Historical Video Games Have Promise—but Only If They’re Honest
Historical Video Games Have Promise—but Only If They’re Honest
Historical Video Games Have Promise—but Only If They’re Honest
February18,2022
ByGeofreyBuning
Summary
In partnership with UKIE, the British gaming trade association, the game developer wants to introduce Discovery Tour to 52 schools across the UK.But this isn't the first time someone has deployed a video game for education.
Whether it's the untamed west of Red Dead Redemption 2, the wind-fed fields of 13th-century Tsushima, or the bustle of Renaissance Florence, games are becoming more photorealistic and increasingly rely on historical settings for their narratives.
Now, you're more likely to be introduced to a historical subject through gaming than traditional education.
Unlike academic curricula, games also have more freedom to explore ideas that history students might not encounter.
Without the oversight of major publishers, and with less of a focus on marketability, indie games are more likely to explore the often unpalatable complexities of history that triple-A games shy away from.
Despite some of its failures in developing historical narratives, we cannot underestimate gaming's ability to drive us toward further interrogation of subjects of which we are otherwise ignorant.
Video game journalist Andy Robertson has created a family video game database with information allowing parents to make informed decisions about what is suitable, accessible, and positive for families to play together.
Reference
Bunting, G. (2022, February 18). Historical video games have promise-but only if they're honest. Retrieved March 7, 2022, from https://www.wired.com/story/history-video-games/