Video Games and the US Military

[Dannik 43]

Gamespot article.

Some very interesting observations about Full Spectrum Warrior, Full Spectrum Command, America's Army, and the latest military training tool based on There, the Asymmetric Warfare Environment or AWE.

A favourite quote:

GS: Why do you think the game community responded as it did to Full Spectrum Warrior?

MM: The reason the game community was so fascinated with FSW was because it was a real-time strategy game. If you're a squad leader and you're shooting, frankly, you're making a big mistake because you're supposed to be leading. And you do have the vicarious experience. We wanted to go to the game community to develop because of our past experience with government contractors. Game developers understand how to put the artistic aspect into the game.

[EricJ 0]

It seems funny how civvies tend to think that because you're shooting, you're not leading, or thinking, just pulling trigger. One patrol I was on, and we were doing some convoy escort out of my unit's sector. Well, Haji decided to come out to play that day, small arms, and even a crew served weapon. We're almost out of sector, and out comes Haji. So the whole convoy starts lighting the area up, .50 cal, 240, M16/4, M9, etc. So anyways, my driver pulls out his nine-mil, and just blasts away, while I on the right, have no target, so I don't fire. Then we round the corner, and stop for a second, and we start hearing the wizzing of the bullets. Okay, it's from the treeline, so I shoulder my weapon within the confines of the Humvee window, and start off semi-auto, aimed shots at the woodline. After that, I said screw it, put the weapon on burst, and just shot more rounds at a building, and then at the treeline. All that maybe happened within the span of 5 - 10 minutes, and all I expended was a full 30 rounds. My driver four clips nine-mil, and the 240 on our truck went through a whole belt.

So if any stupid civvie who doesn't roll out the gate thinks people don't think while under fire, they deserved to be smacked.

[Dannik 43]

So if any stupid civvie who doesn't roll out the gate thinks people don't think while under fire, they deserved to be smacked.

Since the highlighted quote directly (and obviously) refers to interest in the upcoming game, Full Spectrum Warrior, and the reason you direct your squads instead of actually pulling the trigger, I wonder what the relevance of your comment is?

Dr. Michael Macedonia is your classic warrior-scholar. On one hand, he has an accomplished military record. A West Point graduate, Macedonia served as an infantry officer in a number of command and staff positions in the US, in Germany, and in the Middle East. Besides being a veteran of the first Gulf War, he was also inside the Pentagon on September 11, when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the building, killing 125 people.

Yep, stupid civvie. He can't possibly know what it's like to be a front line troop.

[EricJ 0]

And that gaurantees what? That he's the "all knowing" and such? Besides, he's an officer, not either an E-4 and below, nor Non-commissioned officer, so how would he know what it's like not in the line of fire. Granted, yeah, he's probably been there too, but there are different perspectives.

You been in combat?

[Hondo-911 0]

You been in combat?

That's RW combat Dannik. Dangerous #### that the real warriors get into with real hot lead coming down, with the pucker factor up high and your buddy fighting right next to you, NOT combat in GR while you're safe behind your computer while virtual soldiers get wiped out.

I haven't got the guts to go and do what these real soldiers do, and that's why I didn't join the Army, Navy, Air Force or the Marines, but I have the greatest respect for the armed forces around the world, Special Forces or not, and I don't like anyone who represents them to be something that they can never be.

So aplogise to EricJ please Dannik, and EricJ, from myself I salute you.

And lets not bypass the swear filter.

Oh yeah, and one more thing, be nice guys. Lets not head to flames, don't want to lock her.

Edited April 23, 2004 by Sartillies

[Rocky 1,224]

You been in combat?

C'mon Eric, that's a leading question looking for an argument. The original poster drew attention to a gaming news story, if you don't like the story feel free to debate it, but do not attack the original poster for linking to it.

FSW is an interesting concept, and we are pretty interested to see where it is taking the Tactical Shooters genre, I for one am interested to hear the viewpoint of people on the frontline such as yourself, but please keep it civil and ontopic on the forums. Thanks.