Christian-themed movies, music and books are relatively big sellers in the market. However, Christian-themed video games are few and not many retailers are willing to stock them. It just represents the tiniest fraction of an $11-billion industry, but developers expect the market to grow with the popularity of faith-based movies and books such as Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" and the "Left Behind" series of novels.

A conference is to be held in Portland, Oregon 30th-31st July at which 100 Christian video game developers are expected to attend. It will be the third annual Christian Game Developers conference, the focus would be on how to figure to get more Christian-themed video games to the market.

Conference organiser Tim Emmerich, a software engineer, said Christian game developers-mostly evangelical Protestants, want to offer an alternative to violent games and spread the gospel without boring or alienating players.

"The target audience ranges from Christian gamers eager for new thrills to teenagers and 20-somethings who have never picked up a Bible," said Emmerich.

A Canadian developer, Mackenzie Ponech believes that the idea of Christian video games is creating a fun, entertaining game that doesn't condescend to its non-Christian players. "It's not about taking a Bible, rolling it up and shoving it down the person's throat who's playing the game," said Ponech, who co-founded Two Guys Software in Edmonton, Alberta.

The company's most popular game, "Eternal War: Shadows of Light," also references the "armour of God" mentioned in St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians. Players assume the role of Mike, an angel charged with saving a suicidal teen. They battle demons -- and the teen's own doubts -- with spiritual weapons that include "soul disks," "Trinity blasts," and the "smite," a ball of liquid holy energy that vaporizes bad guys.

Unlike some of their secular counterparts, Christian video games avoid "all that blood and guts and gore" and most games incorporate Bible verses, and story lines often focus on spiritual struggles.

Religion expert Larry Eskridge says the emerging Christian video game industry marks the latest effort by religious believers to put their own imprint on popular culture.

Through the mission of the Christian Game Developers Conference, the organisers want to bring Christians involved with game development together in fellowship Games such as board, card, paper, video and computer. In addition it is to provide a chance to discuss topics relevant to game development and to pray for God to bless this industry.