Historical periods that are barely ever explored in games

[Sigmund Av Volsung]

I would say that the American Civil War counts, but with the release of Gettysburg: Armoured Warfare(bad example) and Ironclad Tactics, I feel that it's getting some attention.

A pet peeve of mine is that people say that Feudal Japan is over done, when it clearly isn't, at least not to me. The games that come to mind upon hearing those words are the Shogun Total War series and Okami, nothing else.

Also, the classic era would be cool(no Romans though, media in general has kind of been there, done that) such as Babylon or Carthage(especially considering that Babylonian architecture looks pretty interesting, and that now we barely have any idea what it looked like).

 

[BathorysGraveland2]

The bronze and early-mid iron ages, definitely. As far as ancient history goes, it's either always (historically inaccurate) Rome or possibly Classical Greece if you're very lucky. Anything earlier than that, including ancient Egypt which you think would be a pretty big deal for video game settings, is almost impossible to find. Off the top of my head, the older RTS games are the only ones to effectively explore those very early time periods, and base-building RTS games aren't very personal, for lack of a better word.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

We don't see much of Africa prior to the 20th/21th century do we? Excluding the ocassional pyramid tour.

 

[The Madman]

World War 1 changed the world as we know it, yet is almost never depicted in games. Shame because I could easily see a proper WW1 game being terrifying as hell. It was after all quite possibly the most horrific war in human history, just the thought of what some of those people went through sends shivers down my spine.

Spoiler: It's the stuff of nightmares

If done well could even hold educational value. Ignite peoples curiosity and drive them to learn more about the conflict.

 

[CrazyCrab]

Personally I love renaissance and there really arent all that many games that feature it. Maybe thats why I loved Lionheart so much.
I also wish there were more caveman (a survival game would be amazing) and post apocaliptic 'Cold War' (similar to fallout) games.

 

[Sigmund Av Volsung]

World War 1 changed the world as we know it, yet is almost never depicted in games. Shame because I could easily see a proper WW1 game being terrifying as hell. I was after all quite possibly the most horrific war in human history, just the thought of what some of those people went through sends shivers down my spine.

Spoiler: It's the stuff of nightmares

If done well could even hold educational value. Ignite peoples curiosity and drive them to learn more about the conflict.

I could see the Red Orchestra guys doing something like that: the games are pretty faithful to their historical periods, even if they are just quasi-realistic online shooters.

And it's true that the "Imperial" Era (Post-Victoria) isn't explored all that much, a shame really, as it is the point at which the foundation for the modern world began establishment.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

I can't tell you how much I would give to see an RPG (be it J, Western or, Bioware) that takes place in the present day AND is a Fantasy RPG with multiple playable races. That's...a lot more specific than what the OP is asking about...but there are no RPGs like that! Why can't there be more modern day RPGs?! J or otherwise!?

As for other time periods...Playing in a British prison colony in Australia could lend itself to a good horror game or, series.

 

[FPLOON]

I would say that the American Civil War counts

New Assassin's Creed game setting idea?

OT: A "historically-accurate"/prehistoric-based game featuring only dinosaurs from the Triassic Period... That game would tickle my fancy a new one, for sure...

Also, a game set during the great depression... I don't know how it would be pulled off (unless the setting's a jumping point for the non-historical elements to mix in), but that would tickle my "knowledge" of that particular timeline...

 

[the_great_cessation]

Imperial Russia. I've been longing for a game set during that time period for years now.

 

[Fox12]

I would like to see the period leading up to WW2 explored, not just in games, but in general. Everyone focuses on the Holocaust and the war, but nobody ever focus on Hitlers actual riser to power. It's fascinating to think about a normal country slowly descending into madness like that. To focus on a Jewish family looking out their window as a group of Nazi party members just walk on by, wondering where the future of their country is headed. It's really a fascinating time period.

 

[SanguiniusMagnificum]

Well, let's see... almost EVERYTHING between the 16th-19th century! Will we ever get a game about the War of the Spanish Succession? The Eighty Years War (which, in contrast to the Hundred Years War really lasted a whole eighty years)? The Chrimean War (you know, charge of the light brigade, entire Europe+the Ottomans ganging up on Imperial Russia)?

Or what about creating an RPG set during the clashes between Catholics, Protestants and Calvinists, especially in the German "Free Cities" of the HRE? Or playing as a Spanish Conquistador during the sacking of Tenochtitlan (capital of the Aztec Empire)?

But nope, everything has to be either set during WWII or in some highly fictionalised Medieval society....

 

[NoeL]

We don't see much of Africa prior to the 20th/21th century do we? Excluding the ocassional pyramid tour.

Damn, that was going to be my pick. Specifically around really ancient history before they became largely nomadic, back when they built the cities and temples 20th century archaeologists ascribed to some lost race (because clearly blacks are way too primitive to have built them). Other than that, Mesopotamia doesn't seem to come up much outside the Prince of Persia games.

 

[Imperioratorex Caprae]

Also, a game set during the great depression...

how about a kind of Fallout 3/Bonnie and Clyde type thing ?

set in "the dustbowl", kinda like a western but there's phones, cars and radio and all sorts characters fair and foul milling around tryin to make a buck...a bit like Of Mice and Men, The Grapes of Wrath or O Brother, Where Art Thou but with less singing...

captcha says "howdy partner" oO

A GTA type set back in the Bootlegger/moonshine runner days? That would be interesting. Something like the setting of the movie Lawless which was great even tho that Shia LeBeouf kid was in it. Tom Hardy was a badass tho, and Gary Oldman's part was as always great... Ok yeah Guy Pearce was also great... pretty much everyone except Shia. But the setting would make an interesting game.

 

[FPLOON]

Also, a game set during the great depression...

how about a kind of Fallout 3/Bonnie and Clyde type thing ?

set in "the dustbowl", kinda like a western but there's phones, cars and radio and all sorts characters fair and foul milling around tryin to make a buck...a bit like Of Mice and Men, The Grapes of Wrath or O Brother, Where Art Thou but with less singing...

captcha says "howdy partner" oO

I approve of the setting of "The Dustbowl"!!
I would not care if there were more singing involved!

A psudo-Fallout game, then? Only without my approval of more singing? I would be so down with that either way!

"...If you wanna make a living here, 'partner'... You best remember these words to live by... Trust no one... You ain't the only one doing the same thang in these parts and they might not be as nice a-fella as you are right now... Betta watch yourself..."

 

[mirage202]

World War 1 changed the world as we know it, yet is almost never depicted in games. Shame because I could easily see a proper WW1 game being terrifying as hell. It was after all quite possibly the most horrific war in human history, just the thought of what some of those people went through sends shivers down my spine.

If done well could even hold educational value. Ignite peoples curiosity and drive them to learn more about the conflict.

I think the issue with WW1 is the setting/genre. You can either make an FPS or TPS which everyone and their mother is doing right now, or RTS/TBS yet moving your little dudes from one trench and ordering them to dig another one a few yards ahead doesn't really make for compelling game play.

This is one of those times I would have to say mass appeal is actually a good thing, I would hate for an excellent game set in an obscure time period to go ignored and possibly fail massively because of that. Mass appeal is why we have so many games based on the Romans, Greeks and times like WW2, everyone knows about these things.

How many Americans do you think give a damn about the Crimean war or the battle of Agincourt? How many Europeans really care about Chinese or ancient Egyptian history? (Dynasty Warriors is a fluke in my humble opinion.)

The only real way to appeal to the masses in any form of unknown historical context is to make what appears to be a generic fantasy/medieval world with hidden nods to actual events.

All that said though I am excited for anything that showcases late Republican/Imperial Rome so I suppose I don't miss out all that much. More so through fascination with the Legions than anything else but also due to the Romans having a standard of living that wasn't again reached until the last couple hundred years or so, due to Reasons? (Not suitable for discussion in this forum section).

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

We don't see much of Africa prior to the 20th/21th century do we? Excluding the ocassional pyramid tour.

Shaka Zulu would be a great historical protagonist for a game.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaka

I imagine most devs would be too shy to tackle something that might derail into stereotyping so quickly (like what happened with RE5). He's an interesting figure though.

We don't see much of Africa prior to the 20th/21th century do we? Excluding the ocassional pyramid tour.

Damn, that was going to be my pick. Specifically around really ancient history before they became largely nomadic, back when they built the cities and temples 20th century archaeologists ascribed to some lost race (because clearly blacks are way too primitive to have built them). Other than that, Mesopotamia doesn't seem to come up much outside the Prince of Persia games.

There's also the first Assassin's Creed game, also by Ubisoft.

 

[Arnoxthe1]

Ancient America. I'm talking pre-Columbus. Like at least 50 years before his landing. Problem is though that there may not be enough information of that time to really recreate it.

Pure Victorian England. No steampunk or fantasy of any kind... Well, OK, maybe a little bit of fantasy. But THAT'S IT.