"A historical defense of Battlefield 1" Topic

"How Battlefield 1 could revive interest in the most important war nobody cares about.

Minutes after its announcement, controversy bubbled up around Battlefield 1. Set during World War I, the game's trailer features brutal kills and a pumping remix of "Seven Nation Army," promising intense action and huge battles -- but it also runs against the popular memory of the war. Certain circles have even gone so far as to suggest EA DICE shouldn't make a game about the conflict.

This reaction is understandable. Much of the world -- particularly Europe and former British colonies -- sees the war as a senseless tragedy and holds the memory of their war dead with a special reverence. Despite this, I believe that making a game about World War I isn't only legitimate, but could enhance popular interest in, and ultimately expand the public's understanding of the conflict. Strangely enough, I even think Battlefield's game mechanics are uniquely suited to portray warfare during this period…."
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Amicalement
Armand

I have the game and enjoy it a lot. I think people need to lighten up. Why is it ok for tabletop games to represent WW1?

Its fine to make a game about the conflict, but doing it inaccurately seems to defeat the purpose. Getting people interested in WWI can be done without having everyone firing on the run with German MGs (even the allies) and without some of the zaniest physics I've seen in a while (balancing a tank on the left wing of your biplane and still being able to fly no problem)

Verdun is a good example of a WWI shooter done right: where one man is nothing, but a squad of men can make a minor difference, and where attack and defense in trench systems is the main attraction. The weapons are nicely accurate too – mostly bolt actions and pistols, and with MGs mostly needing to be set up and fired from prone position. Artillery, Gas attacks and spotting also play a large part of the game. And its entirely infantry based. No vehicles at all (although vehicles would be great, but its balanced as infantry only and it would change the core dynamic of the game)

Intersting…

Amicalement
Armand

Is Verdun in B1 or is it a different game? Publisher? Web site?

Verdun is a separate game (and I agree with Aero Tom's description of it). You can find it on Steam, if you use that. It's from M2H and Blackmill

verdungame.com

One thing I wish they would do with the maps is lock the Entente side for each battle to a single nationality, and let squad types be chosen within that nation's armed forces. The Germans are all Germans, but it looks strange to have French, British, Americans and Belgians all participating in the same battle, all intermixed. I know combined operations occurred, but nothing like this.