The recent release of BlackMill Games’ Gallipoli: Ottoman Fronts has been met with some pointed questions, including whether the video game is “mimicking the war”.

Between landing at Anzac Cove on April 25, 1915, and the eight months of fighting that followed, thousands of Australian soldiers lost their lives.

Gallipoli and Anzac history hold an important place in Australian culture. What happens when this history becomes playable?

Why does playing history feel different?

Gallipoli is certainly not the first tragic historical event to become a subject for entertainment. Books, films and TV shows often explore such tragedies.

We don’t usually think of films or books about Gallipoli as being disrespectful, so why does a video game feel different? The answer lies in the word “play”.

When we read a book or watch a film about a historical event, we’re presented with someone else’s version of what happened. The author, or filmmaker, decides what we’re exposed to.

Games, on the other hand, ask us to participate. Players are placed in the situation and must act within its imaginary boundaries. They don’t just witness history; they navigate it.

Gallipoli from both sides

This makes........

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