For the last three years, the video game industry has been experiencing much of what Hollywood is currently plagued by: Developers becoming fixated on the sequel and saga, alongside an insufferable taste for upping the action and explosions with every new installment.
While I am not as dedicated of a gamer as I once was, I still approach any game with one desire in mind, just as I do with almost every film I watch: The story is of the utmost importance. Video games are just another form of visual storytelling, being only slightly different from mediums such as animated films (when it comes to a truly interactive experience).
Every industry - the film industry, the music industry, the video game industry - is driven not only by money, but by dedicated fans who are willing to pay-up for each new story or installment in a franchise. But, as with every industry, the video game industry must not completely sacrifice the content just to make a profit. And as the nerdy nerd I am (like I’ve said many, many times), there is no bigger offender than Activision’s mega-colossal-monster, the Call of Duty franchise.
My first home console was a Nintendo GameCube, and I loved that little purple box. One of my first gaming experiences came with Call of Duty’s first installment “Finest Hour” back in the early 2000’s. This was set in WW2, and simulated many iconic battles and locations from the second world war. There was action, story, and excitement, all while keeping the game to a tamed “Teen” rating. This game, while not only being a great way to entertain a younger me, also inspired in me my fascination with WW2 in the first place. The next few games built on the first title’s success while keeping what fans loved about the original at the core of the gaming experience.
Over the last decade, the franchise has made some of the most revered games of our generation - and some of the most hated. By abandoning the core functionality and storytelling that made the first handful of games so memorable to fans, and by focusing solely on trying to stuff the most amount of action, blood, and explosions into their turkey-of-a-franchise, the series has quickly become one of the most polarizing in gaming. And with this year’s upcoming release “Infinite Warfare”, the franchise has all but officially ignored original fans and their requests, leading to one of the most disliked videos in YouTube history. But not every gaming franchise suffers this same selfish behavior.
Battlefield has often been seen as the ‘thinking man’s’ Call of Duty, with a more realistic experience (for a video game, that is) and a higher learning curve than Activision’s behemoth. While not as widely popular, the series still has a loyal fanbase in the millions. But this year the brand has done something truly heroic for their fans - they listened to our requests and what we actually want in a modern video game.
The upcoming Battlefield installment, aptly named “Battlefield 1”, returns to the pages of a history book, dropping players into an immersive WW1 experience - something that has never been done before. This may not sound like anything interesting, but to any gamer or anyone who is just sick of shooting lasers and flying around in jetpacks as an excuse for real-life history lessons or any real storytelling effort, this is a breath of fresh air.
Quite frankly, the majority of gamers of the last generation are fed up with the ridiculous amounts of customization options, the jetpacks and supercharged laser rifles, the exo-suits and everything else that a modern Call of Duty title boasts in its advertisements. Fans have been begging for a return to the good old days of first person shooter gaming; for a chance at an experience less focused on gimmicks and more devoted to telling a story in a simple, yet invigorating manner. This is exciting for the gaming community.
But this is about more than just another history-based first person shooter video game. This is about companies and brands genuinely listening to their consumers, and taking our desires into account when making new products, which isn’t something that is said too often. And with all of the pressures and influences and money on the line, I am proud that a brand like Battlefield has chosen to honor its fans’ wishes, and do everything they can to make those wishes come true.
“Battlefield 1” is the first video game in a long time that I am legitimately excited for, one that I will most likely pre-order to gain early access to. But I am also excited to gain a glimpse into my childhood memories and nostalgia, and return to the days when entertainment companies did their very best to put out the most engaging and original product that they could.
Battlefield is scheduled to be released in October 2016, with "Call of Duty" coming in November 2016.
