Where did you learn that? The self-perceived educational impact of historical computer games on undergraduates

Historical computer games are a relatively young medium but they have a great potential to influence popular perceptions of history. This article addresses the impact of computer games and other media on undergraduates’ interest in history and their historical knowledge. On the basis of evidence collected through a survey conducted at the University of Winchester this paper argues four key points: Firstly, computer games can strongly influence undergraduates’ perspectives of history. Secondly, computer games exert most influence on students’ understanding of periods which they have not previously studied. Thirdly, different genres of computer games influence students in different ways. Fourthly, male and female students are influenced to different extents by computer games.