In the middle of Iraq, it's gaming, gaming, gaming for the American milita

[MRDU]

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (AP) -- Soon after the battle for Fallujah ended in November, U.S. Marines brought their Xbox consoles, Gameboys and laptops forward and started fighting the Covenant hordes in "Halo," Mario and Luigi's worst enemies and those irksome roommates from "The Sims."

"I always talk to people about all kinds of positive, pleasant events that they can use," said Lt. Erin Simmons, a psychologist with Bravo Surgical Company. "I've heard some people say they like to play the video games with the aggressive military content. I've also heard people say they don't want to play those types of games, they don't need to be reminded of it. But as far as a pleasant event, it can take their mind of things, help them relax. We encourage it."

"In a game, you can die and press start and go all over again. This is a little bit different," said Sgt. James Atakoglu, 28, who drove a bulldozer during the battle for Fallujah, often smashing down buildings where insurgents were believed to be hiding. "I don't think games are going to have a dozer crashing into a building."

When bullets are zooming by you, there's nothing like it," said Sgt. Jeffery Mickel, 27. "Some guys get scared and take cover, other guys go right ahead and take care of the threat."


http://www.magicvalley.com/news/worldnation/index.asp?StoryID=11698

[SariesNightly]

1. "War" games

.. encourage a false sense of 'invincibility' and a glorify warlike mindset.

That's why there's nothing better to promote war than games.

After playing some hardcore shooters for some time, it can easily lead to a trigger-happy posture where anyhing that moves is "the enemy".

There's a reason shooter fans loathe games which don't involve shooting.

[psychopomp]

2. For war games, I recommend chess

It is better for the mind and the spirit.

[0007]

3. I'll second that!

[jayfish]

4. Drivel.

One of the most ignorant posts I've read. :freak:


Jay

[Sin]

6. I like shooters

There great fun but there just a game twitch games some make you think solving puzzles ( half life) others are just run and gun quake, unreal tournament.
But there not my favorite I like strategy games Rome total war is now the top one on that list.
Love Sim games but my fave is role playing games :) and Massive Multi Player Games been playing them for a long time Uo, Daoc, and now WoW ( world of warcraft) hehe the interaction with people questing and just having a good time makes it fun. got my self a lv 41 undead rogue on The Lightnings Blade server
But you cant say shooter fans loath other games I'm a shooter fan but I'm also a fan of all the others as well.

[slor]

5. Are the blame the video game people,...

forgive the inattentive parents, going to denounce these soldiers?

[fedsron2us]

7. You would have thought they had enough real shoot em ups

to last a life time. Although I have worked in IT for much of my adult life I have to confess that computer games leave me completely cold. Strange, because I was quite keen on board games when I was younger. Still if it comes to the choice of playing out out the fantasy of war in a game or killing people in real life then I think the former is preferrable. Whether one leads to the other is questionable. I do not think many Nazi storm troopers had access to an Xbox console.