Reviews

BOOKS

Get your community online!

Poor Richard's Building Online Communities by Margaret Levine Young and John Levine, authors of The Internet for Dummies. Top Floor £19.99 ($29.95)

One of the big words on the Net these days is 'community'. Really it simply means a gathering of people with something in common. Christian Family Network is a kind of community, linking thousands of Christians all over the UK and abroad.

But the hard job is getting a community to thrive by helping its members to participate, contribute and move the whole group forward together. That's where you could find this book invaluable.

There are stacks of reasons why it's well worth getting:

It's written in non-techie language
It give you all the advice you need to set up an online community without it costing hardly anything at all
It saves you huge amounts of time scanning the net for software, web hosts, resources and knowhow - by providing hundreds of links to tried and tested sites, most offering software that's free to download
It outlines the attributes of successful communities, and the reasons why some communities don't work - and the rules that make the difference

A few elements don't travel so well across the water, but mostly it's an invaluable tool in developing your online community. Why not set up one for your church, your local community or your favourite hobby? And let us know when you do!

GIVEAWAY!

We've got four copies of the book to give away to the most deserving recipients! Just mail us and tell us why it would be invaluable to you - deadline is Thursday 15 March

GAMES

Great graphics - and no gore!

Catechumen (PC only;£42.45 including P&P - UK; New Day 01452 728308)

I was a little hesitant as I investigated this US-produced antidote to the raft of blood-splattered, shoot 'em-ups that seem to be the staple fodder for computer games fans these days.

Christian games I've looked at before fell between two stools: they were either technically poor or just too much of a Christian blunt instrument - Bible-bashing with little interest in the gameplay.

Catechumen, I'm glad to say, is very different. For starters, the graphics and technical quality of the game is excellent. Teenagers and adults will enjoy the depth and clarity of the scenery as you make your way through this Roman-based adventure.

Your job is to rescue your Christian brothers from the catacombs where they have been imprisoned by Roman soldiers. You fight with spiritual weapons - an angel hands you your Sword of the Spirit - and you can pick up strength and insight from Bible scrolls found around the landscape. The storyline is genuinely "immersive" and there's plenty to give you hours of fun, and reminders about the spiritual weapons in the Christian's armoury.

The only disadvantage of the game is that you really need a fairly powerful machine to run it: Pentium 300 processor or higher, and 16MB video memory are recommended.

It won't be to everyone's taste, but it's a positive sign that Christians can write games of a high quality that provide good alternatives to much of the rubbish that's out there at the moment.

DEMO GIVEAWAY!

We've got 10 free demos to give away. The first 10 CFN members to mail us their name and address will get one.

Your chance to run a 'Third World' country

President for a Day (Damaris Publishing, £58.75; 10-user network license £41.13. PC only, minimum Pentium 166. Demos available. Order from CPO on 01903 604310 or Sunrise Software)

This is a major resource from new multi-media developers Damaris Publishing, put together with Jubilee 2000 and Tearfund, which helps players discover the issues and problems that have led many nations into debt.

Aimed at schools and youth groups, the game allows the player to run the fictional newly independent African country Mobesi. As President, you have to make decisions as to how the nation develops - and the consequences could be everything from economic growth and prosperity to war, political unrest, corruption and debt.

The game comes with stacks of resources attached: a large online teacher's guide showing how it can be used for everything from one lesson to a whole term's project; and discussion questions, a guide to debt, glossary of development terms and Biblical perspectives for the player.

Successfully piloted with users aged from 11 to 70, it combines news footage, live video sequences, and clever characterisation to immerse you in your new country. Specifically suited to RE and Citizenship, it would also prove useful for schools in Geography, History, Politics and Ethics teaching.

Well worth a look - and there's a website at www.presidentforaday.org.

It might just change your perspective on the so-called Third World.

COMPETITION!

We've got TWO copies of the game to be won! Just mail us and tell us the name of the fictional African nation you're invited to be president of. Include your name and address, and we'll pick out two winners on Thursday 15 March

Russ Bravo, CFN Director and Christian Media Centre Internet Development Manager

STORY TAPE

Families Together editor Clive Price has been on tour this month with Care for Education, and he's been telling stories! Clive goes into local schools and churches with his storytelling gifts, and has produced Dreamtime - a professionally recorded story tape focusing on tales set in Celtic and Roman times. A mixture of myth, legend and history, they're particularly useful for schools doing projects on the periods, or just for family listening in the car on journeys. You can get Dreamtime (playing time approximately 40 minutes) direct from Clive at 4 Bell Davies Road, Littlehampton, West Sussex BN17 6DU (Tel 01903 717878) for £4.99 (UK only). Make cheques payable to CM Price.

© Christian Family Network
is run by CPO, supported by
Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting,
Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.


		BOOKS Get your community online! Poor Richard's Building Online Communities by Margaret Levine Young and John Levine, authors of The Internet for Dummies. Top Floor £19.99 ($29.95) One of the big words on the Net these days is 'community'. Really it simply means a gathering of people with something in common. Christian Family Network is a kind of community, linking thousands of Christians all over the UK and abroad. But the hard job is getting a community to thrive by helping its members to participate, contribute and move the whole group forward together. That's where you could find this book invaluable. There are stacks of reasons why it's well worth getting: It's written in non-techie language It give you all the advice you need to set up an online community without it costing hardly anything at all It saves you huge amounts of time scanning the net for software, web hosts, resources and knowhow - by providing hundreds of links to tried and tested sites, most offering software that's free to download It outlines the attributes of successful communities, and the reasons why some communities don't work - and the rules that make the difference A few elements don't travel so well across the water, but mostly it's an invaluable tool in developing your online community. Why not set up one for your church, your local community or your favourite hobby? And let us know when you do! GIVEAWAY! We've got four copies of the book to give away to the most deserving recipients! Just mail us and tell us why it would be invaluable to you - deadline is Thursday 15 March GAMES Great graphics - and no gore! Catechumen (PC only;£42.45 including P&P - UK; New Day 01452 728308) I was a little hesitant as I investigated this US-produced antidote to the raft of blood-splattered, shoot 'em-ups that seem to be the staple fodder for computer games fans these days. Christian games I've looked at before fell between two stools: they were either technically poor or just too much of a Christian blunt instrument - Bible-bashing with little interest in the gameplay. Catechumen, I'm glad to say, is very different. For starters, the graphics and technical quality of the game is excellent. Teenagers and adults will enjoy the depth and clarity of the scenery as you make your way through this Roman-based adventure. Your job is to rescue your Christian brothers from the catacombs where they have been imprisoned by Roman soldiers. You fight with spiritual weapons - an angel hands you your Sword of the Spirit - and you can pick up strength and insight from Bible scrolls found around the landscape. The storyline is genuinely "immersive" and there's plenty to give you hours of fun, and reminders about the spiritual weapons in the Christian's armoury. The only disadvantage of the game is that you really need a fairly powerful machine to run it: Pentium 300 processor or higher, and 16MB video memory are recommended. It won't be to everyone's taste, but it's a positive sign that Christians can write games of a high quality that provide good alternatives to much of the rubbish that's out there at the moment. DEMO GIVEAWAY! We've got 10 free demos to give away. The first 10 CFN members to mail us their name and address will get one. Your chance to run a 'Third World' country President for a Day (Damaris Publishing, £58.75; 10-user network license £41.13. PC only, minimum Pentium 166. Demos available. Order from CPO on 01903 604310 or Sunrise Software) This is a major resource from new multi-media developers Damaris Publishing, put together with Jubilee 2000 and Tearfund, which helps players discover the issues and problems that have led many nations into debt. Aimed at schools and youth groups, the game allows the player to run the fictional newly independent African country Mobesi. As President, you have to make decisions as to how the nation develops - and the consequences could be everything from economic growth and prosperity to war, political unrest, corruption and debt. The game comes with stacks of resources attached: a large online teacher's guide showing how it can be used for everything from one lesson to a whole term's project; and discussion questions, a guide to debt, glossary of development terms and Biblical perspectives for the player. Successfully piloted with users aged from 11 to 70, it combines news footage, live video sequences, and clever characterisation to immerse you in your new country. Specifically suited to RE and Citizenship, it would also prove useful for schools in Geography, History, Politics and Ethics teaching. Well worth a look - and there's a website at www.presidentforaday.org. It might just change your perspective on the so-called Third World. COMPETITION! We've got TWO copies of the game to be won! Just mail us and tell us the name of the fictional African nation you're invited to be president of. Include your name and address, and we'll pick out two winners on Thursday 15 March Russ Bravo, CFN Director and Christian Media Centre Internet Development Manager STORY TAPE Families Together editor Clive Price has been on tour this month with Care for Education, and he's been telling stories! Clive goes into local schools and churches with his storytelling gifts, and has produced Dreamtime - a professionally recorded story tape focusing on tales set in Celtic and Roman times. A mixture of myth, legend and history, they're particularly useful for schools doing projects on the periods, or just for family listening in the car on journeys. You can get Dreamtime (playing time approximately 40 minutes) direct from Clive at 4 Bell Davies Road, Littlehampton, West Sussex BN17 6DU (Tel 01903 717878) for £4.99 (UK only). Make cheques payable to CM Price. © Christian Family Network is run by CPO, supported by Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting, Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.