So recently there’s been more news about Treyarch already beginning production on “Call of Duty 7″, and it’s currently unclear as to whether they’re still sticking to the WW2 theme (though there have been rumours that they might be moving towards a Cold War period theme). However, Treyarch did make a statement last year that they wanted to “put a close to the war (WW2)”. And if it’s true, thank goodness for that. “Why?” I hear you ask? Why shouldn’t developers develop any more World War 2 (WW2) games? I’ll tell you why:
Beating a Dead Horse
Let’s put it this way: ever heard of the phrase “beating a dead horse”? Well, developing WW2 games in modern times is like a developer digging up the corpse of a horse from the 1940s, leaving it out in the sun to tan for awhile, then painting it in different colours to decorate it, after which they start collecting fees from us gamers to let us beat the dead horse, even though we’ve probably beat it a ton of times before. After awhile (when the game gets old), they wash the dead horse so that it’s back in its original state and they then bury it again. Why? So that the next developer can dig up the same damn horse, decorate it slightly differently, then collect a fee to let people beat that same horse. And so the cycle repeats itself.
What’s the point I’m trying to put across with this weird analogy? There’re a few things:
Same Damn Horse
Every single WW2 game is essentially the same at its core. Sure, different developers decorate it differently, some are better looking than others, but ultimately it’s still the same dead horse they’re reusing over and over again. It’s just utterly tiring. In some ways, it almost makes developers seem lazy, as if they’re just using WW2 as a backdrop so that they don’t have to come up with new stories or gameplay features like weapons and such.
Not only that, but these games completely lose that “element of surprise”. No matter what form of entertainment one is appreciating, that element of surprise always contributes to the consumer’s enjoyment. Be it whether you’re watching a movie or playing a game, it’s always much more enjoyable the first time round. The thing with WW2 games though is that players already know what to expect. The idea of WW2 games conjures up images of bolt action rifles, WW2 era uniforms, clanky weapons, war torn environments, enemies screaming German every other second, etc. Even if there’s a really grand atmosphere, there’s nothing “epic” about it, because you’ve probably already seen the same mechanics in many previous games already. There’s nothing “epic” about having artillery fire rain down on you all of a sudden because it’s happened to you so many times already, and you know you’re going to get out of it somehow anyway so there’s no need to panic. Instead, for example when you’re fighting a sentinel for the first time in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, the first thought that comes to your mind is “Oh my God, how in the world am I supposed to do this…” and when you actually do accomplish such a mission, the sense of satisfaction is simply overwhelming. With WW2 games however, the fact that you can more or less know what to expect from the game even before you even load it in obviously sucks the fun out of it.
Worst of all, you ALWAYS know who’s going to win at the end…
We’ve seen everything
After that much recycling of the same horse, you’d expect there to be some wear and tear. And trust me, the WW2 genre is already showing its bare bones. There’s simply no meat left in these WW2 games, because there’s little space for creativity. There’re only that many weapons one can choose to put into a game, there are only that many scenarios to use, and hence there are only that many stories to be told. That doesn’t mean these stories aren’t great stories in and of themselves, I mean this is one of the largest wars in human history. However, hearing the same stories over and over again can get tiresome after awhile. There’s simply nothing much left that a developer can add to this genre to keep gamers interested in such games.
Old Age
Another obvious problem is that this dead horse is OLD. I mean the only thing interesting about WW2 from a historical stand point is the overarching story of one of the largest wars in human history. The action itself is actually pretty boring by today’s standards, yet a large part of playing a WW2 game is focused around the action itself. Firing weapons that deal so little damage but yet have to be reloaded like every 5 seconds because they have a ridiculously small ammo clip simply isn’t fun at all. I could go on about such examples, but I’d think most gamers get my point that running around with guns blazing in the 1940s simply isn’t as fun as doing so in “Modern Warfare” situations or even scenarios staged in the future.
Immortality
The weirdest thing to me though is how this “dead” horse appears to be somewhat immortal. Some developers are simply reluctant to let go of this genre, while many WW2 franchises just refuse to die out.
(Stats below include expansion packs/limited editions/etc.)
- The Call of Duty series has had 10 games within 5 years.
- The Medal of Honor series has had 14 games within 8 years.
- The Brothers in Arms series has had 6 games within 3 years.
- The Company of Heroes series has had 3 games within 3 years.
In fact, according to the Wikipedia list of WW2 games, there’ve been easily a few hundred games released since 1984 when the classic top-down WW2 shooter “1942″ was released. Isn’t that more than enough already?!
Let The Dead Horse “Die”
There’s no doubt there’ve been great games released under the WW2 genre, but now more than 60 years after the war itself, it’s time we moved on. In fact, it’s odd how developers seem to prefer to keep reusing WW2 as a backdrop to their game even when they don’t need to. For example Company of Heroes was a really good and solid RTS game, but did that have anything at all to do with it being staged in the WW2 era? It could have been just as good, if not better, a game if they thought of and used an equally solid backdrop, and Infinity Ward has proved this point by bringing Call of Duty out of WW2 and into modern times with their own story to tell. If only more developers chose to emulate such games instead of doggedly hanging on to WW2, maybe we can finally let this dead horse “die”.
48 comments ↓
Seth
May 31st, 2009
I do agree that WW2 has been overused in some senses, but it’s a conflict of such depth and scale that I don’t think it can be written off as a setting just yet.
I think the issue is that developers are just making the same old WW2 experiences. Mostly FPS that make us play through the same old campaigns in Western Europe.
I recently started playing Call of Duty: World at War, and although I expected to be bored when the focus moved away from the South Pacific, I actually found Stalingrad to be a unique enough experience.
I think what we need are some different approachs to creating games set in the World War 2 era. An RPG casting the player as a double agent perhaps? A management game that tasks you with the supplying of armies, and the feeding of the home front. Any game that lets you play from the POV of a sympathetic Nazi soldier. A concentration camp strategy sim might be going a bit far though..
A stealth WW2 game could potentially be great, but those that have been attempted thus far have been rubbish.
There are so many lesser WW2 battles that haven’t really been covered in videogames, so I really do think there is still potential left to fulfill.
It would be fascinating so see a high-profile developer try to tackle a World War 1 game…
But honestly, is it really surprising that the biggest conflict in human history (and a relatively recent one at that) is the setting for the largest number of interactive works?
Ian S.
May 31st, 2009
I only needed to read the title to know that I agree with you completely!
RPGFan
May 31st, 2009
I completly agree with everything in this article. So does someone else I know.
Check out this game he’s making. It’s a WW2 Tactical RPG, and puts a new saddle & horseshoes on an old, tired horse
It’s yet to begin development so if anyone reading this can sprite, compose music or can just spead the knowledge of the game around, please do so. I’m sure he could use the help.
http://www.rpgmakervx.net/index.php?showtopic=14779
br
May 31st, 2009
“It would be fascinating so see a high-profile developer try to tackle a World War 1 game…” Are you kidding? One shot…..reload…maybe a machine gun here and there….might as well go with muskets. Who ever can ram rod that black powder the fastest wins.
Dan
June 1st, 2009
Seth is right; the sheer scale of a war such as this means the possibilities are endless, and WWII games will continue to be produced as long as people will agree to buy them. Which they will.
Additionally, I’m not sure it’s fair to lump all games together in such a category. While some companies are clearly capitalizing on the genre to make a mindless shooter in a WWII skin, others have taken a thoughtful and mature approach. The new Call of Duty apparently features a mode with Zombie Nazis, which I consider to be a very tasteless addition to an already unrealistic game. Brothers in Arms, on the other hand, is geared toward tactical gameplay for adult audiences. Even the narrative is heavily focused on the interpersonal and intrapersonal struggles of the soldiers, akin to a novel or excellent film. Games like these serve to educate and honor rather than diminish the significance of the history.
Moreover, I think the subject matter is relatively unimportant when it comes to the overall game development process. Even if a game is about unicorns in a gumdrop factory, it could be designed so brilliantly that it is heralded as the greatest game of all time. It’s the gameplay that matters most.
Grilled Seabass
June 1st, 2009
I agree with Seth, there is great depth and variety to explore in this conflict. Its a conflict that covered europe, the south pacific and Asia, jungles, forests, fields, the sea, villages and cities. I personally find a lot of modern shooters quite repetitive. As for your point that the weapons deal very little damage – thats completely offensive. A bullet from one of those weapons will deal as much damage to the human on the receiving end as they do today.
If you don’t like these games, don’t play them, simple as that.
I agree with Seth that I would like to see some more genres set in WW2. I know its not WW2 but did you ever play Hidden and Dangerous Seth? That was a superb stealth shooter, and a similar game set behind enemy lines in WW2 would have great potential.
Seth
June 1st, 2009
@br
It’s interesting that you instantly assume that I was talking about a First-Person Shooter.
@Seabass
I haven’t played Hidden & Dangerous, but reading up on it now, I really like the sound of it.
A World War 2 game isnt that limited by the setting, only by the imagination of the developers.
Kang-An
June 1st, 2009
Haha my article sure stirred up quite a bit of discussion.
Summary: A game about WW2 isn’t bad at all… Yet most WW2 games released to date have been lackluster. (Note I said “most” not “all”).
I agree that a game isn’t limited by its setting, but the problem is that most WW2 developers thus far simply don’t pump in enough originality to keep most gamers from going “argh another WW2 game…” everytime a new one is released.
marty
June 1st, 2009
the thing people like about world war 2 games is that are are constantly being shot at the action is non stop and the battles are emense i understand that alot of people now adays like to sit in bushes and creep around buildings trying not to be seen so prefer the modern war games but for me and all die hard gamers we love world war 2 games for the simple fact that the action is non stop so stop your whining get out of your hiding places run around shoot like hell and enjoy the action how its meant to be….
campers translates to….. boring sad no life
its not about how many kills you get and how many times you die its about having a good time
treyarch have done a fantastic job with world at war and i hope they continue to do so as they make the only ww2 game worth playing
Steve
June 1st, 2009
You don’t like WW2 games, fair enough, but you act as if your an ambassator for the informed gamer. I’m also sure theres far more effective ways to make your point than extending a metaphor to exaustion, it doesn’t make for compelling journalism.
All these reasons stated in your blog are obvious to people who decide to or not to play ww2 games, I personally decide to play WW2 games because the ‘biggest’ war in human history is an intresting backdrop for an action game. I don’t care how many times ww2 is revisited these games have a lot more originality, intergrity and creativity than the legions of crappy sci fi fps’s.
gabi
June 4th, 2009
sjcryty
Wenholz
June 7th, 2009
if i hear “MG42!” one more time…
doris
June 10th, 2009
I have always wondered why all WW2 FPS should make the player allied. I would love to play a FPS as a kraut
Iam sure with a bit of thought the player could be a
‘nice’ german if that bothers people, rescuing people from evil soviet partisans that kind of thing.
Steve
June 11th, 2009
I think its the whole… constantly retreating, knowing you were inevitably going to lose the war thing that puts developers off. A lot of people would find it offensive too as it would have to focus on the German war crimes.
Plus putting American soldiers in the game gives it more appeal to Americans and Europeans.
The Germans arn’t allowed to play these games anyway, so its a development risk.
You can still play as Germans in many multiplayer games.
Zeta Crossfire
June 12th, 2009
I personally like WW2 game. Im a WW2 historian and i became that way thanks to games like COD and i want more. I especially want more WW2 games fighting the japanese and fighting in italy.
Nice Germans
June 20th, 2009
It is a big taboo in Germany.
Ever heard the word “Vertreibung” ?
The soviets killed millions of Germans,
specially around Konigsberg, Danzig and Breslau,
and nobody gives a damn about it.
Maybe they will make a museum in Berlin to remember the
20.000.000 Vertriebene (“expelled” from the East”),
the biggest ethnical cleansing in the history of human kind, (!)
but the Poles are so much against it….
Of course there can’t be nice Germans in video games,
otherwise people would start making questions ! ! !
Nice Germans
June 20th, 2009
Here a Wikipedia article on the ethnical cleansing of 20.000.000 East European Germans, and the brutal murder of quite a few million
of German women and children (specially brutal around Konigsberg area)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expulsion_of_Germans_after_World_War_II
Stu-LaD
June 20th, 2009
I agree the WW2 games are now flogging a ‘dead horse’ used to love the original Call Of Duty and Medal Of Honour and have since found the followups to be pretty repetitive and the same old, same old.
Cracking article though!
roro
June 21st, 2009
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Ian
June 21st, 2009
I completely agree with roro.
jerry
July 5th, 2009
I’m not tired of WW2 games per se, I’m just extremely tired of WW2 FPS games. I would love to see WW2 tank and aircraft games done in the style and quality of Call of Duty, for example.
I would also like to see the games treat the subject more maturely. More Steven Spielberg, less Michael Bay. It’s a war, not an amusement park.
Pete
July 8th, 2009
World War 3 was boring, sequels are always the best.
Give WWII a Rest
July 10th, 2009
I think Its Time To Give WWII a Rest.
Aran
July 10th, 2009
are you a charity?
Seems like it?
Tooki
July 11th, 2009
I can see the point you’re trying to make, but most of the problem is not the setting–its the formula itself. I would, for instance, argue that Call of Duty Modern Warfare was such a critical success not because it took the series to a completely different setting, but because it told the story and engaged players in a completely new way. After all, one could hardly consider the plethora of modern and sci-fi combat games out there to be exploring new territory. In what way do Modern Warefare, Battlefield 2, Ghost Recon, Rainbow Six, Splinter Cell, and World in Conflict differentiate themselves thematically any more than say World at War, Battlefield 1942, Medal of Honor, Silent Heroes, Velvet Assassin, and Company of Heroes?
I also take issue with your inclusion of Company of Heroes in this list. Sure, COH is a game based in WWII, but its also one of the most unique and well designed strategy games in years. You make a big deal of the fact that COH now has 3 iterations but no mention was made of the even greater number of iterations that Relics previous game, Dawn of War, received. My point is that the uniqueness of a game can be independent of the setting in which it takes place. The reiteration of settings and themes that we have come to perceive as being generic is something that plagues every game genre and isn’t likely to go away soon.
On a final note, I feel that focus of these games that we generally consider to be “WWII” oriented is, with few exceptions, limited to a very brief period on front of a very large and complex conflict. If mainstream game designers were willing to portray other portions of the conflict that have thusfar gone overlooked, a far greater variety of games could be created. One example that I would personally like to see is the conflict in China.
tony bonner
July 15th, 2009
just want to play free war games please
Mo
July 20th, 2009
I like everyone else want to try ww 2 from a totally different view. ie a career as a tank soldier from 39 to ? any side will do. where you can chose historical tanks plus any mods, where you can command 1 tank to say a division? where you have the freedom to roam the battlefield on the western or eastern front and where you as the tank soldier can influence future tank design and tactics. although i am not german i would like to try and be a german panzer commander at kursk in a tiger tank fighting along side Micheal Wittmann.
Matt Baker
August 3rd, 2009
Fuck YOU!! you motherfuckin asshole!! there’s gotta be more WW2 games so just go to hell!!
Hoppkanin
August 9th, 2009
Ww2 games are OUT.¨
Seriously fuck the ww2 history, why not make more MODERN warfare, so we can experience what war would be like today.
i dont care if they used m1 in ww2 or ww1 i dont give a fuck, if i want to see something oft he old war, i put on a documentary, not to play 15 games with the same.
FUCK medal of honor, its all the same. bad graphics too, fuck those games.
Cod 4 modern warfare was AWESOME, not the same bullshit.
modern technology modern weapons, YES SIR! but im tired of beating up the same nazifucks in the same damn bunkers, the same damn japaneese fucks, the same god damn weapons and boats.
when is this era going to be over.
modern is best, FUCK CLASSICAL!!!!
Seth
August 9th, 2009
I think that Battlefield 1943 proves that World War 2 is still alive and kicking ass.
Mo
August 14th, 2009
Well Matt Baker, I Like WW2 games better than modern era games you obviously did not read my comment properly. And if you want to have an ADULT discussion about it then fine by me. Let me ask you a question are you by any chance from the usa?
Hello Hoppkanin, No offense my friend but if you want to experience modern warfare as it is today then might i suggest enlisting in your countries armed forces. I HAVE and believe me when i say that the feelings that you experience can never be duplicated by a game. WAR is Hell in any era trust me. I have spoken to men who fought in WW1 and WW2 and Korea and i served in Gulf War 1 and 2 and Bosnia and Kosovo the only thing constant in all of the above is the bond between the fellow soldiers.
Hello Seth, I will have to try out Battlefield 1943, Thank you for your reply.
Sean
August 20th, 2009
I agree with you completely. So far in the last eleven years, we have had no less that One Hundred and Seventy Six (yes) World War II games. It wouldn’t be a problem, except that the quality in gaming for this genre is falling. After Call of Duty 3, it’s like the entire game industry stopped trying.
Medal of Honor was a fun FPS the first time around. Now that they are on their 12th game, it’s just not fun anymore. CoD was really original and ground breaking, but the sequels (except for CoD4: Modern Warfare) are just the same thing with better graphics. Battlefield 1943 is the same exact thing as the rest of the Battlefield series, and is just.. okay. Wolfenstein came out earlier this year and it sucks. It’s pretty much the worst offender of the WWII games. They put absolutely no effort into the graphics or mechanics and just said, “Hey, let’s make a WWII games and throw some bull shit guns from Doom in the mix!” Terrible, terrible game. And the CoD5 Nazi Zombie thing was just a double play: World War II popularity, and Zombie popularity (mostly thanks to Dead Rising and Left 4 Dead.) This proves another point that game developers return to WWII when they need a quick buck and really don’t make decent games out of it.
If you like WWII games, good for you. I did, once. I also like chocolate cake, but I don’t think I would if I was force fed it for a week straight. Too much of an OKAY thing is a HORRIBLE thing.
Seth
August 20th, 2009
I thought Wolfenstein only just came out? And has received fairly positive reviews?
Kang-An
August 21st, 2009
Really? Positive reviews? I’ve only seen gametrailer’s one and they were pretty “meh” about it. Apparently, it’s one of those average shooters that gets everything more or less right but doesn’t actually do anything special.
From what I’ve seen of it, it looks pretty damn average. What makes it pretty bad is that it’s graphics get turned ALL the way down when it goes into online mode. It almost looks like a PSP game to me.
And I’m surprised that this post is still receiving so much attention almost 5 months after I wrote it…
Seth
August 21st, 2009
Well it’s got a 77 on Metacritic at the moment. I don’t think anyone expected it to do anything new, but let’s face it, most games don’t.
Yourownfart
August 23rd, 2009
Matt i agree with you!!!!! BIGGEST LOAD OF BULLSHIT I HAVE EVER HEARD. THIS LOT MUST BE A LOAD OF MANBIE PANBIE’S.
BE CARFUL YOU DON’T GO OUT WITHOUT UR PINK HANDBAGS.
PUSSYS
Charlie
August 29th, 2009
Well… i do not agree fully on this thing. I love WW2 games but i think they should make more modern warfare games. But not just stop making the WW2 games. If we put it this way 50% Modern Combat and 50% WW2. That would be nice.
Call of duty WaW did have some zombie slaghter fun and some other WW2 games had some of that little extra too but thats not the point, the WW2 games is based on different operations like operation overlord or others. Each WW2 game is different, theres tons of loads that you can put into the WW2 games like how smart the enemies are or more operations and more things.
But the Modern Combat games is the oppurtunity , i mean you can just make up a story for it. You can do that for WW2 games too but it’s not the real thing. Modern Combat games have a lot to give.
I say that WW2 and Modern Combat games is like as good as one another, no one can win.
Frank
September 9th, 2009
The ww2 setting is interesting. Once. Make it better, sure. But there has been plenty of awesome games in the ww2 setting now. So why are people still buying the ww2 titles? Well, it is not because of the ww2 part… it is because if you want a good multiplayer fps on the pc these days, what other choices are there? These are huge series, and the quality of the game makes it a good game. The setting, couldn’t care less. Most of my friends play ww2 games, and all of those that do have more than once uttered things like “I wish they did this in another setting.”
But then a futuristic “one hit and you are vaporized” setting, or a modern “one shot and you are disabled and probably not in fighting condition” setting would be a lot less friendly to the developers.
GFYM
September 10th, 2009
You talk like horses ass.
Send more WWII games !
Matt
October 6th, 2009
What would make an awesome change is some none-europe based games. Jungle warfare in the pacific at the end of world war two would be great
lawrence scott
October 20th, 2009
Why get rid of ww2 games they are much better than modern rubbish they have much more variation than just everyone with machine-guns and It should never ever be forgotten what millions upun millions of people had to go through. WW2 game will never die
DoC
October 23rd, 2009
There is a lot to be taken into consideration in dealing with wartime interactive entertainment. Do you remember the controversy spurred by the John Kerry’s “sim” on the boat in Vietnam? Or the Kennedy sim? People are touchy when it comes to modern warfare games, and don’t forget the foreign affairs that these could damage. Tom Clancy Ghost Recon is illegal in some parts of the world, because they pit existing governments as terrorists and enemies.
I’ve worked in the interactive entertainment industry, and there is a huge amount of politics involved in creating an international world war game. No one wants to offend anyone, but damn it we love shooting krauts, communists and terrorists. But what’s next? Shooting blacks, hispanics and jews? No. Because that’s unacceptable. It’s taking ones personal opinion, and campaigning (be it subconsciously) against a specific group be it demographically, political alignment or otherwise. Will we see a second United States civil war game between the anti abortion groups and the government, I hope not. Will we be mowing down Black Panthers? I really hope not.
In terms of international marketing, these need to be taken into consideration when developing a product for profit. As a (Ugh I hate to bring this up) post 9-11 society, we all realize we are on thin ice in terms of international relations. So what is the solution?
Create an enemy. Good Job.
We can create an enemy, giving a nod to COD MW2. But, then this very sensitive market would be flooded by an influx of poorly made, half assed current affair games. I don’t want that. Operation Flashpoint Dragon Rising is the perfect example.
I’ve ranted long enough. Here’s my point. I’m very selective in my interactions with world war 2 games. But wasn’t Velvet Assassin a fresh take at the ww2 genre. I don’t want to see these half assed developers potentially making any game that could potentially peak my interest in, and therefor, disappoint me once again. I think the ww2 genre is to keep the special kids where they belong, and allow the elite to dominate a sensitive market. Or we can all make games about some alien threat, and keep it there. Leave the modern games to the professionals, and stay out of our market. Take your shit games to an alternate universe, or the future, but don’t further complicate the strained relations we have now with those who are our enemies in the games, yet, our customers?
eh
October 27th, 2009
eh i have not played any WW2 games, but wondering if there was one where you play on the German/Japan side?
guiness
November 7th, 2009
It’s only really dull because WW2 games almost exclusively focus on the American perspective in Western Europe. WW2 was a big war and these games seem to ignore fighting in Africa, E. Europe and S.E. Asia. But if it’s American companies and developers making it, that’s always going to be the case (why bother trying something new if what’s tried and tested rakes in the cash anyway?)
Mr.M
November 9th, 2009
A lot of you want to see a game not focusing on the American perspective. I am making one and invite you to join. It’s a WW2 Tactical RPG with battles similar to the Advance Wars and Fire Emblem series. The intenet is to tel the story of all the nations involved in this great war. In fact, the game begins with a German perspective.
FOdder
December 24th, 2009
I’m sorry but i prefer the ww2 fps games. It’s getting to the point where MW is overdone. If they would take a break from WW2 for a year or two and come back maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. If they came out with a 70% something other than ww2, and 30% ww2 i’d be happy. I can’t stand Modern and Future warfare games.
Bo
January 22nd, 2010
Contrary to someone’s statement here, this type of game is *not* prohibited in Germany. These games sell pretty well there, too.
WW2 games any day
February 14th, 2010
Totally agree with nice germans and would love to be able to play as a Waffen SS officer in a cod scenario, all sides committed war crimes the soviets committed far more than the Germans but as they won its scribbled out from memory by the victors pen, think it would both be enjoyable to play as a german and enlighten those who have been brainwashed