Find out how IWM's film collections were used to develop a First World War strategy game that takes historical detail to a new level
The Great War: Western Front is a multiplayer video game developed by Petroglyph Games and published by Frontier Foundry. It invites gamers to play a deciding role in history by taking charge of the pivotal Western Front from 1914 to 1919.
IWM's extensive film collection was used as intro and outro footage for the historical campaigns to provide context and a narrative with key battles including:
- Ypres
- Cantigny
- Champagne
- Passchendaele
- The Somme
- Verdun
As part of the consultancy service, IWM advised on scripts for encyclopedia of events segments, advised on the suitability of footage to reflect a particular battle, checked historical copy, and responded to individual enquiries throughout the project.
Shortly after the launch the team from Frontier came to IWM London and worked with curator Alan Wakefield to record six interviews in the First World War Galleries. With the aim of explaining in more detail the history surrounding the battles featured in the game.
Responsible for everything from organising troops to launching observation balloons, gamers can lead the fight from both sides of the wire – either as the Allies or Germany – using an aerial view of the battlefield and a large map of Belgium and France.
Find out more about The Great War: Western Front partnership.