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Denver, 6:42 AM
Tue Dec 1
64 posts in the last 24 hours
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11/18/09
I think the game is actually really good, as far as FPSs go, but had no impact on my interest in military service. What drew my interest to the Army is an unfulfilling desk job, that while paying well and offering a lot of luxuries, makes me feel totally insignificant.
11/18/09
Now all we need is someone to make games that let players be Racing Drivers, Doctors, Spys, Assassins, Gangsters, God Slayers etc
....oh wait... #americasarmy
11/18/09
Valve research shows that 85% of Left 4 Dead 2 players lost all hope in our military. With 23% losing hope in humanity altogether, and 12% losing hope in Louisiana's parking authority. #americasarmy
11/18/09
Again, I'll be honest, after playing Metal Gear Solid 4 and viewing the PMCs, I thought to myself how I would fair in the military. After all, we have had stories of teens being recruited for their experience in video games, i.e. the Xbox drone pilot. Not to say video games = experience, but perhaps there were some benefits, such as communicating with squad members and strategy.
Quite frankly, much like how a game isn't going to turn someone into a murderer, a game isn't going to turn someone into a soldier. All America's Army (and any other military focused game) will do is create interest and at least present the opportunity for someone to consider a life in the military. #americasarmy
11/18/09
*radio noise* We are going to need squad 3 north of the base for formation over*
*radio noise*...... PILLS HERE! *radio noise* #americasarmy
11/18/09
the problem i have is that game companies and the army have an entirely different intentions and end goals. konami and EA are entertainment companies that want to make money. while their games may give certain impressions, there isnt a larger rhetorical intention behind it. AA primarily exists to recruit people into military service. #americasarmy
11/18/09
Really, anyone walking up to a recruitment complex should know what they're getting themselves into, not act surprise at how the media they're holding is funded by the military. It can just be so frustrating when gamers turn into hypocrites when they want to protest America's Army.
That's right, I'm saying "hypocrite" because I don't see the difference between enraged parents complaining about GTA and enraged gamers complaining about AA. If video games don't brainwash teens into murderers, they don't have the ability to brainwash teens into soldiers. It's a FPS with military funding, that's it.
Sorry about the rant, but I had to get that off my chest. Not getting upset about your post, just thinking back to all the stories of masked protesters and the sensationalism surrounding it. #americasarmy
11/18/09
If AA shows only the good side of the military and advertise itself as something like "this is how the military is" it's effectively brainwashing teenagers. I haven't played the game, but I'm sure there are no things like the posttraumatic stress disorder, shooting innocents in Irak/Afghanistan because of miscommunication with locals, bombing a wedding because they celebrate them by shooting in the air, torturing prisoners, transporting opium in Afghanistan, etc.
11/18/09
Also, because I was late to edit my last post, "entertainment" video games can also present us with messages, much like Metal Gear Solid's views on nuclear warfare. Any media really, because though there is the tremendous benefit of earning money, you have the power to present viewers/consumers with different viewpoints/beliefs through movies, books, television, and even video games.
To that effect, that is a testament to how much video games have become an art form. #americasarmy
11/18/09
What downside you ask? Well, the financial burden, the fact that many many people have their college debt hanging over their heads for years after they graduate. The low employment rates for people coming out of college, where employers are more interested in experience then a super expensive degree. And there are more. Yet college is still considered the "Next step" for most people. Are they Brainwashed?
It's marketing spin... if you can't see through it, then it sucks for you. I know many people signed up without looking in depth to what they were doing (Currently in the NG and ROTC in College. Army pays for everything, Tuition, Books, Housing, Food) and that sucks for them, but no one brainwashed them(Despite what some claim)
In fact, when I was looking for information on Boot Camp I came across more anti-army books then any pro-army stuff. And you should see the claims these things made. lol #americasarmy
11/18/09
@Atomsk88:
Ok, then it is just a question of definition of "brainwash", but you'll give me that many marketing campaign can reach that status. Criticize the look of any girls around you and tell me that their reaction is that of a reasonable person that owns her own brain.
Oh!, and I'm glad you LCOS found more anti-army stuff than pro-army. #americasarmy
11/18/09
OMG, are you trying to brainwash me?! #americasarmy
11/18/09
I don't call it brainwashing, it is just effective marketing.
Also, you wouldn't be happy if you actually read this anti-army stuff. I can't believe any rational person would believe this shit. It called for attacks on Army personel and the like.
#speakup
11/18/09
"will do is create interest and at least present the opportunity for someone to consider a life in the military"
Thats the point. They don't use it to train recruits...
11/18/09
Like LCOS said, it's effective marketing. They're not recruiting the people through playing the game, rather you're drawing individuals in so they can at least listen to the information available.
Like the old saying goes, you catch more flies with honey(video games) than with vinegar(pamphlets).
11/18/09
Just think. I could have been brainwashed into the army, where I'd be crying constantly and then kicked out for listing off my favorite video game hunky hunks. #americasarmy
11/18/09
11/18/09
11/18/09
If they wanted to be upfront, they'd bring the kids to meet Veterans and to see a military funeral. Most kids would be fine with that and you'd weed out the ones who hadn't thought it through. The problem is, recruiters are pressed like telemarketers to get as many warm blooded body to sign up as possible. There's the disconnect. #americasarmy
11/18/09
Oh, I naively assumed that people possessed the faculty of reason, and therefore could determine that playing a video game is different from enlisting in the highly mobilized and heavily engaged armed services of a country involved in multiple wars. My mistake. #americasarmy
11/18/09
Know who needs money? The people who opt to download a government-made FPS instead of buying a real one. #americasarmy
11/18/09
people sure as hell do join the army for money, what the hell fantasy world do you live in? #americasarmy
11/18/09
11/18/09
It's not like once they sign up, they get tagged and bagged on the spot. Even then, usually the people who do sign up at schools and the like have previously thought about the military. It's not the free freaking hat that seals the deal.
Also, I personally knew/know honor students who did join the military. I don't know their personally reasons, but they most certainly weren't idiots, that is, if that is what you were trying to insinuate as to who serves in the military. #americasarmy
11/18/09
These are facts that exist, and aren't some arbitrary anti-soldier message. The army does a lot of good things in helping to educate these people, while at the same time, does very little if anything to prepare them for their return back into civilian life.
That middle comment of his is hilarious too, I wonder if he himself is aware of all the intricacies that factor into the decision making of potential recruits? While they do love their country, so much so that they are willing to die for it, you can't ignore the fact that their socio-economic status is a huge factoring in that decision.
Even if this was not true, quickpaws321 would do well to learn that you can make an argument without attempting to belittle the person that posted it.
I'm tempted to promote it myself so that all will be able to see and respond to it, but out of respect for your decision WhiteMage, I will follow your lead. #americasarmy
11/18/09
Slightly off-topic, but I'm interested if any non-Americans could let me know if their country's own military glorifies their service in the way that the United States' does. Here we have video games like America's Army to serve as questionable recruiting material, but also a lot of television, radio, and print advertisements glorifying serving in the military with absolutely zero mention of anything even remotely negative associated with doing so. I understand we need an adept military to survive potential atrocities, but a recent commercial claiming "This isn't science fiction, this is real life" in regards to warfare missile command seemed to borderline on propaganda. #americasarmy
11/18/09
There are many different opportunities in the military, and intelligence isn't much of a factor, not unless you're a complete boob. Your skills give you more opportunities, but it is ultimately up to you where you want to serve. There are times though where it is inevitable that you may be sent to the field. My father for example, though he was in the medical branch of the Army (what with having a Masters in Public Health), he served time in foreign nations and even missed out on a Christmas with the family. However, he's alive and after 23 years he has a high ranking job outside the military.
I think most everyone can agree that military ads are exaggerated, but I believe the main intent is to show the different opportunities within the military. It does take all types in today's armed forces, what with the rise of technology. In all honesty, marketing=propaganda. Even though it's completely unrelated, you could say the "I'm a Mac" commercials are propaganda, there to display an image that Apple computers are cool and far superior to PCs.
11/18/09
Here's my point: we've been at war for close to a decade now and nearly every day about KIAs in Iraq and Afghanistan, rocket attacks, IED and what not, so that I find it very, very hard to believe that anyone walking into a recruiting station has no clue about the dangers they're potentially getting into.
Also your assertion that the 11B types (infantry for the rest of you) are a bunch of knuckle-draggers who can be convinced to join up after scoring a few frags on a video game is highly suspect.
Oddly enough, traditionally 11B's have higher test scores on average than most recruits, and are among the most well educated career fields in the Army. You want to find the dumb people in the Army? Talk to the fuel supply specialists (fancy name for guys who pump gas).
People keep going on and on about how AA is a questionable recruiting tool, and I would posit that in the era of an all volunteer force that depends on a steady stream of young recruit, shouldn't we reach out to them in a medium they understand? Or we can get rid of all these recruitment products that "glamorize" the military and just go back to the draft.
Finally I guess I'd have to say that the game itself isn't very fun or full of over the top action, especially the latest version. Mainly the beginning of the game goes on about the Army Values and has a bunch of mandatory training segments that you have to do even before you play. So anyone with the patience to go through all of that either is really interested in the Army or just has a lot of time on their hands.
I'm aware I'm coming off a little harsh, but as a six-year enlisted veteran in the Army sitting in Iraq as I type this, it always bugs me to see people come down on the military service. Yeah sure, it's certainly not for everyone, and there are some downside to military life, but at what point did serving your country and bettering yourself become a bad thing?
11/18/09
That's fine and dandy that you've dedicated a large portion of your life to the service, but you are trying to inject an argument that is irrelevant to what's being talked about here.
08/12/09
Anyways though nice to see UAVs making it into the game. Though wake me up when I can call in a hellfire strike from a Predator / Reaper.
08/11/09
12/01/08
12/01/08
virtual heroes ripped off star trek.
12/01/08
*click* "You have chosen YES"
"We're assuming you meant NO"
"Don't worry we got this one..."
"Send blackwater to euthanize 'looters'?"
*click* "You have chosen NO"
"Come on our billions of dollars reserved for private military contractors have to go somewhere, trust us on this one"
*bleep* "Yes"
That'd be a pretty real simulation.
12/01/08
Send aid to African Americans?
Wat?
12/01/08
12/01/08
I think he's referring to the fact that you said African Americans instead of just Africa. I noticed it too a LOL'd pretty good.