LA Times Seeks Users

[LATimesDawn]

Please excuse this intrustion to the general discussion board. The LA Times is writing a story that explores how historic real-time strategy games can turn young gamers into history buffs. Anyone out there who is so into "Rome:Total War" that they're heading to the library to check out books on Alexander the Great? If so, we'd love to talk to you.

Please e-mail me at: dawn.chmielewski@latimes.com

[Zhuge_Liang]

Please excuse this intrustion to the general discussion board. The LA Times is writing a story that explores how historic real-time strategy games can turn young gamers into history buffs. Anyone out there who is so into "Rome:Total War" that they're heading to the library to check out books on Alexander the Great? If so, we'd love to talk to you.

Please e-mail me at: dawn.chmielewski@latimes.com

This is 100% true. Although i've not exactly gone to the library it has caused me to wiki the eras and get talking to historians at this site and others. I've learnt more about history this way than from school because this way is fun and people only learn fun stuff and stuff they need for life.

Of course i think the fact that there are realism mods proves that we would like the games to be even more accurate.

[{nF}remix]

Yep, it all pretty much started with Age of Empires II then I discovered Medieval & Rome Total War.

It really made me want to go to the Library and check out books. It made me watch the National Geographic and History channels frequently.

I can safely say that 80% of history I have learned has come from or influenced by strategy games such as Rome: Total War.

Its like after I finish a huge battle or campaign, I'm amazed at what I just did and i soon go check out "Roman armies" in Wikipedia because the game immersed me so much.

[JANOSIK007]

wow interesting.

And who are you exactly? Someone affiliated with the paper?

One thing that I would suggest that improves your claims is to look at the population which is targeted by RTS market. Because I don't hink that it's so linear. It may be that more historically-inclined people are attracted to the genre as well. It is no secret that us, RTS fans, think of ourselves as the brightest, most inteligent gaming fans. In any case, this is very relevant to this community. Let us all know how it turns out. This could be turned into a study.

[scottishranger]

Heh this is just a random thing but Chmielewski was the name of a teacher I once had......



Anyways I would say that I became intersted in this genre becaue I was such a history buff before and I was looking for ways to have fun while learning some history too. I have researched some of the factions I have played and tried to pla the game as historically as possible and have subsquently turned my research into school and other articles.
Let us know if anything comes of this will you kind sir....

[Matty_P]

it would have been nice to have some sort of introduction as to who you are exactly. also, it makes people feel more secure...

however, my personal experience is that these games do provide a great potential for information; information no taught in schools. for isntance, the historical battles, although not always by-the-book accurate make a pretty convincing and extensive portrayal of historical events. i remember in Rome: Total War having learned about Pyrrhus of Epirus and his campaign against the Romans through playing one of Rome's historical battles.. I also finally knew the origin of the term, 'pyrrhic victory'.

these games do provide an interesting and entertaining mix of history and fun. i'm pleased to see some media attention.

[snuff]

I really wouldn't it say it turned me into a history buff, as I always was kinda fond of Roman and Medieval times, but I really think it made me dig a little deeper into the periods. I think some WW2 games you could look into also that do a good job at this also captivating important battles and people.

[Shazbot]

For me, I have always been interested in history. However, certain games (Rome Total War, Medival Total War) just spark a huge interest in that era. I really didn't like ancient history before RTW was released, but now, it is my favorite era of history.

[Charok]

Well I'm the opposite of what you want. I'm a history buff who became a gamer. I purchased Rome:Total war because it is the first game that used many gameplay ideas from my favorite old strategy game, Master of Magic. Why no one else has used the best ideas in strategy games is a mystery to me.

The "Total war" games will in no way teach you history. It may get more people interested in history, but then they go read a book and find out the game was wrong, haha. If you want a real historical game, go talk to the old guys who still play turn based war games. You can find those types of games at www.wargamer.com.

[Ghoulem]

When I can't seem to get my head around a historical battle, I often read about it on the Internet and try to find some pointers.

[Asean]

This is good publicity for the Total War series, Creative Assembly and just all historical videogames in general. I support this story you're planning to write.

[Tecumseh]

I doubt she is going to read any of this.

[Cyrus the Virus]

It is clear that I have gained intrests in ancient times after playing RTW

[Giurza]

I concur with JANOSIK... it is quite often the other way around... I mean, ppl who already are history affiliated, tend to play RTS more than anything... it because RTS or other strategy is so much more... hmmm inteligent? yes... exactly... inteligent... we ARE more inteligent then most of those brain dead youngsters sitting in internet caffes (atleast here in Lithuania) because in order to win a battle or a campaign we have to use our BRAINS instead of our reflexes...

[Chuffy]

I guess to a certain extent the TW games have got me more interested in history, certain parts of history at least. I was already a huge ancient Rome junkie before RTW came out and in actual fact RTW almost destroyed my love for the period since it wasn't historically accurate at all! If anything it is the modifications that have increased my knowledge/got me more interested in the period, Europa Barbarorum made me buy many different books on the ancient Gallic/Celtic peoples and a book on Baktria aswell as reigniting my intereset for the period.

[DougyM]

I concur with basicly what everybody has said....

But i would also mention in the article how the same "bennifits" RTS games bring to people (knowledge of history they would otherwise not know) also seems to bring with it a certain air of Elitism.

I would say the RTS market as a whole is more "mature" rather than just flat out state that RTS players are some how better people.

As for me, ive learned from the TW series alone:

About feudal japan, the attempted mongol invasion, through to medieval europe and its main contenders, how the papacy was involved etc...

and RTW made me look beyond Russel Crowe as an example of the effects the roman empire had on the world... and how its fall also laid the brick work for later superpowers.

[dorian_zuleta]

I've always liked History and the History of warfare in general. Ever since I was a kid I've been into that kind of stuff. Hell I even started buying video games in with a historical context. I think one thing just hypes up the other and vice versa.

[Matty_P]

i think she was bogus.

i actually wrote her an e-mail and to no reply. now i wonder if she might be a weirdo with a thing for RTS-nerds.

[The Mongol]

Games are a good learning tool imo. The Total War series isn't 100% accurate but it really got me interested in history and I know a hell of a lot more than I did before.

[Charok]

i think she was bogus. I actually wrote her an e-mail and to no reply.

Maybe your squid-head avatar picture scared her off.:tooth:

If she has a thing for RTS nerds, I'm sure you would have gotten an email back.