Harry's Blog

Interesting story over at The Times today about several groups condemning the PC strategy game Left Behind: Eternal Forces for inciting religious hatred.

Some Muslim's have called for a ban, but that isn't going to happen and is really not a great idea. While I really dislike anything to do with Tim LaHaya and Jerry Jenkins right-wing nonsense I equally dislike groups trying to limit free speech and person freedom.

The fact is that Eternal Forces is going to sink without a trace over here. Why? Because the game isn't actually any good.

The developer has ignored many of the basic features of a good realtime strategy game and made a title that is based essentially on having more units than your enemy. Tank rushing like this is so 1999.

Even the most basic strategy game these days is expected to provide the player with some tactical dimensions to the play, such as an attack bonus for outflanking your enemy or attacking from behind. There's a complete lack of innovation in Eternal Forces, the developer might point to unique features but they are often just run-of-the-mill stuff dressed in the clothes of a distorted view of Christianity.

So those worried that LaHaye/Jenkin's insidious Rapture-related crap is going to invade many PCs in this country really shouldn't fret, with fantastic strategy games such as Medieval II: Total War available any gamer worth his/her salt isn't going to touch Eternal Forces with a bargepole.