CyberKnobby

Yeah, I get where you're coming from. I would clarify though that I don't really mean I'll say what I want, I understand that I am bound by the rules as much as anyone else, it's just that I don't think it does you much good to start worrying about what may or may not be an infraction, and I'm certainly not going to be told by another poster what is and isn't acceptable, that's up to the admin of the site, just post in good conscience and take what comes.
As for the rest of your post, good points, I can't disagree with them.

Cruithne

Xmaster

dv8godd

Cruithne

They really dig games that support multiplayer, so if you're going to donate, consider that as a factor.

boopadoo

Irenicus-the one and only

I'll look through my video games to see if I have anything to send!

jeccaneko

BTW, if you didn't vote last time, please kindly stfu about the war. You have no right to say anything.

Furysetzer

SumDum_Guy

SumDum_Guy

NoBullet

dv8godd

I could see it being harder to imagine folks having time to play games and whatnot during the peak of the war there.

Then again all of what I am saying is just based off of what I hear from my friends in the service, books that Ive read, news reports, etc.

Witzbold

dammn. need a edit button here.

Onizuka-GTO

typo: I mean i pretend NO Knowledge...none at all.....

dammit. need an edit button....

Onizuka-GTO

just a question, as I pretend to knowledge of a modern soldiers life on the front lines.

I could probably imagine a soldier being about to stick a wii in his backpack and then upack it when he got time with a spare TV around or something, but a PS3 or a XBOX360?

:/

Onizuka-GTO

Cruithne

MistahJGM

Cruithne

Dudemeister

Barf#1

Genius. I do not look forward to this

tvo

Political discussion (debate) aside, as this is an article about the program, I like this program. I want to get a used 360 or something to take over with me next year.

tvo

Witzbold

King Seafoam

Woylez

Stan LS

Also I think the most popular game among troops in the sandbox is either RB6:3 since its everywhere. CoD 4 is getting big out there I hear but I'm not sure how many are available out there. The BX usually is sold out of things like that.

Xer0Ph0kus

Random J

comments(atmark)kotaku.com

Witzbold

Spectre_J

deathbunny

@yairube: Thank you and all enlisted troops. If it weren't for you guys signing up to enlist, I probably would have been drafted. The idea of me trying to do what you guys do, the only thing that comes to mind is "spawn death".... :D

Mr.SithNinja

ichiban1081

Gadgetron

tomsamson

Witzbold

y2julio

Witzbold

ConstantCupcake

Trust me Im the last person you need to worry about.

Kane & Lynch never came out in Japan also btw.

Witzbold

look-up-in-the-sky-its-baby-jesus

Ashurahori

Stan LS

It's funny that whenever an article is posted relating to service members, there are always a bunch of spoiled kids who love to spew their politically-charged B.S.

- I think CWOLF267 said it best: "As soon as I saw this post I knew many of the comments would be made by a handful of 14 year old foreign policy experts hopped up on CNN, bitching about how they have the recipe for world peace.

CAG's doing a great thing, please keep your own political views out of it."

Good luck to you yairube as well.

Jext

yairube

y2julio

Witzbold

y2julio

y2julio

Dont feed fuel to the fire is what Im saying.

Witzbold

A copy of Kane & Lynch is on the way!

Witzbold

Fact of the matter is that people in the army had a choice. They had the choice to join the army or not to join the army. I was an expert marksman, prepped and readied by the R.O.T.C to enlist in the military and skip the rank of Private. Though when Bush came around and the War came to be, I chose to abstain from service because I knew I wouldn't follow into battle a leader I didn't agree with, for principles I didn't believe were just.

My friends of the same class, however, joined because they believed in Bush's cause. Which is fine, they are human beings able to make up their own minds. They know and have told me, however, that they can't complain because they knew full well what they were getting into. They know we're there because Bush thought it a great idea, and they know we're not there defending anyone's freedom let alone our own. Frankly, before 9-11, no one even knew of Iraq in the States, forget even being oppressed by them.

Again, as I said, everyone has a choice, even soldiers. No one forced them to enlist, but once they did, they lost the choice to choose which battle the fought. I hope people realize, in the end, that the soldiers on both sides are just doing what they are told by those in command. They had a choice to join the Army, but they didn't have a choice to fight once they were in. Now I hope the arguments over this cease.

Custom Reality

Also, if you look at the Flickr pics you will see games that were already sent and they pretty much are from this generation and last.

I'm going to try to send these guys at least 2-3 games...

AceSpeed

deathbunny

I tip my hat to you sir, keep safe and a speedy return.

Cruithne

Still, donating the games is great, but I think it's fair to say that part of what makes this important is that these people aren't stationed in, say, Germany, where things are probably fairly relaxed. They're in a place where they're risking they're lives, and that's a very specific place. Having a discussion about it here seems appropriate to me. Obviously, the content of the comment determines whether you hammer or swim, but I like to think there's a happy medium between 'shut up' and 'blarg I'm being an ass!'

Anyway, I suppose I could bear to part with Marvel Nemesis, too... the greatest fighting game ever made.

deathbunny

yairube

Cruithne

y2julio

Witzbold

Jandlecack

CAG's doing a great thing, please keep your own political views out of it.

Cwolf267

People don't really complain about a lot of the products they buy, either. They buy cheap, not caring about who is harmed. Maybe I should give them more credit--perhaps they realize at some level that some desperately poor child made the shirt that they now wear, or that their shirt's cotton was grown in a field that was once a rain forest. Or maybe they have some inkling that the truck that shipped their shirt runs on a fuel that has been the catalyst of wars resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people? If they think that, then they manage to put these thoughts aside by thinking something like, "but those people are so far away...it's not my responsibility...besides, I earned this shirt"

They don't even realize that they are not self-sufficient. They don't live on a desert island, each surviving off his or her own wit and brawn.

Their sense of self-entitlement ignores the fact that they depend on their society for both the luxuries and necessities of life. They are a type of slave--a pampered slave with a few freedoms--but they are slaves nonetheless. Oddly, most don't even seem to realize this.
Thus, when they ask the soldier, condescendingly, "So, you obviously think the ends must justify the means?" they fail to realize that their daily actions confirm their own hidden belief that the ends justify the means.

Sparkamus

1: Go to war

2: Go to jail

Dont believe me read these 2 books about 2 separate soldiers who went AWOL because they didnt have any other proper choice for leaving the war.

[www.amazon.com]
[www.amazon.com]

Those are 2 good reads by the way. I own both of em.

For now thats all Im going to say about the political stuff myself unless there is something so skewed that I need to speak up.

Witzbold

tomsamson

Send Xbox and PS2 games. Alot of people take their old systems to Kuwait/Iraq/Afghanistan so they don't ruin their new ones with all the sand, heat and abuse they take.

starscream1101

anyways I wonder if the troops are interested in games about war or would they rather prefer games like Beautiful Katamari?

TheHun

Many, many troops sign up out of high school to get out of bad situations. Poor parenting, hood life, bad situations etc etc the list goes on. Others sign up, because they can't find a job. ALOT of troops don't sign up to go to war. Once they are in, they can't just say "I don't want to go to war". They are stuck with it. Alot of people sign up and are told they won't go and are sent anyways. If they put up a stink, they are black listed and their careers are ruined. They are sent back to the crappy situation that they were running away from when they signed up for the military.

I'm sorry this is a jumbled mess, but I'm typing and working at the same time.

A big OOh-rah to all those that are donating games!

starscream1101

ExistentialEgg

Thats what the bannings are over.

This is not the right place or story to be flinging around political hate bullshit.

Its just not cool if you know what Im saying.

When we have something more relevant like a senator blaming videogames for the wars going on in the world then by all means go at it people. Hell Ill be joining in on the fun too at that point.

Witzbold

Deathbunny.

Excellent post, I hope people took the time to read and digest it.
As for people being banned from this discussion, I think that's unfortunate. War engenders strong emotions in people, it would be a shame if only those strong emotions from one side of the con were permitted.
In fact, it would be downright ironic if people's right to support those ostensibly fighting for freedom of speech and good American values were allowed to speak whilst those who held a different view were not.
Having said that, I didn't see the banned comment, if it was just hate for the sake of hate, then ignore what I've just said.

Cruithne

[www.operationiraqichildren.org]

Witzbold

Witzbold

Stan LS

I don´t get comments like this at all, its a way to say no one who is following orders is guilty or responsible for any of his own actions.
That´s just plain wrong.
We´re talking about humans there, no robots who don´t have an own brain and can think and decide (maybe based on moral and ethics, too).
We´re also not talking about slaves who are forced to go to wars they don´t support, we´re talking about people who choose to do so.
If someone attacks your country, go ahead, pick a gun or whatever and defend your people.
If a leader or system forces you to attack another country for dubious reasons don´t go there.
If you have to look for another job or even flee to stand by your view, do that. That´s heroic.
Its not heroic to kill people although you don´t believe in the reasons for it just because someone gave you the order to do so.
I´m sorry for any soldier whos dying for a war anywhere but yeah, i can´t support those who go to wars which are clearly done for the wrong reasons.

tomsamson

Witzbold

don't get me wrong... i respect people who live by their convictions and who put themselves on the line for their country BUT let's get some therapy sessions in there before we mingle with the normal civilians.

(sidenote... i got into an online arguement with an ex gang member/marine who's online tag was Glock.. yeah.. those fuckers are edgey)

Xamot

Cris_Spiegel

This sounds like an unusual, yet nice way to boost moral for the troops posted there. I'd send a game, but all my copies are PAL and wouldn't work for them maybe.

Lockenator

starscream1101

I am not blaming the troops for the war, but ultimately it is their decision whether or not they carry out their orders, hence the Bioshock quote.

fyre

Anyways you get the idea of what Im trying to say, so comment smart and keep things civil folks because the eye in the sky is always watching.

Witzbold

Struct09

Witzbold

Second to respond to frye. You can easily support the troops without supporting the war. Both the decision to go to war and the policy on how it has been run comes from the civilian side (i.e. the Bush Administration). The actual solders on the ground have absolutely nothing to do with policy. They fight because as soldiers it's their duty regardless of their personal feelings towards the war. Some are for it some and some are against it. Either way they are there and it's hell.

So why you would let your political views get in the way of seeing that while someone might not believe in the policies that got us into war they still want to see our soldiers safe, happy and hopefully coming home soon? I mean is that so hard to grasp? If you are for the troops than just be happy that others are for the troops too regardless of their view on the war. One of the worst things about Vietnam was that people blamed the troops for the war. Thats not happening this time yet you seem to treat someone like it is simply for being anti-war. It does a disservice to the troops to politicize them regardless of what political party you belong to.

HanSolomente

The idea of dying for a cause which you don't necessarily agree with is noble, or at least, we consider it noble because, if we didn't, it would make war look really stupid, and that's not really an option. That said, the idea that you would die for something you *don't* believe in, is ridiculous--which is why it's virtually never true. Soldiers believe in the principle that they're defending something (or, they go into the military because they don't know what to believe), and then, like anybody else, their brain folds itself in half equating what they're doing with that purpose--whether it's true or not. Even given that, to treat all soldiers like a homogenous block of noble people is unrealistic. Soldiers rape and pillage and committ murder outside the immediacy of combat--we know it happens because they're imprisoned for it. It is one of the inevitable side-effects of warfare and quartering troops in a population (which is one of the reasons it's forbidden by the Constitution; personal experience).

When you reduce the issue to this aphoristic 'support the troops' nonsense, you might as well be saying 'that's hot'. It means nothing. Frankly, it's an insult to the people you're allegedly supporting, since it requires no effort and has no real meaning. My pay taxes comment was said with this in mind; everybody supports the troops whether they want to or not. That's beside the point. Putting a flag on your car doesn't make you a patriot, putting a fish on your car doesn't make you pious, and saying you support the troops doesn't do them any good.

By the same token, at this point, talking about the war as if its something which is binary, yes or no, is ridiculous. There's 60 years of mistakes leading directly to this moment, including support for Kuwait by the US; a regime that was deliberately trying to bankrupt Iraq. Who was right or wrong at this point is utterly irrelevant. It is carved in absolute stone through volumes of recorded history that we'd end up having to interfere somehow. What everyone *should* be objecting to, is that no venture is worth supporting when it is a collassal fuckup from beginning to end and every nanosecond in between. The strategic move at this point is unbelievably obvious; sponsor an independent kurdistan, and relocate our troops there, so that they're not coming in constant contact with IEDs while driving around in Hummers for no discernable reason (other than to trigger the aforementioend IEDs). That would be a meaningful benefit to the troops. Instead, what we have is inertia and a mindless Polly-wanna-cracker style debate between bumper stickers. At this point, having *restored* the level of instability present before we sponsored Saddam's rise to power (admittedly, not knowing what kind of ruler he'd be--though, honestly, having seen the situation, how *else* could you possibly stave off the religious extremists and keep the populace in line? Other than pie.), backing off to a safe distance and watching the cradle of civilization splatter itself all over the walls in the name of god is all that can be done. There's no cure for deep-seated belief that doesn't involve personal experience with the afterlife.

So that's me. When I hear support the troops, it's like fingernails on a blackboard because it's not a solution, it's not a suggestion, it's not even a meaningful statement. It's a placebo of language designed to stave off a real discussion. We might all be idiots who don't know what's best (we includes me, in fact, I'm almost certain I'm an idiot), but putting a cork in a real discussion by exchanging canned signals like angry modems (are you there? Yes I'm there. I'm going to ask you to support something. Fine, I support things. Support the troops. Error: Your face is like a butt. Traitor! Nationalist!---and then you D/C), gets nobody anywhere, least of all the troops, who pay by the minute for all the empty statements that fill the time between now and when somebody finally makes a real decision.

deathbunny

I'll keep it brief because you're right, this isn't the place for this discussion. ALL I'm saying is hate the policy makers, NOT the Troops. They have no say in who they shoot or get shot from. They are following orders. Their only power of protest would be to stand there and let themselves get shot.

And you're right, the LEADERS manipulate and sell themselves as heroic, hate THEM, not their gun toting messengers.

ExistentialEgg

They do. PSP and DS games would probably be more appreciated as most people have those. There aren't as many 360's or PS3's and such over there. A bunch of PS2's though. Quick play games are probably preferred. You normally have a bunch of guys sharing a PS2 system. Racing games, fighting games, Madden...etc etc. RPG's...don't get as much play since the console is being shared alot unless it's a handheld. Just food for thought.

starscream1101

I kinda see what you guys are saying, but I still disagree. Anyways the way I see it, "A man chooses, a slave obeys." Or something like that.

fyre

On a side note, doesn't it seem kinda fucked up to send the guys over in Iraq COD:4 or pretty much any war game? I'd be willing to donate a new copy to them if I knew they actually *wanted* it.

Khabi

mydogisdexter

this is no place for indepth political discussion, but i just can´t leave statements like that without reply:

"Troops SERVE, therefore I can say; I don't support the war you are fighting (the political manipulation behind it), but I respect you as an individual for sacrificing yourself for others."

Come on, it would be a sacrifice if someone would attack your country without you doing any harm to him and then you´d defend your people against the attacking force.
Its something completely different if you go and attack some other country for some very dubious reasons, this is no sacrifice, again, you´re the attacking side there.
Too many wrong things are done and sold as heroism or patriotic acts, if people wouldn´t still believe in such stupid propaganda manipulations of reality we´d have less wars and terrorism cause each side´s leader always sells the wrong actions of themselves as heroic patriotic acts against the evil terrorist forces.

tomsamson

Along with some other THPS game cept I cant find it atm.

Witzbold

EDGE

Just like you wouldn't give a Vietnam Vet Shellshock*

*also because it's an awful game.

Spolodaface

=\

Custom Reality

Witzbold

I should donate some of my games but i don't think the like barbie's horse adventure. :/

FP Shindokie

Witzbold

might send them Katamari :P

geoffcbassett

ExistentialEgg

Spolodaface

[www.tradeinsfortroops.org]

Its nice to see people supporting the troops. :]

Awestruck_Brandon

vacax

Gadgetron

You don't have to support the war...but support the young Marines, Soldiers, Airmen and Sailors. They're lives are hard enough :)

starscream1101

"I don't support the war you are fighting (the political manipulation behind it), but I respect you as an individual for sacrificing yourself for others"

How can you respect someone who is doing something you believe to be wrong?

fyre

Anyhow, agree, disagree (with war/"this war") it doesn't matter this is a good program.

EDGE

iamnotdryad

Teachers don't put there lives on the line whether or not they believe in the cause.

Parent don't put there lives on the line whether or not they believe in the cause.

Videogame makers don't put there lives on the line whether or not they believe in the cause.

Troops SERVE, therefore I can say; I don't support the war you are fighting (the political manipulation behind it), but I respect you as an individual for sacrificing yourself for others.

ExistentialEgg

unicronband

tomsamson

crewwolfy

They are playing the real Call of Duty 4 and they don't get the option to restart at the last checkpoint.

DigitalHero

I don't support teaching. But I support teachers.

I don't support parenting. But I support mom and dad.

I don't support video games. But I support game makers.

Torokun

doubtful

Mr_Fuzzypaws

I'm just trying to say well done to all those who donated and to CheapyD for rousing interest in the subject.

Edit: and also Kotaku for the coverage and subsequent increase in interest.

Spolodaface

seafisch

Krondonian

Perfect opportunity to send on my GoWs. Have fun ripping heads off medusa, guys.

deathbunny

Hmm, I don't know what to part with. After much debate, I've decided to donate my precious Superman 64.

(I don't think there will be pictures of happy soldiers with that game) =P

Dr.Chocobo

DigitalHero

elheeffa

Spolodaface