Video Games That Have Been Set in New Jersey
| By Yaroslav Moklyak
Some of the most advanced game development studios are located in the US. Since developers often draw inspiration from their surroundings and culture it’s no wonder that there are many video games set in New Jersey. This is one of the most densely populated regions in the US, which makes it a perfect choice for games in an urban setting. Here we will discuss the significance of including real-life locations in games and then talk about video games that take place in New Jersey.
Rise of Games Set In Real Cities
Even in its early days, this art form took inspiration from real-life locations. However, technology severely limited artistic expression and direction. Luckily this did not deter developers from doing their best when trying to create immersive settings. Even at the time when gaming wasn’t as mainstream as it is today, there were still video games based on New Jersey:
- Superhero League of Hoboken
- Max Payne
- Friday the 13th ( one from 1989)
Just saying the name of the location and reinforcing it with visuals that represent certain locations was enough. Real-life location settings really took off around the year 2007. The AAA title Assassins Creed was released and at that time it looked absolutely amazing. The surroundings weren’t just there for the aesthetics they were actually traversable. You could climb, jump off the buildings, hide in the alleys, etc. It made sense to go in-depth and recreate actual locations and make them a part of the game.
Brief History of Video Games in New Jersey
As stated NJ is a very urban and bustling part of the US. It comes as no surprise that there are lots of entertainment hubs in this area. Both gaming and gambling are a big part of this state, and Atlantic City is perhaps the best example.
Today you can find vast entertainment resorts here that easily rival those in Las Vegas. Moreover, this was among the first states to legalize online gambling in the US. If you look at the latest updates in NJ online casinos you will see that all of the operators are trendsetters in the industry. After all, NJ has wrestled with gambling laws since the 18th century so they really set the tone on how it should be managed and regulated. This turbulent gaming history also gives the place more significance and inspires developers to use New Jersey in video games.
Popular New Jersey Video Games
Assassin's Creed III
Marvel's Avengers
Comic books are often inspirations for popular games and as we have seen movies. Marvel’s Avengers take place all over the US so it technically fits the video games New Jersey category. This installment is heavily inspired by the Marvel Cinematic universe. So, even if you didn’t read the comics and know these heroes from movies it will be easy to follow what is going on.
Of course, don’t expect to see many urban settings, as this game mainly has you going to secret locations and underground labs. Luckily you get to play using a Marvel hero who is from New Jersey Ms.Marvel Kamala Khan. Unfortunately, the project was a bit over-ambitious and lots of players were disappointed. The director of the game even apologized to the players.
