Please, give us anything but Russia

[Kolby Jack]

Neither Russia nor China has the capability to launch a global-scale war anymore. Russia's military has severely dilapidated since the collapse of the Soviet Union, and while China's is on the rise, it's still technologically shit. The only thing they have going for them is raw manpower, and even then they don't beat out the combined militaries of NATO and only barely beat out the United States. Not to mention that manpower doesn't count for nearly as much as it used to. No, if another World War were to ever happen, it would be between the EU and the US, but a LOT of things would have to go wrong before there was even a chance.

Also of note, US military assessments of every other country on Earth don't ever consider "How can they beat us?" But rather "How much damage can they do to us before we fucking destroy them?" I know it sounds like chest-pounding hoo-hah coming from an American, but it's actually true (that we don't think anyone could ever beat us, not that we actually can't be beaten... although.............)

 

[Ledan]

as a dane i would love to shoot at swedens. not that i hate swedens it's just a nordic principle

One day you will tremble as we regain our Baltic empire.......

HEY
200 year ago ( more or less) we proved, that even if we lose all the wars we enter, seriously EVERY SINGLE ONE! we will still stand proud. and just so we can remember the good old days http://satwcomic.com/nordic-brothers.

I love satw. And to be fair you guys did rule us... once. Then we took our land back! And norway!
Though seriously, who was the stupid bureaucrat who decided to grant Norway independence? If I could change on event in time......

 

[Galloglasses]

Neither Russia nor China has the capability to launch a global-scale war anymore. Russia's military has severely dilapidated since the collapse of the Soviet Union, and while China's is on the rise, it's still technologically shit. The only thing they have going for them is raw manpower, and even then they don't beat out the combined militaries of NATO and only barely beat out the United States. Not to mention that manpower doesn't count for nearly as much as it used to. No, if another World War were to ever happen, it would be between the EU and the US, but a LOT of things would have to go wrong before there was even a chance.

Also of note, US military assessments of every other country on Earth don't ever consider "How can they beat us?" But rather "How much damage can they do to us before we fucking destroy them?" I know it sounds like chest-pounding hoo-hah coming from an American, but it's actually true (that we don't think anyone could ever beat us, not that we actually can't be beaten... although.............)

All empires rise just to fall, America's might will eventually decline, just as Russia's did, just as Britain's did just as every major superpower in history did.

 

[alrekr]

How about this, a game called "World War 3" running on the frostbite 2 engine, that features a lengthy campaign ( 80+hrs) where America is allied with Britain, and the rest of western Europe, and Australia. and the opposing force is led by china and allied with every other country.

Russia has no money so they get occupied by china. Russia allies with America + west Europe but provides almost no military support because they cannot afford to have a army. battles are fought on land sea and air, in Russia, Britain china, south America, west Europe, Antarctica, Canada the USA, middle east, Vietnam, tiwan, north and south korea, basically you'll do a tour of the world fighting the Chinese and their allies, while playing characters of many different nationalities.

no nazi's, Russia only serves as land to fight over. someone make this game.

Or not that plot seems nearly as convoluted and common place as vanilla CODMW.

How about we have I don't know: USA as the villians? or how about a good old British villian, I mean we make the best evil archfiends. Also Russia as poor? They HAVE ALL THE GAS and plenty of oil; they own most of our football clubs for zeus' sake.

The plot of homefront is more realistic (as north korea has one of the largest armies in the world)

I kkow they have gas but in this game they dont have gas they are on the verge of collapse again. This game would be nothing like CoD. you would engage in constant fighting for around an half hour or more at a time, NOT fighting for 1 minute and than having a cutscene, like is say, CoD. The plot is supposed to be highly unlikely, things like playing a french man fighting with germans in Antarctica fighting against the Peruvians. Unlikely, yes, fun and intresting, a break the ordinary yes. how about playing as a an aussie fighting the Indian army around Ayers rock?

This game would be break from the common fps mold. fighting enemies you have never fought before in places fps's have never been. What you described sounds predictable and more like vanllia CoD than what i have in mind.

If your going to become unrealistic we may as well go and say the gas has run out so Russia collapses and then Fracne and Britian have solved cold fusion and thus are more independent. Heck we might as well have space battles on the moon over helium 3 mines

 

[Steve the Pocket]

How about we have I don't know: USA as the villians?

The question is who the other side would be in something like that. Making America the "bad guys" isn't so much of a stretch, but making any of the countries that would actually want to attack us (China? North Korea? Iran?) the "good guys" definitely is. And aside from maybe China, none of them could plausibly win, which is of course a requirement in a video game. If your character dies, you can always assume that the rest of your countrymen can carry on without you, but if you don't, your side has to win at the end of the game.

Then again, a game that ends in failure is the sort of "different" thing the sort of people who would want the US to be the villains might like.

 

[cainx10a]

How about this, a game called "World War 3" running on the frostbite 2 engine, that features a lengthy campaign ( 80+hrs) where America is allied with Britain, and the rest of western Europe, and Australia. and the opposing force is led by china and allied with every other country.

Russia has no money so they get occupied by china. Russia allies with America + west Europe but provides almost no military support because they cannot afford to have a army. battles are fought on land sea and air, in Russia, Britain china, south America, west Europe, Antarctica, Canada the USA, middle east, Vietnam, tiwan, north and south korea, basically you'll do a tour of the world fighting the Chinese and their allies, while playing characters of many different nationalities.

no nazi's, Russia only serves as land to fight over. add in an massive weapon selection that are accurately depicted, and an mostly realistic ( battlefield like) presentation and large explorable maps that can be attacked from any direction you want and it will be perfect. some one make this game.

Get ARMA 2, download a few mods that add new Armies (US Army, USMC, British Forces, Germany, Russia, Takistani (Afghanis ugly cousins), PMCs are included by default) ... Mod armies include Canadian Forces, Iran etc... (;p) ...

Next, get some new world map ... learn to use the mission editor ... and voila ... you get to have your armies of choice facing each other in glorious battles!

THIS POST WASN'T AN ADVERT FOR ARMA ... i swear in the name of all that is unarmaly

How about we have I don't know: USA as the villians?

The question is who the other side would be in something like that. Making America the "bad guys" isn't so much of a stretch, but making any of the countries that would actually want to attack us (China? North Korea? Iran?) the "good guys" definitely is. And aside from maybe China, none of them could plausibly win, which is of course a requirement in a video game. If your character dies, you can always assume that the rest of your countrymen can carry on without you, but if you don't, your side has to win at the end of the game.

Then again, a game that ends in failure is the sort of "different" thing the sort of people who would want the US to be the villains might like.

The problem is for people to accept alternate timeline, and parallel universe type of storytelling. Think Homefront and how people were bewildered that NK was somehow able to become more than an annoying little mosquito. Sure, the premise is silly, but you just have to go along with it.

 

[Daverson]

The majority of video game players (and cinema goers, TV watchers, radio drama listeners, etc. etc.) are Western. We want to play as NATO (which usually equates the US).

Now, there are only two nations that can represent a significant global threat to NATO. That's the CIS (Russia, to you and me) and China (sure, Iran, North Korea and Lybia are realistic opponents for NATO, but people don't want an enemy they know they're going to win against). Try to make a game where China's the bad guy (ie, Homefront) and you get hit by an order to change it to something like North Korea, as China somehow seems to have had the tenacity to be heavily invested in by a good number of large businesses. And seem to get somewhat offended when being vilified by decadent westerners.

And that's why it's Russia.

If you want an original concept, how about a modern version of the English civil war? The recent Royal Wedding really riled up the republicans over here, so it's not like it'd be an impossible situation.

Or you could do the anti-trope, where the US was taken over by the UBC, and sided with the 3rd Reich. Then the player could be a Soviet Soldier, and Stalinism could be the last hope of the "free" world. XD

 

[Tomster595]

I totally agree that Russia is way overused as the bad guy. In MW3 I really hope to fight the Chinese or N. Koreans just to add variety. I'd also like to fight alongside the Russians. That's something I liked in CoD4. There was the "bad" Russian faction, but there were other Russian guys on your side.

 

[Vault boy Eddie]

Russia, China, Muslims. Those are your choices for modern "Realistic" FPS.

 

[Coldster]

Yeah! I want to be able to play as someone fighting the communist Chinese in North Korea in the 1950s or maybe a fictional modern proxy war fought in North Korea...again. Just like Liberty Prime, I want to be able to fight them, give those Russians a break.

 

[MASTACHIEFPWN]

In the game/book I'm making, Germany is the head seat of the power that takes over the world- so they're the bad guys...

Russia actual helps the U.S in the book, so yeah, take that, Activision.

 

[repeating integers]

I really wish they would make a game where American's are the bad guy, trying to dominate the world or something. That would be a nice change of pace

Nah, that's be too realistic.



I like the idea of an American civil war, or an EU-America one. And once I drew up this weird map that threw even the tiniest, vaguest, most imperceptible pretensions to realism away to the wind when I was incredibly bored in school, and had the world map in the back of my planner to hand. I then ended up caring enough to draw this ridiculously silly venture on paint and upload it to my deviantART scrapbook, where it was favourited by one GeneralHelghast (who is evidently a fan of futuristic world maps, warhammer 40k and scantily clad girls). It would be hilarious to see CoD take a turn for the tongue-in-cheek with something like it.

Sadly I can't make it big enough for the small text to be visible, but here's the smaller version.

Spoiler

You probably need to open it in another window to make it more visible, the forum (at least if the preview is to be believed) seems to have shrunk it.

 

[Galloglasses]

I really wish they would make a game where American's are the bad guy, trying to dominate the world or something. That would be a nice change of pace

Nah, that's be too realistic.



I like the idea of an American civil war, or an EU-America one. And once I drew up this weird map that threw even the tiniest, vaguest, most imperceptible pretensions to realism away to the wind when I was incredibly bored in school, and had the world map in the back of my planner to hand. I then ended up caring enough to draw this ridiculously silly venture on paint and upload it to my deviantART scrapbook, where it was favourited by one GeneralHelghast (who is evidently a fan of futuristic world maps, warhammer 40k and scantily clad girls). It would be hilarious to see CoD take a turn for the tongue-in-cheek with something like it.

Sadly I can't make it big enough for the small text to be visible, but here's the smaller version.

Spoiler

You probably need to open it in another window to make it more visible, the forum (at least if the preview is to be believed) seems to have shrunk it.

Ah yes general helghast, seems appropriate he'd pick this up

 

[repeating integers]

I really wish they would make a game where American's are the bad guy, trying to dominate the world or something. That would be a nice change of pace

Nah, that's be too realistic.



I like the idea of an American civil war, or an EU-America one. And once I drew up this weird map that threw even the tiniest, vaguest, most imperceptible pretensions to realism away to the wind when I was incredibly bored in school, and had the world map in the back of my planner to hand. I then ended up caring enough to draw this ridiculously silly venture on paint and upload it to my deviantART scrapbook, where it was favourited by one GeneralHelghast (who is evidently a fan of futuristic world maps, warhammer 40k and scantily clad girls). It would be hilarious to see CoD take a turn for the tongue-in-cheek with something like it.

Sadly I can't make it big enough for the small text to be visible, but here's the smaller version.

Spoiler

You probably need to open it in another window to make it more visible, the forum (at least if the preview is to be believed) seems to have shrunk it.

Ah yes general helghast, seems appropriate he'd pick this up

Oh, you know him?

 

[Terminate421]

In cod2 you played the Brits, Americans, and Russians. The Russian campaign was to my mind the best one in the game, fighting of Nazis in Stalingrad, hearing "Fascist! Communist!" being shouted between the two sides. Plus, the Russians had the best machine gun. Fun times. I miss COD2

Still was one of my favorite campaign missions. Even though I loved the PPSH. I always wanted my MP40.

 

[[zonking great]]

I, too, am getting bored of the same old hat that the developers are throwing at us. As an example, let us take the prime shooter of the day: Call of Duty. The parts in the series that played in World War 2 had us fight the Nazis. After that they switched to convoluted plots involving Russians (not even Communists anymore).

There are two real problems to every game's enemy, though.

One: The game is catering to Americans (Let's be honest, it does). Why would you even consider fielding an enemy that your own customers can't even find? As a result, it's always Nazis, (possibly ex) Communists or fellow Americans. In other words, it's either past enemies that you can't possibly NOT know, or betrayals. If it's not Nazis, it's Communists. Remember that Tom Clancy strategy game, End War? The "evil" Chinese faction turned out to be a lame "Rogue faction". If it's not either of them, it's Americans in some betraying role. As an example, I point you towards Modern Warfare 2. General Shepherd was an American who betrayed his country. Lame! You saw it before in games like Army of Two, even Splinter Cell. Yawn! But this is all, often, a result of reason two.

Two: A lot of developers pussy out of doing anything new. Homefront was originally set to have the Chinese as antagonists. However, it was feared that, since they are good trade partners of America, they would take offense and take their business elsewhere. So they changed it to a unified Korea. That's not even realistic. As a result of this scared behaviour (as if China is a big market for Western stuff. All their stuff comes here, dagnabbit), developers continue to rehash the same old enemies time and time again.

Some kudos go to Black Ops in the sense that they at least dared to put Cubans in their single player campaign. I know it was still Communists, but at least they weren't all Russian.

Suggestions:
If you HAVE to return to World War 2, why not try putting us up against the Italians?
I know they weren't really all that good but at least it would mix things up a bit.
I'm getting sick and tired of playing a game set in World War 2 and getting my ears stuffed with cries of "Lade nach!" and "DIE AMERIKANER!"

Likewise, whenever we get modern games, it is either the "terrorists" or Russians we have to knock out. Why not put us up against something else? Heck, a daring developer could even have the Greeks laughing at the rest of the European Union elicit a war. You don't pay your debts or start reforms? Maybe it's time to send in a repo team, whose actions provoke a war? It's far fetched but at least it's original.

As for pre-World War 2 shooter ideas, here's one: How about a Boer war shooter? You could shoot redcoats (Well, up to the point where the Empire stopped sending soldiers wearing actual red coats.) Shooting them is where American independence started, so it should be enough to draw in some Americans.
Likewise, why not create a World War 1 game? I loved the bits and pieces in the Darkness, even though that was warped almost beyond recognition. It would be great to be a character in a war where the first modern weapons of war were utilised. Getting bombed by aeroplanes, putting on gas masks, seeing a tank for the first time...It could be so good! I know this idea has the potential to pit us against Germans again, but at least they're not Nazis yet. Hell, if you really want to go to town, you do not even have to fight the Germans. You could fight the Ottomans or Austro-Hungarians. Have you ever shot any of them?

Long story short, tl;dr for you lazy bastards:
There's plenty of scope for originality, but it is not even seized by developers. They'd rather poop out ANOTHER game setting us up against the Russians. Or, hell, some "rogue Chinese faction". Failing those, there'll be zombies...

 

[Zipa]

Considering this is a squeal to MW2 where you fought russians I thought it was kind of obvious you would be fighting them again.

 

[Exocet]

What about India? They have an arms race with Pakistan, again, but this time, invade it and reclaim it as their's. This causes the wrath of Muslim Arab nations and a US-EU-India coalition intervenes. The Arab nations are put down and a cease fire is put into motion. However, India doesn't respect the cease fire. The UN try to diplomatically resolve the situation, and even put sanctions on India.

And this is where the game starts.India puts in motion total war and prepares pre-emptive strikes against multiple nations.
This scenario strike my fancy because it remains somewhat believable an changes from the usual bad guys ( ie in order of overuse:Russians,Koreans,Chinese).


Also, when I think about it, Africa. Not as a bad guy, but as a driving point of a game. Fighting over its natural resources. Nowadays in games, I don't see really valid reasons for countries to start a war. CoD has Russia starting WW3 over a dead US CIA agent infiltrating a terrorist attack, Operation Flashpoint has China going to war over a smallish island. Homefront has Korean attacking the USA because Koreans are bloodthristy dicks and their leaders were bored one day.
Come on, give me war over resources and arms races.

 

[retterkl]

Ok first i'll clear up some MW plot issues people may have.

USA + coalition forces invade unimaginitivestan because of political coup there + threats of nuclear weapons. Coup was organized by Russian ultranationalists Makarov (main bad guy) and Zahkaev (main guy in COD4).

During MW1 the nuclear threat turns out to be true and the whole country gets nuked, so America loses 30,000+ servicemen, the whole marine corps and basically all war equipment.

Skip to 2 years ahead USA is still tusken raiders, and your random serviceman (Paul I think he's called) gets taken out of the frontline unit and moved to Russia, because apparantly the average American serviceman is capable of going from high school > army > Russian spy. Anyway, those pesky ultranationalists slaughter hundreds at a Moscow airport and then Paul is L4D at the scene of the crime, so America takes the wrap of slaughtering these people and ultranationals take control because of the controversy.

Makarov, now in charge of everything Russian, has a burning hatred for America and Nato because he was a Russian supporter of the cold war, I'm not really sure but he wants to kill them all really bad. Russia then invades America, and is able to do so because:

1) half the US forces were wiped out by the nuke in the first game

2) the rest are sitting in the middle ea.. I mean desert.

Oh and also the Russians got a deux ex machinima because they took hold of an American satelleite with all the defense codes on it. They used this to wipe out all orbital defenses and EWS (early warning systems).


So yeah, apart from Russia suddenly producing masses of jets and helicopters (I assume that China is helping them here) the MW story can actually make sense and is not as stupid as some people make it out to be. It's kind of like the start of WW2, but just a lot quicker... You know, mad supervillain rises to power in a nation weakened previously by war with a lot of political unrest due to poor economic growth recently. Then the country suddenly develops a massive army in no time due to the leader rallying and recent events. Then the once weakened country manages to invade the country with the strongest, most impenetrable defense ever (i.e. France) and wages war with the 4 largest powers in the world at once (UK, Russia, France and USA) with slight distractions from it's allies (Italy and Japan (unnamedistan)).

So yeah, WW2 DID actually happen, and so this story, which is a parody of it, is not unreasonable to have as the setting for a game. People who thought that COD had moved on from WW2 are all wrong. They're actually just reinventing it for the modern gamer who's bored of the WWII style.


TLR?
-MW story is actually just WWII with a modern setting and therefore it is an original take and an unoriginal plot. It is genius in covering up it's origins though.


EDIT: By the way I haven't actually played COD:MW, i've only got WAW but this is just what I think happened