Editing Left Behind (section)

==Video game==
A [[video game]], ''[[Left Behind: Eternal Forces]]'', (2006) and its three sequels, ''Left Behind: Tribulation Forces'', ''Left Behind 3: Rise of the Antichrist'' and ''Left Behind 4: World at War'', were developed by a publicly traded company, Left Behind Games. The games are real-time strategy games wherein the player controls a "Tribulation Forces" team and allows the player to "use the power of prayer to strengthen your troops in combat and wield modern military weaponry throughout the game world." The original game was released in the United States on November 14, 2006, and received mixed reviews. Distribution was initially planned to work through churches and [[megachurch]]es.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jacobs |first=Stephen |date=2015 |title=Simulating the Apocalypse. Theology and Structure of the Left Behind Games |url=https://heiup.uni-heidelberg.de/journals/index.php/religions/article/view/18509 |journal=Online – Heidelberg Journal of Religions on the Internet |language=en |volume=7 |doi=10.11588/rel.2015.0.18509 |access-date=June 23, 2022 |archive-date=June 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616233911/https://heiup.uni-heidelberg.de/journals/index.php/religions/article/view/18509 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Although the original game was accused of encouraging religious violence,<ref>{{cite news |last=Grossman |first=Cathy Lynn |date=December 14, 2006 |title=Critics blast 'Left Behind' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2006-12-13-left-behind-controversy_x.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100831031656/http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2006-12-13-left-behind-controversy_x.htm |archive-date=August 31, 2010 |access-date=May 7, 2010 |work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> not all reviewers of the game or critics of the ''Left Behind'' series shared that view.<ref>{{cite web |date=December 19, 2006 |title=Left Behind: Eternal Forces – The Video Game |url=http://www.adl.org/Interfaith/leftbehind.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307185926/http://www.adl.org/Interfaith/leftbehind.asp |archive-date=March 7, 2012 |website=[[Anti-Defamation League]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Butts |first=Steve |date=November 14, 2006 |title=Left Behind: Eternal Forces Review |url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/745/745956p1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617161559/http://pc.ign.com/articles/745/745956p1.html |archive-date=June 17, 2012 |access-date=October 27, 2007 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Kuchera |first=Ben |date=December 14, 2006 |title=Reviews: Games: Left Behind: Eternal Forces |url=https://arstechnica.com/reviews/games/leftbehind.ars |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204091610/http://arstechnica.com/reviews/games/leftbehind.ars |archive-date=December 4, 2008 |access-date=June 14, 2017 |website=[[Ars Technica]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Rausch |first=Allen Delsyn |date=December 7, 2006 |title=Left Behind: Eternal Forces Review |url=http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/left-behind-eternal-forces/749748p1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825050703/http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/left-behind-eternal-forces/749748p1.html |archive-date=August 25, 2012 |access-date=October 27, 2007 |website=[[GameSpy]]}}</ref> Representatives of the company have responded that the game's message is pacifist, because shooting nonbelievers instead of converting them costs the player "spirit points", which can be recovered by pausing to pray.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lelchuk |first=Ilene |date=January 9, 2011 |title='Convert or die' game divides Christians / Some ask Wal-Mart to drop Left Behind |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/12/12/MNG8TMU1KQ1.DTL |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018153735/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2006%2F12%2F12%2FMNG8TMU1KQ1.DTL |archive-date=October 18, 2011 |access-date=November 15, 2018 |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]}}</ref> The company also responded to these criticisms in an online newsletter, stating, "There is no violence, only conflict," and, "The most successful way to fight, is through the means of spiritual warfare; PRAYER and WORSHIP. Soldiers and military weaponry are available, but once anyone plays the game, they'll see how difficult it is to succeed by using these less effective means of warfare."<ref>{{cite web |last=Lyndon |first=Troy A. |title=LB Games – Newsletter |url=http://www.leftbehindgames.com/pages/newsletter/#_Toc156015125 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011071023/http://leftbehindgames.com/pages/newsletter/#_Toc156015125 |archive-date=October 11, 2007 |access-date=October 27, 2007 |website=Left Behind Games}}</ref>