I
think we all need at least one really nice positive thing about the
entertainment business every single day of the year, including weekends.
Sometimes it may be something simple, like a video that showcases
something fun and sometimes it may be a movie poster that embraces the
aesthetic we all want Hollywood to aspire to. Sometimes it may be a
long-winded diatribe. Sometimes it’ll be from the staff and extended
family of CHUD.com. Maybe even you readers can get in on it. So, take
this to the bank. Every day, you will get a little bit of positivity
from one column a day here. Take it with you. Maybe it’ll help you
through a bad day or give folks some fun things to hunt down in their
busy celluloid digesting day.

11.15.10
By Nick Nunziata (Author Page, Facebook Page, Twitter Page)

What I’m Thankful For:

Product rip-offs with a Christian angle.

I am not going to bash religion. I have done it in the past in various ways and this isn’t one of those articles. These are articles celebrating things! It’s hard not to get angry when you see people trying to take advantage of good folks by preying on their beliefs and morals, trying to find a shortcut to their wallets by emulating the very things they rail against and showcasing just how hypocritical things can get with a topic as touchy as religion. Video games are public enemy number one for so many moral crusaders, though I have never played a video game that made me want to do something mean or negative in the real world, so they’re really sort of harmless. It’s the idiots playing the game and their absentee parents who are at fault. So maybe the moral crusaders should target weak-willed people and crappy parents rather than media. Either way, there’s that saying “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em”. Hence, a company like Left Behind Games exists. Video games for Christians based on Christian stuff. You know, except the fact that regular video games are the result of very talented teams of people employing cutting-edge skill on massively researched and developed ideas.

It’s always a few thousand rotten apples that spoil it for the bunch.

I understand why there are Christian-specific stores. I don’t understand why there is a Christian puzzle game that looks like a mixture of Minesweeper and Tetris. It’s not like any argument could be made for those games being offensive. I don’t understand why there would an RTS based on the godforsaken Left Behind books. The fact that’s a brand is scarier than any Antichrist showing up to kick our ass. I understand why they’d want to do a rip-off karaoke game around hymns and whatnot, but to rip-off the packaging of the real karaoke games? It’s like there’s a disconnect somewhere and it makes me very happy.

It makes me happy because most clear headed people see right though this kind of shameless money grubbing nonsense.

But I’m sure as hell glad they’re out there.

Want to contribute one? Send me the text and links to materials for your own ‘What I’m Thankful For’.

Requirements:
Well written, fun, and not self-promotional. Also, no pseudonyms or
fake names. Stand up and be proud of your opinions. MESSAGE BOARD SUBMISSION THREAD or EMAIL YOUR IDEA TO ME.