World War II

I’ve never been much of a computer gamer beyond a passing addiciton to Descent in grad school — and that was mainly because anything was better than working on my dissertation. I did, however, once purchase a B-29 simulation package.

It would be hard to describe how God awful I was with that game. Time and time again I crashed and burned that make-believe Superfortress complete with sound effects and curling smoke. Finally, in frustration, I called my Dad. He flew B-29s stateside as an instructor and in the ferry command after he got back from 51 missions in North Africa and Italy.

Without even being able to see my computer screen, he talked me through a take-off — from memory — a good 45 years after he’d last sat behind the stick of that aircraft. It was, to put it simply, damned impressive.

World War II remains a popular scenario for computer game developers and later this year a new game, Undercover: Operation Wintersun will be released. The game will debut in Russia, but an English version has been promised. Players will be put inside Hitler’s Third Reich with a mission to infiltrate Hitler’s inner circle and assassinate the Fuhrer. (If you know your history, you know that didn’t play out so well in the infamous July 20 Plot.)

The more immersive these games become, the more I’m tempted. This one just sounds like plain fun, as much fun as walking into Rick’s bar in Casablanca and trying to get those missing exit visas. Come on, you know you’ve had the day dream . . . you in a dinner jacket, Sam playing “As Time Goes By,” Ingrid Bergman looking tragic and gorgeous. There’s just no escaping it. Those were romantic, dangerous days and their appeal remains undeniable. Just be thankful you grandfather lived it and you can get up and walk away from the computer.

WWII, computer games, B-29, Third Reich