I'm not sure I'd be interested in a game "about" the great depression, as I generally don't like that sort of topical storytelling, but rather a game which uses the setting to tell a story that could only happen during the great depression... of course you could argue a game or story like that is essentially about the great depression. But, yeah, I wouldn't want it to be just a backdrop
I've been thinking a lot about the tendency for video game makers to choose their settings from such a limited selection of eras... most commonly it seems to be a choice from a fantasy, sci fi, or present day.
Of course no one can be blamed for overusing present day, that's only natural in all media at all times to use as a setting, because of course that is what the creators are most familiar with. And I won't claim video games are unique in the abundant use of fantasy or sci fi settings, those types of settings are used widely in literature and to I think a lesser extant in film. Of course it's not like the Great Depression is a very common setting for either fiction or film, so it'd also be misguided for me to point the finger at video games for neglecting it.
It seems to me that it's harder for game designer to adjust to different time periods than it is for a writer or film maker. By which I mean if you were told as a writer or film maker to make something that took place during the Great Depression or the world of 50's advertising you wouldn't be as hard pressed for an idea as you would if you were to make a game about it. I don't think it would be nearly as easy a switch for the game maker... whereas a writer could write about the stress of each particular time period, the game designer would have to construct unique gameplay mechanics for the new setting, just like there had to be new gameplay for The Sims because civilian life was pretty much an untouched setting(though I don't consider the Sims storytelling, which is what I'm most interested in).
Is this a good idea: a game design activity (like the "What is this game about?" threads) where there is a generally underused setting and everyone posts ideas for games that take advantage of that setting?
I think it's interesting to think of changes it would make to a certain genre (Harvest Moon in the 1930's
) but I don't think that really changes the core gameplay aspects.