So setting a game in America is bad?

[Trolldor]

If it comes at the complete cost of plausibility in a game, then the plausibility should matter a bit more.

Seriously? In a medium where we can play Mass Effect, Final Fantasy, World of Warcraft...you get hung up on the plausibility of a game?

Yes.

Orcs existing is far more believable than North Korea becoming a military power capable of invading the United States.

 

[Loonerinoes]

I frankly really don't care about where a game is set in the end.

But what I do care about, however, is the conceit that it is somehow 'new' or 'edgy' or 'controversial' to make a game that is all about "U.S.A!" and that is ultimately all about national pride - something which, by the way, has recently not been quite as strong thanks to the rise of the internet. It is not controversial in any way to make a game that tries to instill patriotism in the player.

What WOULD be controversial would be a game that actually tries to turn away from that and instead presents a morally grayer overtone, where hints are dropped that perhaps fighting for what you know isn't as important as knowing when to let go of what you know to move onwards onto something different and better to hold onto and making a change.

I just think it's silly to make a game that centers around what you love and what is familiar...and then have the conceit to say "Oh, but all of these things are also applicable to other countries too because everyone loves their country, amirite?!" Meh...frankly...that's most certainly less and less true with each passing day in our world. And trying to hold onto patriotism for whatever western country in these days is getting harder and harder. Making a game that on the outside tries to make you care about a country is not controversial, because it is supportive of the system in which the game is released (in this case the USA). Challenging that system actually *is* controversial.

 

[GiantRaven]

Yes.

Orcs existing is far more believable than North Korea becoming a military power capable of invading the United States.

So having an alternate reality in a videogame is forbidden?

 

[kickyourass]

Wow I never thought I'd find a dumber complaint then whining about the graphics. Well to all those people saying "It's bad because it's set in America" or some similar nonsense, please shut your traps until the game is actually RELEASED.

 

[Goldeneye103X2]

Gritty, evil, dark, damp, cold, sad, depressing, despondent, woeful, other synonyms to describe the state of videogames today.....

Let's set another game in Movieland!

Okay, Truth be told, I don't really hate games like Gears of War and Call of Duty, but the industry CAN do so much better than this. If anything, the one game I'm really looking forward to this year is No More Heroes: Heroes Paradise on PS3.

Some call it weird. I call it standards.

 

[Cyberjester]

Well it seems like a lot of people have a bit of a fuss because Homefront takes place in the US and not anywhere else. To the extent where they have to tell people in other countries that they will still enjoy the game...

I don't know and it seems like people just hate when games are set in the US, that apparently its bad. Sure countries invading the US in games isn't new but just because another game does it, doesn't make it bad. Its like if the North Korean's were invading Europe (Which I believe they are doing something like that for Homefront 2), that the game would just be better.

Now I am not saying the game is good because its not in Europe or any other country, but just because its set in the US doesn't make the game bad.

It seems that its becoming like how many people now say:

Not many vibrant colors = Bland and Bad game.

It shouldn't matter where the game is set, as long as they make it fun and cool, doesn't that matter more?

Duuuude. Watch the back stor...

Click this link. Watch. Come back.

Linky

That doesn't make any sense. Isn't practically every non-fantasy, non-WWII game set in America? GTA, Heavy Rain, RDR, Fallout, True Crime, MW2, etc etc etc.

I fail to see how the location is the issue with the game. I think the issue with the game is people think the plot sounds stupid and it is looking like a kind of rabidly pro-American game. Seriously, would you as an American be super excited to play a game that looks like it's going to do nothing but beat you over the head with how awesome some other country is and how much your country sucks in comparison? It's kind of hard to feel inherently patriotic about a country that isn't yours...

So if the game was set in Europe though, it would be fine? Because thats what a lot of people convey.

Like this poster:

As a European I elected to not buy Homefront not because of its setting, but because i cant think of a reason why anyone Non-American would want to save America in a fictional situaiton.

Sure he says its not about the setting, but the fact that you are saving America. I bet if it was about playing europens and saying europe, the game would be fine.

No, I'm saying that a game like this is inherently going to appeal more to whatever country it's set in. If it were set in, say, Russia, and the game is all about how much the enemies of Russia were evil murdering bastards while Russians are nobly protecting their homeland, would anyone other than Russians really be interested in playing it? Would a game like that even be on the radar in America at all? I know I wouldn't be interested in that.

I don't really have an opinion on whether the game is good or bad, I'm just saying that if the game were set in some European country and was super patriotic, like rabidly pro-French or something, then a heck of a lot of Americans wouldn't have any interest in playing it either. And if anyone seriously thinks games set in America inherently suck, then tell them to give back all their copies of Fallout, GTA, RDR, Saints Row 2, etc because that's just stupid.

You've completely missed the point of the game. The idea is that it's home instead of you know, Iraq. It hasn't been done in a while, that Freedom Fighters game was the last time anyone did it. Sure, Battlefield Bad Company 2 has you.. Oh wait, in Russia shooting up the military before coming to the USA and then the game ends.

If you want a game tailored exactly to wherever you live.. Well good luck with that, unless it's America, Iraq or Russia, it ain't happening.

Unless it's Asia in which case Divine Wind has just hit Steam.

 

[Korten12]

Wow I never thought I'd find a dumber complaint then whining about the graphics. Well to all those people saying "It's bad because it's set in America" or some similar nonsense, please shut your traps until the game is actually RELEASED.

Wait... We shouldn't mock, insult, and such of games that aren't released..? Huh...

Spoiler

Hope you catched the sarcasm...

 

[Korten12]

Duuuude. Watch the back stor...

Click this link. Watch. Come back.

Linky

Yeah, what about it? Sure it would never happen. But who cares? I don't want to play a FPS that has to have everything be realistic. Last time I checked, we're playing, VIDEO GAMES.

If the game was a simulator, it would make more sense for it to be realistic with its story, buts its not a simulator.

 

[HigherTomorrow]

It's the basic, "It's cool to hate on America because it's a current super power! Look how cool I am being by hating the most powerful country on the planet!"

Seriously, if this game took place in Russia, as an earlier poster said, I'd be just as interested in it as I am now. Which isn't very much, but still. For example, Half-Life 2 takes place in Russia. Does that mean I suddenly don't care about saving the Earth just because I happen to be saving the Earth in Russia?

And everyone claiming, "OMG IT SO UNPLAUSABILEEE!!111," the game takes 20 years in the damn future. Plausibility be damned, this is the future we're talking about.

 

[AssassinJoe]

A game set in America isn't really bad as it is unoriginal.

You know what I would like to see? A game set in Australia. How many games do you know have done that?

 

[badgersprite]

]

That doesn't make any sense. Isn't practically every non-fantasy, non-WWII game set in America? GTA, Heavy Rain, RDR, Fallout, True Crime, MW2, etc etc etc.

I fail to see how the location is the issue with the game. I think the issue with the game is people think the plot sounds stupid and it is looking like a kind of rabidly pro-American game. Seriously, would you as an American be super excited to play a game that looks like it's going to do nothing but beat you over the head with how awesome some other country is and how much your country sucks in comparison? It's kind of hard to feel inherently patriotic about a country that isn't yours...

So if the game was set in Europe though, it would be fine? Because thats what a lot of people convey.

Like this poster:

As a European I elected to not buy Homefront not because of its setting, but because i cant think of a reason why anyone Non-American would want to save America in a fictional situaiton.

Sure he says its not about the setting, but the fact that you are saving America. I bet if it was about playing europens and saying europe, the game would be fine.

No, I'm saying that a game like this is inherently going to appeal more to whatever country it's set in. If it were set in, say, Russia, and the game is all about how much the enemies of Russia were evil murdering bastards while Russians are nobly protecting their homeland, would anyone other than Russians really be interested in playing it? Would a game like that even be on the radar in America at all? I know I wouldn't be interested in that.

I don't really have an opinion on whether the game is good or bad, I'm just saying that if the game were set in some European country and was super patriotic, like rabidly pro-French or something, then a heck of a lot of Americans wouldn't have any interest in playing it either. And if anyone seriously thinks games set in America inherently suck, then tell them to give back all their copies of Fallout, GTA, RDR, Saints Row 2, etc because that's just stupid.

You've completely missed the point of the game. The idea is that it's home instead of you know, Iraq. It hasn't been done in a while, that Freedom Fighters game was the last time anyone did it. Sure, Battlefield Bad Company 2 has you.. Oh wait, in Russia shooting up the military before coming to the USA and then the game ends.

If you want a game tailored exactly to wherever you live.. Well good luck with that, unless it's America, Iraq or Russia, it ain't happening.

Unless it's Asia in which case Divine Wind has just hit Steam.

No, I get the point of the game; you're actually misinterpreting what I'm saying. All I'm saying is that games like this have a kind of niche appeal to whatever country they're set in, and who the good guys are, and all that. HomeFront is going to be way more successful in the US than any other country, because that is your home front. It's a story targeted to you, and it's about Americans saving their own country and getting to be patriotic here.

That is literally all I am saying here; HomeFront is trying to appeal more to Americans than other people, and there is nothing wrong with that, but it also shouldn't be surprising if it's not huge overseas.

 

[UberNoodle]

Setting a game in the USA simply because it would be in the USA, is not 'bad' but it's unadventurous, safe and ultimately boring. It's not as if American locations are rare in games today.

Setting a game in the USA because it the location is integral to the story is fine!

 

[Neverhoodian]

Wait wait wait, the game's catching flak because it's set in the United States? I know it's "cool" and "hip" to hate everything American on the internet nowadays, but this is just ridiculous. Just because I'm American doesn't mean I hated the British/Russian segments in Call of Duty or playing as the Germans in any number of WWII flight sims.

 

[Bihac]

While I'm personally, not entirely against any game being held in America...

I think most people not in the states see home-front as probably going to turn out a bit like this:

Skip to 1:12 listen till 1:17

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/1118-Call-of-Duty-Modern-Warfare-2

 

[_Cake_]

I loved all the Americana in Fallout 3 I'm not American but I think I was literally whistling dixie. America has tons of iconic places.

Canada is the one who really gets no love... a snowboarding game once in a while yay :|

 

[Carlston]

I just find the idea North Korea over running the USA about as believable as ohhh...mutant dolphins attacking. How bout a country with a budget and a ability to make it here...Mexico has a better chance? Canada and Mexico maybe?

 

[icame]

Your right, it doesn't make it bad. It makes it feel generic. It makes it feel like I've played this all before with the extreme patriotism that seems to crop up with every game involving Americans by a game developed by Americans. Variety is the spice of life! Seeing a flag that has more then red white and blue on it would be a nice change of pace.

 

[Korten12]

I just find the idea North Korea over running the USA about as believable as ohhh...mutant dolphins attacking. How bout a country with a budget and a ability to make it here...Mexico has a better chance? Canada and Mexico maybe?

But why does that matter? Do all games need to have stories that follow real life rules?

Your right, it doesn't make it bad. It makes it feel generic. It makes it feel like I've played this all before with the extreme patriotism that seems to crop up with every game involving Americans by a game developed by Americans. Variety is the spice of life! Seeing a flag that has more then red white and blue on it would be a nice change of pace.

Even though they said their would be no extreme patriotism, people continue to say it will. People who say that, obviously hasn't read up info on it. Even an article on the Escapist no less said that they weren't going for extreme Patriotism.

 

[Bealzibob]

I'm just waiting for someone to finally cash in on the rest of the worlds deep guilty fantasy and make a game where you choose any country other than America and then go and kick Americas arse in a entirely unrealistic and childish way. Something liken to a dick waving contest but instead we actually would win this one.

But really could they think of something more interesting, the entire writing team allocated to the WW genres must consist of bricks. Can't we have something elaborate and awesomely retarded. Australia finds alien technology under Uluru and begans a hostile take-over of the world and you play as an american in and kick Australias ass, Canada gets sick of being the Hat in the relationship and hires an evil scientific mastermind to move the entire country ontop of America.

Ok... those are stupid but really anything would do. Just anything but realistic political motives. Realism itself isn't the problem, realism is a wonderful game mechanic but it works the best when combined with a fanciful story.

Simple: Immersive realistic gameplay + Interesting story = Awesome Game

 

[SmokingMirrors]

On what evidence would you base the claim that people apparently despise this game for its setting? There's been plenty a franchises that were loved by the masses wherein the scenario takes place on american soil, one very good example of this being Fallout. Personally I wouldn't judge a game to be good or bad before its even released, but its simply the creeping suspicion that this ones going to be alot like Turning Point: Fall of Liberty and thus fail miserably that makes me cautious of it.

But I could always be wrong, of course. We'll find out.