[idea] A whole different WW2 game

[Cazzz]

Yesterday when doing the dishes after the Xmas diner I was struck with a rather good game idea. Today we got a huge collection of World War 2 games out there. The concepts are like this: 75% is allies Vs axis, 10% is axis Vs allies, 15% other like russian Vs Axis and japanese Vs allies games (rough estimation)

But I cant recall any game that puts you in the place of the occupied people.
As you may know in the movies this is diffrent. There a lot of dutch movies about the normal people (Soldaat van Oranje, Meisje met het rode haar, de Tweeling etc) but also movies like The Pianist, Schindlers list and even La vita e bella.

Since this is a prety unexplored game area it gives a wide variaty of concepts and stories. Not that I'm in the position to create such a game but I like to discuss/brainstorm about it. So my idea so far.

A multi-story game. Where depending on your actions you can shape the story. So basicly when you begin you dont know anything about your faith. But while playing there is a razia and you get deported to a getho. After that you get transvered to a destruction camp. There you die.
But when you play the game again you could enticerpate and avoid the razia. That way you get in toutch with the recistance.
The game could feature some action but nothing to intense, it would be more like a interactive story than an action packed game.

Well this could be extend to a deeper and more dramatic story (mabye add a lover to it ). But the baseline is that I want it to be a multi-story adventure.
Where the player experience worldwar 2 from the occupied side.

Tell me what you think?
When such a game exists, would you play it?
Is my game idea allready been done? (names and address so I can hunt them down ;))
What about the multi-story part? could that work out or should it be a single story game?

Just keep it at a easy going level, I don't want to create this game so no flaming "You cant pull it off" or "It takes a lot of time".

[Methulah]

It sounds allright, I'm not sure if it has been done, there are a lot of adventure games out there. I have often wanted to do a more interactive adventure with varying gameplay and from an unusual and emotional perspective. If it were out and good, would I play it? yes.

[Jotaf]

I like it :)

It's always cool finding a niche that hasn't been over-abused with cliche stories. The only possible downside is that it isn't very good for an action game, and adventure games aren't exactly mainstream (not that there's anything wrong with them).

Trying to make an action game out of this... the French resistánce could provide many opportunities for an espionage/stealth game, along the lines of Thief and Metal Gear. Of course it would be a lot more organic/realistic and story-oriented, but this is probably what would make it shine above the rest! Just a thought :)

[Mihail121]

I like your idea very much, never thought of it from this perspective but I believe you can make a great game with it, just don't give up the fight against the clishes!!!

[diejondie]

i kind of find it offensive that you die in a "destruction" camp. are you implying that your character is jewish? i think the idea of dying the way many innocent people did would be absolutely wrong...

no offense, it sounds really neat, but i honestly think this idea is moraly wrong.
another theme and different type of character with no religious backround would be an excellent idea.


of as for you idea, i believe it kind of has been made already, but not with your story.


silent hill has alternative endings, and i believe one or two of the resident evil games has alternative endings too.

[Jynks]

what about a game orginising the french resistence in ww2? You play an underground leader.. a sim/strat game?

[Cazzz]

Well diejondie, I have no intention to insult or to harm anyone but I guess many movies do the same thing.
Offcourse there's a difference between games and movies. But I guess games (if done correctly) could do the same thing. My idea is not about fun or cheap amusment, more it is historical adventuring. I think games could do these 'heavy' topics but it has to be done in a sensible and correct manner.

[spoulson]

I like the idea. Somehow I don't think you're the only one to come up with it, but I can probably suggest why it hasn't been done by now: In a movie, the viewer can learn about the foreign main character. In a game, you are forced to make decisions and understand the character a bit as you play.

i.e. if you played a game as a terrorist leader, you'd probably want to understand why it's good to send suicide bombers to your targets and know how it'll affect your political goals. In American society, you don't ever think this way so you'd probably lose interest in such a game after you've had the initial fun of blowing up innocent crusaders. Ok, so that's a far fetched idea.

If the game could be done in such a way that the player already knows the foreign culture or can learn about it, then the player will more easily accept the object of the game.

[Jotaf]

Actually, Spoulson, I don't think it's that hard to identify with a character of the resistance in a Nazi-occupied country (there are many to chose from, but the French resistánce is already deep within our psyche :) ). The bad guys occupied your country and you want them out. It just that this story hasn't been told via a strategy game or a stealth game, yet.