Christian game developers are again busy marshalling the forces of good. Next month (July 24-26), the folks at the Association of Christian Entertainment (ACE – they probably thought it sounded pretty darn cool at the time) will hold the 2008 Christian Game Developers Conference in Portland.

Portland, Oregon, hardly seems like a video gaming hotspot, but conference organisers may simply have cut a good deal on the venue hire. There’s not a great deal going on during the month of July in Portland. In years past, the highlight on the Portland Events calendar has been ‘Bears Awareness Week’ – basically a week to remind everyone in Portland that the Oregon Zoo still has bears. A quick look at what’s on in Portland next month, and you’ll discover the Oregon Zoo Summer Concert – the natural next step for a city now aware that it has bears. Here’s hoping the bears are still into Boz Skaggs ad Sean Mullins.

Speaking of gaming hotspots, in past years the conference organisers have boasted the participation of video game professionals from Egypt, Korea, Brazil and Nigeria? Clearly they have all the major markets covered.

The Christian developers are committed to developing non-violent games, unless it’s the antichrist you’re battling, in which case it’s gloves off and lock and load. As long as you are fighting in the name of the lord, pretty much anything goes.

Christian game developers need heavenly intervention.

ACE believe that Christian games will eventually wield the same clout as contemporary Christian music does in the music industry, which is pretty much no clout at all, not in Australia at least. Perhaps in the American bible belt, but not here in Oz. Organisers believe it’s only a matter of time that a breakout title comes out and defines and legitimises the industry. I admire their positive output, but between you and me, I think what they really need is a miracle. Frankly, the whole idea of Christian video gaming is a disturbing thought, and just when you thought browsing the shelves of your local EB’s couldn’t become any more uncool. Nintendo bongo drums are one thing, and we all agree that Guitar Hero rocks, but if there’s even so much as a suggestion of a tambourine game, I’ll have to rethink this entire gaming pastime. At the very least I’ll have to start shopping online instead to avoid the embarrassment.