games  anime  |  toys
Destructoid is gaming news, community, videos, and sometimes love. Take the tour or jump in with Facebook:

 


US Army investing $50 million into training games photo

The United States Army has announced that they will be putting a large chunk of change into gaming. Having created a new "games unit," they will spend $50 million training soldiers on videogames over five years, starting in 2010.

The Army has been using a modified version of Operation: Flashpoint (called DARWARS Ambush!) for years now as a training tool, but has found it limiting in terms of number of players, map size and customization of scenarios. Their next generation of videogame training, called Game After Ambush, will come with an assortment of modding tools which will allow trainers to make changes to the game during play as well as create custom situations for soldiers to practice on.

Just as with DARWARS Ambush! before it, this new program will be based on a commercial product. There is no word yet as to what game or which developer is being used but an announcement is expected in the next couple of weeks.

In addition to the already sizeable funding, they are also spending an undisclosed amount on "state-of-the-art gaming consoles" which will be put into field operation as early as February of 2009.

[Via Blue's News]


Continue: More War stories





prev next

9 comments | showing # 1 to 9

Peteru's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/24/2008 09:29
Peteru
Heh, I do have Americas Army still installed and play it once in a while. Some of this money may indirectly benefit their promo games. If they make it realistic in simulations they may also use the same knowagle for realistic next generation of Americas Army game. (Though ofcoure with not-so-funny parts cut out. Like wounds that leave you lying and crying for help ... in promo game you got to either die clean, or still have enough strenght to fire a gun after wounds.)

Actually after first playing AA I don't enjoy multiplayer in any straight shoot'em up FPS's. Even CoD4 is "so low on realism" I can't touch it. And CS feels like some downgrade.
savagesaladin's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/24/2008 09:33
savagesaladin
$50 million is pocket change for military training. But nothing beats actual physical training where there is a real sense of urgency.
DaedHead8's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/24/2008 09:38
DaedHead8
If they are worried about mapsize, they should mod the Battlefield engine. Those maps is large.
hjd uk's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/24/2008 10:22
hjd uk
Operation Flashpoint.
Scale : Full-sized island.
You get shot , you die.
Most 'realisitic' war game to date.
Jetsetlemming's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/24/2008 10:38
Jetsetlemming
State of the art video game systems, not consoles. You'll notice all the soldiers pictured are playing on the PC- a computer game is infinitely more portable than a console game, and the US military does NOT want to fuck around with MS licensing. ;)
PhazonYoshi's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/24/2008 10:58
PhazonYoshi
Oh for christ's sake.

I've played Crysis, does this mean that when super-suits are created, I'm pre-trained? Apparently so. I look forward to it, General Lee!
Noah's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/24/2008 11:16
Noah
I was talking to my wife as we were walking into a shopping mall about how much more prepared I am than her and everyone around me for a zombie outbreak ha ha :)
Velt's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/24/2008 11:46
Velt
They dont need to spend that kind of money, they just have to play Flashpoint and thats it, it doesnt get more accurate than that.

They should really bring the cost of us miliary down.
Cube's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/24/2008 20:51
Cube
When I was in the army that is prett much all we did play PC games over the lan, since we sit around all damn day long until something breaks.
prev next

Comment with Facebook





Click connect and comment instantly!

Comment with Dtoid





New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds

Comments policy

Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?

Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!

 
New on Destructoid.TV play all videos

Loading
Loading Destructoid Videos


    Win this!
    Dive in! meetup+play for a chance to win a PC

    Dtoid Twitter    Got news?   tips@destructoid.com

    Reviews & Previews
    Crossfire Remote Pistol review
    Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles review
    Left 4 Dead 2 review
    Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Reflex review
    Arkedo Series - 02 SWAP! review
    more reviews
    Driver
    Avatar
    GT Racing Motor Academy
    Bad Company 2 beta dishes out meaningful experiences
    Legend of Zelda Spirit Tracks
    more previews


    - The Dtoid Army is 50951 strong -

    Showing Cblogs with 3+ faps   show all

    Call for entries: do the wrong thing

    New to Dtoid? Read the survival guide




     Originals
    Jonathan Holmes: Why No More Heroes HD could mean a Wii total victory





















    More Destructoid Originals




     Popular now more






















    Team Destructoid   tips@destructoid.com
    Nick Chester
    Editor-in-Chief
    Niero
    Founder, publisher
    Jim Sterling
    Reviews Editor
    Hamza Aziz
    Community Manager
    Dale North
    News Editor
    Rey Gutierrez
    Video editor & director
    Anthony Burch
    Features Editor
    Colette Bennett
    Tom Fronczak Brad Nicholson
    Ashley Davis Ben Perlee
    Conrad
    Zimmerman
    Chad Concelmo
    Jonathan Holmes Jonathan Ross
    Brad Rice Jordan Devore
    Will Maddock Matthew Razak
    Dyson Joseph Leray
    Topher Cantler Samit Sarkar
         
      Dexter
    Adam Dork
    Daniel Lingen
    Hollie Bennett
    Joe Burling
    Mikey
    Stella Wong

    Josh Tolentino




     

     
      get involved

    register or login
    post a blog
    post a forum
    enter a contest
    contribute a news tip
    suggest a feature
    be a guest editor
    support

    new member's guide
    login assistance
    tech support
    report abuse
    email our editors
    read our dev blog
    nuclear crisis?
    keep in touch

    RSS feed
    Twitter
    Facebook
    Myspace
    Flickr
    Game nights
    Meetup+play online
    seriously

    about Destructoid
    advertising
    terms of use
    privacy policy
    jobs at MM
    buy our crap
    our network

    Tomopop
    Japanator
    Despingation?




    Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press
    living the dream since March 16, 2006