Potentially the first of its kind, Warco is a first-person shooter that eschews the familiar all-American M16 in favor of a Japanese-made handy cam. The concept alone would be a breath of fresh air in an otherwise homogenous, stagnating market.
Your average gamer has participated in a million virtual battles and skirmishes, but never has the opportunity been extended to step back and observe those same wars. Why do people fight and with what conditions? These are questions that Melborne-based studio Defiant hopes to answer with Warco, an upcoming 'shooter' that puts you in the comparatively clean boots of a war journalist. Tony Maniaty became the inspiration for the video game after recounting his experiences as an embedded reporter in post-Soviet Eastern Europe.
Warco strikes me as a refreshing change of pace. It may sound dull, but a game that hurls you into a morally grey world is infinitely more appealing than playing the gung-ho, unthinking propagandized soldier.
First-Person Shutter Games
Warco Puts a Camera in Your Hands, Instead of a Gun
Trend Themes
1. First-person Shutter Games - Opportunity for immersive storytelling in first-person shooter games by taking on the perspective of a war journalist.
2. War Journalism - Potential for gaming experiences that explore the moral complexities of war reporting.
3. Alternative Gameplay Mechanics - Disruptive innovation opportunity to replace traditional weapon-based gameplay in shooters with non-violent alternatives.
Industry Implications
1. Video Games - Opportunity for game developers to create unique and thought-provoking gaming experiences.
2. Journalism - Potential for the integration of storytelling methods from video games to enhance war reporting and journalism.
3. Entertainment - Disruptive innovation opportunity to expand the genres and narratives explored in the entertainment industry.