Church Simulator 'Mass: We Pray' Revealed To Be 'Dante's Inferno' Publicity Stunt

Once again, Electronic Arts has exploited Christians to help promote its upcoming video game adaptation of Dante's Inferno.

The official website for Mass: We Pray now unsurprisingly reveals the Church-centric mini-game compilation to be a hoax.

"He who betrays the beliefs of the Church blackens his soul with the sin of Heresy. A Mass not celebrated by ordained priest or on consecrated soil is naught but false ritual condemned by clergy," declares the message that pops up when users click to either pre-order the game or send a "digital blessing" to a friend. From there, users are presented with the ability to watch "an Exclusive Dante's Inferno Trailer" and the option to "Damn thy Fellow Sinners to Hell" through a "Go To Hell" Facebook application.

"After all, a family shouldn't have to wait until Sunday to worship the Lord," read the original press release for Mass: We Pray, which described the title as "proof that videogames can be used to spread the Good Word" and "a revolutionary videogame that allows families to go to church every day from the comfort of their own home."

Electronic Arts drew outrage from Christians earlier this year, after staging a fake protest against Dante's Inferno at video game industry trade show Electronic Entertainment Expo. Actors held signs containing such phrases as "Trade in your PlayStation for a PrayStation," "Hell is not a game," and "My high score is in Heaven."

Another controversial campaign for Dante's Inferno, held during Comic-Con, asked participants to commit "acts of lust" for a chance at "a sinful night with two hot girls."

Electronic Arts later apologized for the Sin to Win contest, explaining that it was "part of our marketing efforts around the circle of Lust (one of the nine sins/circles of Hell)" and "each month we will be focusing on a new Circle of Hell."