2012 will mark 1,150 years since the founding of the Russian state. You don't need to complete Civ V to know that kind of time will buy a country no shortage of history – and President Dmitry Medvedev, enthusiastic to celebrate the anniversary, wants his nation's young folks to feel connected to their country's past. So dredge up some old junk and put it in a museum, right? Medvedev has something a bit more contemporary in mind. Before a gathering of scientific and cultural advisors last Friday, the President began, “Take World of Warcraft…”
“This is one of the most popular games in the world,” the President continued: “It's not all about destruction. It has a subtext about developing human civilization.” Pointing out that an overwhelming amount of games are “pseudo-historical and fantasy-based,” Medvedev suggested that the medium might be a good one in which to bring Russia's storied history to life for the younger generation. Less interested in a global product than one geared “at the domestic level” to those whose history it represents, the President also suggested the anniversary could be marked by other games and trivia contests geared toward Russians.
Do you think this is a good idea, or do you feel GTAIV and Modern Warfare have you covered with regard to Russian history? Would you like to see other histories explored in MMO fashion?
Jul 26, 2011
