Over the course of the last 40 years, video games have taken the world by storm. From simple games such as Tetris and Pac-Man, all the way up to today’s revolutionary games such as Call of Duty and Assassin’s Creed, this new medium of history and technology has provided a generation with a new understanding and method of history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have played a wide range of video games, from games like Madden and MLB The Show, to Battlefront and Jedi: Fallen Order, to Red Dead Redemption, and everything in between. Through playing video games, especially ones that have had a connection to history, I have been able to garner interests in certain topics and fields. For instance, games such as Red Dead Redemption have piqued my interest in the history of the Old West. But this begs a question-Are video games the “rainbow connection” between the modern age and history? That is to say, are they a viable source to use for historical study?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are several positives to using video games as a historical medium and study. First and foremost, games can provide perspective into an age that most of the players would not have been alive for. It gives the player a view into what those eras and times would have looked like. There is no one alive that would have seen the American Revolution, and games such as Assassin’s Creed III bring to life what some only see in books and articles. Most people would not know the inner workings of the Cold War, and Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War brings to life what most younger generations would not be able to understand. These games, and others, bring to life these bygone eras-and help pique interest and further study into those eras.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, this is not to say that games as a historical medium works without fault. One of the main vices is that more often than not, video games in a historical setting are primarily historical fiction, and it is hard to find a game that is truly accurate. Thus, if one tries to make a foundational argument, it can be difficult to base such an argument on historical accuracy and source material. Games, while they can be a good resource, can also be very subjective, and mold narratives and historical material to better suit the player and the game itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So what is the ultimate answer? It should be both yes and no. Yes, in the sense that it is a good starting point, a reference and starting block to further study and examination. Yes, that video games connect the past and the future. But also no, in the sense that there is not enough accuracy to use this as a full-blooded primary source. This rainbow connection is one that is the crossroads of innovation. It can go either way, and it is up to the creators and the players to determine exactly which way it goes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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