Heartless gameplay

The readings were very relevant and important because we still have a war going on right now.  I always thought the reason people played army games was because they enjoyed the thrill and chase of the game, but as I learned from the readings, some of the games are used as a recruiting tactic.  The specific term for this is 'advergame' which the reading gave America's Army as an example of this.

Nichols explains all this by saying, "America's Army is an advergame, making it a specific type of serious game.  Serious games are used to teach skills and responses to situations; advergames focus these gaming responses to create a positive view of the brand."

 

I was have never heard of America's Army before, so I went on Youtube and watched some of the gameplay in order to better understand the readings.  Here is what I found...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwGhlk7gkFw

My opinion on military games is one with a heavy negative presence.  Soldiers in the army go to war and fight for their country - that is not a game.  Many come back with psychological distress like PTSD and memories that will haunt them for a lifetime.  However, we have gaming industries making a game out of all of this.  Yes, there are people out there that would like to say, "But it is just a game" - and yes I do agree it is just a game, however; it is a very disrespectful game.  To make a game out of a very traumatic event where many lives were lost is just disgusting to me.   Other fighting and killing games that are based off of fantasy are fine, but when you start making/playing games that are based off of real life - we have officially crossed the line.  I understand the advertising aspect from the military's point of view, and using this advergame as a recruiting technique, but it should only be used on people who are thinking about joining the army so they can get a dose of what they are going to get him/herself into.

The next article written by Sulzberger goes over the point that I brought up last week about Medal of Honor taking it way too far by creating a game that allows the option to play as a Taliban fighter who can kill American troops.  Now how incredibly disrespectful is this?  It was so absurd to many people that the game was pulled.  I am very happy about this, but what about other army games that represent older wars?

Although I disagree with selling any army game, why is it ok to sell old army games, but not this one that represents a more recent tragic event?  So in years to come when this all "blows over" are they going to restock the game because by then people would have "gotten over it?"  Do you see how ridiculous and insensitive that sounds?

For the love of God, if you have a burning desire to play a fighting or killing game, go grab Dragonball Z - it's just as fun and it doesn't include the insentive and inhuman aspect of killing our old soldiers or old veterans.  But I mean, if disrespecting your country and military is something your into - then I guess thats OK too.