Have you ever played a game that requires you to complete small and seemingly insignificant tasks without any reward or recognition from your teammates, in order to win? Where cooperation and mutual aid are the key to success as opposed to individualistic heroism and acts of bravery? Foxhole is a war game that revolves around logistics and supply chain management strategy rather than combat and violence.
This unique MMO simulates WWII style battles which span the course of weeks, involving hundreds of players. It serves as an interesting case study for multiplayer gaming, where thankless and unseen labour are required for a team to win and the fallacies of meritocracy emerge. While social capital may be earned by some players providing a tangible form of support, others playing a key role behind the scenes go unnoticed and yet continue to enjoy doing so in their private, humble triumph.
Sin Vega
Aside from Foxhole’s unique approach to cooperative multiplayer gameplay and its hive mind like strategy elements, it also serves to demonstrate how a niche game-based representation of war functions as a form of propaganda. The focus on mastering logistics and supply chain as a source of fun teaches players to be happy operating as a cog in the machine, often without appreciation or recognition for their simple but crucial efforts.