I think they’re referring to the observed propensity for those who are “really into” world war II history to be right-wing, so 1930s-1940s-ish. This obviously isn’t ubiquitous, but having a particular interest in the second world war has definitely taken on a reputation.
Anecdotally, playing Paradox’s grand strategy games, Hearts of Iron has more noticeable fascists, or at least players who near-exclusively play fascist nations “because it’s just so interesting”. I have some cousins who mostly play fascist Germany.
I play Deep Rock Galactic, a game where you’re a dwarf in space and are enslaved by a dystopian mining corporation with no hopes of escape. The game is a survival horror mission thing where you go into mines, shoot the hostile wild life and get minerals so the mining corporation can profit. I wonder what that says about me…
I wrote a reply earlier but my app was being futzy and it looks like it didn’t send. Apologies if this double-posts.
I wasn’t making an absolutist statement on folks’ tastes in games (or any media). I don’t believe that most Hearts of Iron players are fascists any more than I believe that most Crusader Kings players want to bang their sisters and play eugenics, or that Factorio players want to terraform an alien planet into a concrete and steel wasteland and kill all native life.
You don’t need to be a fascist to enjoy playing as a historical “bad guy”, but, especially as it concerns real-world politics then and now, media centered or themed around the time during which fascism evolved will naturally attract a greater audience of that leaning than media that doesn’t. I personally have a greater interest in the mid 19th-mid 20th centuries than many other points in history due to the rapid sociological, political, and technological advancements of the era – particularly labor theory and uprisings – so I get drawn to games like Victoria for those systems.
I’ve definitely seen several examples of the stereotypes you pointed out in your previous post, too, so no argument here.
The 1800s must have definitely been a wild ride. Interesting study case too. New forms of mass media running wild, automation generating a handful of people unimaginable wealth. Yep yep. Definitely worth looking into.
I think they’re referring to the observed propensity for those who are “really into” world war II history to be right-wing, so 1930s-1940s-ish. This obviously isn’t ubiquitous, but having a particular interest in the second world war has definitely taken on a reputation.
Anecdotally, playing Paradox’s grand strategy games, Hearts of Iron has more noticeable fascists, or at least players who near-exclusively play fascist nations “because it’s just so interesting”. I have some cousins who mostly play fascist Germany.
I play Deep Rock Galactic, a game where you’re a dwarf in space and are enslaved by a dystopian mining corporation with no hopes of escape. The game is a survival horror mission thing where you go into mines, shoot the hostile wild life and get minerals so the mining corporation can profit. I wonder what that says about me…
I wrote a reply earlier but my app was being futzy and it looks like it didn’t send. Apologies if this double-posts.
I wasn’t making an absolutist statement on folks’ tastes in games (or any media). I don’t believe that most Hearts of Iron players are fascists any more than I believe that most Crusader Kings players want to bang their sisters and play eugenics, or that Factorio players want to terraform an alien planet into a concrete and steel wasteland and kill all native life.
You don’t need to be a fascist to enjoy playing as a historical “bad guy”, but, especially as it concerns real-world politics then and now, media centered or themed around the time during which fascism evolved will naturally attract a greater audience of that leaning than media that doesn’t. I personally have a greater interest in the mid 19th-mid 20th centuries than many other points in history due to the rapid sociological, political, and technological advancements of the era – particularly labor theory and uprisings – so I get drawn to games like Victoria for those systems.
heh yeah, was just making a joke.
I’ve definitely seen several examples of the stereotypes you pointed out in your previous post, too, so no argument here.
The 1800s must have definitely been a wild ride. Interesting study case too. New forms of mass media running wild, automation generating a handful of people unimaginable wealth. Yep yep. Definitely worth looking into.
Thanks for taking the time to share. :)