Why Russia?

[ThatLankyBastard]

Wait a minute... In CoD 1, 2 and WaW isn't Russia the protagonist?

... and actually, I found that in Black ops the antagonist wasn't as much Russia as it was 2 Russians and a German...

 

[AnAngryMoose]

falsefalse

For some reason that reminded me of Reagan's Star Wars http://www.atomicarchive.com/History/coldwar/page20.shtml

Did that ever go ahead?

 

[badgersprite]

It's brainwashing for the coming war. [/conspiracy theory]

 

[JoeThree]

Because they're the last "real" threat to America that anyone alive and gaming actually remembers.

edit: by that I mean "remembers on a real life level" and not "learned of in a history class".

 

[Ekonk]

Can I just point out that all this talk about Russia being the only one possible to put up such a fight with America or whatever is technically wrong, as Russia is too underpopulated (And, as far as I know, very deep in financial problems.) to be able to invade America/Defend itself from a large invasion.

Unless it fired nukes, which is suicidal.

The writers of a lot of recent war-themed games seem to disagree on that. But who cares about those nutjobs.

Also, welcome to the Escapist! Enjoy your stay and all that jazz.

 

[Xaio30]

Because playing as alongside Reznov was the best thing ever to happen the singplayer campaign!
I mean, just his accent makes it worthwhile.

 

[atol]

It's more because US and Russia are on good terms now-a-days, despite the cold war. So both can "joke" about a conflict with no hard feelings. US and North Korea, though, not so much.

 

[Ironic Pirate]

Well of course it'd be the Russians in Black Ops, it was set during the cold war!

Also, how old is the average Triple AAA game designer? Thirty or so, right? So they'd have a childhood during the cold war, and Russians would be the bad guys in a lot of the movies they saw. It just sort of stuck with 'em, I guess.

 

[Zizzousa]

Because they used to be a genuine threat, but now they're not. Putin-sigh.

 

[Caligulove]

Cold War.

Some people really wish that we had it out with the Soviets, for some reason. Strange (read: stupid) kind of patriotic.
That or all these games' stories were written by people who cream their pants while watching Red Dawn and shout to their kids to "AVEENNGE MEEEEEEE" when they go off to school

 

[Spartan1175]

falsefalse

For some reason that reminded me of Reagan's Star Wars http://www.atomicarchive.com/History/coldwar/page20.shtml

Did that ever go ahead?

Yeah but the technology was too complex so it was canceled by later administrations.

 

[emeraldrafael]

Потому что Россия является удивительным

I suppose, but I dont understand how a country that huge bordered by China can do anyhting surprising iwthout the media catching on and saying something. Like gathering an army large enough to invade America. But thats just me.


OT: Because Russia was our enemey in the Cold War, or, as I and my history teacher call it, "The War that NEVER happened". And everyone just loves to think about it. The US. Vs Russia?! Two world super powers that pretty much ended War World 2 in the theatres (Russia the European, US the Pacific) going at it, guns firing and bombs dropping with shit going down in general. Plus all those nukes. With the Powers of Democracy and semi free nations going against communism? How does that not make a good game. Granted, neither CoD game was really like that, but just the thought and possibilities are awesome.

That... And Russia is really the last enemy the US has in the world that it could go to war against and actually have it feel like a war if they watned to get down, dirty, and go at it totally. And by total, I mean like what General William Tecumseh Sherman did to the South in the Civil War. You know, burning crops, homes, livestock, rail roads, other forms of transportation. Killing anyone who decides not to comply and forcing the rest into an army of guys who have lost family members because of your ideas. Aside from the death toll and costs to human life/weakening of both countries, it would be AWESOME! From a war, conflict sorta view.

 

[AnAngryMoose]

falsefalse

For some reason that reminded me of Reagan's Star Wars http://www.atomicarchive.com/History/coldwar/page20.shtml

Did that ever go ahead?

Yeah but the technology was too complex so it was canceled by later administrations.

What a shame. It sounded pretty damn awesome.

 

[manaman]

I got an idea. Lets set one in Africa. We can have mercenaries from the US or Europe over there destroying some people fighting to oppress some other people over on the other side of "their" lands paid for by the people currently oppressing the people trying to oppress them. It's fun for the whole family.

Then halfway through the game you can jump into the shoes of a 12 year old child soldier picking up a rifle for the first time.

War sucks, but war video games are fun. Sticking two large modern relatively restrained armies against each other is probably for the best. Seeing how the US is the largest single market for these games I don't see how it is surprising the US is the protagonist even in games that are made outside the US. Then you just have to spin the wheel of antagonists, and you have a game!

WHo GivEs a CrAP.

We WAnT to PLAy gaMEs AnD evERyONe WANtS to PlaY a NeW oNE eVErY otHER weEK.

PeOPLe on ThIS siTe ***** whEn the EnEMIES arE alIENs, ZoMBIeS, NAzIs, COMMiES, TERrORiSTs, COrPOraTE EmPLoyEEs, Or ANYTHING ELSE.

MiGHt I suGGesT yOU gO HAve a ReSOUnDINg GAMe oF PeGGLe or PerHAps FaRMvILLe?

Seriously, it makes me a little batty. No one on the internet will be happy with anything, and must comment about how no one but them has any kind of originality.

This post was completely unoriginal, unlike all my posts which are wildly creative and entertaining.

 

[Benny Blanco]

Yeah, why not have North Korea or something like that as an antagonist? Why Russia?

Because the North Korean military is a joke. They would have the weapons or the man power to actually invade a first world country, and if in the game, America was the one that invaded them, then the Americans couldn't be perceived as the "good guys."

Besides, if North Korea did try anything, America wouldn't even be need, China would smack them back into place.

Yeah, sure, if you made if an open war situation. All the Chinese care about is no-one fucking things up before they can totally dominate America economically...

How about this for a plot: North Koreans kidnap US and Japanese actors filming a war movie off the coast for one of Kim Jong Il's private movies. You're part of a special ops team tasked with rescuing the actors and getting them out of the country without provoking an international incident. That's a black op mission for you.

Who else should the enemy be? the concept of being attacked by the japanese and the germans have worn pretty thin over the years, and there's not exactly much else to shoot at, is there?
The french? Just mute the cries of "we surrender" and it'll be like a rail shooter.
The norwegian? (yeah, using them as an example out of national pride. Or something.) Last time the norwegians went to a war -if that was what it was, they never really decided if it was a corporate takeover, a war, a military action, or an act of peace negotiations- most of the soldiers were sent home due to lead poisoning. And that's not slang for getting shot, either. Good old, honest to ned flanders, chew on your pencil lead poisoning.

Maybe we should give new zealanders a chance to get shot in a virtual war game? Do they even have an army?
And the list goes on. Looks like we're stuck with russia for now; they might not be the best choice, but they're better than risking bad publicity by using some minority group from ooga-boogaland. And they have voice actors who manage to sound passable; that's a big plus over german, where everyone either speaks american, or sound like they learned german from an american wartime sitcom.

Norway huh? Well, they are one of the top 5 oil-producing nations in the world and...

Yeah, the Kiwis do have an army, they usually have fought alongside the Australians (together referred to as ANZACs) They're supposed to be really good snipers.

Here's a really "edgy" opponent for you: Israel.

-American-made weapons
-Significant nuclear arsenal
-Really aggressive foreign policy.
-Regularly shoot foreign nationals for fun.

 

[Leemaster777]

Making Russia the bad guy sidesteps any accusation of racism (they're white) or religious intolerance.

Also they have the second best villain accents, after Germany.

I really, really like this answer.

 

[Canid117]

Yeah, why not have North Korea or something like that as an antagonist? Why Russia?

Because the North Korean military in its current state would get rolled over in a week.

And also...

 

[Spartan1175]

Yeah, why not have North Korea or something like that as an antagonist? Why Russia?

Because the North Korean military in its current state would get rolled over in a week.

And also...

I hope it comes out for pc.

 

[easternflame]

Whats the deal with games like MW2,BFBC2, and Black ops having Russians as the antagonists? Have game writers really run out of ideas?

dude stupid question, russians are communists or were commies and america is the land of anticomunism

 

[Jodah]

It also may end up being a political issue if a different group was chosen. Russia seems to accept it as just a game based on the American view of history. Who knows what that whacko in North Korea would do if there was a video game where American nuked him back to the stone age. It may sound silly but World War 3 could start over a video game if the right (or wrong) group was chosen.