Christian video game makers Left Behind Games and Digital Praise have entered into a merger agreement that they believe will significantly raise the visibility and appeal of the Christian video game market.

The merger, announced Wednesday, will bring together the financial resources of Left Behind and the popular games of Digital Praise, which include Dance Praise and Guitar Praise.

"Digital Praise has the four key ingredients that will take our company to the next level. Those keys are: (1) strong brands and products, (2) multi-channeled distribution, (3) a solid management team and (4) a history of generating millions of dollars in the emerging Christian video game market, a feat no company has matched," commented Left Behind Games CEO Troy Lyndon.

"This merger gives us access to capital that we anticipate will enable us to produce far more new innovative games than we could hope to develop as a privately held company," added Tom Bean, President and CEO of Digital Praise in Wednesday’s announcement.

Presently, Left Behind Games Inc., also known as Inspired Media Entertainment, is one of the world's leading independent developers and publishers of “interactive entertainment products that perpetuate positive values and appeal to mainstream and faith-based audiences.”

Digital Praise, meanwhile, has been an independent developer of family-friendly Christian entertainment software for personal computers and other devices including iPhones. The company produces, publishes and distributes titles for families who enjoy interactive entertainment software with principled character-building themes and "just good clean fun."

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Its biggest hit, Guitar Praise, was released in late 2008. The game utilizes a unique wireless guitar that lets players jam with popular Christian musicians.