Video Game Company Tailors to Christians
A sign in Digital Praise’s company lobby says: “Glorifying God through Interactive Media”.
However, there is stigma when a company identifies itself with religion. Out rightly stating your religion and the company will estrange those who don’t share the same views and may even risk scaring off prospective employees. (The company says it has workers and contractors of many faiths and no faith.)
But the founders say religion is the rock upon which they've built their business.
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“I'm here to obey Christ,” says Peter Fokos, CEO.
The three -- Fokos and brothers Tom and Bill Bean -- met in Bible study at the First Assembly of God Church in Fremont. Fokos, 45, had lost his job at the Learning Company when an acquiring company moved jobs. He wanted back in the gaming game.
``I really didn't want to be making the next skateboard, killer kind of thing,'' he says.
Instead, Fokos negotiated with Focus on the Family to license the characters in the conservative Christian group's ``Adventures in Odyssey'' radio dramas and videos.
Tom Bean, 41, with six kids, and Bill Bean, 42, who has four, both liked what Fokos (one child) was trying to do.
The games, which are aimed at kids from about 8 to 12, are not overtly religious. (``There's no virtual Jesus,'' Tom Bean jokes.) But they do provide moral lessons -- telling the truth is good, the test of character is what you do when no one's looking. One game features ``a gauntlet of virtues,'' including kindness, faithfulness, self-control.
It's no ``Grand Theft Auto'' and that's the point.
``I guess I just want to make sure there is good stuff out there for the kids, an alternative,'' Fokos says.
The men have big plans. They're working on more titles and a dance-pad game featuring Christian music.
Source: Mercury News
