It's been revealed today that since first beginning the recruitment-tool-masquearading-as-a-game project in 2000, America's Army has cost the US military - well, really, the US tax payer - $32.8 million.

That's just a little over the game's expected outlay, which was originally touted as $7 million over five years.

$30 million is what you'd expect to pay for a bells and whistles, AAA blockbuster title, not a free-to-play online shooter. We're guessing the bulk of that cash has gone on marketing.

America's Army bill: $32.8 million [America's Army]

We are of course talking about America's Army, the free-to-play shooter that's been drumming up interest in the US armed forces for nigh on seven years now.

According to a statement issued by MIT as part of a 2008 report - which is now being presented to the US Congress by the Army - "30 percent of all Americans age 16 to 24 had a more positive impression of the Army because of the game and, even more amazingly, the game had more impact on recruits than all other forms of Army advertising combined".

Not a bad investment, then! That is, if you mean "bad" in terms of effectiveness vs money spent. If you mean "bad" in terms of "you shouldn't recruit soldiers through a video game", that's another topic for another day.

America's Army Extremely Effective Recruitment Tool [GamePolitics]

America's Army, known for portraying a realistic take on today's wars and United States military operations, is now bringing in new machinery that you'll be able to play with... eventually. While you'll only see the Fire Scout's shadow on some of the game's maps and hovering over grounded planes on others, the America's Army team hopes to make it more interactive in future versions of the game, allowing you to "call upon the Fire Scout for intelligence and support."

Mike Howell, business development manager for Army systems at Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector, is thrilled to see the Fire Scout's inclusion in the game:

"Fire Scout's introduction in one of the most popular computer games in the world is an exciting venture for us. We are happy to support the U.S. Army with this educational tool that provides some insight into what it is like to serve in the U.S. Army."

If this addition of the Fire Scout is any indication, we may be able to look forward to more realistic gadgetry in future versions of the game.

Northrop Grumman's Fire Scout Featured in Popular America's Army 3 Computer Game [CNN Money]

Developed in collaboration with Duke University, Virtual Peace: Turning Swords to Ploughshares allows groups of students to enter a shared virtual world and take on different roles - from aid agency workers to government officials - and work with one another to tackle a humanitarian crisis.

The demo video after the jump gives a rough idea - in this case the crisis is Hurricane Mitch. While this is clearly not intended as a 'game' as such, it is interesting to see MMO-like tech being used in this way.

Virtual Peace: Turning Swords to Ploughshares [VirtualPeace.org via Slashdot]

In short, the protest group Bay Area Direct Action feels that, due to the 'Teen' rating of the America's Army series, Ubisoft is in violation of "international law" by making joining the Army seem totally rad — just like sitting on your ass playing video games all day, instead of focusing on how you could be maimed or killed or mentally scarred for life.

Wired points out how wrong this is in between bouts of dissecting how ill-prepared the group was with clever signs, pun-laden chants and logic. Since it went down in San Francisco, so a genuinely crazy guy shows up. It's worth a read.

Activists Protest America's Army Game With Songs and Stickers [Game|Life] [Image]

As his wife called 911, Galvanek pulled two injured passengers from the truck, assessed their wounds, and properly prioritized/administered treatment (direct pressure and elevation) to one of the accident's more brutal injuries, a mutilated hand. In short, he did things just as he should have in a circumstance that could have ended even worse. And yes, Galvanek thanks his training in a video game for his performance under pressure:

I have received no prior medical training and can honestly say that because of the training and presentations within America's Army, I was able to help and possibly save the injured men. As I look back on the events of that day, the training that I received in the America's Army video game keeps coming to mind."

I remember vividly in section four of the game's medic training, during the field medic scenarios, I had to evaluate the situation and place priority on the more critically wounded. In the case of this accident, I evaluated the situation and placed priority on the driver of the car who had missing fingers. I then recalled that in section two of the medic training, I learned about controlled bleeding. I noticed that the wounded man had severe bleeding that he could not control. I used a towel as a dressing and asked the man to hold the towel on his wound and to raise his hand above his head to lessen the blood flow which allowed me to evaluate his other injuries which included a cut on his head.

The company also makes action figures based on characters from Mega Man, Viewtiful Joe, Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter. America's Army Real Heroes action figures are now available at Toys 'R' Us and Jazwares official site.

Press release after the jump.

JAZWARES LAUNCHES HEROIC SOLDIER ACTION FIGURES AT TOYS "R" US STORES NATONWIDE

Action Figures Based on Real Soldiers Are Part of America's Army Real Heroes Program

Sunrise, FL, November 15, 2007 - Jazwares, Inc. today announced the nationwide launch of America's Army action figures featuring Real Heroes at Toys "R" Us stores nationwide. The action figure series is part of the America's Army Real Heroes program through which the U.S. Army offers a glimpse into the accomplishments of Soldiers who have distinguished themselves in combat and earned citations for bravery and valor. The action figure line launches with four exemplary Soldiers. Jazwares, Inc. manufactures and distributes the America's Army action figures and worked closely with the U.S. Army to ensure authenticity. Each Soldier's action figure includes a Real Heroes trading card highlighting the Soldier's heroic accomplishments and Warrior Ethos, authentic uniforms, weapons, unit insignias, and awards.

The Soldiers featured in the first series of action figures are:

* Sergeant Tommy Riemen, 51st Long Range Surveillance Infantry (Airborne), Silver Star for Gallantry in Action in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
* Sergeant First Class Gerald Wolford, 82nd Airborne, Silver Star for Gallantry in Action in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
* Staff Sergeant Matthew Zedwick, 2-162 Infantry, Silver Star for Gallantry in Action in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
* Major Jason Amerine, 5th Special Forces Group, Bronze Star with V Device for Bravery in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

The America's Army Real Heroes program provides an inside perspective into the lives of Soldiers, allowing civilians to learn about a Soldier's personal character and accomplishments, while giving them greater insight into the wide range of individuals who make up the Armys elite fighting force. The America's Army Real Heroes program highlights heroic Soldiers and their stories in this line of action figures. Additionally, the Soldiers' likenesses and biographies are also featured in the Army's exceptionally popular computer game, America's Army and on the America's Army website. Millions of America's Army game players have already read about the heroes and viewed videos detailing these Soldier's heroic actions at www.americasarmy.com/realheroes/.

The America's Army Real Heroes action figure line features only a few of the Soldiers who have exhibited courage under fire and earned awards for distinguished service and valor in the Global War on Terrorism. America's Army Real Heroes have earned some of the nation's highest awards for valor including the Distinguished Service Cross and Silver Star. They are emblematic of the thousands of Army heroes who have earned such awards for action in the Global War on Terrorism. These Soldiers embody the Warrior Ethos - a Soldier will always place the mission first, never accept defeat, never quit, and never leave a fallen comrade.

About America's Army
Launched on July 4th 2002, America's Army is an innovative PC action game that provides young adults with an inside perspective and a virtual role in today's high-tech Army. Through the America's Army game, players can take a virtual "test drive" of Soldiering in the U.S. Army from basic training to the battlefield in the Global War on Terrorism.

With users having invested over 211 million hours virtually exploring the Army from Basic Training to operations in the War on Terrorism, America's Army ranks among the top ten online PC action games played worldwide. The game provides a unique, interactive experience allowing players to gain a perspective into Army occupations and values by assuming virtual roles as U.S. Army Soldiers. Players navigate through challenges real Soldiers confront. As they dominate these challenges, they expand opportunities for advancement and development in roles from Special Forces to combat medic.

Since July 2002 the Army has released 24 major updates to its America's Army game for the PC. These releases, which are available at www.americasarmy.com, feature new technologies, missions, Army units and occupations. The most recent updates are part of the America's Army: Special Forces (Overmatch) series that focuses upon the central role Special Forces play in the Global War on Terrorism and highlights technologies that provide small U.S. Army units with the ability to overmatch much larger enemy forces. The America's Army game also includes the America's Army Real Heroes program that offers a glimpse into the accomplishments of Soldiers who have distinguished themselves in combat and earned citations for bravery and valor.

About the Army
Through the teamwork of the more than 1.2 million Soldiers in the active Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve, the U.S. Army is the world's premier land force. Today, Soldiers of the U.S. Army are the front line in the Global War on Terrorism. For more information on the U.S. Army, go to www.goarmy.com or www.army.mil.

About Jazwares
Jazwares is a family owned Toy Manufacturer that produces a wide range of high quality licensed product from action figures to electronic activity. Known for their unique product and highly detailed action figures, their products appeal to kids of all ages. Current licenses include, US Army, Mortal Kombat, Disney, Mega Man and Street Fighter.

Best quote? Barnett's conclusion that "steak knives and swimming pools pose a greater threat to children, but nobody is trying to restrict adult access to those tools." Simply a nice, articulate response that attempts to address a "grossly outdated" American view on the evils of gaming.

Way Beyond Pong [New York Times]

Anti-war veterans protest at Black Expo [STLtoday via Game Politics]

Now I'm certainly not saying the Army had no right to be there, they paid their money for a booth just like everyone else, but I do find it a bit disturbing seeing such things at a gaming convention. Especially with all the talk about violence in video games and how it influences young people. As gamers we strive to quash that myth and yet here is the Army showing up promoting a game that is basically just a tool to try and get people to sign up for the military. Our government wants to bash violent games and then turn around and use them to lure kids into an actual war? Seems more than a bit hypocritical on their part.

What are your feelings on this? Personally, it scares the crap out of me.

America's Army for arcades will focus less on the shooting of terrorists or insurgents and will instead consist of a series of eight mini-games that emulate real-life Army training exercises. Sounds not too dissimilar from P&P Marketing's popular Police Trainer series of arcade games, no?

The game is assumed to be built on the PC version of America's Army which also runs on the Unreal Engine. Global VR has a number of PC game products repurposed for arcade play, including Paradise Lost based on Far Cry, Desert Gunner based on the (awful) Beach Head series as well as EA Sports brand titles.

Global VR to Deploy America's Army at AAMA Gala [Arcade Renaissance via GameSetWatch]

The list of accomplishments include:
Players have participated in over 200 million hours representing 3.5 billion rounds of online play exploring Soldiering as members of elite U.S. Army units.
America's Army has players in over 60 countries.
More than 40 million total downloads of the game have been reported.
Over 1,100 fan sites have registered on the game's community website.
Players host almost 1,200 Honor servers. These honor servers track honor points that form the basis of America's Army unique scoring and rewards system.

AMERICA'S ARMY GAME CELEBRATES FIVE YEAR ANNIVESRARY

June 27, 2007 (West Point, NY) - Today, the U.S. Army announced that the upcoming July 4th marks the fifth anniversary of the launch of the world-renowned America's Army PC game. Debuting on July 4, 2002, America's Army has more than 8.5 million user accounts and has been one of the top ten action games played online since its launch. America's Army has grown from its initial roots as an online PC game to a brand that encompasses console and cell phone games; the Real Heroes program that recognizes heroic Soldiers; and the Virtual Army Experience, which places players in a life-size America's Army game.

America's Army game brand has had an incredible impact around the world placing Soldiering front and center within popular culture and showcasing the high-tech, team-oriented and values-driven nature of the Army," said Colonel Casey Wardynski, originator of the America's Army game.

The America's Army team is celebrating its fifth anniversary by releasing an all-new America's Army website (www.americasarmy.com), rendered in the Army's new ACU camouflage pattern and featuring new content including developer-created wallpaper that provides a sneak peek at America's Army 3.0.

America's Army's accomplishments include:

23 Game Releases
After 23 successful releases, America's Army has opened the world of Soldiering to players and provided them with a soup to nuts virtual experience within which to explore entry level through advanced training, as well as Soldiering in small units. It has virtually taken players through boot camp, Ranger and Airborne training, and even introduced them to the Army's "Quiet Professionals," the elite Special Forces. Through America's Army, players have learned about rules of engagement (ROE), lifesaving, laws of war and Army Values, the set of noble values that are the foundation of the world's premier land force. Version 3.0 of America's Army, which will debut in 2008, will use the new Unreal 3 engine to display even more exciting aspects of the Army.

America's Army statistics

Players have participated in over 200 million hours representing 3.5 billion rounds of online play exploring Soldiering as members of elite U.S. Army units.

America's Army has players in over 60 countries.

More than 40 million total downloads of the game have been reported.

Over 1,100 fan sites have registered on the game's community website.

Players host almost 1,200 Honor servers. These honor servers track honor points that form the basis of America's Army unique scoring and rewards system.

America's Army for the Console and Cell Phone
The U.S. Army and Ubisoft, one of the world's largest video game publishers, have established a long-term partnership to develop and publish games based on the America's Army brand. The first game developed via this partnership was America's Army: Rise of a Soldier on the Xbox, which allowed players to create a Soldier and take him through the adventures of an Army career. The next game, America's Army: True Soldiers, will release exclusively for the Xbox 360™ in the fall of 2007. America's Army: True Soldiers features extensive multiplayer features for play on Xbox LIVE™. The Army's cell phone game, America's Army: Special Operations, debuted in January 2007.

America's Army Real Heroes Program
The America's Army team launched the Real Heroes program in September 2006. The America's Army Real Heroes program tells the stories of Soldiers who have exhibited courage under fire in the Global War on Terrorism and have received awards for valor for their actions. The America's Army Real Heroes program inspires the American public to explore the U.S. Army's values, as well as Soldier's attributes of teamwork and personal courage, by telling heroic and personal Soldier stories through the America's Army PC game and websites, and by offering a line of action figures. The America's Army Real Heroes program is featured online at www.americasarmy.com/realheroes.

Virtual Army Experience
This year the America's Army game entered a new stage with the launch of the Virtual Army Experience (VAE) The VAE is a high-tech, team-based experience designed to immerse visitors in the operational roles of Soldiers in the U.S. Army. This 10,000 square-foot interactive exhibit brings America's Army: Special Forces (Overmatch) to a life-size networked world to provide visitors with a virtual test drive of Soldiering. In the Virtual Army Experience, participants employ teamwork, leadership and high-tech equipment as they take part in a hands-on virtual mission to capture a terrorist leader. The VAE schedule is located at http://vae.americasarmy.com/.

Training Simulators Used by the Army
Building upon the dynamic and cutting-edge America's Army game platform, the America's Army team has created dozens of training simulations that are employed by myriad organizations around the country. The America's Army team has produced effective and engaging virtual learning tools for Force Protection, Adaptive Thinking and Leadership, Convoy Survivability, as well as applications ranging from mission rehearsal to modeling advanced weapons systems and fire control systems. Over the next year, the team will be launching a number of applications including a Live Fire Targetry Program, which will replace static or pop-up paper or metal targets with virtual targets for interactive live-fire training. You can read more about these applications at http://info.americasarmy.com/.

About the Army
Through the teamwork of the more than 1.2 million Soldiers in the active Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve, the U.S. Army is the world's premier land force. Today, Soldiers of the U.S. Army are the front line in the Global War on Terrorism. For more information on the U.S. Army, go to www.goarmy.com or www.army.mil.

Finally, someone does something to address the shooter drought on the Xbox 360. Kudos to you, Ubisoft and Red Storm. The game is scheduled to ship sometime in September, giving gamers who like to shoot stuff something to do between the releases of Battlefield: Bad Company, Haze, Timeshift, The Darkness, Turok, Kane & Lynch: Dead Men, Dog Tag and Halo 3.

IGN has all the minute details and loads of screenshots. Michael McWhertor

America's Army Invades Xbox 360 [IGN]

Everybody gather around a watch this piece of advertising ingenuity. The US military has again hit a low point in finding sturdy young lads, and after a brief success with the America's Army game, who is played by everyone I know from my retired Asian uncle to my retired Asian uncle's friends, it's a disappointment.

Now the army is recruiting people who are playing games that like to talk back to them, almost in a Romanesque kind of way, like "You look like you're really into this", and "You ready for a real challenge?" , then finally asking in at the end of the spot, "Are you ready to take this to the next level?"

Unfortunately for the US Army, this is when most people decide that they are being too pushy and start asking if they can "just be friends". Kim Phu

Army: Gamers can "take this to the next level" with military service [Joystiq]

The U.S. Army and The Guildhall at Souther Methodist University have teamed up to create a new download mission pack for the America's Army shooter and recruitment tool.

America's Army: Special Forces (Overmatch) (SMU GH Map Pack) features four new maps and missions and was created by five students (Cyndi Bell, Derek Manns, Jason Morales, Roy Orr and Rance Wood) led by Myque Ouellette who served as producer/lead designer with additional support provided by Mike McCoy.

The new pack includes the following missions:

SF Old Town - U.S. Infantry conducts a raid within a small, rural village in a tropical location to secure sensitive data. Intelligence reports suggest a terrorist organization is attempting to seize this information currently located in a safe house controlled by allied forces. The U.S. Special Forces team must secure this information and thereby thwart future enemy attacks.

SF Refinery - A terrorist cell has announced its intent to capture a high profile petroleum engineer and thereby disrupt petroleum production and the U.S. Economy. U.S. Special Forces must safeguard the engineer from terrorist action.

SF Flood Gate - Intelligence indicates a gathering terrorist threat to critical hydroelectric facilities. Should terrorist forces capture or destroy these facilities the local indigenous population residing in the low-lying valleys could be threatened or flooded. The U.S. Special Forces team must secure the hydroelectric facilities and prevent the terrorist forces from planting and detonating explosive devices.

River Village - Enemy forces have seized a small rural village adjacent to a seasonal river and are now using it as a base of operation. Intelligence reports suggest the local residents are under duress and have been dispersed throughout the village. U.S. Special Forces Soldiers must enter the village, secure the three objectives, and reclaim control of the village, while minimizing damage to the local infrastructure.

The pack was created using the America's Army Mission Editor which was released in December as part of Special Forces (Coalition). Brian Crecente

More than 8 million gamers have registered to be brainwashed by play free recruitment tool America's Army for the PC.

Since its debut in July 2002, the game has averaged about 150,000 new accounts a month and includes gamers from 60 countries.

Players have logged more than 3 billion player rounds and 200 million player hours. The game has received 23 updates since its release and in December the game is getting a new Mission Editor.

Unfortunately the official release, seen after the jump, doesn't say a word about how the game has impacted recruitment for America's real Army. Brian Crecente

AMERICA'S ARMY SURPASSES 8 MILLION USERS

This weekend, the America's Army PC game (www.americasarmy.com) passed the eight million mark for registered users. Debuting in July 2002, America's Army has averaged nearly 150,000 new accounts per month and is an international success with registered players coming from over 60 different countries.

America's Army registered players have logged over 3 billion player rounds and nearly 200 million player hours. Over 1,100 fan sites have registered to be listed on the game community website. From the United States to New Zealand, Greenland to Singapore, Latvia to Chile, 38 different countries around the world host almost 1,200 Honor servers. These honor servers track honor points that form the basis of America's Army unique scoring and rewards system.

Since its debut, the America's Army game has been updated 23 times to feature new technology, new missions and new Army military occupational specialties that players can explore. The most recent updates are part of the America's Army: Special Forces series which focuses upon the central role Special Forces play in the Global War on Terrorism and includes America's Army: Special Forces (Special Forces Assessment and Selection) released November 2003; America's Army: Special Forces (Q Course) released May 2005; and America's Army: Special Forces (Overmatch) (released September 2006).

In December, the Army released America's Army: Special Forces (Coalition) which introduced the America's Army Mission Editor. The Mission Editor enables America's Army players to modify existing levels and/or create new levels using any of the existing art, sound, particle effects and gameplay assets created by the development team. With this release, players are able to create missions to give back to the community they love, take their favorite map and enhanced it to match the way they've always wanted to play it, and highlight their map building expertise and leadership in the America's Army community to a global audience.

The staff and developers of America's Army would like to thank its players, community members and all its partners for their continued support. HOOAH!

I was roaming the outer sanctum of E3 last week when I noticed a GI in a ghillie suit stalking toward two pink-festooned booth babes. After a brief chat the three crowded together and the GI's buddy snapped a pic for him. There's something very disturbing about Booth Babes fawning over each other. —Brian Crecente

Are the makers of America's Army ready and able to serve their PR cause by justifying their game in fifteen seconds or less? You'll have to watch the video to find out.

Now this is a great idea. America's Army: Real Heroes, sequel to the free PC game recruitment tool released in 2002, will allow gamers to play as actual decorated soldiers. The soldiers in the game will also be used to create a line of action figures. (But will they be turned into bobble heads, huh?)

Development on the game and figures is set for early 2006. The MSNBC piece fails to get into what will be different about the game, which I'm assuming is for the PC, other than your ability to play as real heroes.

From the front lines to the video game screen [MSNBC]