YES THE VIDEO GAMER IN ME CAN RANT NOW MUAHAHAHAHA
via GIPHY: From Hellblade. Senua looking up at the camera with a determined expression
Ok but seriously, video games can be a great learning tool and destresser when done well! This was the focus of the discussion of the week as we focus on both how to story tell and how to make it of interest to people. A discussion we had in class and mentioned in one of the readings of the week is about game theory versus historical accuracy. It can be a hard balance of keeping the player interested without bogging down the game with facts.
Teaching through Play: Using Video Games as a Platform to Teach about the Past by Krijn H.J. Boom, Csilla E. Ariese, Bram van den Hout, Angus A.A. Mol and Aris Politopoulos, talks about games like Assassin’s Creed, Sid Meier’s Civilization (Civ), and Battlefield that use a historical backdrop for the game. Setting aside the debate on whether video games cause violence, or violent behavior, this group does a good job at focusing on the idea that people may learn different things from a game depending on if it is linear or non-linear. What does that mean?! Basically linear is when there is a specific plot and ending in the game, where non-linear games can have diverse endings based on the players choices throughout the game.
A game I like to use as a great example of being linear is Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. I like this example because it balances keeping player interest and the historical mythology of the Norse without overwhelming the player. There is a journey that leads “you” (Senua) through a mental and physical experience over her lost lover. She is learning about her lovers mythological beliefs and is struggling with psychosis along the way. This is a well done game all the way around as the player is able to be fully immersed into the world and can learn about the Northmen at their own pace.
There are some games that have to sacrifice how much historical content or accuracy they use for the sake of the game. Like in Assassin’s Creed there is a common occurrence of the games protagonist having the choice in their next action and this does not always make sense to the time period or culture. To discuss further without spoilers, the player can choose to have a more interesting and dramatic plot, or choose what a person of that time would do. This is why historical games tend to be fiction “based off historical events.” It is much easier for the writers to change things where need be to keep the plot moving. This applies to other topics as well. Our class discussed George R.R. Martin claiming that the Game of Thrones series is based off history. This is a stretch to say the least. But historians have had to take what we can, as not too many gamers are searching for the tag or identifier of “educational.”
via GIPHY: Looking down at an animated character’s hands playing a videogame with a controller
I also thought that this week had some really interesting content! While I tend to watch people stream games more than I play them just due to console restraints, I agree that they are a great de-stressor. I think that games that even attempt a bit of historical accuracy are valuable. You never know which kid is playing an Assassin’s Creed game and that is the jumping-off point to actually study that period.
Hi Emily! I definitely agree with you that video games could be a great and effective learning tool when used correctly. Video games are usually very plot-driven, so what better way to use them to tell a story about the past? It would be great if video game creators and historians use their forces to create a super accurate, historical game! Or is that asking too much lol
Hi Emily! I agree that video games can be a useful learning tool by encouraging an interest in a specific topic. For the most part, though, I think that they just encourage an interest in playing video games. In other words, they entertain more than they inform. My kids spent a lot of time playing games like Oregon Trail and SimCity at home, but I would hardly have called it “studying”. I think that you hit the nail on the head when you pointed out that “not too many gamers are searching for the tag or identifier of “educational”.
Hi Emily. I have to say that I like stretches. I mean, we historians do it anyway but in a more concealed way. At least fiction creators are transparent about how they stretch things. I am totally up to mix video games and history, provided that I have the skills to do it. I think we, historians, can be of great help in crafting an historical reality in which character decisions and plot swerves would make sense, in the historical sense of the term. That is the value that we, from the standpoint of historians, can add to the creative process of video games. Of course, we, as creative minds, might add much more than that.
For all their historical faults, I can say I genuinely love Assassin’s Creed. I’m probably wickedly biased and clouded by nostalgia, but I think even games that twist historical narratives still have some inherent value if they can get people interested in a real historical period. As such, you’ll have to pry the Assassin’s Creed games out of my cold dead fingers.