Clear the Queue

This week, I issued a challenge on Theology Gaming University (TGU)–if you are not a part of this awesome Facebook group, come join us!–.

. : Clear the Queue : .

How many games do you think you complete in a year?

To chronicle your 2015 gaming journey, TGU challenges you to “Clear the Queue.”

How do you begin?

For every game you beat/complete, from now until December 31, 2015, post a picture of the game on TGU. It is that simple.

Make sure to use hashtags ‪#‎clearthequeue‬ and ‪#‎TGU‬.

Happy gaming!

Not Alone

For years I thought I was alone in writing about videogames from a Christian perspective. I was wrong. On January 23, 2013, Zachery Oliver contacted me. His initial correspondence sparked what has become a collaborative friendship. Zach and I have since launched Theology Gaming University (TGU). A Facebook group dedicated to open discussions on faith, life, and videogames.

I want to take a moment to invite you to join our growing community. Come ready to be challenged in your faith and your perspective on gaming. 2015 is going to be a great year for TGU, so come join us!

Jesus at the table

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My wife and I started reading Paul E. Miller’s A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World tonight. I wanted to share a quote from the book:

When Jesus describes the intimacy he wants with us, he talks about joining us for dinner. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20).

A praying life feels like our family mealtimes because prayer is all about relationship. It’s intimate and hints at eternity. We don’t think about communication or words but about whom we are talking with. Prayer is simply the medium through which we experience and connect with God.

I don’t think that I ever noticed the part of the verse that talks about Jesus eating with us. How cool! If you were to have dinner with him, what would you talk about? Your struggles, hopes, dreams? Miller says that prayer is supposed to be this way. Can’t wait to read more of the book. I’ll make sure to share as we progress.

Infinite Possibilities

The City of Columbia, nestled in the sky.

Once the blood began to spill, I knew, that many more would die.

Spent the first waking hours of 2015 playing BioShock Infinite for the first time. The first thirty minutes of the game are breathtaking. Religious and cult-like symbolism, politics run amok, and haunting hymns echoed in my headphones. Wandering the streets of the floating utopia, the sun soaking the streets, I knew that all was not right. One man, Comstock, has built a cult around himself and his family. His daughter, it seems, is the key to salvation. I want to throw up and yet I continue to take in the scene.

My time in the city turns violent the moment I chose not to throw a baseball at an interracial couple. Blood spills in the most violent fashion. At first, I am shocked. A button press or two later, I am repeating the violent action for self preservation. So much blood.

At this point I realize that many more will die by my hands. Just who is the protagonist I play as, a mass murderer?

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The world and story of Infinite are engrossing. I like the contrast of darkness versus light; Acts of violence committed in a sunlit world.

Not sure if I am going to pick up the full game when I finish the demo. But if I do, you’ll know.

Oh yeah, Happy New Year!

2014 in the rear view window

The WordPress.com stats helper cheetahs prepared a 2014 annual report for JohnnyBGamer.

Here’s an excerpt:

A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 4,600 times in 2014. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 4 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

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