These kids today! Okay, I promised myself that I would never get out of touch, but it seems that ship has already sailed. Sure, I might know about technology, but I’m still a bit befuddled by Snapchat (my face swap with my baby is pure nightmare fuel) and I simply don’t use words like bae or woke the way the kids today do. And sure, some millennials might think that Kanye West kickstarted Paul McCartney’s career, but surely they know how to count, right? Everyone knows about WWII thanks to killing Nazis in so many games and movies, but that means that kids must know that there was first a World War, right? Well, EA wasn’t so sure.
Over at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2016 Global Technology Conference (doesn’t really roll off the tongue, does it?), EA CFO Blake Jorgensen explained that there was some debate within EA about Battlefield 1’s setting.
World War 1, we were worried that many of the younger consumers out there didn’t know that there was a World War 2 or Vietnam, so World War 1…
It also didn’t help things that all that most older people know about WWI is trench warfare and trench foot. But once Jorgensen realized that WWI offered much more than that, EA gave the project the green light.
I think what people don’t understand about World War 1 is the technology shift that went on during the war. People started the war on horseback and ended the war with airplanes and tanks and battleships and submarines. And that’s a huge opportunity for us to be able to do a video game around.
So not only can we expect a cool evolution of technology in the game, we can also presume that we’ll be playing in maps based on a wide variety of locales across Europe and Northern Africa.
Is this finally what the franchise needs? Will this make Battlefield 1 a true contender against Call of Duty? I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see. Now excuse me while I kick these kids off my lawn.
Last Updated: June 2, 2016
Raptor Rants
June 2, 2016 at 09:02
That face swap is terrifying 0_0
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 2, 2016 at 09:07
What is this? A game for intellectual ants?
HairyEwok
June 2, 2016 at 09:09
I’ll never use the word bae either…. Calling somebody poop just doesn’t seem right for me.
When I was in school I learned about WW1, WW2 and the Apartheid era…. Today’s history classes are only about SA history.
Anon A Mouse
June 2, 2016 at 09:42
In the 1500 bae was used to describe sheep sounds, they might be on to something.
Raptor Rants
June 2, 2016 at 09:12
If kids don’t know about history… Gee I wonder who’s fault that is
HairyEwok
June 2, 2016 at 09:24
My kids would watch ERB every day to learn about history XD
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 2, 2016 at 09:18
Kids are allowed to play Battlefield?
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 2, 2016 at 09:19
The lowest PEGI score I could find for a Battlefield game is PEGI 16
Ir0nseraph
June 2, 2016 at 09:23
Hey EA and Disney are big friends at the moment thanks to Star Wars, so this might be Battlefield 1, the Disney version.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 2, 2016 at 09:25
Fun fact, a 16 year old Walt Disney left school and attempted to enlist in the army during WW1. He was rejected for being underage, but managed to find employment with the Red Cross as an ambulance driver.
Ir0nseraph
June 2, 2016 at 09:26
Nice , bar trivia night last night ? 😛
Captain JJ bound
June 2, 2016 at 09:53
16 is still a kid to me, but maybe I’m just old.
Raptor Rants
June 2, 2016 at 09:20
you know and on that note. Why is it that EA are even worrying about whether KIDS know about WW1? Hello, this is an age restricted game. People old enough to play OBVIOUSLY know what WW1 is.
So my question is this. Are EA now openly admitting that while they age restrict the game they are knowingly wanting minors to play the game? Are they wanting kids who are too young to play to get in to the game? Are they marketing it around this?
So EA, who claim that games don’t cause violence and parents should take responsibility and ensure their kid is old enough to play sat down and thought, wait before we launch this game, should we consider whether young kids would know what WW1 is?
COME ON! Fudge it. Gaming is such a farce at this moment
Raptor Rants
June 2, 2016 at 09:22
Yus it makes me moerig that developers actually sit and wonder how they are to grab the attention of kids too young to actually play the game.
Donner man dit moet nou op hou.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 2, 2016 at 09:29
Pre-order now
http://productimages.goantiques.gemr.s3.amazonaws.com/45407/581485_detail.jpg
Raptor Rants
June 2, 2016 at 10:20
lol
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 2, 2016 at 09:23
ESRB rating is a farce, just drop it already. Kids have already learned all they can from Nazis playing Wolfenstein and learned the facts of life from that one cutscene.
oVg Whippersnapper Post Review
June 2, 2016 at 09:35
Hear hear, you took the words out of my mouth. These games are for kids. The mature rating acts as a cookie jar on top of the fridge. EA and Activision know their Shit.
The only way to regain any faith in our hobby as an adult is to play some more Witchery 🙂
Next time FOX blames games for the next school shooting I’ll back them.
AfricanTime
June 2, 2016 at 09:36
Fox? did not know we are american?
oVg Whippersnapper Post Review
June 2, 2016 at 09:37
ANN 7
AfricanTime
June 2, 2016 at 09:37
cannot compare as nobody watches ANN7. if it still a thing.
Ir0nseraph
June 2, 2016 at 09:38
You can stick any rating you want on a game, in the end it’s up to the parent to allow or disallow it in the end, just the other day in one our gaming stores I witnessed a lady buying GTA 5 for her son, so that rating didn’t help anyone.
AfricanTime
June 2, 2016 at 09:39
^100%
Raptor Rants
June 2, 2016 at 10:22
Oh I agree. It is up to the parents. But EA are so quick to say parents must watch what kids play, but then they sit around a table and go “How do we get kids to play if they don’t know WW1”
Such a double standard
Vulcha
June 2, 2016 at 10:31
I also once witnessed an obviously ignorant parent trying to buy GTA 5 from a popular gaming store. The guy at the counter told her it was a very bad idea and essentially that he wouldn’t sell it to her. So it goes both ways.
Ignorance doesn’t help.
Ir0nseraph
June 2, 2016 at 10:37
Well that’s good, but do you think she left it there or just went to a different store or buy it online, retailers can try there best but if the parent doesn’t give a crap the game will get played by kids that shouldn’t, EA is still just caching in they sold their souls a long time ago.
Darren Peach
June 2, 2016 at 09:57
Hey dewd, I finished Uncharted last night. I was in awe the whole way through. I am so blown away by every facet of it I would give it a 11/10. The narative, the internal conflict, the incredibly touching relationship between Nate and the Misses. The feeling of dread and uncertainty. The subtle use of metaphors in the story. The ending. WOW ! I was actually choked up a few times during the game. Flawless experience both in terms of gameplay and character arc. Young Nate looked like Carl from Shameless, a funny observation 🙂 . The visuals ! WOW. Visceral gun battles….. The VISUALS !!!!!! I was humbled by that game.
BakedBagel
June 2, 2016 at 10:08
EA’s main concern is profit.
If they enforce age restrictions, thats less profit
So yes EA knowingly WANT minors to play their games.
Admiral Chief Protector
June 2, 2016 at 10:17
tl;dr
Mossel
June 2, 2016 at 10:23
Anyone who thinks 13 year olds don’t play GTA or any other violent game for that matter is just plain ignorant. So of course they know these kids play their games. That age restriction is just a way for them to protect themselves against the politically correct and nanny state world we live in. 14 year olds drink, smoke and have sex as well, a video game is the last of my worries.
Raptor Rants
June 2, 2016 at 10:25
I’m talking about the double standard. They officially state kids X age aren’t allowed to play. Then go and meet and say, how do we get kids X age to play this?
Mossel
June 2, 2016 at 10:28
Fair enough. But like I said, I think the age restriction is more of a “lets just do this to cover our ass” situation. Games are first and foremost made for kids, even if it states 16. I mean I played Doom, Carmaggeddon and all sorts of shit when I was underage.
Raptor Rants
June 2, 2016 at 10:30
For sure. Agreed 100%
But at least don’t blateently admit your double sidedness lol
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 2, 2016 at 09:27
coming soon, EAs PR department making a statement regarding their support for the rating systems in games
Darren Peach
June 2, 2016 at 09:43
It’s actually sad in a way. Are kids really that oblivious or is this article and our collective reaction to it a sign that we are getting older ?
Raptor Rants
June 2, 2016 at 10:30
I found a grey hair the other day…. So just affirmation of what my body already knows
Darren Peach
June 2, 2016 at 10:35
Yeah. Have you got rogue eyebrow hairs that grow to bizarre lengths and require constant upkeep ?
Raptor Rants
June 2, 2016 at 12:39
no. I have the neck ones instead
Dresden
June 2, 2016 at 20:52
I started getting those in high school :/
Captain JJ bound
June 2, 2016 at 09:52
Well people also bought that hoverboard kak, so I’m not really surprised.
BakedBagel
June 2, 2016 at 10:06
We live in an age where information has NEVER EVER been more accessible to anyone at anytime.
Yet people dont read/learn history. There is no excuse for kids who play games to not know history.
Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
Strawman Jim
June 2, 2016 at 10:07
Kids today…. sigh!
Mossel
June 2, 2016 at 10:19
Really amped for this game!
Darren Peach
June 2, 2016 at 10:29
WW1. Great Idea. Just worried it is going to be the typical Battlefield experience. Not necessarily a bad thing, just a touch stale.
Greylingad[He Charges!]
June 2, 2016 at 10:59
Here’s an interesting question, what about war do we teach our children? You see, in schools we teach our children about the wars of ages past and never really delve into the atrocities committed by either side, it’s always this story of “a great war was fought and then some countries stood together to form a coalition to prevent it from happening again, they signed peace treaties and were all hopeful about preventing another great war…” Until WW2, anyway, point being, we never teach our children the bad side of it, we have these airy fairy ideas of sending children, yes, when you are 18 years old you have not learnt anything from what life could possibly throw at you yet, to the ARMY!? Why?! Because the real monsters, the ones that sacrifice other peoples dreams, their children, to their demise. Those are the ones to be feared.
Regardless, the picture of those wars are fading, a century later and people have forgotten what others sacrificed, hopefully these forms of entertainment will be able to educate the adults among us, and not paint a picture of blood and guts on the innocent canvas that is a child’s’ mind.
Fun fact, the great wars were only named world wars after WW2, by the way…
HvR
June 2, 2016 at 13:01
Just do not fall into the trap of thinking Great = good. Up until very recently great just meant big or vast in the English language.
For instance Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) is called that because in previous centuries the two British islands were known as Great (aka Large) Britain and Little Britain (Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland).
Anyways as person who actually took history as subject right through to matric we in no uncertain terms learned about the horrors, atrocities and expanse of both World Wars.If you read up on things like the Armenian genocides and the Soviet purges, look at the pictures, documents etc you will fully understand why this is not covered in school before the age of 16.
Greylingad[He Charges!]
June 2, 2016 at 13:56
This is the answer I was looking for, the great wars, as they are known, had nothing to do with goodness, it merely meant that a lot of countries banded together to prevent a single, destructive world order, no side of war is ever pretty, nothing of it, and yet we look to it for entertainment purposes…
Dresden
June 2, 2016 at 21:50
They should bring this back. It was fun and easy to read and very informative for kids (and it told the gruesome story of most of these atrocities in a form which kids could also read).
http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1374614094l/18232088.jpg
Frost
June 2, 2016 at 11:10
We did this to the kids.
Xbox -> Xbox360 -> Xbox One
Sim City – > Sim City 2000 -> Sim City 3000 -> Sim City 4 -> Sim City
iusedtobe(a)regular
June 2, 2016 at 14:19
Because its essential for kids to know about war……..right?
Avithar
June 2, 2016 at 16:40
Soon kids will be learning about how Kim K broke the net with a half naked pic… or how Miley went crazy… sorry but that will never be history. What will and always be history is how those kids are able to sit among other Race groups or how the country they live in is not ruled by a Dictator or worse. I enjoyed the South African history i learnt growing up here, it allowed me to better relate to the people i interacted with.
And that is my 2c…
Jason Keller
June 2, 2016 at 19:23
Well the game is for 17+ so their audience should be aware of it. Unless school is even more useless than it was in the 80s. I didn’t know that America used horses to get to Europe. …… good one EA.