Christian Retailing

Christian video game companies merge Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Thursday, 25 February 2010 04:25 PM America/New_York
Inspired Media Entertainment, the inspirational video game company that makes games based on the "Left Behind" book series, has merged with Digital Praise, the maker of Guitar Praise--a Christian game similar to the popular Guitar Hero.

Troy Lyndon, CEO of Inspired Media Entertainment--formerly known as Left Behind Games--said the merger, announced earlier this week, has "four key ingredients that will take our company to the next level."

"Those keys are strong brands and products, multi-channeled distribution, a solid management team and a history of generating millions of dollars in the emerging Christian video game market-a feat no company has matched," he said.

Digital Praise President and CEO Tom Bean added: "This merger gives us access to capital that we anticipate will enable us to produce far more new innovative games than we could hope to develop as a privately held company."

Michael Patcher, research analyst at financial services and investment firm Wedbush Securities, said the Christian video game market is "a significant market currently underserved by traditional publishers." "This merger will allow (Inspired Media) to be well-positioned to serve the millions of people of faith that enjoy Christian entertainment," he said.

Based in Murrieta, Calif., Inspired Media publishes six games, including Charlie Church Mouse, Keys of the Kingdom and Left Behind: Tribulation Forces, the sequel to Left Behind: Eternal Forces--regarded as the most widely distributed Christian PC game.

Besides Guitar Praise, Newark, Calif.-based Digital Praise publishes several games, including Adventures in Odyssey, Dance Praise, Light Rangers, Hermie & Friends, aMazing Bible, and two new iPhone game applications. After the merger is finalized, Digital Praise will become a subsidiary of Inspired Media.

Click here for more information on the merger.