A World War 1 Game

[SwagLordYoloson]

'Why aren't there any WW1 games?'

Why did you take my words then tell everyone here that you said them?

 

[CrazyMedic]

I had the same basic idea expect it switches between kind of survival horror characterization thing like you mention and a german(or if that is too "risky) a spy deep behind enemy lines doing kind of action stealth stuff, or you could do like a free roaming sniper thing where you are a given very very loose objectives and have to avoid patrols move from spot to spot then take the shot.

 

[Haakmed]

Only real way i can see this working would be if you created it as an RTS. Where you build trenches put men in them lay out artillery and try to take other trenches. (Kinda like mushroom wars if anyone has that on the PS3) FPS really wouldn't work because it would turn into you sit in a trench and shoot people as they run at you and then you counter charge and die. Unless you move to a different front. (Most people think trench warfare when they think WW 1 yes) I Do think an RTS version may be fun if done right. I remember playing a game which I can't remember the title for (I think hearts of Iron or something) that had a good system of building trenches and calling in air and artillery strikes on positions, only thing is it was set in WW 2.

 

[Patrick Dare]

World War I wasn't all about trench warfare. Many of the "secondary" fronts (such as Africa and the Middle East) were actually fairly mobile. The Eastern Front saw large scale maneuvers as well across large swathes of territory from time to time. The early and final stages of the war on the Western Front weren't bogged down either. It wasn't until the initial German advance was halted at the First Battle of the Marne that the tempo changed to trench warfare, and as the Allies eventually started pushing the Germans back in the final months the tempo of their advance quickened considerably.

Given the prevailing stereotypes of the war however, it would probably be safe to say it would depict trench warfare on the Western Front, probably as a British or American soldier (despite the fact that America entered the war quite late). Personally, I wouldn't mind which side I was fighting for, Allies or Central Powers.

If it was done right, it could be quite thrilling. During the day, you could participate in the various offensives to take the enemy lines, having to brave artillery, machine gun fire and the occasional poison gas attack while crossing No Man's Land. On the flip side, you would have to hold off enemy assaults as well. In both scenarios, fighting would become brutal, close combat affairs with pistols, and bayonets, and entrenching tools. During the night you would be sent out on patrols to repair broken communications lines or reconnoiter forward positions. Between engagements, you could watch for enemy combat engineers trying to dig underground to your lines or attempt to take out enemy snipers.

This. Watch the made-for-tv movie Lost Battalion (don't worry, it's good unlike most made-for-tv movies). Fucking German stormtroopers and flame throwers, horrifying. I think a good WWI game could definitely be made and to people who are talking about the odds of dying, it could be programmed so you're not likely to die charging trenches.

 

[Skobvs]

Look, WW1 was a war of attrition, not movement. The only way a WW1 shooter would work is if the angle is constantly shifted from the major battles like the Somme or even the Germans just marching through Belgium. However, an RTS with a major focus on the Schlieffen (spelling could be off there) plan or even a way to alter it yourself and simulate WW1 to see if the Germans could win. It would definitely be a very slow paced fps, or RTS game and well.. let's face it.. they don't sell well do they?.. I mean, look at cryostasis, didn't sell too well but it was slow and fantastic.

 

[angry_flashlight]

Seems like an untapped market to me. It would just have to be handled properly. For example: I don't think it would make a good CoD as the pacing would be off, but that survival horror idea sounded pretty cool.

Alternatively, make a game that's set during WWI with demons and other crazy supernatural monsters that attack without warning during the middle of the war. Now both sides are fighting against the monsters and each other. Make it really unnerving and creepy as hell with a focus on surviving rather than straight up blasting everything in the face with your dual wielding machine guns. Keep the thinking in line with the WWI military mindset and set your brain to mindfuck and you're ready to go. Maybe a little steampunkish tech, but nothing too major to wreck the vibe.
Imagine sitting in a trench after a gas attack with fog/smoke all around then seeing the Germans (or Allies depending on the character you are playing as) charge towards you only for them to be ambushed by a demon pack. Now all you hear is the scary as hell roars of the hellspawn and the tortured screams of dying men combined with the staccato of machine gun fire as the crews desperately try not to be eaten, or worse captured by the abominations currently attacking you. Add random hallucinations in for kicks. Are you seeing what you're seeing or are you insane? Are you the only sane one?
Messing with your mind would be a great addition, especially if there are multiple endings depending on various unmarked interactions/decisions you have/make. Now there would be something worth playing.

 

[Terminal Blue]

The issue is that there's no way to make trench warfare heroic, action packed or even tactical. It's pure attrition, battle plans were devised purely by trying to calculate how many people the enemy could kill before the survivors overran them. There were a few smart people on the command staff of either side by the end who were trying different things, but one of the scary things about that war is how the far the killing technology had evolved past the tactical thinking of those who used it.

And I'd appreciate someone with more grasp of history confirming this, but I'm pretty sure I've read that soldiers in world war 1 were discouraged from charging or running as that would have been seen as breaking formation. Commanders didn't think about independent, squad level combat, tactical thinking was still based on ideas about formations and drill. So yeah.. people were meant to walk in formation while machine guns were shooting at them.

There are WW1 games though. A good few flight sims are set in WW1 or some variant thereof, which makes sense as that's kind of where the ideas about honour and heroism got transplanted. Plus there's a kind of appeal to a flight sim where you have to think about the wings breaking if you go too fast.

 

[Tim Chuma]

Lawrence of Arabia was based around the time of WWI also.

Also this
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Beersheba_(1917)

 

[Anarchy In Detroit]

I have often pondered the very same question. Usually I fail to see it as anything but hoping you don't step on a mine, have artillery land on your head, get sniped/machine gunned/mortared to hell and back after about three steps. Gas? Ah shit then there was gas (and it also collected in water filled craters. Cover? Ahaha! No.)

However there are many aspects that could be pretty fun, and definitely provide some monstrous atmosphere.

Tanks! The first tanks would be pretty brutal to see after a few missions of foot slogging. Imagine one slowly moving along, firing machine guns and bypassing trenches hundreds died attempting to take the day before. Barbed wire? Ha! Also consider that there wasn't much to take out tanks back then apart from gigantic ass anti-tank rifles which would be FUN to shoot. Knock our treads etc. Players could use the tank as a bullet shield and whoop ass as they went along.

Peering above a trench with a mirror or trench scope would be a neat element. As would sniping from their sniper slits. I know the Germans (and probably everybody) had metal plates with slit openings and hatches to fire from at certain points.

What if you were a German stormtrooper? They had units that wore metal plate armor on their front for bum rushing trenches. Machine gunning, stabbing, and general close combat butchery follows in their wake.

Donning a gas mask that hinders your sight and collects filth and mud would be a nice touch.

I see the weaponry possibly being an issue. You know people used to spraying a gazillion rounds a minute with pin point accuracy would find revolvers and bolt action rifles "annoying." I'm not sure if they had SMGs but I do believe they were introduced in WW1. Otherwise you've got the occasional shotgun, bayonets, clubs, and trench knives (a knife with brass/spiked knuckles on the handle). Machine guns were strictly emplaced and not man portable (being too large to carry at the time unless you're Arnold Schwarzenegger).

I think a universe like Iron Storm (but hopefully a better game) would be the best course as if World War never ended you can insert some modern style weaponry and kickass character design.

What ever happened to flying games? Does anyone else here want a WW1 flying game? I'd love to paint my own crazy triplane and have the pilot fire his own handheld weapons at the opposition, or drop grenades out of the cockpit.

An RTS would work well. Build trenches, drop artillery and gas. Totally feasible.

 

[Geekosaurus]

'Coz WW1 was fucking dull. It was a bunch of people sitting around in a ditch with shitty arse innacurate weapons occasionally charging like morons in a straight line to their certain deaths'
But upon pondering this I realised, hang on, that sounds FUCKING AWESOME in a game.

Spoiler

XD Taken out of context (and perhaps even in context) that video is very relevant

I'm so glad you didn't take offence and become instantly bitchy towards me. I just wanted an excuse to use that video.

 

[ReservoirAngel]

A realistic World War 1 game would be the player in a trench for a long time before one short gameplay period of running across a minefield being shot at by people you can barely see.

It just wouldn't work in gameplay terms.

 

[LebbyLegs]

'Coz WW1 was fucking dull. It was a bunch of people sitting around in a ditch with shitty arse innacurate weapons occasionally charging like morons in a straight line to their certain deaths'
But upon pondering this I realised, hang on, that sounds FUCKING AWESOME in a game.

Spoiler

XD Taken out of context (and perhaps even in context) that video is very relevant

I'm so glad you didn't take offence and become instantly bitchy towards me. I just wanted an excuse to use that video.

It's no problem mate Im not that sort of person I hate it myself when i joke with someoen and then they flip and they don't even accept ur sincere apologies coz they love drama. Christ

And Anarchy in Detroit Im totally digging your ideas, the atmosphere is what would make or break this sorta game i think

 

[JUMBO PALACE]

A WWI game would be awesome. That is all.

Edit: WWI was not all trench warfare.

 

[LogicNProportion]

I've been saying this for years.

I loved WW1. The whole aesthetic of it all is simply brilliant, and what a HELL of a back-story for it all. The assassination of a king, old blood oaths being fufilled and so on.

I think it was the last, epic, fantasy-esque war, much like Troy and the 100 Years War, and a few other wars I'm too lazy to list.

Plus, MAUSER PISTOLS!

HNNNNG! I just came. I love me The Broomhandle.

I agree that in the right hands, it could be a damn good game with a ton of atmospheric and emotional pressure all around you. And to all you nay-sayers who boo the bits of trench warfare.

...

Well, some people had to live through those brutal charges through no-man's-land. Why not you?

PS. CAVALRY AND GIANT ARTILLERY GUNS!

 

[MetaMop]

It would have to end like Blackadder Goes Fourth to be truely great.

 

[Cpt Corallis]

I remember seeing screens for a WW1 game called "To end all wars" about 8 or 9 years ago in some game magazine. The general idea of the game was that it would follow several different soldiers throughout WW1. It looked pretty cool but I think it never got finished. Shame.

 

[emeraldrafael]

It wouldnt have much of an American audience since America wasnt in it. And its rather boring to play as trench warfare and bi planes.

Besides, it just doesnt carry the romanticism of most other war games.

 

[Exocet]

Actually,I think a truly well crafted game in that setting could be much more varied than alot of games we have today.
First,there's co-ordinating artillery by means of recon planes,along with primitive bombing runs.
Then there's defending your trench,sometimes even with your damn fists.
Not to mention crossing the no man's land.The game could be scripted to not have shells land too close to you,to insure you survive until you actually get to the fight.

Then there's a story my grandpa told me about his father that served at the Somme valley,in which telegraph lines were cut by shrapnel,and he was volunteered to act as messenger boy.SO he ran from the trenches to the HQ,then back.By the time he had to make another run,he found the HQ engulfed in gas.Imagine that in game.Hell after a few weeks,he saw so much killing that when he laid his rifle on a rotting cadaver that was basically part of the trench wall by then(let that image sink in for a few seconds),so he could take a piss right there in the trench,the cadaver's arm fell off,and all the soldiers around that saw just laughed.No digust,no shock,just laughter.

Hell,even on before and after pictures of soldiers that were physically unharmed,you can see they saw gruesome shit no one should ever have to.Imagine that as character developement.Seeing a friendly NPC that follows you during the war looking more and more...traumatised,and yet battle hardened at the same time,only to realise you are basically just looking in a mirror.

And what about Gallipoli?First modern amphibious attack that saw as many casualties as the entire Operation Overlord of the second World War,and hopefully give credits to the ANZAC for taking a major part in it.

I think shedding some light on this overlooked war would be a great idea.It could be one of the most emotionally charged and atmospheric games ever.
Also,who the hell gave you the idea that the rifles back then were inaccurate?The very same designs were used 30 years later,and they magically become accurate weapons,just because they're now set in WW2 and some have scopes.

 

[Carter0108]

It would be a disaster. You don't move you just lie there and fight infinitly respawning enemies until Christmas where you have a game of Fifa then go back to fighting infinite respawns.

Come to think of it that sounds better than Black ops, Halo etc. Bring it on!

 

[LebbyLegs]

Actually,I think a truly well crafted game in that setting could be much more varied than alot of games we have today.
First,there's co-ordinating artillery by means of recon planes,along with primitive bombing runs.
Then there's defending your trench,sometimes even with your damn fists.
Not to mention crossing the no man's land.The game could be scripted to not have shells land too close to you,to insure you survive until you actually get to the fight.

Then there's a story my grandpa told me about his father that served at the Somme valley,in which telegraph lines were cut by shrapnel,and he was volunteered to act as messenger boy.SO he ran from the trenches to the HQ,then back.By the time he had to make another run,he found the HQ engulfed in gas.Imagine that in game.Hell after a few weeks,he saw so much killing that when he laid his rifle on a rotting cadaver that was basically part of the trench wall by then(let that image sink in for a few seconds),so he could take a piss right there in the trench,the cadaver's arm fell off,and all the soldiers around that saw just laughed.No digust,no shock,just laughter.

Hell,even on before and after pictures of soldiers that were physically unharmed,you can see they saw gruesome shit no one should ever have to.Imagine that as character developement.Seeing a friendly NPC that follows you during the war looking more and more...traumatised,and yet battle hardened at the same time,only to realise you are basically just looking in a mirror.

And what about Gallipoli?First modern amphibious attack that saw as many casualties as the entire Operation Overlord of the second World War,and hopefully give credits to the ANZAC for taking a major part in it.

I think shedding some light on this overlooked war would be a great idea.It could be one of the most emotionally charged and atmospheric games ever.
Also,who the hell gave you the idea that the rifles back then were inaccurate?The very same designs were used 30 years later,and they magically become accurate weapons,just because they're now set in WW2 and some have scopes.

Thats a pretty great idea man, like if the game started before you go into war, and it develops all your comrades a bit as enthusiastic young ones, but as the war drags on they become more and more melancholy hardened and bitter, their faces are dirty and sunken etc etc, and like at the end it shows a before and after shot of all these people who you've fought alongside in the game.
That could be powerful