History and Games This Week
Welcome to the week in history and games, a short collection of links to stories and news that we hope you find interesting.
Listen. Let's just be real and face facts. The biggest news in historical video games this week is that there is a new Call of Duty game. That's just the way it is. There are reports that the game is an alternate history, taking place in a 1950s timeline when World War II failed to end in 1945, though Eurogamer's reporting contradicts this. I don't know that anyone would be shocked if this next entry did go alternate history after all, what with its history of Nazi zombies and everything. Regardless, it looks like we have another Call of Duty set in World War II. Hopefully Bob has a better time with this one than he did the last time.
World War II is not the only twentieth century cataclysmic tragedy sparked by European recklessness and bloodlust to get more attention from game developers this year. Verdun - one of those quietly, almost secretly, enormously successful team shooters - is getting a follow-up: Isonzo. This game is set on the Italian front and will apparently feature Alpine warfare. All of which sounds pretty cool to us. We might have to reach out to our friend Chris Kempshall and talk some World War I.
A couple of academic talks to share this week! First, educator and all round video games studies good dude Jeremiah McCall sat down with the ARISE Project a few months ago, and their conversation is now readily available online. Jeremiah talks about his experiences as an educator and also makes some good arguments for the application of his Historical Problem Space framework, potentially in game design and in his upcoming work with students. Jeremiah was also a good neighbor and spread the word this week about a talk that Thomas Lecaque gave on White Nationalism in Neo-Medieval Tropes in Bethesda games; no word on the online video just yet, but get over to the History & Games Lab at the University of Edinburgh and have a look around while you're waiting.
Before we go, those of you who interested in internships in the game industry might want to check out a couple of opportunities at Mohawk Games, where they are looking for a Community Intern and a Marketing Intern. We are fans of Mohawk Games' Old World around here; John has been playing it a bit recently and we will be talking about it again when it fully releases.
Finally. Hades received the Bafta (that's British Academy of Film and Television Arts) for Best Game this past week. Congratulations Supergiant Games! We like your game.
