Playing the Game of War
Ok … more I didn’t know. From Center for Media and Democracy I learned that the Department of Defense is into “games.” In May 2002, a then estimated $7.5 million dollars was allocated for game development, and the distribution of free software was scheduled for the end of that year. Lt. Col. Casey Wardynski, then Director of Economic and Manpower Analysis commented, "The Army's not a game, but we use war games in our training and this is kind of an extension of that. It's just a new way of connecting with young Americans.” Game designer Michael Capps said of his project, Operations, "The game does include violence, but only in the same way the real Army uses force in defense of our country. We wanted to portray it [the Army] as a value-laden organization."
Today America’s Army – the game online – is the place to go. Ubisoft Entertainment is under contract with the U.S. government to maintain development and support for “The Official U.S. Army Game, “ an on-going PR campaign aimed at America’s youth. The site is flashy, thorough, and commanding. It’s just a game, right? A sense of community is established, information collected, announcements and events planned. It’s just a game, right? Contests, hot topics, and “real world” video clips feed the game. Of course the problem is that you can’t tell where the game ends and the real world (war) begins.
Is that the point?
Winston at nobody asked … highlights a report that Christian gaming is on the rise. He goes on in musing – though it’s just an idea he seems to be playing with: “Maybe, just maybe, some of the more radical and militant groups could be persuaded to use this forum to squash the competition in a rousing game of End of Days 3, or some such. Makes more sense than blowing each other to smithereens.”
I’m with Winston.
technorati tags: War, Games, AmericanArmy
posted by Mary Godwin @ Thursday, July 28, 2005
3 comments
3 Comments:
Thanks for the reference! Unfortunately my thought was only, as you said, "musing". The more radical religious terrorists do not want to be persuaded of anything, do not want to talk about anything, and leave no room for peaceful coexistence. They just want to blow us away because - because WE ARE. But, hey, a guy can have fantasies!
In fact, I think the US military being open about their position(s) on this...tactic would not only gain them slight respect, but would be a better marketing strategy.
How long until war-games intermingle with reality on a RealTime basis? Don't send the kid over there personally. Instead, have them unknowingly fly recon missions with multi-million dollar spy-jets.
Great post, Mary. In all fairness to the actual recruiters, bdg, (particularly Army recruiters), I'm confident you're right that they would not invest in their own children's involvement in such games, but that it should be noted most of them are ordered to their recruiter jobs. Recruiting is generally considered a crap job in the Army. It's an assignment, not a choice -- a fact that makes more sense of the willingness in recruiters we've seen to "stretch the truth," to do whatever they have to for that next positive review or promotion. I just feel sad at seeing that group of people as one more victim in the "game" cycle identified in this post. Thanks again for the info!
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