History: Building Interest Through Video Games

How can video games increase student interest in history?

Will it work?

Having an interest in history always connected with my choice in video games (and it still does).  I loved to play games that took place in the past, whether they were nation building strategy games or action filled war games.  Although many of these games exaggerated the truth or simplified what had actually happened, the historic setting created a greater interest in the historical time period.  

History related games and their subject matter

Company of Heroes - A strategy game set in World War Two.  The player controls soldiers from an overhead, commander-style viewpoint as they attempt to either eliminate enemy resistance or take control of all the control points on a map.  The player needs to manage resources and use strategy to gain the upper hand over their opponent and achieve victory.  The game includes an assortment of accurate weapons and vehicles from World War Two.  Here is a review of the game to give an idea of what it's like. 

Total War - Despite the name of this series, warfare is only one aspect of the game and one of the many ways to achieve victory.  The total war series is interesting because of the variety of time periods in which different games in the series take place.  For example, the upcoming Rome 2: Total War will take place during the reign of the Roman Empire, Medieval 2: Total War takes place in medieval Europe/Middle East/Northern Africa, Empire Total War takes place during the 1700s as European nations compete for colonies around the world.  These are just a few examples of the where the series takes place.  In each game, the player must balance finances/resources, respond to the demands of the people under their rule, gain control of a certain number of territories (either through military or diplomacy), manage foreign policy and establish and protect systems of trade with other nations.  The game contains accurate units and the soldiers use accurate weapons from the time period the game is set in.  This game gives the player a small taste of what it may have been like to be a ruler during any one of these important historical time periods.  Here is a demo of Rome 2: Total War, which is coming out soon.Here is a demo of Rome 2: Total War, which is coming out soon!

 Check out this review of Empire Total War which came out a few years ago, but still is enjoyable as the game is unscripted and can turn out differently based on the actions you take as the leader of your nation.