we have to go on besides a video showing some combat, physics, and bland scenery?

I'll give you Project Offset as an example. Three person dev team, the creator already released a failed game marketwise, self funded, and they still pump out something that can contend with the big leagues. It can be done so why should we settle for less? And before anyone says it's just a tech demo Sam McGrath made Savage, one of the most original and best, PC games I've played in a long time.

http://www.projectoffset.com/

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

I think its a step forward. You say it looks like this game came out in the late 90s. That's not so bad since many Christian games look like they came straight out of 1994 and earlier. Best foot forward. You don't seem to realise their is a lot of Christian potential out there, the fact is the people who do, more often than not have a job to survive and the secular game company staff have working on the game as their job. Many Christian games are created by people and worked on in their free time. This limits them somewhat. I agree with some of the stuff you said, but seriously you still seem a bit too negative.

My favourite games are the Thief games by Looking Glass Studios. They are first person sneakers and were the first pure or almost pure stealth games. They were original, the gameplay was fantastic and the world was immersive. The graphics sucked but they didn't have heaps of money to work with and also many objects in the game were interactive. That is an example of a great game on a small budget. The games are so uncommercial, its not funny, but they succeeded. But the company that created them went bust. Creativity is risky in the game world, rehashing old stuff is safe.

I love originality in games and great gameplay and all that but I think you need to research more before you get all "life sucks and so do Christian games" on us.
Just a thought.

[Yojimbo]

I think its a step forward. You say it looks like this game came out in the late 90s. That's not so bad since many Christian games look like they came straight out of 1994 and earlier. Best foot forward. You don't seem to realise their is a lot of Christian potential out there, the fact is the people who do, more often than not have a job to survive and the secular game company staff have working on the game as their job. Many Christian games are created by people and worked on in their free time. This limits them somewhat. I agree with some of the stuff you said, but seriously you still seem a bit too negative.

My favourite games are the Thief games by Looking Glass Studios. They are first person sneakers and were the first pure or almost pure stealth games. They were original, the gameplay was fantastic and the world was immersive. The graphics sucked but they didn't have heaps of money to work with and also many objects in the game were interactive. That is an example of a great game on a small budget. The games are so uncommercial, its not funny, but they succeeded. But the company that created them went bust. Creativity is risky in the game world, rehashing old stuff is safe.

I love originality in games and great gameplay and all that but I think you need to research more before you get all "life sucks and so do Christian games" on us.
Just a thought.

If it's a first project for a Christian studio don't you think it's a bit foolish to create their tools from scratch especially something that looks that dated? They could churn out something much faster, cheaper, and most likely better, by using tools already out there with Morrowind, Neverwinter Nights, Gothic, etc. That sounded like a constructive comment to me when I made it. Also that alot of good game pioneers started in the same boat and still could make a good game. Was that negative? Peter Molyneux made business management software while he was forming Bullfrog. I just don't see why excuses like that have to made for Christian dev teams. Are startup secular teams any different I'm sure they have families to feed too.

Thief was awesome. And Theif actually didn't do too bad in sales it did spawn two sequels that also sold moderately well. Bad graphics? Not for 1998 they weren't. Thief 2's weren't bad either and Theif 3's were gorgeous.

Well I fail to see anything original so far. The site sure loves to tout the games features with nice adjectives but for a game two years along we know almost nothing about it. Other than it has 3D graphics, combat, dinosaurs, a storyline, voice acting, physics, and it's an RPG. Woe is me for expecting even the slightest bit of info about gameplay and maybe some not so bland graphics in the year 2005. But I guess that would just be negative then...

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

I think Thief's graphics weren't a problem but they were actually not too good graphics for the times they were released. Not that I mind. I meant to say the publics general consensus was that the graphics sucked, but I worded it wrong.

In terms of what the game will play like, its a bit early to say until its released or even a demo is released. As for using another engine. You would have to pay large royalties to the companies who created the tools/editors and the Christian companies wouldn't be able to afford it and the ones that can wouldn't do it.
The sad truth is that the companies that want to revolutionize Christian games and improve them don't have the money and time and resources. The ones that do have all of this stuff believe any type of game where you fight spiritual forces etc, involves violence etc isn't a Christian game and therefore won't fund it. Screwed up, but that's what happens.

Sorry mate, I guess I was a bit harsh on you.
(Glad to hear you agree the Thief games were great!)

[Godly Paladin]

Wait a second, Yojimbo. First you criticize the game for looking like a mod of Morrowind, then you say the CG community should make mods? Which is it?

This isn't an MMORPG it's just an RPG akin to Morrowind.

Are you calling Remnant Entertainment liars or something?

As for using another engine. You would have to pay large royalties to the companies who created the tools/editors and the Christian companies wouldn't be able to afford it and the ones that can wouldn't do it.

'Ain't that the truth. Engine prices are insane, and the royalties are crippling.

[Fsiphskilm]

==On

[Zilch]

I would like to see a Christian game using a newer engine. I think the biggest problem is just funds and manpower. And interest, I guess...

oh...right...the game...(goes to look)

[RefractedAhav]

I think Thief's graphics weren't a problem but they were actually not too good graphics for the times they were released. Not that I mind. I meant to say the publics general consensus was that the graphics sucked, but I worded it wrong.

In terms of what the game will play like, its a bit early to say until its released or even a demo is released. As for using another engine. You would have to pay large royalties to the companies who created the tools/editors and the Christian companies wouldn't be able to afford it and the ones that can wouldn't do it.
The sad truth is that the companies that want to revolutionize Christian games and improve them don't have the money and time and resources. The ones that do have all of this stuff believe any type of game where you fight spiritual forces etc, involves violence etc isn't a Christian game and therefore won't fund it. Screwed up, but that's what happens.

Sorry mate, I guess I was a bit harsh on you.
(Glad to hear you agree the Thief games were great!)

What about open source game engines like crystal space? ( http://www.crystalspace3d.org/) I know that you couldn't sell a game using the engine unless you link the game to the engines as an external library, but has any one though of making a free christian game. There is a secular mmorpg which has no subscription or downloading fees called planeshift ( http://www.planeshift.it )that uses a modifed version of crystal space and runs off donations. If there where a free christian game of decent quality graphics and game play, wouldn't it make it easier to use the game as way to get the message out?

[Yojimbo]

I think Thief's graphics weren't a problem but they were actually not too good graphics for the times they were released. Not that I mind. I meant to say the publics general consensus was that the graphics sucked, but I worded it wrong.

In terms of what the game will play like, its a bit early to say until its released or even a demo is released. As for using another engine. You would have to pay large royalties to the companies who created the tools/editors and the Christian companies wouldn't be able to afford it and the ones that can wouldn't do it.
The sad truth is that the companies that want to revolutionize Christian games and improve them don't have the money and time and resources. The ones that do have all of this stuff believe any type of game where you fight spiritual forces etc, involves violence etc isn't a Christian game and therefore won't fund it. Screwed up, but that's what happens.

Sorry mate, I guess I was a bit harsh on you.
(Glad to hear you agree the Thief games were great!)

I'm not talking about licensing. I'm just giving examples because it doesn't cost anyone but the price of the game itself to make mods for Morrowind, or NWN, or Gothic, or any number of other PC RPGs. I have yet to find a single Christian mod for any of these very popular games. I don't see why some of these guys feel they have to go out on a limb like this, why not try and get their feet wet first. And with a huge installed base for these games would they not reach a bigger audience then trying to push a game that obviously few will play anyway?

The ones who could wouldn't do it? Well I don't see why they wouldn't if they could. Nobody said that the Unreal engine had to be made for shooters. And that's what's wrong with these developers and why they're doomed to fail if they keep to that closed mindset. They can keep wasting their time, money, and resources, and keep shuffling games where you rain jolly sunshine happiness on pagans forever while Christian devs lose even more credibility.

Paladin yes I did criticize them because this is 2005 and a game that looks somewhat like Morrowind (2002) but slightly worse that's coming out next year is not good marketing.

Please Paladin don't put words in my mouth. You can get all worked up about it if you want but that's pretty pointless. Did you read the whole site?

Orion faqs:

*
Platform: PC
*
System requirements: TBD
*
Release date: 2006
*
Genre: Role-Playing / Action Adventure

I'm sure you know what an MMO is and this isn't it.

Anyway after watching the video another couple times I guess this game doesn't look that bad. I mean it deffinetly doesn't look good and I just can't see why it can't look passable after all this time in this era. I just can't see why there's almost nothing on this game in terms of gameplay after two years. Watching that train of enemies in the video makes me really think the AI is gonna suck. And them touting the games "features" with nice adjectives is fine and all, but we need some substance here. But I guess you guys are right in that they seem to be the only Christian dev team out there doing an RPG that might actually be worth a darn. But still I just see themselves as shooting themselves in the foot with what they got here so far.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

You didn't listen to a darn word I said did you!
Progress takes time. This is one step closer to a good Christian game. Stop hating on it mate!

[Yojimbo]

You didn't listen to a darn word I said did you!
Progress takes time. This is one step closer to a good Christian game. Stop hating on it mate!

Uh yeah I did. I agreed with you guy in the last paragraph that it looks like the only one that *might* be decent. But that doesn't mean I'm still not going to be extremely pessimistic. Because I have no reason to otherwise unless they show something real besides a video and a brief description after two years. Doesn't mean I have to trumpet it and say "oh it'll just take time" it's my opinion take it or leave it.

And when I see similar secular devs doing things light years ahead of them like with Project Offset. A three man team, begging for bandwith, and donations, yet still pumping out stellar stuff. I just expect the same effort from Rebel Planet. So far it just seems to be settling for less to me. And I have no reason to believe otherwise untill like I said they show something to prove me wrong.

[Fsiphskilm]

========

[Godly Paladin]

Yojimbo, it appears we're talking about totally different things. You're talking about Orion: The Rebel Planet, whereas I'm talking about Tales of the Unwritten.

[Yojimbo]

Yojimbo, it appears we're talking about totally different things. You're talking about Orion: The Rebel Planet, whereas I'm talking about Tales of the Unwritten.

Well then this has gotten way off track I wondered why there were two threads on this. But you know you could have easily posted a direct link...

Yeah Volt I can be a real pessimist too. I just don't want Christian games to continue to be a laughing stock. And my honest opinion is that this will continue the trend. Yes I know it takes time but for a game that's supposed to come out in 06 bleh... Couldn't come at a worst time either considering the huge number of heavy hitter PC games coming out in the next two years. They swept the E3 awards even with Xbox360, PS3, and Revolution out there. But I know that Christian devs can and should try to make their games look and play just as good as any secular game. And please nobody give me the usual excuse that resources are holding them back. They are a big factor, but all the breakout PC secular devs have gone through the same things and still stepped up to the plate. But it's probably premature to judge it. But my gut feeling is still not good.

[Godly Paladin]

I couldn't use a direct link because the site uses frames or something. The target page has the same URL as all the rest, so I couldn't do that. Hence the directions.

And my honest opinion is that this will continue the trend.

Are you referring to the Rebel Planet or Tales of the Unwritten? The Rebel Planet has garnered high praise already in the secular A6 community. (See the respective thread for more info on that.)

Just for clarification, folks, this is a thread about Tales of the Unwritten.

[Yojimbo]

I couldn't use a direct link because the site uses frames or something. The target page has the same URL as all the rest, so I couldn't do that. Hence the directions.



Are you referring to the Rebel Planet or Tales of the Unwritten? The Rebel Planet has garnered high praise already in the secular A6 community. (See the respective thread for more info on that.)

Just for clarification, folks, this is a thread about Tales of the Unwritten.

http://www.talesunwritten.com

There that was easy. So this has been in development for two years right? If so than I really wish there was some...real info about the game and maybe some screenshots at least.

[Godly Paladin]

Geez, man, you need to cool off.

Have you tried asking about pics on their forum?

[GhostPoet]

For me personally..I rate a game based on the game itself..not if it's christian or secular.

I'm not gonna say "well, it's a great CHRISTIAN game...."
If it sucks..i'll say it sucks...
I don't think we should have a different view of games depending on if they are christian or secular...

If a christian game comes out that is better then the other christian games..but only slightly..it is still subpar...so why treat it like it's a good thing, ya know?

In order for this game to be good..it's gonna have to deal with competition..it'll have to fight against Morrowind.

I'm not trying to be rude or anything..i'm just saying that's how I see it...just because it's a christian game better than most christian games doesn't mean we should lower our standards in what we want out of a game.

you know?

(that and the fact they have little to no info on the game and haven't even tried to hype it really make me doubt anyway)

[Godly Paladin]

Release date is still a year off, so there's plenty of time for advertising.

just because it's a christian game better than most christian games doesn't mean we should lower our standards in what we want out of a game.

You're exactly right, but Christian games aren't going to get exponentially better overnight. It's going to be a gradual process, and so it's exciting to see improvements like this. So while maybe it won't be as awesome as Morrowing, the people who truly are behind the CG movement and want to see it mature are going to be pumped up and enthusiastic about it anyway.

[GhostPoet]

Release date is still a year off, so there's plenty of time for advertising.



You're exactly right, but Christian games aren't going to get exponentially better overnight. It's going to be a gradual process, and so it's exciting to see improvements like this. So while maybe it won't be as awesome as Morrowing, the people who truly are behind the CG movement and want to see it mature are going to be pumped up and enthusiastic about it anyway.

I think what would really help is if they had a weekly update progress report with pictures on their frontpage. They could easily bring someone on to do it (even for free! Heck..i'd do it. I used to design computer games) The more info we have on it...the less likely it is to be swept under the rug.