Understanding Alternative Histories: The Ethiopian Japaniser Movement
This fourth article in a series of deep dives into alternative historical depictions of Africa and Colonialism in video games focuses on Ethiopia. In its quest for modernisation, Ethiopia looked east to Japan and the Meiji movement. The Historical Flavour mod for Victoria II simulates Ethiopia’s development throughout the nineteenth and twentieth century. How is the legacy of the Japaniser Movement represented?
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Bulletin: God of War, Anno 1800, more Valheim and Hellish Quart!
In this week’s bulletin we discuss Valheim, pre-2000 Source Codes, a God of War Update, Imperator: Rome 2, politics and taboos in games, archiving the Atari Burial Ground, New World being delayed, Anno 1800 Docklands, a new Civ VI game mode and Hellish Quart!
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The Alternative History of Neocolonialism
This third article in a series of deep dives into alternative historical depictions of Africa and colonialism in video games focuses on post-colonialism. The end of formal colonialism marked the beginning of neocolonialism. A Victoria 2 mod set in the Cold War simulates this with a system of economic spheres of influence. How does it affect Africa?
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Bulletin: Valheim, Potion Craft, Nebuchadnezzar, Black Myth: Wukong and more!
In this week’s bulletin, we discuss Valheim, Lara Croft, Field of Glory 2: Medieval, Middle Ages in Modern Games, Potion Craft, Nebuchadnezzar, a Lecture on video games and History, Black Myth: Wukong, Archiving multi-platformed games and how pigs play video games!
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Understanding Alternative Histories: Katanga
This second article in a series of deep dives into alternative historical depictions of Africa and Colonialism in video games focuses on Congo. Following the independence of Congo in 1960 its southernmost province of Katanga broke away as its own republic, receiving heavy Belgian and mercenary support. A popular Hearts of Iron IV mod set in the 1960s depicts an alternative Katanga. How does it fare?
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Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is a jackpot for Ubisoft
We can’t really stop talking about Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, so we won’t! Because of this, we wanted to talk a bit about the financial success Valhalla is. In this Stratigraph, we take a closer look at the monetary gains Ubisoft made from some Viking looting.
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Bulletin: Playing with the Past, Age of Empires II, King Arthur, Valheim and more!
In this week’s bulletin, we discuss projects which play with the past, theme parks with ‘historical’ narratives, Age of Empires II, Minecraft Sustainability, King Arthur: A Knight’s Tale, Imperator: Rome 2.0, Bucket of Bolts, VALUE in de Volkskrant, Mass Effect’s data corruption, Valheim and a call of papers by NASTA!
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Understanding Alternative Histories: Mittelafrika
This article is the first in a series of deep dives into alternative historical depictions of Africa and Colonialism in video games, primarily games by Paradox Interactive. In many popular Hearts of Iron IV mods, Germany controls large swathes of Africa as colonies. How would this colonial entity operate, and could it even exist the way it does in those mods?
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Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: A (mostly) Spoiler-Free Review
We asked Liam McLeod to write a review of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla for us. He’s one of our beacons when it comes to medieval England, so he’s bound to have some good opinions on the game. Liam mainly discusses the landscape and the larger narrative, so no worries about (big) spoilers!
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