You find yourself in 1st century Israel with a team of 3-5 individuals that you will go on an adventure of Biblical proportions with. Each of you will choose the role you will play in this game of exploration. You can be a beggar, fisherman, Pharisee, Sadducee, scribe, tax collector, or tent maker (Figure #47). It is possible for the team to consist of multiples of the same character type. Each of these characters will begin with a specific set of base attributes and gold coins that will determine how they are able to interact with the environment and other in-game characters. These attributes fall under three categories: Heart, Head, and Hand (Figure #49). The primary goal of the game is to defeat the oppositions of faith, whether it be skepticism, legalism, physical enemies of the faith, or even demons and the supernatural. The game begins in the village of Nazareth and will take you and your team throughout Israel, sometimes together and sometimes alone. 

The Way is an exploration of 1st century Israel in which the maps vary from game to game because they are multi-directional and built from cards that are pulled at random (Figure #48). Each card reveals more and more of the map until you are able to advance to the next level of the game. A team can not advance until the entire team has met the requirements for each level. Characters and locations will offer information that may or may not be useful in future decision making. The purpose of the map is not to describe a physical location, but to create encounters with in-game characters, historical events, and opportunities to develop stronger attributes. The events that are revealed follow the ministry of Jesus Christ and include historical and biblical background that might help in decisions made by the team as a whole or individuals when the team has gone in different directions. Examples of the events a user will encounter can be historical events of that time period, any of Jesus’ miracles, His sermons, or His interactions with other characters from scripture (Figure #50). Experiencing these events can develop stronger attributes and may require the use of these while interacting with the events or people. 

The attributes that each player earns throughout the game fall under the following three categories - Head, Heart, and Hands (Figure #49). The Head category refers to knowledge and wisdom gained though the various experiences and interactions. Heart reveals a strength in any of the fruits of the Spirit. These would be love, joy, peace, patience, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Hands refers to the physical side of the campaign and can range from strength to skills and abilities that could prove to be fruitful along the journey. The application of these attributes can be towards simple tasks like catching fish to fending off an enemy of the faith through words, compassion, or even action depending on the situation. Each interaction may reveal a different approach for success. Once an attribute is received it can never be taken away. These attributes will follow the character throughout the entire game. 

Other ways to receive attributes is through side quests and mini games (Figure #51). These will be biblical and historical puzzles based on experiences that the team or individual have had. The team can assist the individuals in these mini games. Memory verses will also be included as methods of receiving attributes in the Head category. 

Leveling up will require the entire team reaching a prescribed number of attributes before moving forward. This should encourage each player to assist each other to do better and help maintain a teambased approach to the game. An individual does not beat the game, the team does. 

Although the game is broken up by different levels, there are two main phases to complete in order to beat the game. The first phase of The Way focuses on the time period during Jesus’ ministry. The players will all begin by experiencing Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist and from there interact with different events that will lead up to His crucifixion. Since the game is built on randomization, the events may not happen in a linear timeline and the players may experience the same event multiple times, but each time with a different result or take away. The only events that will only happen once are Jesus’ baptism and His crucifixion. This final event should lead the players into the second phase of The Way. 

The second phase of The Way deals with the early church. The opening scene or interaction begins with Mary discovering the empty tomb. This phase is more about interacting with the various people of the New Testament. Again, the timeline is not linear and events can be experienced more than once. The end result is to receive the appropriate amount of attributes in order to complete the game. 

This is a team-based game, so interaction with teammates is very important. It is possible for teams to go in different directions, so communication is imperative for success. The game has a threaded conversation chat feature that allows for constant interaction between players (Figure #52). The chat can be used for strategy, encouragement or casual communication. Along with the in-game chat feature for each team, there is a discussion board that allows for wider interactions with other players and teams. This allows for open discussion about the game, but will also encourage gifting in-game items, verse sharing, or more in-depth community building like Bible studies, fellowship, or discipleship opportunities. 

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