Author: Josh Griffiths
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The War Stories Battlefield V is Missing
Battlefield V, the 13th entry in the series, is returning to its World War II roots. EA took a risk with the last in the series, the just as confusingly titled Battlefield I. Set during the First World War, it remains the only AAA shooter set in that conflict, and one of only a handful…
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Horizon Zero Dawn Shows the Problem with Game Reviews
Horizon Zero Dawn met rave critical acclaim earlier this year. Reviews praised its polished (if unoriginal) gameplay, its unique and compelling story, and the jaw-dropping graphics. It also got a lot of attention for its diverse representation of America, featuring a cast full of people of color and various sexual orientations. Despite its Dutch heritage…
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Call of Duty WWII’s Missed Opportunities and Future Possibilities
When it comes to representation of women in gaming, Call of Duty has always had a spotty record. There was a playable female character as early as the second game in the series (Finest Hour, not Call of Duty 2) in 2004. After that, it wouldn’t be until Black Ops II’s zombie mode in 2012…
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The Real Women Resistance Fighters that Inspired Call of Duty: WWII
After years of meandering about in modern and futurist space wars, Call of Duty is finally going back to its roots – World War II. Whether this is a response to fan complaints or an answer to Battlefield 1 is a matter for debate. Also in response to EA, Activision and developer Sledgehammer Games have…
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The Wall Looks to Make Racist Trash Fun
Whenever a developer feels the need to open their crowdfunding campaign with a disclaimer stating neither they nor their game is racist, it should be an obvious sign that maybe they should rethink their entire project. Yet far too often, a developer throws caution to the wind and goes marching forward anyway. Such is the…
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Battlefield 1’s Diversity Failure Ignores History
Rumors that the next Battlefield would take place in World War I swirled for months. When Battlefield 1 debuted in May 2016, blood-soaked trenches, daring air battles, and terrible music confirmed the new setting. While the internet collectively cheered, many were wondering about the implications of the first AAA first person shooter set during the…