Halo 2
To Halo Two Or Not To Halo Two
Halo 2 is a first person shooter game for the X-box game system. The concept of the game is that it is the year 2030 and aliens are attacking the earth (not surprising), you are a human or “Spartan” and have a body shield and futuristic armor. Spartans use bullet type guns and aliens use lazar type guns. This game is one of the most popular games in video game history; the reason for this is the multi player modes available. You can play with four people on one X-box, up to 32 players with system link (connecting multiple X-box’s and TV’s together and everyone plays together) or you can go online with X-box Live™ and play against people from anywhere in the world with a maximum of 32 players in each game.
The game is rated “M” for mature the highest rating for a video game. It is rated “M” for gore, violence and strong language. I have not encountered any bad language in the times I have played the game and I think that that would have to be on the one player mode. When a player is shot the camera view changes to third person view and you see your character drop to the ground or fly through the air, as well as a mist of red around you character. You must wait a set amount of time before you can join the game again or “Re-spawn”. You can also set the game so that when you die you are out of the game until it is over and you do not come back to life.
Because of the popularity of this game many churches and drop-in centers want to use this game for outreach. “We told kids that we were having a halo tournament at our church and 50 kids came that night” says one youth pastor. Others say that this is an area were we, as Christians need to be set apart from the rest of the world. The plain fact is that if you tell kids that you will be having Halo night you will get kids. This is often compared to saying that if you offer free beer to kids they would come too, but is it the same thing? What is the line? When the question was brought up at a gathering of youth pastors I found very different responses, some said that they would never use it because it is a shooting game, others said that they do use it especially if it is for an overnight event or for the purpose of outreach. Out of about twenty youth pastors a slight majority said that they had little or no concerns about the game, still some were undecided.
The main attraction to the game is the sense of competition that you feel as well as the “fight or flight” response that you feel when you know that someone is trying to find you before you find them
By Ryan
posted by Ryan Ens at 2:50 PM
11 Comments:
I've given this a lot of thought the past few years too. Here's a couple questions that I have:
-are there other, more church-accepted activities that consistently draw numbers like a Halo night?
-do events involving shooting games draw kids closer to Christ?
And then there's the question we all love so dearly: WWJD? He hung out with tax collectors and prostitutes, so I don't think the environment of an artificial gun battle would phase him. I do wonder if he'd host such a night, though, or if he'd just stick to going where the kids already are. So I'm kinda undecided.
4:45 PM
Once I was asked by a few of my students to play the game Halo. I was a little leary due to the fact that it was a game where our goal was to kill others. However, the students told me that some of their non-churched friends would be coming over to play as well. I decided to join them and play.
I always pray before I play or do any acitvity that might be a 'grey' area. The phrase 'pray about the gray' is something I use with my students always. The game was interesting and I being a Youth Pastor in his late 30's was getting his butt handed to him. The guys seemed to really enjoy the fact that they were killing me. Then, I suddenly heard over the TV speakers the words 'killing spree'. It was the most evil voice I have ever heard. It really shook me. I stopped playing and told the guys why. I know many of them still play, but I feel that I was a witness to be attentive and responsible to the voice of God.
Should you play any game that is fully acknowledging that it is okay in fiction or real life to willfully choose to go against what is wrong in the eyes of God? When you pray about what you are unsure of God will answer you.
James 1: 5 - 6
2 Chronicles 1:7
Ask the Lord. He is willing to give you wisdom and knowledge. I never want to be someone who tells others what to do about the gray/grey areas of life. But, I do want to be someone who tells others to pray about the gray/grey. Blessings in your journey of discovering of how to have wisdom and knowledge in student ministry.
A veteran who is still longing for wisdom and knowledge. Pappa C.
5:17 PM
if our role as youth leaders is to make disciples - does this help accomlish that? I don't agree with the thought that it's OK to use to attract kids - either it's OK to play or not.
This may go further than just Halo. Our western culture has made a game out of war and killing, and as a parent I have been at fault for letting my kids play. I don't think we can say it's just a game either. Just like a Christian playing hockey, it's all a part of our lives.
10:11 PM
Has anyone out there decided yes or no? I'd love to hear why you have decided one way or the other.
10:37 AM
Well I would probably vote no on the halo nights, for a few reasons. First of all, there doesn't seem to be a huge interest in that kind of thing around here, there are definitely gamers but they seem to be into other types of games.
Secondly, the whole moral issue that everyone seems to struggle with (myself included) throws up a flag to me saying "if it's so debated, and I haven't come to a conclusion on it, maybe I should steer clear of it" and look for other opportunities.
Thirdly, as much as video games can be a draw to kids, it's merely mind numbing action (in my young/inexperienced opinion). Regardless of what type of game it is, can there really be a lot of use for it in a youth ministry setting, aside from just bringing people in? Now this point can very easily be refuted, and that's ok, but it seems to me that we run from previous experience on a lot of things. and for this one, previous experience tells me that when a teen is playing Tony Hawk, or Halo, or whatever, the only thing on his mind is that game.
They're great for bringing kids in, it's a chance for them to do something fun and that's fantastic. But what's the next step? How do you transition a gamer into the realm of theology or faith?
Then I must end with the question...would you allow Grand Theft Auto games to be played in your ministry? If you would, then Halo 2 is no biggy, though for what purose is it being allowed? And if you wouldn't, then I would think Halo 2 should be on the naughty list as well.
4:10 PM
Playing Halo 2 and offering free beer? Maybe not quite the same, but...Would you watch a movie with you students that was rated R for the very same reasons?
I think there's a certain level of consistency that needs to exist in our ministries. Personally, I wouldn't play a movie that is rated R at a youth event, probably not even the Passion of the Christ. Though I might watch it myself, I'm not the parent of the youth, nor should I go against how a parent would choose to raise their children. Of course I might have some things to say to some...but unless there is need for intervention, I need to support parents, not be a problem for them.
Can you still do things that attract the same amount of kids as a halo tournament? I think there's lots of ways. So why push the envelope on a gray area when you can sit safely on one side of the fence?
4:15 PM
Okay, Ryan, I'll answer the question rather than just asking more questions, but this'll be a longer comment; you stand warned!
I probably wouldn't do a Halo 2 event, or any other shooter game event for that matter. Why?:
1) I believe there's better things to do that are more fun and engaging that kids couldn't do on their own as easily
2) The game is rated M, and my kids aren't that age. I know some parents likely wouldn't approve, so why would I strain my relationship with them over something so trivial? I don't want to run an event that excludes those kids.
3) I'm unsure what our camp board thinks about this, so I don't want to put our camp's name on it
4) Halo is only fun if you have 4-12 players, anything over that is getting excessive, and most of our events have 20+ in attendance... LOL
I don't think that there's anything inherently wrong about multiplayer Halo 2. We're running a paintball camp this summer with the full approval of our camp board, and that is WAY more violent than Halo 2.
Okay, maybe I'll pose one question, thanks to Pappa C's story: would you play Halo 2 at a kid's house or take a kid to somewhere like LANmark games to play Halo PC? Why?
4:44 PM
I wouldn't use it as a way to outreach kids, but I won't tell my kids that it's a sin to play it either.....Most of the kids that I know that play the game are hooked on the game, so really, it's kind of a deeper issue....like addiction. But, ultimately, it could be an opportunity to get to know some kids you can't get out to a service, or youth night. So, I guess, get to know the kids.
4:45 PM
We are quick to point out that Jesus hung out with prostitutes and tax collectors but never once did He engage in fraud or prostitution. He went to meet people in their place and time of need. When He drew a crowd it was always good wholesome fun (like banquets and beach days). As youth ministers our first objective is not to offer entertainment (I know this is already offending some of you). We offer something that the world doesn't, it is the ultimate thirst quencher(for the thirst that the world tries to quench with entertainment). We can offer God's LOVE and the HOPE OF NEW LIFE in Christ. Yeah, Yeah that sounds churchy and dated but take a closer look at how Jesus spent His time with tax collectors and prostitutes before setting out to draw a crowd by imitating the world(Romans 12:2).
12:25 PM
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6:11 PM
What about when you just want to have fun with a student? Do you ever hang out with the student doing something just for fun? All ministry and evangalezim aside, would it be ok to play this game with an older student that you spend time with?
Just for fun?
4:04 PM
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