CAMBRIDGE, Canada, December 4, 2002 — If Brent Hackett's sales figures are any indication, more children will be finding Bible-based games under their Christmas trees this December 25, than ever before. Hackett is the President of Forerunner Marketing Corporation Ltd.; one of this country's foremost distributors of Bible-themed games and Christian novelty products, and he says his company is in the midst of their busiest Christmas season ever.
Forerunner supplies Christian bookstores across Canada with everything from pencils and framed artwork, to key tags, toys and Bible covers. The company added two games to their already extensive product line in 1997; "WWJD" and "Bible Trivia". Today, they are also featuring Bible versions of such traditionally popular games as "Pictionary", "Monopoly" and "Mad Gab".
Hackett reports Bible game sales have grown 50% over last year
It would appear the manufacturers of such games are merely responding to market demand. Hackett says his sales numbers show that games like "Bible Pictionary" and "Bibleopoly" have contributed to a major shift in his business revenues. "I would say our sales in games have grown 50% over last year," he commented during a recent telephone interview. Last Christmas, games accounted for just 15% of his total sales; this year, they're responsible for 25% when comparing periods.
The U.S. Toy Industry is experiencing similar trends. A recent article in the New York Times reported that, "while sales of religious board games represent a small niche in the game markets, manufacturers are reporting sales doubling and are quickly adding new titles."
By following the same rules and guidelines as their secular counterparts, Bible version games offer a new twist to familiar classics.
It's all about good, clean fun
Rob Anderson is President of Cactus Game Design. His company produces Bible editions of Scattergories and Outburst. Says Anderson, "Most game buyers don't want to have to learn from scratch a game they've never heard of. They're thinking, 'I'm going to have to learn how to play this? I don't want to work that hard.'"
Hackett says a Christian's mandate is to spread the gospel, but there is a time for everything, and these games are all about good, clean fun: "(As Christians) we have to take time out. We have to be able to have fun. We have to be able to relax. We have to be able to enjoy life. And (why not) enjoy life, having fun with things that are Christian already?"
"(Forerunner Marketing is) not here to preach to someone, or to try to convert someone by playing a game," he added. "It's an opportunity for a Christian to have fun with the products that they already know."
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