The Arbiter

Gents, We believe the video game industry can help rebuild Western Culture. We need a network of talented coders, storytellers, artists, plus investors and patrons with their heads screwed on straight. We're building that network and invite you to join. Who should we contact?

We're taking a break from regular posting here. Keep your eyes out for sporadic posts here-and-there, and stay tuned! We hope to be back sometime.

Since its inception the video games industry has been predominantly a secular space. It has still produced many great games, but we have yet to see what a successful Christian AAA studio can do. It’s exciting to think about.

Just want to take Marathon's indefinite delay as an opportunity to highlight an awesome game made by Bungie: Halo Reach. It's a classic. Great level design. Cool story. Overall well-crafted. Go replay a mission for old time's sake.

Art is both a reflection of the culture it comes from, and a harbinger of where it is going.

There is something satisfying about cooking meat in Sea of Thieves. It's reminiscent of a Ghibli cooking seen. Details matter. What other games do a good job with food?

You may ask why we at The Arbiter desire a Video Games Renaissance. Look no further than the enormous popularity of hypersexualized garbage like Stellar Blade. We believe that gamers can and will do better.

The medium of video games has been around for a relatively short period of time. The best games haven't even been created yet.

Christians need to stop thinking of video games as inherently bad. Yes, many people today abuse them. But the existence of alcoholics does not make alcohol a bad thing. The existence of the porn industry doesn’t mean that marital intimacy is bad. Sin takes good gifts from God and corrupts them. Here at The Arbiter, we want to help uncover what pre-fall gaming looks like and recognize video games for the awesome gift from God that they are.

@fandompulse Effeminate stance. Effeminate character design. There is a need (and definitely a market) for masculinity in gaming.

@fandompulse Embarrassing. The gaming industry needs more men with a backbone.

Splitgate 2 CEO Apologizes For Wearing "Make FPS Great Again" Hat

Just finished Blood, Sweat, and Pixels by Jason Schreier. Really interesting read about the tough realities of game development. Might talk about stuff from it in the future. In the mean time, definitely would recommend.

@DiscussingFilm Sad how a potentially well-made game can be tainted by bad IP. Even if it's fun it's permanently branded by the dumb and skanky world of GOT.

The first trailer for a new real-time strategy ‘GAME OF THRONES’ game has been released. Releasing in 2026.

Two gamers can look very different. One, a loser: Fat. Neck beard. No job. Lives in his mother’s basement. Lives to play video games. Another, not a loser: Husband. Father. Rewarding career. Plays video games without neglecting other responsibilities; plays them with his kids to create a social environment of fun, while also teaching them important lessons about self-control. Same activity. Drastically different lifestyles. The choice is yours.

It’s awesome how video games can use atmosphere and music to create something beautiful and moving. Think sunrise in Alto’s Adventure Zen Mode, or the first time you see rain hitting the windows as you enter the City of Tears in Hollow Knight—moments that make you stop and admire the world crafted by the developers. What other games have made you pause and just soak it in?

Often Christians think of video games as dandelions—pretty, in a way, but ultimately as weeds and not as fruitful plants. But what if we treated video games like apple trees instead? As things to be nurtured and carefully bred, in order to maximize their beauty and fruitfulness? Let’s recognize that both creating and playing video games are part of the dominion mandate—and be good gardeners.

Hey––anything that isn't pride month is a step up. Current mental health culture certainly falls short of biblical truth, but take this as a reminder to use the relationships you have built online for advice and encouragement. Video Games can cultivate brotherhood. "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another" Prov 27:17.

It's okay to take off the mask. Strength and vulnerability are not mutually exclusive. June is Men's Mental Health Awareness Month. We'd like to encourage you to reach out to your friends; ask them how they're doing. Pick up a game together. Look out for one another. You matter 💙

Ever gone up against Pontiff Sulyvahn? Not easy. You die to one of his swords, then you die to the other. You feel like you are getting somewhere and then suddenly there are two of him and he does AoE damage. It’s tough, but so are the challenges we face every day. A good boss fight is a good reflection of real life––and guess what? You can win at both of them.

@IsaacBotkin Nice! Gaming isn't a time to turn your brain off. Leisure time should shape us into better people.💪

Either I am tricking my kids into learning about automation is during principles, or they are tricking me into giving them more computer game time.

Here is the mark of a good game: developers that can put a finish line on their game, rather than bloat it with and endless stream of content expansions and sequels. This is generally a sign that a studio's motivations are good.