Left Behind: Eternal Forces

It appears investors money is being raptured.

I know, the jokes could go on all day, there is some good word play at 1Up.com. 

The real life story is Left Behind Games stock.

Jonathan Hutson of Talk2Action took a look at the SEC report.

Left Behind Games has sunk more than $27 million and four years into the development and marketing of a game that has been critically panned by gamer blogs, who sneer at its bugginess and built-in spyware, and was boycotted by members of its target audience.

Although game sales have brought in some revenue, the stock has yet to earn a dime of profit, according to the latest quarterly report of Left Behind Games, filed on February 20, 2007. And, according to the quarterly report, “As of December 31, 2006… we had $698,763… of deferred salaries due to our officers.” Moreover, in December 2006 and January 2007, a corporate officer made two interest-free loans, totaling $23,000, to help the enterprise with “working capital.”

The game company stocked peaked at $7.44 in November 2006. People that pump up and push this sort of investment said it could go as high as $18.70.

Left Behind Games stock is currently .18 cents. I’m not going to make a joke about feeding investors; they are adults and know what they are gambling on. The SEC filing in July 2006 would have chased away all but the Type A personality.

The game had some technical problems, many first offerings do, that’s what patches are for. I downloaded a game the other night to try and it glitched. I just deleted, it’s not like there aren’t lots I can try. It’s a tough market.

There are lots of games with apocalyptic themes, that haven’t done this badly. The games do not have the theological and ideological purpose Left Behind:Eternal Forces has.

I don’t think Left Behind Games can blame the scrutiny it received in the US. Various blogs and faith communities spoke up, and again the concern crossed ‘Christian’ lines into other faiths and none faith communities.

While many factors can decide the success or failure of a game (technical excellence, story line, marketing) all the hype in the world isn’t cross pollinating the success of the book series to this niche. They read the books but they have not gone forth and multiplied their spending and attention to a PC game. The Harry Potter games have done well, as have Nancy Drew and Lord of the Rings. And there are good books just waiting for a game company. 

The 1st quarter losses is where money really disappears down the rabbit hole of vision. Left Behind Games Mission statement:

The mission of Left Behind Games is to become the world’s leading independent developer and publisher of quality interactive entertainment products that perpetuate positive values and appeal to mainstream and faith-based audiences, while remaining committed to increasing shareholder value.

Jonathan Hutson:

If Left Behind Games fails, it won’t be because the stock price got blogged down. It will be because they made a crappy, hate-filled product that managed to offend its two target audiences: Rapture-ready Moms and hardcore gamers. As SapphireGrl wrote on RaptureReady.com, “”Where in the Word does it say to ‘kill the infidels’? Where are we told to kill anyone that won’t convert? Jesus said to shake the dust from your feet, not to mow them down with automatic weapons!” And as Gameinatrix Cori wrote in a smash-mouth review by a gamer who had really wanted to like the game but found that it stank out loud: “Let’s just leave this behind us and never speak of it again.”

According to Gamespot:

However, the publisher still spent more than it brought in for the quarter, resulting in a net loss of more than $4.1 million for the three months. That brings its total losses since inception to more than $31 million.

Despite that deepening hole, Left Behind Games expects to turn the corner and become profitable in less than a year. In related news, the publisher today announced that it has begun distribution of its game to South Africa and has “numerous” overseas distribution agreements lined up.

Sigh. Left Behind: Eternal Forces Gold Version

Jan 19, 2007: The Gold version includes the latest updated original game, five new missions, two new multiplayer modes, the new American Militia faction featuring eight new units, and single-player and co-op skirmish modes.

Oh yeah, hoo rah. Venezualan, Columbian or Peruvian ’Christian gamers’ are really going to love that little perk.