Pachter: The World War II Theme Has Run Its Course

You may not have noticed, but over the years, we've seen quite a few games based on World War II. Developers are starting to get away from that now but it's largely due to over-saturation and a general cry from the consumer; "could we have something new, please?!"

And if you're one of the many who voiced such a plea during the early stages of this generation, you should know that Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter is right there with you. In checking out the latest episode of PachAttack over at GameTrailers, we hear the popular analyst's take on the subject of WWII FPSs. Initially, when asked if he thinks the industry is starting to move away from the common theme, Pachter simply replied, "Gosh, I hope so." These days, though, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, Killzone 2, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, and the new-look Medal of Honor are all examples of huge shooters that no longer focus on the second World War. Pachter goes on to say that "WWII gaming has lasted longer than World War II" itself and he just doesn't understand the public's fascination with the concept. He further theorizes that the reason shooters continue to get bigger recently is because they're getting away from WWII; many publishers really didn't want to do that, at first. Gamers love the tried and true but at some point, no matter how good the idea may be, we all get tired. It's just bound to happen.

I'm sure most of you will agree with Pachter. But then again, let's not forget that we did see what is arguably the best WWII shooter ever with Treyarch's Call of Duty: World at War back in 2008.

4/11/2010 8:59:36 PM Ben Dutka

Put this on your webpage or blog:
Email this to a friend
Follow PSX Extreme on Twitter

Comments (50 posts)

Toggle Scrolling | Reload Comments

The X Factor 9
Sunday, April 11, 2010 @ 9:46:37 PM
Reply

Give it another year or so and we'll be more than sick of these "Modern War" games...

I'm sure Michael Pachter will catch on. You heard it here first.

3 up, 2 down

Jawknee
Sunday, April 11, 2010 @ 9:52:33 PM

I'm already sick of them, although Bad Company 2 is pretty fun. Just ordered it on Amazon for $50.

3 up, 3 down

BTNwarrior
Sunday, April 11, 2010 @ 11:17:30 PM

maybe, but new technology and guns come out every year. So while in WW2 games your stuck with the same old stuff in Modern FPS's you get new stuff every time.

4 up, 1 down

shadowpal2
Monday, April 12, 2010 @ 12:16:10 AM

Bad Company 2 is BADASS. I like it, my friend likes it. We both like it. =)

But yea you may be pretty damn right about the whole people getting bored of modern shooters thing. I would think so too, in that case would that mean that the shooter franchise will become...........................EXTINCT!?!?!?!?!

Naaaa...never because there are still a large group that enjoy them...and also there wouldn't be a console without them. Yes...that console.

I loved Pachter's quote on how World War II gaming has lasted longer than World War II - I laughed haha.

0 up, 0 down

johnld
Monday, April 12, 2010 @ 4:00:49 AM

i'll get back to bad company 2 in between my platinum run of final fantasy 13. i want to stop but i always get dragged in. working on my platinum ingot farming. after 4 hours, i got 13. and thats with the collectors catalog. and for some reason, death spell isnt knocking adamantoises as good as it did when i was cp farming.

0 up, 0 down

hellish_devil
Sunday, April 11, 2010 @ 9:52:55 PM
Reply

I remember Medal of Honor: Alied Assault being World War II themed. It was su much fun. I played it when I was 10.....oh the memories

Last edited by hellish_devil on 4/11/2010 9:53:19 PM

4 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Sunday, April 11, 2010 @ 9:56:54 PM
Reply

Nazi's are the only enemy it's still politically correct to kill in hoards these days. They have to make up fake enemies now like the Islamic Communists in MW1.

I actually liked World at War more then MW2 and slightly more then MW1. The campaign was better and was more fun to play online. There are tanks! But i supposed i am a bit board of WWII weaponry.

6 up, 0 down

BTNwarrior
Sunday, April 11, 2010 @ 11:19:46 PM

Really? The campaign was horrible because the enemies just continually spawned makeing it impossible to move on unless you sprinted into them and hoped to survive.

And tankes just made the MP unbalanced

0 up, 2 down

Jawknee
Sunday, April 11, 2010 @ 11:34:55 PM

The enemies spawning in the manner they do is typical of most Call of Duty games. I liked the story and the missions in World at War. It was an over all better value then MW1 and especially 2. The tanks don't make it that unbalanced. They aren't that hard to destroy.

0 up, 0 down

johnld
Monday, April 12, 2010 @ 4:04:41 AM

ohh man, world at war on veteran was brutal! i there was never a time where a grenade wasnt around me. i got stupid once and made a run for a checkpoint. so everytime i died, i start over at that spot with 3 grenades ready to blow. my only choice war run into the open where everyone was shooting. i got platinum so im not playing that single player again....at least on veteran.

2 up, 0 down

AcHiLLiA
Monday, April 12, 2010 @ 12:28:00 PM

call of duty 3 online is like the worst when it comes to respawning. And I agree, veteran mode was brutal on cod waw.

0 up, 0 down

Alienange
Sunday, April 11, 2010 @ 10:28:23 PM
Reply

Pachter's superior analytical mind has figured this out has it? What's he going to say next? RTS don't sell as well as they used to?

7 up, 0 down

johnld
Monday, April 12, 2010 @ 4:07:57 AM

seriously though, how do i get a job like his? it seems like a job anyone who has an internet connection or a friend that is lightly interested in a subject could do. damn captain obvious, he gets paid to "analyze" things that we knew a while back.

1 up, 0 down

Beamboom
Monday, April 12, 2010 @ 4:36:07 AM

Hahaha! If I could I would give this one two thumbs up, Alien :D

However, I'd love to see more strategy on our beloved platform. Quite a few of my favourite games over the years on the PC were strategy games, both turn based and real time.

0 up, 0 down

BikerSaint
Sunday, April 11, 2010 @ 10:30:58 PM
Reply

Yawn on Pachter's statement, we're not still in the year 2008!!!!

It is "not" a fact that we're in agreement with Pachter,

The only real fact's that Pachter is finally in agreement with us, the gaming world.

So IMO, now that we're almost 1/4 through 2010 already, his sudden commenting on this now, really is super old news.

5 up, 0 down

Hezzron
Sunday, April 11, 2010 @ 11:03:18 PM
Reply

Wow. This guy is pretty good at delivering yesterday's news today.

8 up, 0 down

RebelJD
Sunday, April 11, 2010 @ 11:27:45 PM
Reply

Developers need to give FPS games a rest, period.

1 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Sunday, April 11, 2010 @ 11:36:18 PM

I'll be buying Killzone 3 on day one. :)

6 up, 0 down

johnld
Monday, April 12, 2010 @ 4:12:28 AM

Fps games are pretty fun, what ruins it is the ones who just keeps making them just to make a quick buck. killzone 2 was great, what i dont like is people comparing games like these to the "top" game in the genre. When i mean "top" game, i mean the mainstream definition of it, not quality wise.

1 up, 0 down

Oyashiro
Sunday, April 11, 2010 @ 11:36:06 PM
Reply

In other news, it seems that Game "Analyst" Michael Pachter has traveled to the present from the not so distant past of 2005!

6 up, 0 down

Highlander
Sunday, April 11, 2010 @ 11:46:10 PM
Reply

Wow, for once I agree with this overpaid mouth-piece. It's about time we moved on from WWII as a setting for games.

That said, I hate to think about the sheer amount of brown of various shades that will be displayed in future shooters that use the wars since WWII as their backdrops.

5 up, 2 down

LimitedVertigo
Monday, April 12, 2010 @ 1:19:37 AM

You can always hope for Episode3 before the end of the world.

2 up, 1 down

kraygen
Monday, April 12, 2010 @ 2:02:25 AM
Reply

Where do I apply for a job that pays me lots of money to tell everyone what they already know?

I think I would be good at it and I like lots of money.

5 up, 0 down

Tim Speed24
Monday, April 12, 2010 @ 3:42:00 PM

Work for the government on some sort of study.

I know get a grant to study the ill-effects of getting hit by a car. Then lobby for a law that cars should be made of foam rubber.

0 up, 0 down

Imagi
Monday, April 12, 2010 @ 2:18:44 AM
Reply

Are there no limits to this man's analytical eye? Amazing how he works this stuff out before everybody else :/

1 up, 0 down

___________
Monday, April 12, 2010 @ 2:29:08 AM
Reply

they have?
so can we finally please put these military shooters to bed?
PLEASE???????????????????????????????????????????
honestly theres not enough fingers and toes in the universe to count all the military shooters due out this year!

im really getting sick of them, how about we switch to a decent cop based game?
like swat, or max payne.
the only good cop based game i have played this gen is stranglehold and that was not exactly stellar!

2 up, 2 down

johnld
Monday, April 12, 2010 @ 4:15:47 AM

im only keeping an eye on about 3. ghost recon, medal of honor, and socom 4. that is until they announce resistance 3. then im afraid im dropping one of those.

0 up, 0 down

Godslim
Monday, April 12, 2010 @ 4:52:04 AM

guys if your so sick of them dont buy them! no1s forcing you too theres still loads of other great games out there

1 up, 1 down

___________
Monday, April 12, 2010 @ 8:08:00 AM

yes.......... and by not buying them there gona stop making them?
dident think so!

id ad spec ops the line onto that list, the sheer scale of that game looks incredible!

1 up, 2 down

Godslim
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 @ 4:36:15 AM

but what does it matter to you if your not gonna buy em!

0 up, 0 down

___________
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 @ 7:30:13 AM

because its taking up time they could be using making games i want to buy.
god what a stupid question.

0 up, 0 down

SmokeyPSD
Monday, April 12, 2010 @ 2:42:27 AM
Reply

I wish the whole "FPS" theme would run it's course too.

1 up, 7 down

Gordo
Monday, April 12, 2010 @ 3:43:05 AM
Reply

What about a good FPS set in the American Civil War, Crimean or Napoleonic Wars...

Lots of line charges against musket, bayonet or cannon balls.

Some one needs to think out of the box. I'm sure they could be excellent and very atmospheric.

I doubt unfortunately, that todays twitch gamers would appreciate such titles so they are probably gone the way of the Dodo.

We need immersion. I want to see a game with me being one of 10,000 soldiers on a battlefield with everyone of the NPCs influencing the battle and smoke, noise and gunfire everywhere.

I dont want to be fighting in a factory, an office block or an alien planet.

I want scale, I want vunerability and I want bayonets. I want to see 10,000 enemies running down the hill all screaming for my blood!

First Person Shooters should be about bringing the intensity closer to the gamer. We need to be within the chaos and part of a larger environment.

Most of the FPS's at the moment are formualic and make the player 100 times more important and stronger than the other NPC's.

Nothing breaks immersion quicker than spawn points and feeling like you have a target on your back.

Illogical? or is anyone else slightly jaded with this generations output... Nothing really revolutionary so far is there...

Last edited by Gordo on 4/12/2010 3:43:43 AM

1 up, 1 down

Snaaaake
Monday, April 12, 2010 @ 4:09:03 AM
Reply

Only kind of shooter that's lacking is SCI FI SHOOTER!!!!!!

1 up, 1 down

LimitedVertigo
Monday, April 12, 2010 @ 4:25:18 AM

You're being sarcastic, right?

1 up, 1 down

Beamboom
Monday, April 12, 2010 @ 4:38:32 AM

There can never be too much sci-fi! What I'd love is a GOOD sci-fi action adventure/shooter. Something more than just targets with weird looks. Something with a good story, interesting gallery of characters and freedom of choise.

I guess what I really want is Mass Effect on the PS3... :(

0 up, 1 down

Snaaaake
Monday, April 12, 2010 @ 6:50:29 AM

I'm not LV, sci fi shooter really is lacking, if it's not WWII then it's modern war, I'm kinda sick of that, I want more laser or plasma gun.

0 up, 1 down

LimitedVertigo
Monday, April 12, 2010 @ 7:29:43 AM

ME, ME2, Halo, Halo2, Halo3, Section8, Perfect Dark Zero, HalfLife2, Prey, TimeShift

Gears, Gears2, Dark Sector, Lost Planet

I'd say there are quite a few currently available this generation...

Last edited by LimitedVertigo on 4/12/2010 7:30:03 AM

2 up, 2 down

Jawknee
Monday, April 12, 2010 @ 11:56:19 AM

Owned.

2 up, 3 down

swapnilgyani
Monday, April 12, 2010 @ 4:10:56 AM
Reply

Gimme my damn World War I game already!

3 up, 0 down

johnld
Monday, April 12, 2010 @ 4:19:16 AM
Reply

i want to see an fps coupled/requiring some vest for feedback. none of that rumble thing, something that actually hurt but not too much. just enough to shut up those damn idiot kids. then the online experience will be much better. i know i've seen those vests before but rumble or whatever they use just wont cut it. but then, douchebags like geohot will find a way to ruin it for me.

Last edited by johnld on 4/12/2010 4:19:55 AM

0 up, 0 down

Godslim
Monday, April 12, 2010 @ 4:50:02 AM
Reply

as much as i love killing nazis :D for me ww2 is boring now and has hads its time....however if they could make the story epic you know sumthing like saving private ryan it could bring it back!

2 up, 0 down

mick
Monday, April 12, 2010 @ 7:51:19 AM
Reply

Michael Pachter "just doesn't understand the public's fascination with the concept"? My fascination has to do with that era - with the people, the styles, and the technology. Yes, there are only so many ways you can depict D-Day, but how about "The Saboteur" for a different take on WWII? To me, this is the "Greatest Generation" that I grew up reading about (yes I'm an "older gamer") and playing a game based in that era allows me to "enter the book" and be a part of the experience.

1 up, 0 down

br0d1n
Monday, April 12, 2010 @ 5:55:28 PM

Exactly. Who is this d-bag anyway? If he admittedly doesn't understand the public's fascination with one of the most popular FPS themes of all time, should we really be listening to his analysis?

0 up, 0 down

DeathOfChaos
Monday, April 12, 2010 @ 9:51:51 AM
Reply

Now all that needs to happen is for the FPS genre to die out completely...then the 360 would die with it, since 75%-85% of their games are FPS games, lol.

1 up, 1 down

maxpontiac
Monday, April 12, 2010 @ 11:59:12 AM
Reply

It's just to bad that developers and publishers around the world are so in line with political correctness.

1 up, 0 down

hadouken
Monday, April 12, 2010 @ 12:01:46 PM
Reply

I agree I'm tired of seeing WWII, why don't they create a new war instead of using the same old setting. If they continue doing it at least add a twist to it like resistance did.

1 up, 0 down

SoulController
Monday, April 12, 2010 @ 3:50:15 PM
Reply

Thanks Patcher!! Oh yea, the sky is blue as well.

1 up, 0 down

DemonNeno
Monday, April 12, 2010 @ 7:28:14 PM
Reply

I don't really like the typical FPS. There isn't enough to submerse yourself into. In fact, all end up finding in most of them is the same old shoot n run vibe.

I look at the typical FPS games as a incomplete piece of a a big picture. Kind of like eating S'mores without anything but melted Hershey bars. The games don't have enough to "suck" me into the game play. It's like stripping the focus on a good story to blast crap. Toss in the mix the multi player games with 10 year old kids who spend every second out of school blasting people and.. Well, I don't care to get THAT good at simply shooting people.

Of course, not all FPS are of the same breed. I'm talking about the bulk of them, not all. I'm sure you guys n gals can shoot my statement out of the galaxy with incredible examples, but the point is that these games should be MORE like that and less as they typical turn out to be.

Sorry, it's just a rant.. Just like the plethora of rants I've gone on about RPG games losing their old school RPG vibe.

EDIT: I also MASSIVELY suck at quickly aiming with any controllers analog stick! haha.. I'm too spoiled with my mouse and keyboard, as un-console like as that may be.

Last edited by DemonNeno on 4/12/2010 7:30:14 PM

0 up, 0 down

wiiplay
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 @ 3:47:15 AM
Reply

Does this mean I can no longer kill Nazi's on the World War 2 battlefield and then kill them again when they decide to rise from the grave? Darn!
I guess games about the future are the present, and games about the past are the past?
Meh, what ever! Instead of killing Nazi's I can now kick those green butt aliens back to Pluto! Thank God for video games!

0 up, 0 down

Please login or register to leave a comment.

Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories cheats	PSP
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas cheats	PS2
Call of Duty: Black Ops cheats	PS3
Gran Turismo 5 cheats	PS3
T.R.A.G - Mission of Mercy cheats	PS1
MegaMan X6 cheats	PS1
Grand Theft Auto IV cheats	PS3
Nascar 2001 cheats	PS1
Crash Twinsanity cheats	PS2
Pump It Up: Exceed cheats	PS2

Do you plan to buy a PlayStation Vita this year?
	Yes, I'll definitely get one in 2013.
	No, but I'll get one eventually.
	No, I have no intention of buying the Vita.
	No, I've already got one.

Playstation 3

Playstation 4

PSP

Playstation Vita

Playstation 2

Playstation

Other

PSX Extreme

Site Stats

Pachter: The World War II Theme Has Run Its Course

Comments (50 posts)

Leave a Comment

Latest Updates

Popular Cheats

Recent Reviews

Recent Previews

Popular Sections

Extras

Sponsor

Our Poll

Resident Evil: Revelations review	PS3
Metro: Last Light review	PS3
Zombie Tycoon II: Brainhov's Revenge review	PS3
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon review	PS3
Star Trek: The Video Game review	PS3
Injustice: Gods Among Us review	PS3
Dead Island: Riptide review	PS3
Defiance review	PS3
Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 review	PS3
Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel review	PS3

The Bureau: XCOM Declassified preview	PS3
Time and Eternity preview	PS3
Ride to Hell: Retribution preview	PS3
Call of Juarez: Gunslinger preview	PS3
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon preview	PS3
Spartacus Legends preview	PS3
Payday 2 preview	PS3
DUST 514 preview	PS3
Dynasty Warriors 8 preview	PS3
Disgaea D2: A Brighter Darkness preview	PS3