Videogames have an amazing potential for modeling societal processes. At the same time, videogames also embody the worldview of their creators on a procedural level. As such, it is a rare thing when a game is able to move beyond popular understandings of the world and approach it from a new and interesting direction. As...
read more
The last time I wrote for Play the Past (unfortunately, far too long ago), I examined Valiant Hearts: The Great War as an object of remembrance and commemoration and an excellent way to understand the First World War without glorifying the conflict or understanding the war in a “top-down” view. It understood the people...
read more
In a famous study of The Great Cat Massacre, historian Robert Darnton tries to figure out why a group of apprentice printers living and working on Rue Saint-Séverin in Paris “massacred” cats in the late 1730s. Read the following quote from his writing on the subject, but think about #gamergate in the back of your mind while you...
read more
Over the last few weeks, I’ve been in the process of relearning C++. Of course, saying that I am “relearning” is perhaps giving me too much credit, as it has been almost fifteen years since my first attempt at mastering the language. While it shares a good deal of syntax with other languages I’m more...
read more
It’s a fine line between submitting useful information and indulging in shameless self-promotion, I know, but I hope the following will be of interest. I was catching up with PtP-er Rob MacDougall the other day and realized that very few people are aware I published an article in the History Teacher a couple of years ago on...
read more
« Those who study history are concerned with the occurrences of passed times; those who conceive time as history are tuned to what will happen in the future. » — George Grant, Time as History When we play at History, are we playing the past, or the future? As players of history-themed games, we are often called to be...
read more
Corey Milne is a freelance writer who graduated from Stirling University with a degree in history, only to follow that up by getting his masters in digital journalism at the University of Strathclyde. Enjoys delving into modern European history with a focus on Ireland’s journey to independence, and the mechanised warfare of...
read more
Collaboratively edited and authored, Play the Past is dedicated to thoughtfully exploring and discussing the intersection of cultural heritage (very broadly defined) and games/meaningful play (equally broadly defined). Play the Past contributors come from a wide variety of backgrounds, domains, perspectives, and motivations (for being interested in both games and cultural heritage). More information on all of our contributors can be found here. A full rundown of our community and commenting policy can be found here. If you are looking to get in contact with us (for whatever reason), point your browser here and drop us a line.
