No-cost access for ‘Holman Christian Standard Study Bible,’ fiction ads for video war games

B&H Publishing Group’s major new Holman Christian Standard (HCS) Study Bible will also be available online free when it goes on sale this month.

With print prices ranging from $49.99 to $150, the contents of the 2,000-plus-page study edition of the Holman Christian Standard Study Bible can also be found at www.mystudybible.com, with additional B&H resources also available for access there.

The move is one two initiatives by the Nashville-based publisher that major on promoting its resources in the digital world.

The online Bible is “the largest technological initiative that B&H has undertaken in the history of the company,” said Aaron Linne, executive producer of digital marketing. “We are very excited about what is going on.”

In addition to all the study notes, online users will find the KJV translation, a Bible dictionary and four volumes from the Holman New Testament Commentary series. Accompanying notes and cross references track with the user as he or she moves through the Bible text.

Meanwhile, in what is believed to be the first effort of its kind by a book publisher, military novels from B&H’s new Fidelis Books imprint are being advertised in military/action video games.

“Advertising Fidelis books in these games is perfect synergy,” said Linne. “Gamers love an immersive experience, and our titles bring our readers to the front lines of battle.”

Fidelis titles are being featured in games such as Anarchy Online; Battlefield: Bad Company; Dead to Rights: Retribution; Enemy Territory: Quake Wars; Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter Killing Floor and Mercenaries 2: World in Flames.

The ads were made by Massive Inc., a subsidiary of Microsoft Corp., and the creator of a leading network for video game advertising. Massive’s National Sales Manager Ian Ali, said: “No other book publisher has taken advantage of the military and action-adventure video game genre in the Massive network like Fidelis. Advertising directly to gamers that have a passion for playing through storylines like those featured in the novels is an outstanding fit.”

“Fidelis fiction has the distinct advantage of having authors who have been there writing about what they know … combat, fighting terrorism and dealing with insurgents,” said Julie Gwinn, marketing manager for fiction. “We have decorated military and FBI heroes writing novels incorporating their past experiences.”

Future plans for the online HCS Study Bible include adding the option to make personal notes and develop a smart phone application, added Linne, who said that there were no concerns that making the material available free online would harm physical sakes.

“At the core of B&H, all our products tie back to the Bible and ultimately our mission is to get people access to the Word of God, so when we have the capabilities to get something like this out there globally for free, how could we not?” he asked.

“When you look at the Internet, the HCSB translation is available for free in a number of places. Being the publisher of that translation, it only makes sense for us to offer it, too,” Linne added.

The Web site includes details about other B&H resources, with links to purchase—including one that takes visitors to the CBA locator service that identifies local Christian bookstores by zip code.

The HCS Study Bible was created following a major research project that asked study Bible users and non-users what they wanted in a study Bible. “We found out that quantity does not equal quality,” said Steve Bond, product acquisitions and development editor.

Similar to the print edition, the online study Bible pages emphasize the Bible text over the supporting notes, in response to research participants’ concern that Scripture be the focus. “We put the emphasis back where people said they want it–on Scripture,” said Jeremy Howard, director of Bible product development.