What makes a war game for you?

What do you think makes a war game?

Guns.

soldiers shooting at each other?  And explosions?  I don't understand the question.

war

The absence of change.

" The absence of change. "

Guns, lot's of guns.

" @Jimbo said:

" The absence of change. "

what are you talking about? war has changed.  "

Nukes.

Nazis. Terrorists. Japs. Vietnamese. Russians. 
You playing as American/British guy shooting them all down. With guns. And explosions.

Swords.... I like my Dyansty Warriors.

" Guns. "

cinematic set pieces

Uh... guns?

This question is far too vague, "war games" can span a number of video game genres and there's a massive list of elements that can make or break a game in so many different ways.

Intensity, great scripted sequences.

Ron Perlman doing narration about war.

the feeling that your a small part of something big. I hate wars games that make you feel like James Bond. The early COD are my favorite.  I remember  just trying to follow my AI without shooting and see how far a person would get before being shot.

" war "

Conflict and weapons

A video game company makes war games for me.

Guns, War, and interesting characters that I actually feel a impact about if they die, unlike most war games these days where it's all up to you and only you to save the day.

Non-stereotypical British characters.