Why Would You Make a Video Game? I Thought You Championed Books & Reading!
(Stay tuned for the giveaway.)
I’m a book guy. Books are a technology I deeply love. Good job, Gutenberg. Kudos. Some may think that books have always been around, or even that novels have been universally praised as a welcome technological invention. Who would dare doubt the formative power of Pride and Prejudice, Treasure Island, or A Tale of Two Cities?
Widely regarded as profoundly valuable now, novels were early on met with great suspicion, similarly to how many reluctant/discerning/worried parents approach video games today.
For most of us, it’s not about rejecting video games outright just because they are a fairly recent tech invention. Many of us are cautious about them because we doubt their capacity to be formative in a wholesome way for our families.
If video games aren’t a fit for your family, I respect that. I’m not a big video game person, myself. That is, I don’t play much. Our kids play some, but not too much. It’s not central to our life. But I believe a few things that make me keen to operate in that sphere for the good of my own kids and the kids of the world.
I think…
Video games exist.
Most kids play them a lot.
There aren’t enough games built with love & care for kids.
Our game is made with profound love & care for kids.
Our game is made with their hearts, souls, and delight in mind.
We are not preying on them, but praying for them.
We are not trying to extract maximum dollars from them (or you).
We aren’t making a game in opposition to reading.
We are (audacity alert!) making an integrated game and novel.
We think this will lead to MORE reading.
We believe more reading of good books is good.
We know lots of boys don’t read.
Publishers aren’t offering much for boys.
The boys would rather play video games.
We made a very boy-friendly game and book.
We believe this means more boys will read as a result.
I wrote a book that is deeply and morally formative for boys.
Girls will also dig it.
Girls read much more widely than boys.
Lots of girls play video games too. (More and more every year.)
Girls of the future (and present) need boys to be shaped by moral stories.
Civilization needs noble boys.
The boy your daughter may someday marry or the neighbor boy is probably playing video games a lot.
What if we reached him through our game and that led him on a journey?
What if he played the Green Ember game, then read the books, then read better and better ones?
What if this game changed his life and your daughter’s life and had a compounding cultural impact for generations?
I don’t think kids should spend too much time playing video games.
We designed our game to have natural limits.
Kids should play outside.
Kids should read.
Kids should pray and have a devotional life.
We are your biggest allies in this stuff.
We are not against you.
I understand the clarity and safety of hard boundaries.
I appreciate it when you understand my heart in this.
I love you.
I’m such a devoted ally to you and your family.
I care deeply and work extremely hard to serve you and your kids.
I’m on your side.
Those are some things I believe and assert and affirm. They give you some insight into why I have worked so hard to help create a game that is so radically hospitable and loving to kids. This might help you understand why we are, at the moment, tying the game and book together and asking for folks to back us in this audacious endeavor.
We’ve heard from so many of you that you are grateful we are choosing to show up in this space and love these kids enough to fight for good media.
I am soooooooo grateful to everyone who is encouraging us and enthusiastically backing and sharing the project. It means the absolute world to me.
We have BIG goals. We want to start making a ruckus in this video game space. We want better media for our boys and for our girls.
And this is how it starts.
I’m on your side,
Sam
Giveaway!
We’re giving away an exclusive Green Ember Collector’s Box!
One lucky winner will receive:
🕹️ Collectible NES-style game cartridge
🐰 Handmade Helmer crochet rabbit
🃏 Limited edition lenticular card
⚔️ Sword bookmark
💚 Stickers
To Enter:
1️⃣ Follow @sdsmithereens and @story_warren on Instagram & Facebook if you are on those platforms.
2️⃣ Visit the Kickstarter page and read through it.
3️⃣ Let us know in the comments: What’s the most compelling reason to back this project that you spotted?
🎁 Bonus: send this to a friend for extra entries! (Let us know you did so in the comments.)
🎁🎁Double bonus: if you have social media, enter on Facebook & Instagram.
Giveaway ends May 12th at 5pm ET. Winner will be notified May 13th. Must be 18 or older. US address only. Void where prohibited.
We love the books and love the creativity of venturing into the video game space. Thanks for being a trustworthy source!
If my children are going to play a game, I’d rather it be this one. One that has values and I don’t have to be worried about what they’re learning.
Thanks for this option for the give-away. I don’t do much on social media.
My boys are excited to experience the Green Ember world in a new way!
I think one of the most compelling reasons to back this projects is because the video game world is one section of media and story telling that we as Christians have all but surrendered to the secular world.
Our children live the series and Helmer is a top favorite character! We were so excited to see the series come alive in another medium!
Very good article. I agree with everything you said! I wanted very much to back the new Green Ember book and game because I absolutely love The Green Ember, and I am a big fan of S D Smith and the work he’s doing. I still am firm in my belief that The Green Ember Series is the best series on the planet.
I am so excited for this game & book because I was a kid that grew up loving video games. I am an adult who has loved reading your books to his children (and to himself). I am very excited to support this project because I agree that it is important for our kids (especially our young men) to have entertainment that demonstrates what a good man should be.
Thank you for all you do, Sam!
I have chosen to back this project because I support a godly influence in a mostly secular space. We need more whole stories and games for our children, and it’s even better when they are able to reach into the market share of the world to influence the lost with wholesome Phil. 4:8 content! Keep up the great work!
It’s hard to find wholesome video games.
I’m a parent with an advanced, but reluctant reader who, like me, enjoys tabletop and video games. We’re new to the series, but hoping that it will spark interest especially if there is tie-in activities that can be enjoyed with it.
Super excited that there is a new book! I alos love the fact that the video game is a play through once, our family doesn’t really do video games, but we have done several play through once games, and are definitly open to this one! And once we finish using somthing like this we let freinds and family borrow. Back The Kickstarter!! (I shared with kickstarter page with friends)
The most compelling reason is because it’s another way to reach kids, and draw them into this wonderful story that’s been created!
The reason we as a family are backing this project is because we believe children (and people in general) need real stuff (courage, strength, encouragement, truth), and they’re not getting these from the world. There is only One who can give these things and He works through us. S. D. Smith is not pushy in that regard, but he is real. That’s what I like best about him and his books (and hopefully his games): his real-ness. My 18-year-old son wants to go into, or rather start, a video game ministry. He’s at Spark the Ark right now and is cheering on everyone involved in this project. He’s also spreading the word about it to everyone he talks with there.
Go Helmer!
My daughter loves your books and she would be excited to play a game with these same characters!!
It is so exciting to see good stories in the video game space. Video games are a major way young people, particularly men and boys, in our culture consume stories, so let’s make some wholesome and nourishing ones for a change! I pray this project is abundantly blessed!
Video games are a common way for people these days to connect. Even if it’s a single player game, discussions can still arise from it.
I think the best reason for this game is the need. There needs to be Christian space especially for kids already addicted. It’s a great tool for parents to use in shifting children toward healthy gaming. It’s also great for the kids who want to play video games but their mom (me) always says no. Now there will be a viable option!
My grandson really enjoys these books. He also enjoys playing video games. I am hopeful that these two worlds can mesh and bring delight to both his reading and gaming by bringing goodness, truth, and beauty to the content of both.
We love the idea of the high quality story being matched with a video game! Our kids do play video games and the more excellent games the better!
I love the Green Ember and it is so cool how far it has come since the first book. I love the way God has really blessed this and will love to play a game that I know I don’t have to be worried that anything bad might pop up and that my whole family can play.
I LOVE this idea. I love that there is a beginning and an end to the game and that it further expands this world we have loved so well.
We backed the kickstarter because my daughter fell in love with the series from the first book and I’ve never seen her get into a fandom so fast. SD has turned her into a dedicated reader. I’m a substitute teacher and a volunteer library and I’ve told all of my friends at the schools about this series, the kickstarter and requested we get it in in our libraries!
I love how this video game is free from the junk that other games have; such as the addictive algorithms and public chat space. I believe this game will become a new foundation and example for other companies in the future. The tide may be turning towards wholesome family fun, and if it is S. D. Smith will be the leading reason. Using his talents at writing to create such a wonderful new media form will give the fun back to the family that is so often robbed in today’s world. It is for those reasons I believe we should be backing this project.
My 2 favorite things are that there is no addiction loop and it is morally correct. This sounds really cool!
You create wholesome, heart warming content that is engaging and fun! I’m happy to help your cause however I can! We need more books like Green Ember in the world . While I’m not a video game person myself, I do see your perspective in creating something that will reach kids and I hope it will have the desired effect!
Sharing with all my friends!
We are happy to back this project because video games are already here and most of us already play some of them – we might as well play yours! For the love of The Green Ember world, thank you for continuing to expand it for our kids!
Aside from reading to my boys, getting them active, and keeping a bible based household environment for them as much as I can properly execute on that, I also have game time every other weekend with them. It’s actually a really cool time of problem solving and having a good time.
I think being able to play through part of the series with the younger ones will be fun. Keep doing what you’re doing. You’re appreciated.
I love that it’s a game I can trust and it has a beginning middle and end. My son is so excited!
We love that this project SUPPORTS reading, rather than pulling away from it!
We emailed two friends who really like Pride & Prejudice and shared the “videogamization” with them. Great way to share your new book and video game promo with folks.
My favorite thing about this video game is that it is old school, being a game focused on a good story line– not a machine trying to suck information and money out of players 🙂
I really think that movies and video games overall are not being made that are family friendly. If they are made they seem to be a lesser quality. This game however sounds like it will be a great quality game though.
It’s HELMER. Seriously, does ANYONE need any other reasons?
that’s so real
Thank you for your heart for kids and wanting to cultivate the good for their souls. I must admit, I have a boy and girl, both SUPER into the books (my third child is also now getting into them). I do worry a little because they aren’t gamers… we’ve been purposeful in focusing on other things, and thankfully, they are very happy with books, violin, sports and ballet (but they certainly aren’t screen-free, don’t get me wrong). They might now get into video games, haha. Ack, they love anything Green Ember! But, we so, so appreciate your creativity and commitment to bringing goodness, truth and beauty (as well as healthy limits) to our young people in whatever project you pursue! Thank you!
i like it because there are no ads and that the book is coming out too!
Our world needs better entertainment for children and teens – thanks so much for working towards that goal!
Our family has loved Green Ember for a long while, and now our youngest sister is enjoying the first book as well! Thank you for writing book that inspire kids to be noble, courageous, and perseverant. It’s not a small thing!
My family is backing this incredible project because SD Smith is an amazing author and we are ever on the hunt for truly family friendly/ edifying content! Super excited about the game too!
We are so excited to be a part of SD Smith’s new project! We are always on the look for family friendly, edifying books and games we can enjoy together !
For me, S.D. Smith’s thoughtful recommendation is all I need to buy something these days. However, for the general masses, I would get excited about all of the projects this game might eventually support–such as the other media formats teased.
I love the idea of a video game that partners with a book to actually encourage more reading. My girls love to read, but my boys don’t get super excited about the prospect. When they can relate a book to something else (a movie, a video game, etc.) it really does encourage them to dive into the book in a new and exciting way. I love your heart behind creating this video game! This is such a fun endeavor. We can’t wait.
The biggest reasons for me is
1. It has a beginning, middle, and end. So it is not a constant loop of playing.
2. It is not for building income or selling stuff.
3. It is a morally good story of good vs. evil
As a teenage girl it has been really hard to see my friends get sucked into video games and social media. There are times where I wonder what has happened to them. I really appreciate that you have made a game like this. Thank you so much!
Ps. I shared this with a friend!
All those reasons are reasons I am backing this project…but particularly:
“We designed our game to have natural limits. ”
Video games exist. They are not inherently bad. Children (and adults, myself included) enjoy them, but it is important to enjoy them in moderation. One of the things that stood out to me in the Live Q&A was that the game is relatively short compared to many modern games out there. It has an ending, as opposed to a continuous loop with endless gameplay. It is a story-driven experience (but more than just a visual novel), instead of an ever-developing, open-world that encourages gaming addictions with daily log-in rewards. Although I am not the target audience for this project, I admit that I am super excited about this game. My family grew up playing casual games and it is one of the ways I connect with my brothers and my Dad, but I have lost interest in most modern games (see above reasons). I am grateful for SD Smith, his stories, his values, and Longtreader Games…and everyone who makes these noble endeavors possible!
The most compelling part is offering a book & game adventure that has a beginning, middle, and end—not an endless addiction loop! This has always bothered us about video games. Plus, the Green Ember series is our all time family favorite!
I love these books and Helmer is my absolute favorite character! (He reminds me of my dad in a lot of ways.) I like video games and I am so excited to read through the book and then play the game based on it! These stories are so fun and inspiring, so gameifying it is another way to share the stories to maybe some people who don’t like reading. I am super excited!!!
We love your books, but even more love your emails and all that you stand for. As a homeschool family, we want desperately for our boys (and all boys, to read and be shaped by good literature – you are producing that!
I also shared your email with a few friends!
Excited to play the game, looks really fun.
My son: I have always wanted to know what happened to Helmer!
My kids are so excited to continue this story. Like many, Helmer is a dearly loved character in our family. We are so excited to experience the new book, but also get to play it through the game. We are slowly adding video games to our life, but it is so hard to find positive games that inspire and encourage. I am so excited for a story line game that I know I don’t have to worry about what is included. Thank you Sam for the amazing stories you have brought to this world.
Your books are amazing SD!!! I have loved your books since our family first got them and I have read them all probably 10-20 times, they are that good. I love your books and you are a great author, please write more!!! I have sent it to almost all of my friends, because they are Green Ember lovers too.
We’re excited for another Green Ember book! Helmer is one of our family favorites! We even named our puppy Heyna since she’s brave and fiercely loyal! The idea of a video game that can be part of family game night sounds exciting, especially if it happens to bring more kids into the Green Ember world! As a family with a girl and 5 boys, we’re thankful for all the fun we can have in the mended wood!!
I have to admit, when you told us about a “Secret Project”, I wasn’t really thinking of a video game. I had recently stopped playing video games because some of the ones I was playing would have me playing it for a few hours, and I felt like I should be doing something else with my time. My family aren’t really video game people, like your family, but we still play them. I failed to see the value in staring at a screen for hours, and I would rather do something like read a book or my Bible (not that those are bad things). But then on the day of the announcement, you mentioned that THIS game had “A beginning, a middle, and an end, like a good story”. Then I remembered something. A couple years ago, I had a game I used to play, and loved it. Why? I tend to look for, especially in certain media, the things that I think make it quality. That is: Story, dialogue, characters, score, and graphics. This game had that, the beginning, the middle, and the end. The way the Story flowed, the hand painted worlds, simple but beautiful, the powerful, emotional scenes, accompanied by a magical score, the way the characters struggled and came out of it, the dramatic battles where good prevails, the way it ended like I were to linger on the last page of a good book, wishing that it didn’t end. A. Good. Story. Well laid out, with immersive gameplay where cutscenes were walked into, where the flow of the story was never put on hold. I’m a teen in a home school household, where I can see that there can be negativity about video games. But if it’s done right, with the goal to be to reach the next generation with love and showing them that there is still goodness in a world of darkness. I believe that this project will succeed, proving to the ones that doubt that when goodness is intentional, even in worldly things, it can reach a lot of people in many good ways. I believe in this project, and it’s good to know that I’m not the only one. Thanks for being on our side! (P. S., Sorry, long post).
I believe in this project because I share the values behind The Green Ember series. Life is tough. Sometimes, things don’t turn out the way you want. However, there is hope and healing in the midst of the struggle, and the outcome is worth far more than the effort. Helping our kids see this in story and in play in a wholesome way is something we need more of. I’m grateful for this project and proud to be able to support it.
The most compelling reason to back this project is because we need more wonderful fiction that our sons want to read, written by Christians!
If my friends are going to play video games I would much rather they play a video game with a story I know and love and would be able to talk about with them rather than just wasting their time playing a random game I don’t know about.
Junk in, junk out. My family read the Green Ember series aloud together and we had a wonderful time. My oldest daughter (who probably doesnt remember our family reading) has recently started reading the books. I’m always wary of the media that my children consume and I try hard to filter out things that are trying to glamorize wicked behaviors or even present them as things that are acceptable to overlook. These books had great plot and character development so that they were entertaining, but were more importantly sage for my family to read.
Books aren’t the only medium that my kids consume and video games are harder to preview than other media (you can’t fast forward or flip through the pages). It’s great having a game being developed that is based on a story that we enjoy by a group that we can trust to create with Christian values.
Hi Mr. Smith!
I love your books and I think this game could go far! I think some of the most attractive features in this game are:
1. No adds (which is, by the way, the best thing about it!)
2. No weird chat so little kids can play it too!
3. Purchase free!!!
Thank you so much,
Iris G. & Family
i love that it doesn’t have a chat space. it will keep me and my siblings safer.
i told all my friends about it and they think its cool!
Video games are not inherently evil, but there are not many wholesome choices out there. Having a game that I know I can trust and might encourage kids to READ MORE is a win-win! (Also, it’s about Helmer, which automatically makes it awesome. )
I don’t play video games but this sounds like a good idea for people that do. I’m excited about the book.
Excited for more of the Green Ember!!!
I believe one reason to back this project is because it’s family friendly and is made in a way to inspire boys (and girls) to go on and do better things in their lives. The whole green ember series inspires bravery in boys and girls in a world that continually tells kids to do the opposite.
I believe this is another story to inspire that same bravery but in a way that may reach even more kids.
My family and I our so excited for this new story!
Because everyone NEEDS more Helmer in their lives.
I 100% agree
Yay!!! Thrilled for these new adventures! 🙂 Can’t wait to read and play Helmer’s story.
I’m supposed to choose the most compelling reason to back this project?? I can’t think of any reasons that are NOT compelling! Helmer is awesome, Green Ember is awesome, S. D. Smith is awesome, rabbits are awesome, new books are awesome, cool games are awesome, and it’ll be nice to see my brother playing something besides Fortnite. I’m so excited!!!
As someone else said, it’s helmer, does it need any other reason?? But the idea of a green ember video game is just plain awesome! I think it’s supposed to get me extra entries or something so I have told my friends about the kickstarter
Because I love reading and I love gaming, but together? Awesome sauce!
The most compelling reason to back this project? To support a new game adventure AS WELL AS support a new book from our favorite S. D. Smith: Author of The Green Ember! How else do we show our place beside yours?
(Also, I posted on FB, tagged 3 friends and sent the email two 2 friends! )
Helmer is my fav Green Ember character and I love the idea of an origin story. I don’t really play video games, but I would still consider backing the Kickstarter to support S. D. Smith. I love how down-to-earth and personal his marketing is.
I sent this post to 2 other people. 😉
I am sending this to all my friends!
I hope that a lot of people change through the book and game.
We need mlre video games that are thoughtfully made like this!
Best reason to back is because the other books are amazing so this one is sure to be just as good! And a game that’s actually made with kids in mind?! Amazing.
I want to back this project because I love helmer and can’t wait to read his story!
The game is definitely worth backing! I love that my kids will be able play something that is safe, with no chat option & is a light in such a dark world. Thank you for your heart behind this!
i backed this because the green ember is my favorite book series
I am backing this project because The Green Ember series is my favorite. I love S. D. Smith’s books and I am sure I will enjoy his video game, too. I will inform all my family! 🐰⚔️
I am backing this project because The Green Ember series is my favorite. Also I love S. D. Smith’s books and I am confident I will enjoy his video game. 🐰⚔️
I think the best reason to back this project is because, well, it’s simply needed. You hit the nail on the head, Mr. Smith, with this latest blog. I’m a girl, and I love more than anything reading about heroic boys (and girls, too, which you do very well) that gives people hope and maybe a yearning for something different. To be different. Because, let’s be honest. Maybe we don’t live in a world of dragons and lords of prey and #rabbitswithswords, but we do live in a world that has evil, has bad guys, and has a battle for right and wrong. Your stories, in a way, encourage people, without being overt, to prepare for the real battle that goes on in our every day lives. To put on the Weapons of our warfare, and to be the brightest light in a dark world. Your stories are an inspiring thing, and I think that by creating a video game, you will be inspiring kids even more because they will almost get to live the story in a bigger way. Thank you for all the thought you put into this! Love it! Blessings!
I love the green ember books and am soo excited for yall to make it a game. I love reading books that are set in a time era that holds swords and bows. My favorite characters are Joe and Helmer, and I am sooo excited for Helmers story.
My sisters and I are HUGE fans of The Green Ember series–ahh and Helmer is definitely my favorite character! I was sooo excited when I heard that you were making a new book about Helmer, and a video game too! I value good, clean fantasy books with a ring of truth to them. Thank you for putting your work out there, Mr. Smith! I really appreciate it 🙂
I found the most compelling reason to be a game like when I was a kid – no online interactions, no microtransactions, no ads. Just a game with a good story. Something I can let my kids play and not worry about what else they might be exposed to.
Thank you for sharing your purpose and heart behind the game. That’s what made me want to back the Kickstarter. My family and I have loved the books, and they’ve been a great audiobook addition to our travels on home assignment. I was not crying, I just got dust in my eye!
We’ve encouraged the purchase of the whole series at the libraries we visit and work at.
My kids read your books. My kids also play video games some. They have already played your books outside. With this video game, they will not only be immersed even deeper into the world you created but deeper into the Creator.
I don’t need to spot another compelling reason, because I have my own! 🙂 We’re backing your project because we love your stories, and have read them all together as a family. You write strong, compelling characters in a rich and amazing world, and we want to support any way we can to ensure that we can read more about new characters and existing characters. We also love playing video games, so the idea of a Green Ember video game sounds incredibly fun.
I know we need to introduce our kids to video games eventually. My parents did not, and when my brother arrived at college, he nearly failed his first year because he hadn’t learned self control with video games! We appreciate the work you and the team are doing, to create safe, ennobling media.
But in this list you created, it struck me that the boys my girls will date and marry are likely playing video games. As a mom to three girls, that’s a big deal! I want to support this video game for those boys.
This is AMAZING!!! My kids have been Green Ember fans since we discovered this book seriese in 2020. Right now they are distracted by video games about crafting a mine (see what I did there? 🤭) and while it’s nice they are “playing” with family from different states, the game was still created to be addicting. We are looking forward to Helmer’s story with the new book and video game! Until this kickstarter is achieved: My place beside you!
We love Green Ember, we like video games and Helmer is our favorite character. Having all three of those things in a video game and book are so exciting.
* We are not preying on them, but praying for them.
* Civilization needs noble boys.
Those two points really hit home for me. I am very excited for the both the book and the game!
I love the idea of this game! My boys love immersive games, and the world and values of Green Ember is a place I wouldn’t mind them hanging out in at all 😉 I’d feel confident that the things they practice and see in Helmer’s story would be good and formative.
I think one of the most compelling reasons to back the Kickstarter is to prove wrong the lie that our games and media *have* to be the garbage machines that most games are today.
As an indie dev and somebody trying to make games and businesses with friends and family, I’m so on board with the heart and motivation behind what you are doing.
We’re on your side too!
My siblings and I love these books and are super excited to be able to continue the story through a video game!