What is the attraction with war games?
If we look back at some of the biggest selling games, it becomes apparent that a large portion of them are based on war:
and you will see that war games make up a lot of this list.
Games like the Tom Clancy Series(Splinter Cell, Ghost Recon etc.) have sold over 55million copies. 55. Million. That's like the population of Ireland multiplied by 12 or something.
Add that to:
Medal Of Honour: 31million
Command and Conquer: 25million
Metal Gear Solid: Over 21million
Warcraft: 19million
....And we have a lot of war game sales....
And I'm not even taking the sequels to all of these games into account.
It's obvious that there is something about war games that players are attracted to. But what is it? Is it a number of different things?
Well, as someone who has played a lot of war games (my favourite game series of all time is Metal Gear Solid) I think I can pinpoint a few things which attracted me to these games. And what kept me playing them.
Numero Uno: Power:
I like power. Yes, I know a lot of you guy's have written in your blogs that power is a big thing for men in war games, which is probably why the majority of people who play war games are men. But I'm a lady... and I like to feel as much in control of things as guys do. Hence I'm attracted to the power offered in war/strategy games. In strategy games, you play God. You control armys- create them. Command them to build whatever you like, send them into battle and possibly to their death.
Numero Deux: Challenge
War games, particularly strategy war games, are generally quite challenging. As a player I like to be challenged. Where's the fun in playing a game if there isn't going to be something that tests your playing skills, makes you think? Playing Age Of Empires II I'd often find myself trying to work out how best to keep my enemies out of my base, should I build a wall? Perhaps a huge fortified wall? Should I just make a load of soldiers and have them guard the entrances?
Then I have to think of a strategy to attack the enemy...when is the right time to attack? what buildings should I attack first? Should I make a back-up army just incase someone else comes to attack my base while I'm attacking another base, or should I build another castle?
What is the best way to beat my enemy?
....Which brings me onto my next point:
Sense of achievement.
Ever played against a bunch of cocky guys who just throw abuse at you through your headset in Halo 3 Online and absolutely slaughtered them? You know that feeling you get? That "shut up you little *beep* I'm better than at this game than you are" feeling?
It's great.
And war games offer that feeling all the time. When you've spent an hour (or two) building an impenetrable base, and then set off to attack and after a lot of hard work commanding your army you win. Or when you're in a particularly difficult level in Medal Of Honour, and you finally manage to get past it, past all the constant shooting, grenade dodging and sneaking around.
They are the top 3 reasons why I think we are attracted to war games.
I have a little more to say on war games...but I think I've done a lot of typing for now so I'll come back to it. :)
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