World War 2, Why Do We All Love It?

MantridMantrid Lockpick Join Date: 2003-12-07 Member: 24109Members
I was wondering something... why are we all so fascinated with World War II? I mean, just look at how many games there are based on World War II.

We see other games, based on more modern conflicts, or conflicts set in the future, or in a fantasy setting, but its never quite the same. For some reason, WWII seems to have a very grand, epic, almost noble quality to it.


Why?
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Comments

  • CForresterCForrester P0rk(h0p Join Date: 2002-10-05 Member: 1439Members, Constellation
    I guess because there was so much going on. Technology was advanced, but not advanced enough to aim missiles or bombs in a plane for you. That had to be done manually. Infantry played a much bigger role than they do in modern day combat, where it's mostly planes and tanks.
  • CxwfCxwf Join Date: 2003-02-05 Member: 13168Members, Constellation
    Because World War II came the closest we Americans have ever seen to a battle of Good vs Evil. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • PvtBonesPvtBones Join Date: 2004-04-25 Member: 28187Members
    well it's the most recent conflict where there was a clear good and bad side (lets not get into the fining points of the more recent conflicts shall we?) we all also have family that was around then so that makes it feel more "real" for lack of a better word.

    plus it was one of the few wars that had shaken the entire planet.
  • DrSuredeathDrSuredeath Join Date: 2002-11-11 Member: 8217Members
    To paraphrase all the scoops introducing WWII games in gaming magazine.

    It's the last war where we are pretty damn sure it's between good and evil, without any doubts... political, conspiracy, domino effect, oil, economy,... etc
  • CabooseCaboose title = name(self, handle) Join Date: 2003-02-15 Member: 13597Members, Constellation
    Name says it all. <b>World</b> War II

    It was big, it was destructive, impressive, the whole Nazi evil bastard thing. It took place on many fronts, all over the world, from Europe, to Africa, to the Pacific islands.

    It just had everything.

    And infantry was used a hell of a lot more in more important places where we'd just send a cruise missile now days.
  • CxwfCxwf Join Date: 2003-02-05 Member: 13168Members, Constellation
    Also theres the fact that World War II really did cover almost the whole world, making it unique among wars. By comparison, almost all of the fighting in World War I was in central Europe. World War II ranged across all of Europe, much of Africa, several oceans, Russia, Japan, most of the Pacific, even hitting US territory in Hawaii. It was by far the most geographically expansive war on record.
  • Deus_Ex_MachinaDeus_Ex_Machina Join Date: 2004-07-01 Member: 29674Members
    edited July 2005
    There are many reasons for the general fascination of people with WWII, but the reason for so many games is that everyone an pretty much agree that the Nazis were bad guys. Few gamers would have any qualms about gunning down the SS. Not all other wars have had such a clear cut line between the good guys and the bad guys, especially after the details of the Holocaust were revealed.
  • Crono5Crono5 Join Date: 2003-07-22 Member: 18357Members
    Because of Saving Private Ryan
  • JediYoshiJediYoshi The Cupcake Boss Join Date: 2002-05-27 Member: 674Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Mantrid+Jul 10 2005, 11:23 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Mantrid @ Jul 10 2005, 11:23 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> WWII seems to have a very grand, epic, almost noble quality to it. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Because it was!
  • Marik_SteeleMarik_Steele To rule in hell... Join Date: 2002-11-20 Member: 9466Members
    edited July 2005
    I'd argue that the abundance of WW2-based games has fairly little to do with calling either side good or evil. It's not the only war where those terms can be used. I'm agreeing with other posters here that it's more about the technology involved. Wars like the American Revolutionary War -- where loading your inaccurate rifle takes 15 seconds per shot -- simply won't get the attention of a broad paying userbase. WW2's combination of infantry, armor, and air does that.
  • aeroripperaeroripper Join Date: 2005-02-25 Member: 42471NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation
    edited July 2005
    Uhh... because millions and millions of people lost their lives? Most of the world was at war, introduction of atomic weapons (ability to destroy any city on the planet, or the ability to kill tens of millions more from a bunch of nukes and the radiation.

    Also it should be noted that the nazi's bullied their way into getting elected and it wasn't all the german people's fault, they we're held hostage by the party as well.
    Keep in mind the soviets had their dirty secrets too and were the first (IIRC) to have the gulags and kill their own soliders\population in the purgings.

    I mean hey, even the US jumped on the bandwagon and (horribly) wiped two cities off the face of the planet and we should be heros for this? I don't see how that can be considered "good" even weighed against all the other worse stuff that was going on. But i guess its all justified when it saved potentionally many american lives right? Thanks Trumann! American lives are worth more than Japanese lives anyways... </sarcasm>. Even the japanese in china killed lots of people as well, in one instance making bridges out of the dead bodies.

    I find it ironic that people say "classic battle between good and evil". Well i really don't believe in "good and evil" but more in the duality of human nature to do bad things and good things, we're all animals underneath anyways given the right circumstances.
  • RaVeRaVe Join Date: 2003-06-20 Member: 17538Members
    It's fascinating because it shows humanity's true nature.

    We're very, <b>very, <u>very</u></b> random.
  • TykjenTykjen Join Date: 2003-01-21 Member: 12552Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    War..what else is new. Fascinating? Thing is we keep on repeating history over and over. Im dissapointed over how "random" we are.
  • NarfwakNarfwak Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 5258Members, Super Administrators, Forum Admins, NS1 Playtester, Playtest Lead, Forum Moderators, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Reinforced - Supporter, Reinforced - Silver, Reinforced - Gold, Reinforced - Diamond, Reinforced - Shadow, Subnautica PT Lead, NS2 Community Developer
    <!--QuoteBegin-RaVe+Jul 11 2005, 03:40 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (RaVe @ Jul 11 2005, 03:40 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> It's fascinating because it shows humanity's true nature.

    We're very, <b>very, <u>very</u></b> random. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Not that random. After all, we had <i>two</i> world wars in the same half-century, both of which Germany started. That's pretty consistent if you ask me.
  • MantridMantrid Lockpick Join Date: 2003-12-07 Member: 24109Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-aeroripper+Jul 10 2005, 11:37 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (aeroripper @ Jul 10 2005, 11:37 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I mean hey, even the US jumped on the bandwagon and (horribly) wiped two cities off the face of the planet and we should be heros for this? I don't see how that can be considered "good" even weighed against all the other worse stuff that was going on. But i guess its all justified when it saved potentionally many american lives right? Thanks Trumann! American lives are worth more than Japanese lives anyways... </sarcasm>. Even the japanese in china killed lots of people as well, in one instance making bridges out of the dead bodies. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Didn't the Emperor of Japan make a statement along the lines that Japan wouldn't surrender until every Japanese person was dead?

    If thats true, then you can look at it two ways: More lives were saved, or, the United States looked at that statement and said, "Okay, we can do that."
  • RaVeRaVe Join Date: 2003-06-20 Member: 17538Members
    Problem is we're pretty drawn to war if you ask me.

    Now if you look at those wars prior to the world wars, those are actually a lot, just on a smaller scale.

    They were drifting around their lives 'randomly' but yet they're drawn to one thing : war. Why? Because people force them to.
    When people split away because of conflicts of interest (as in situation stated earlier) they again begin to drift off in a new direction trying to find a new way of life for themselves, but yet it comes down to one final conclusion : conflict and then it eventually escalates to.
    The whole cycle just kept repeating itself. They keep breaking off, drifting around and then the conflict starts yet again.

    Not the same as these days though, cause we actually have a law enforcement system that works, unlike those old days. Nowadays it just boils down to something like bar fights.

    It's just one of those things that I can't even understand properly.

    If I had another reason about why WWII is so popular, it's probably because it was the most grandiose war humanity has had.
  • UnderDOGUnderDOG Join Date: 2003-04-05 Member: 15221Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Crono5+Jul 11 2005, 01:02 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Crono5 @ Jul 11 2005, 01:02 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Because of Saving Private Ryan <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    That movie actualy had <i>alot</i> to do with the modern popularization of World War 2 and games based on it.
  • AlienCowAlienCow Join Date: 2003-09-20 Member: 21040Members
    World War II was also pretty mobile, compared to say World War I. A trenches game is a great idea, I think theres at least one HL2 mod working on it, but I can't see how it would work too well. It would be slow, boring and stagnant, until anyone tried to attack. Then there would be a massacre.

    I think WW2 was much more air-sea-land as well, I realise WW1 had all these elements, but everything was just a much grander scale.
  • lolfighterlolfighter Snark, Dire Join Date: 2003-04-20 Member: 15693Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Because World War II came the closest we Americans have ever seen to a battle of Good vs Evil.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->It's the last war where we are pretty damn sure it's between good and evil, without any doubts...<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Not all other wars have had such a clear cut line between the good guys and the bad guys,<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    The world must be a lovely place when you can make yourself believe it's that simple.

    <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->After all, we had two world wars in the same half-century, both of which Germany started.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    To be fair, the two wars were rather interconnected. The second one was so directly connected to the first that the time inbetween was more like a twenty-one year ceasefire than actual peace. Considering the way the first war ended, the second one was inevitable.
  • SuitePeeSuitePee Join Date: 2004-11-18 Member: 32857Members
    HL has WW1 trench mods.
    They consist of sniping with old-style limited ammo rifles.
  • DrSuredeathDrSuredeath Join Date: 2002-11-11 Member: 8217Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Mantrid+Jul 11 2005, 03:02 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Mantrid @ Jul 11 2005, 03:02 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Didn't the Emperor of Japan make a statement along the lines that Japan wouldn't surrender until every Japanese person was dead? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Negative, the Emperor of Japan never said such things. It's the Japanese generals.
  • DrSuredeathDrSuredeath Join Date: 2002-11-11 Member: 8217Members
    edited July 2005
    That's the point. Yes, the world isn't that simple, but WWII actually seemed that simple.<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->The world must be a lovely place when you can make yourself believe it's that simple.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
  • TommyVercettiTommyVercetti Join Date: 2003-02-10 Member: 13390Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    <!--QuoteBegin-Narfwak+Jul 11 2005, 02:54 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Narfwak @ Jul 11 2005, 02:54 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-RaVe+Jul 11 2005, 03:40 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (RaVe @ Jul 11 2005, 03:40 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> It's fascinating because it shows humanity's true nature.

    We're very, <b>very, <u>very</u></b> random. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Not that random. After all, we had <i>two</i> world wars in the same half-century, both of which Germany started. That's pretty consistent if you ask me. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Serbian nationalists started World War I, and Germany got blamed for it. Germany is, of course, responsible for starting WWII, even though the Treaty of Versailles set it up for them.
  • AlienCowAlienCow Join Date: 2003-09-20 Member: 21040Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-TommyVercetti+Jul 11 2005, 02:13 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (TommyVercetti @ Jul 11 2005, 02:13 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-Narfwak+Jul 11 2005, 02:54 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Narfwak @ Jul 11 2005, 02:54 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-RaVe+Jul 11 2005, 03:40 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (RaVe @ Jul 11 2005, 03:40 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> It's fascinating because it shows humanity's true nature.

    We're very, <b>very, <u>very</u></b> random. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Not that random. After all, we had <i>two</i> world wars in the same half-century, both of which Germany started. That's pretty consistent if you ask me. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Serbian nationalists started World War I, and Germany got blamed for it. Germany is, of course, responsible for starting WWII, even though the Treaty of Versailles set it up for them. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    The Black Hand wasn't it?
  • SurgeSurge asda4a3sklflkgh Join Date: 2002-07-14 Member: 944Members
    Because Nazi ninja assassin women in tight leather are hot.
  • lolfighterlolfighter Snark, Dire Join Date: 2003-04-20 Member: 15693Members
    Well, the serbian nationalists may have been the spark, but the powder keg was just waiting to blow up anyway. It would've happened without them, just in a different way.
  • CondizzleCondizzle Join Date: 2004-10-05 Member: 32107Members
    Yeah, gunning down nazis is easy to do without any moral kinds of things getting in the way. Gunning down, say, the French... er... Gunning down, say, British, would be more controversial.
  • lolfighterlolfighter Snark, Dire Join Date: 2003-04-20 Member: 15693Members
    edited July 2005
    Another common fallacy, believing that anywhere near every member of the german armed forces was a member of the party as well.

    Then again, the games are usually far closer to the truth than the gamers. It's typically the players that make the logical misleap of "german = nazi."
  • MetalcatMetalcat Join Date: 2004-08-11 Member: 30528Members
    im facinated of WWII becourse its a real battle, like theres no choppers raping tanks, no laser guided bombs, it was man on man and like a real battle should be, and with guns, how cant you love that


    also to the german = nazi case, Hitler never visited certain parts of germany because he knew they didnt support him
  • CommunistWithAGunCommunistWithAGun Local Propaganda Guy Join Date: 2003-04-30 Member: 15953Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Narfwak+Jul 11 2005, 02:54 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Narfwak @ Jul 11 2005, 02:54 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-RaVe+Jul 11 2005, 03:40 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (RaVe @ Jul 11 2005, 03:40 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> It's fascinating because it shows humanity's true nature.

    We're very, <b>very, <u>very</u></b> random. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Not that random. After all, we had <i>two</i> world wars in the same half-century, both of which Germany started. That's pretty consistent if you ask me. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I'd argue that the league of nations "started" world war 2 in a sense, anyway,


    It was a good vs evil war, nowadays its evil vs eviler
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