The D-Day Landings in First-Person Shooters (1999-2005): A Case Study in Cultural Imperialism and the Americanisation of Popular History.

Abstract

This study investigates the extent to which levels featuring the D-Day Landings in six First-Person Shooter games released 1999-2005 contain narrative choices that reinforce the versions of history preferred by the United States government; how they are presented; and how they compare to the cinematic depictions that preceded them. Through their predominance in the industry at the time, the US held great power in consistently representing their version of history, thus impacting the cultural memories of a significant portion of consumers. Research into the games was broken down into the different layers in which narrative is communicated to the players: paratexts; cinematics; and gameplay – each containing their own strategies according to the medium in which they exist. A great number of narratives can be found at every level that correlate with those that benefit the US government, such as centralisation of the US within World War II; glorification of war; and positioning it as a ’good’ war – downplaying or even omitting many of its negative aspects.