I wouldn't be too quick to call in the Spanish Inquisition. I often (mistakenly) think it would be nice if I was running things and everything went my way.
I also think the step between fascination and love is pretty great. Look at, for instance, this article by David Plotz about his experience reading the entire old testament:
http://www.slate.com/id/221261...

The answer to your question lies in the word POWER. You see, we are fascinated with being like God, without having to depend on God. Ever since the serpent promised Eve she could be “like God,” man has been obsessed with achieving power and knowledge, apart from their source: God himself. The idea of achieving equality with our creator promises the advantage of having to answer to no one. It eliminates accountability and dismisses the need for contrition and repentance. Ergo: guilt-free living. This dazzling proposition, coupled with a worry-free existence through omniscient omnipotence, forms a recipe for the perfect gaming distraction; provides fodder for endless media musings in books, comics, television and movies; and fires the kindling of dangerous and obsessive fantasies and imaginings of “playing God” which can imperil and destroy lives, families—even nations and races.

Contrarily, we who FOLLOW God, must admit our wretched, impotent, sin-tainted state and seek redemption through humility and meekness. We must admit our smallness, our helplessness; and put all our hope, faith and trust in the Christ, the One, greater than ourselves. I daresay most find this prospect much less attractive than the aforementioned “God” scenario, and sadly, when attaining “Godhood” proves impossible, many simply dismiss Him, harden their hearts and pretend He doesn’t exist, rather than bend the knee. Ironically, such a perspective from a limited being has no bearing whatsoever on the existence of our unlimited and uncontainable God.

This reminds me of a fascinating science fiction story (I can't recall title or author) about a planet called Olympus, where a robotic economy kept the residents supplied with all their needs, so they could spend their days playing with an advanced computer which allowed them to create worlds of which they were essentially gods. Most players created violent worlds ruled by philosophies such as "zap you before you zap me." One oddball became fascinated with improving life for his little creations, and eventually tapped a seldom used feature that allowed him to actually enter into one of the people in his created world, and spend a few years trying to teach everyone how to live ethically. After three years, they crucified him. He was saved from real death when a neighbor came by his home on Olympus, and hit a button that brought him back. Maybe this pocket god game will inspire someone to try that approach, although it will not, of course, provide an app for the word to be made flesh, or for the pocket god to come and dwell among the islanders.

As the older genration say's god forgive me and know disrespect how dare they take god name and use it in vain this is a disgrace before god and man. Amen to that!!!!!!!!

this article reminds me of the movie "Bruce Almighty" and one thing that i saw was that having absolute power without moral perfection does not amount to much. anyone who plays this game will find the allure of controlling everything just ends in misery.

"Ever since the serpent promised Eve she could be “like God,” man has been obsessed with achieving power and knowledge, apart from their source: God himself. " - i like this CredendoVides and this game is just another expression of this obsession. and ultimately we will all realize that this leads to nothing good.

"If people are so fascinated by the power of God, why aren’t they so quick to follow Him?"

People love power, but they often shirk responsibility. And with a simulation such as this it doesn't matter if you are responsible, much like in a racing video game where you can crash your car and just start over without any consequences.

And of course, people want that power for themselves. They want to control it rather than have it be given to them. Just IMHO!

Pastor Michael Lindvall says worship is "weekly practice at not being God." (http://tr.im/worshipful) Maybe now more than ever.

They don't want God to tell them what to do, they want to be a god and do what they want, sound familiar? Does Jonah have a ring to it, in that the king and his people knew there was a God, but didn't want to follow his laws. They wanted to do what they wanted to. Again we make our children insensitive to what is going on around them. Soon it will be okay to do whatever they want, then when someone gets hurt or dies, it's not their fault. I believe we are allowing our children to do things that are against common beliefs, just because someone else is doing it. That old addage of, "If he jumps off the bridge does that mean you can too?" Be careful what we allow our children to see and do. In God's Grace John

I'd say that people are more fascinated with what it'd be like to have the power of God (thus the popularity of the game) rather than ever following such a God. It goes to that whole original sin thing, the primordial garden and the false promise of "eat this special fruit and you'll be just as powerful as God!"

I'm sure others have said what i'm about to say....We aren't quick to follow God because following him does not mean you will have his power. It means His power is for you and not against you, but that is subject to his will. His power isn't subject to your thoughts/wants/needs/desires. We humans are often like Lucifer who wanted to be greater than God, we want power, we want to do whatever we want whenever we want. We want power, we don't want to be just followers, subject to what He wants when He wants, even if those things are good for us.