-Caveat Lector-

>From http://abcnews.go.com/sections/wnt/DailyNews/army_game021031.html

Simulated Sniping
U.S. Army Recruits Teens With Internet Game

By Steve Osunsami


Oct. 31 — Since July, the U.S. Army has quietly joined the video game business. Its new
product, "America's Army," is hot. More than 950,000 users have already registered 
online,
and countless others have obtained the video game from its many recruiting offices
nationwide.

Each player must first make it through boot camp, where they learn how to fire Army-
issued machine guns and rifles. It's your typical basic training, and it's long before 
the
serious play begins.

The real fun, for most users, is in what the video game industry calls "the first 
person
shooter." In the second half of the game, the player's point of view is that of a 
sniper
staring down the barrel of a gun. The effects are designed to be so realistic, the 
screen
moves anytime the digital sniper breathes.

Player can play alone, or use their software to play with other "soldiers" on the 
Internet.
The army reports that on any given weekend, more 400,000 players join it. And to state 
the
obvious, the game has a level of violence, and is rated "T" for teens.

Parents Are Concerned

Jack Thompson, a father and a Miami attorney is fighting the Pentagon. He says it's 
wrong
for the military to unleash this game on America's youth.

"I'm a father of a 10-year-old boy," Thompson says. "And every day I drop him off at
school, I know that he's at greater risk because some of his classmates, as well as 
others
in the general population, train obsessively in these shooter games."

Thompson, who has represented the parents of children killed in school shootings, says 
he
will file an injunction in federal court next week, if the Army doesn't pull the plug.

"While the Defense Department was trying to find the serial sniper in the Washington, 
D.C.,
area," he continued, "they were training new snipers to take their place."

Of chief concern to some parents is the price of the Army's war game. It's free. It 
doesn't
cost kids a dime. And, it's "cool," because it's the real deal. Who knows more about 
real
combat than real soldiers?

David Walsh, of a media watchdog group called Media and the Family, says that's a
dangerous recipe for young teens.

"It isn't the blood that's just a concern," Walsh says, "It's putting kids in the role 
of being
shooters and snipers."

Army: Real-Life Situations

The Army admits its game is popular and that it targets teens. But military brass say 
they
only intend to recruit, not teach.

Lt. Col. Casey Wardynski, who came up with the idea, says the Army has long needed new
ways to reach young people.

"We don't train you in the game," Wardynski says, "[Instead] we show you what our
training looks like and show you what our units look like, and what the opportunities 
are."

"The idea," he continues, "is if [teenagers] find that interesting, they can do more 
research
and more exploration and arrive at the doorstep of a recruiting station."

The Army points out several key differences between this game and the bloodbaths that 
are
more popular in the video game world. For one, a soldier never gets away with killing
innocent people, and he loses points for breaking the rules of warfare. A soldier's 
actions
could get that soldier sent to jail or kicked out of the game. At which point, the 
player would
have to create a new identity, and repeat basic training.

The Army says that unlike most video games, this one is more "real," with real rules, 
in
real-life situations. But for some families, it is still too real.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A<>E<>R
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Forwarded as information only; I don't believe everything I read or send
(but that doesn't stop me from considering it; obviously SOMEBODY thinks it's 
important)
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without 
charge or
profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of 
information for
non-profit research and educational purposes only.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth
shut."
--- Ernest Hemingway

<A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A>
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic
screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please!  These are
sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis-
directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with
major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought.
That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and
always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no
credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply.

Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html
 <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of
[EMAIL PROTECTED]</A>

http://archive.jab.org/ctrl@;listserv.aol.com/
 <A HREF="http://archive.jab.org/ctrl@;listserv.aol.com/">ctrl</A>
========================================================================
To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]

To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]

Om

Reply via email to