Game Weapons Physics vs Real Weapons

I am not an expert gamer, so my question/comments will be generalized. I have played mostly first person console versions of "Call of Duty" (PC version of COD also) and "Brother in Arms," among others. In the opinion of avid gamers and knowledgeable weapons persons, I always wondered how close the game designers weapons physics are to the actually WWII weapons? Here are some of my observations in no particular order:

U.S. M-1 Garand: Regardless which game you play, this is generally the best weapon: accurate, very little climb on semi-auto, one shot-one kill. Most of the time, the bullet goes where you want it to.

German Mauser KAR-98: Very accurate, good sniper rifle even with open sights.

U.S. Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR): I avoid this weapon when I can. High rate of climb, cannot control more than 3-round bursts. Must aim at an enemy's feet, as the climb will eventually down him. 20-round magazine gets used up too quickly. On the plus side, hard hitting. When you hit the enemy, he goes down.

German MP-40: Little climb with longer bursts, but very minimal hitting power. Sometimes takes a few bursts to bring an enemy down. Seems useless except at close range, like inside buildings.

Russian PPSh-41: Lays down enormous firepower, accurate, very little climb during long bursts. Much better than the German MP-40.

U.S. Thompson sub-machine gun: Similar in handling to the BAR. Hard-hitting, but a high rate of climb. Harder hitting than the German MP-40, but harder to control.

German Sturmgewehr 44: I find this weapon disappointing. It is very easy to aim, and very minimal climb on long bursts, but it seems to have no hitting power. Like the MP-40, you have to place a lot of rounds in your target for him to go down.

To illustrate this hitting power dimension, I was able to repeat a village street scenario in the console version of "Brothers in Arms." I was well hidden behind rubble, and could view an enemy across the street on a corner peering around a building (his AI was oblivious to where I was). I took careful aim and downed him with one shot from an M-1 Garand. I repeated the exact same scene with a German MP-40. I was able to get off one round from the MP-40. The enemy flinched, but did not go down. I then got off a 3-round burst with the MP-40. Again, he flinched, but did not go down. Aiming lower, I got off a longer burst, and finally, he went down. Naturally, there should be a better "wound" variant in all games, as in real life, the 3-round hit would have hurt, but I thought this was a pretty neat experiment. Any thoughts?

Greg C.

 

I duno either man. By the time you factor in connection and upload/ download speed there are very few variables that simulate real life in video games.

I can not count the times I have been camped up with a Barret and drop another player into last stand with a head shot only to have them kill me from across the map with a 9mm pistol.

Just acept it for what it is and try not to think too much about it.

Brad

 

The only 'realistic' ballistics in games that I am aware of (in regards to FPS) are in WW2 Online and in Red Orchestra. In the latter, you have to compensate for bullet drop over distance, you get a steady shot while prone vs standing, its very hard to 'run and gun' like in COD etc. In the former, you can go through a full mag with an SMG hip-firing and not hit the person. You also have to sight your weapon based on estimated range of target etc and its probably the most 'realistic' i have seen.

Games like COD are not realistic at all. SMGs are overpowered - especially the PPSH - and 'pistol sniping' is all too common in the games too. I am not quite sure how they base the ratings - probably more on 'myths' then actual fact in regards to the weapons.

 

Have you ever thought of going onto youtube and checking out firing videos of the guns? It will give you an idea of what it is like to fire such weapons. I enjoy hickok45's videos, he mixes shooting with the gun's history. He has some of everything, pistols, rifles, shotguns, assault rifles, modern, WW2, Old West, and a few Civil War This is his Memorial Day WW2 video YouTube - hickok45's Channel Youtube has scores of shooting videos featuring WW2 weaponry.

 

Oh yes, I have watched many WWII weapons firing vids at YouTube, but never ran across hickok45's vids. I subscribed and plan to catch up on him. Thanks. He sure hits what he aims at!

Greg C.