There isn’t a day that goes by that doesn’t find someone trying to draw a link between video game violence and real world criminal behavior.

But where it is usually Grand Theft Auto, or some similarly violent game sparking the controversy, this time MMO World of Warcraft has been tied to a school shooting attempt.

The TimesOnline reports that a 13-year-old male student in France apparently planned to shoot his teachers for giving him poor grades.

The potential tragedy was averted when his parents noticed he had left early for school and posted a blog that said November 17, 2009, would be “the last day of his life.” The parents alerted police and, when the child reached Catholic private secondary school Saint Esprit College, police had already blocked the front gate. The boy panicked and dumped his father’s shotgun and 25 cartridges into a nearby field.

His father later found him at an Internet cafe. Under as much scrutiny as the case itself is the news coverage, with nearly every media outlet that covered the story playing up the news that the boy enjoyed playing WOW, with TimesOnline referring to it as a “violent online game.”

WOW‘s fantasy setting is legendary for sucking up hours upon hours of players’ time but lumping it in the same category as GTA seems a bit of a stretch. Rather than wonder what effect the game may have had, here’s a better question: How does a 13-year-old boy manage to wake up, go get his father’s shotgun and ammo, then head off to school with them as easily as he might pack a sack lunch?

Read [Times Online] Also Read [The Mirror UK]

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Could the United States’ next General Patton be a 13-year-old currently playing Halo 3:ODST?

That is not as far fetched as it may seem, according to Washington Examiner columnist Peter W. Singer.

Singer notes United States Army officials’ testimony in Congress that video games including America’s Army are more effective than “any other method of contact” at recruiting potential soldiers. A 2008 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Study found that 30 percent of Americans aged 16-24 had a more positive impression of the Army because of that particular game.

Not only that, Singer found officers willing to testify that gamers make very useful young soldiers, particularly in the piloting of remote drone vehicles. An Air Force colonel called skilled gamers “naturals” at the task that often requires years of training. As a caveat though, that same colonel said gamers didn’t understand the consequences of war as well as regular recruits.

“The video game generation is worse at distorting the reality of it [war] from the virtual nature. They don’t have that sense of what’s really going on. It (video games) teaches you how to compartmentalize it ( the reality of war).”

America’s Army makes no real effort to disguise its goal as a recruitment tool and that has drawn the ire of people that are worried the government is brainwashing youngsters. In May 2009, seven protesters were arrested at a Philadelphia mall that boasts a video game equipped recruitment center.

Read [Washington Examiner] Also Read [Game Politics]

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The punishments for the undercover officers caught Wii Bowling during a March 6, 2009, drug raid have been handed down. And they’re not so punishing.

The Lakeland Ledger reports that 11 members of the multiagency task force were found at fault.

Undercover detectives received a letter of retraining and are required to undergo two hours of retraining. The sergeants who supervised and didn’t stop detectives from virtual bowling got a letter of guidance and must undergo four hours of retraining.

Lakeland Police Chief Roger Boatner told the Ledger:

“It’s been investigated by the sheriff’s office and reviewed by the Lakeland Police Department, and we concur with the action taken against them.”

“We hope this incident doesn’t overshadow all the hard work that went into the arrest.”

Sorry chief, I’m pretty sure it does. These cops have gotten more bad publicity than Michael DiFalco, the alleged drug dealer they were trying to bust.

The computer and camera in DiFalco’s home that recorded the unfortunate Wii Sports tourney was never recovered but officials said those devices are not critical to the case against DiFalco.

Read [Lakeland Ledger] Also Read [Gamertell]

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Street date, schmeet date.

It should probably not come as a surprise that some retailers decided to break the November 10, 2009, street date on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 The events that transpired afterward are definitely worth noting, though.

GameStop contacted COD publisher Activision regarding retailers breaking the street date. According to Kotaku, these conversations led to the retailer deciding to break street date in areas where other retailers had already done so.

GameStop did this - Activision is stressing to anyone listening - without the publisher’s permission.

PC gamers who purchased the game early still had to wait to get their warfare on as the IWNet and Steamworks components can stop anyone from playing until Activision allows the game servers to go live. Infinity Ward’s Robert Bowling tweeted  about the whole situation:

ANY store selling MW2 early is in violation of street date. There are no “special permissions”. That said, we won’t punish players for it.

This seems like an opportune time to mention you can also follow Gamertell’s tweets.

Street dates get broken very often, as with Halo 3: ODST which was sold in France a full 10 days before its planned release.

This situation is somewhat unique: A major retailer actively seeking and then being denied permission to break street date, then doing so anyway.

The gaming world is watching to see what happens. OK, the gaming world is playing the game, only game journalists are sitting around waiting to see what happens to GameStop.

Get your death streak going, we’ll be here to update you if and when Activision declares war on GameStop.

Read [Kotaku]  Also Read [FourZeroTwo on Twitter]

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Eric Hawkins robbed Bremerton Key Bank in 2006, getting away with $12,000 but also bringing along a dye pack that went off after the crime.

Somehow Hawkins managed to escape capture until earlier this year. As the following exploits prove, we can’t blame his criminal mastermind abilities for him evading capture.

Thinking he had gotten completely away with it,  Hawkins decided using the dye-stained cash to buy video games wouldn’t raise any suspicion. He guessed wrong, as Bremerton authorities tracked down “Gerald Lewis” (the alias Hawkins was using when spending the money) earlier this year.

Hawkins was sent to prison for cocaine possession, giving police the opportunity to test his DNA and find that it matched ink-stained sunglasses at the 2006 crime scene. Earlier this week (November 9, 2009) Hawkins was sentenced to seven years in prison for armed bank robbery.

There is no truth to the rumors that the Nintendo Wii cops assisted in this investigation.

Read [Seattle Weekly]

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A visually impaired gamer named Alexander Stern is suing Sony, Sony Online Entertainment and Sony Computer Entertainment America for not offering features that make their games accessible for people with visual disabilities.

According to Stern, by not including these options, Sony is violating the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The law suit claims that Stern has written several emails and letters to Sony requesting these features for games - mainly on MMOs - and Sony hasn’t complied. The suit also mentions how other companies, including Blizzard, have allowed the use of mods or other third party programs to incorporate features including visual cues or voice overs for gamers with “disability impaired visual processing”.

The suit also states that Sony’s denial in including these features are costing Stern money. Sony runs an auction site where users can sell their in-game loot for real money and, since Stern can’t participate in the auctions, Stern claims that he is losing money.

I’m really sorry for this guy and I think that everybody should have the right to entertainment and, in this case, video games but I think he’s just trying to work the system for easy money.

Video games are a visual form of entertainment and I don’t think it’s realistic to suppose that a company is going to modify the code in their games to fulfill the needs of an individual or a comparatively small group. By this same logic all movie studios and book publishers should alter their products to offer versions for the visually impaired.

I think it’s great that some companies offer the possibility of including mods or other programs into the game but. in my opinion, demanding them is totally different. Hopefully, technology that allows visually impaired people to have a better enjoyment of games will come along soon but I don’t think suing is the best way to accomplish or accelerate this process.

Read [Destructoid] Also read [GameSpot]

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In an expletive-filled interview with Sounds Like Fire, rapper DMX lashed out against both the music and video game industries regarding how much of the proceeds they share with artists that make the products possible.

Specifically, DMX was upset with the offer Def Jam made to him to appear in the sequel to Def Jam Vendetta. “X” was an unlockable character in the 2003 fighting game that featured superstar rappers pummeling each other over contracts and disrespect.

He said some people offered him a $25,000 signing bonus and two cents for every copy of every game sold to appear in the sequel Def Jam:Fight for New York. He declined because of his experience with Vendetta.

“Mind you they used my music throughout the whole———- game and I’m the hardest character to get to, so it’s pretty much like my——,” the rapper said in the interview. “$50 dollar———- game and you’re giving me two cents? Let me think about that for a minute.”

It’s a shame he didn’t appear as it sounds as if his real life frustrations with people in the industry would have made an outstanding addition to the story mode of any fighting game.

Read [Sounds Like Fire] Also Read [Game Politics]

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The Los Angeles Times reports that earlier this week (October 29, 2009) a Sacramento jury awarded $16 million to the family of Jennifer Strange, who died in a ill-fated 2007 radio contest that asked participants to “Hold Your Wee for a Wii.”

The mother of three died from water intoxication after chugging bottles of water without urinating for hours during the “Morning Rave” show on Sacramento’s KDND-FM in an attempt to win a Nintendo Wii console.

During the broadcast, one of the DJs mentioned the 2005 death of a college student during a hazing ritual in which he which he was forced to drink water without urinating. Also, a listener called in and warned the DJs of the hazards of water intoxication. Entercom Communications Corp., the company that owns the radio station, fired 10 people in the wake of the deadly prank.

Entercom said it will not contest the judgment.

Read [Los Angeles Times] Also Read [G4]

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Somewhere, Jack Thompson is tittering with peals of glee as the debate about video game violence just jumped to the forefront of the holiday shopping season.

Footage from arguably the biggest game release of 2009, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, was leaked earlier this week (October 27, 2009). That would normally only be a big deal to folks concerned about spoilers. Spoilers, as in this is a SPOILER WARNING!

Seriously, there be spoilers here.

The leaked footage shows the player in control of a Russian terrorist who is mowing down innocent civilians at what appears to be Los Angeles’  LAX Airport.

Activision has confirmed that the footage is authentic and released a statement in the way of damage control.

“The scene establishes the depth of evil and the cold bloodedness of a rogue Russian villain and his unit. By establishing that evil, it adds to the urgency of the player’s mission to stop them,” the statement reads. “Players have the option of skipping over the scene. At the beginning of the game, there are two ‘checkpoints’ where the player is advised that some people may find an forthcoming segment disturbing. These checkpoints can’t be disabled.”

The Modern Warfare games are famous for combining gritty storytelling with “what if” scenarios that could happen in the real world. The first game’s depiction of a nuclear explosion was one of the most awe inspiring and yet unsettling moments in recent gaming history. You had to wonder how they would one up a nuclear strike and now it appears we have our answer.  The game hits store shelves November 10, 2009, for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC (Windows).

The controversy has hit already and won’t be letting up soon.

Read [The Telegraph] Also Read [Gamepro]

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One of the downsides of using a mail rental service for games, movies, etc. is the number of middlepeople involved.

Between the shipping facility, the post office and the mail carrier there are a number of places a game can get damaged, lost or outright stolen. That’s what former Postal Service officer Reginald Johnson admitted to doing 2,200 times in federal district court Thursday October 15, 2009.

The former mail processing clerk allegedly stole $86,000 worth of stuff and, according to police reports, Johnson’s scams didn’t stop there. Police claim he was trading the games to GameStop and buying game consoles with the store credit. GameFly reported the large number of missing discs to the Postal Service, who caught Johnson in a surveillance sting.

Then came a scene straight out of a true crime genre game as Johnson fled in his SUV before having a wreck and getting caught with enough games and equipment to start his own store.  Agents found 81 GameFly mailings in a duffel bag (that Johnson fled the scene with) and 79 more inside his vehicle. Also inside the SUV were five Wii Sports, three Wii Fits, a PlayStation console (the Philadelphia Daily News does not specify which Sony console) and a plethora of GameStop receipts.

Sadly, this is far from the only case like this.

In August 2009, we reported on a Florida UPS driver and his wife who are accused of stealing a quarter of a million in packages. Their stash included game consoles, weapons and a Cobra GPS with Bluetooth. And a former Massachusetts postal worker pilfered 3,200 Netflix DVDs, or $36,000 worth of merchandise.

Read [Philadelphia Daily News] Also Read [Gizmodo]

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A Flash cartridge that can be used to store pirated Nintendo DS games has publishers up in arms and a group of them are suing the companies that make the devices.

Nintendo, Capcom and 53 other publishers are taking legal action under Japan’s Unfair Competition Prevention Act, targeting four companies that make the R4 cartridges.

In February 2009, Tokyo District Court placed an injunction on the cart manufacturers making it illegal to sell R4s in Japan. But, as is often the case with legal issues, a court saying people can’t have something hasn’t stopped people from getting it.

The setup is almost comical. Countless retailers in Japan’s Akihabara electronics district stock the R4 but, because of the legal heat, clerks have been forbidden from discussing exactly what it does. Also, there has been another company making a pirated version of the chip primarily used for pirating. Sigh.

Because the R4 is still a fixture in electronic stores, the publishers are keeping the legal pressure on and likely paying a pretty penny to do so. Capcom said in a statement that vendors have “continued to ignore our warnings” and “did not show any sincere response.”  As the battle between publishers and pirates continues, Nintendo has gone so far as to enlist help from its customers.

Nintendo has posted a web form (in Japanese) that can be filled out anonymously should you want to report anyone selling the gadgets.

Read [Gamasutra] Via [Videogamer.com]

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Is the Christian market for games being underserved? Is there, in fact, a market for Christian games? Walmart and Left Behind Games will try to answer those questions with a test in 100 stores in the Houston and Dallas areas. These stores will stock back catalog PC games based on the best selling Left Behind book series.

Other than the Left Behind games the company also produces the educational Charlie Church Mouse series aimed at preschoolers.

Troy Lyndon, CEO of Left Behind business unit Inspired Media Entertainment, said in a recent press release that the company picked Texas because that state has the highest number of evangelical Protestants in the United States (it has more than 23,000 churches statewide). “The US market for Christian video games could reach $648 Million within the next five years based upon just 3% of video game sales being in the Christian segment,” Lyndon is quoted as saying in the release.

In additional efforts to promote the games, Inspired Media is sending letters to thousands of church pastors hoping they’ll turn their congregations on to the series.

If you’re in Texas and interested in finding the games, you can go to the Inspired Media web site for a list of the 100 Walmart stores in the test group.

Read [Wired News] Also Read [Gamespy] Site [Inspired Media]

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The sequel to zombie slaying hit Left 4 Dead 2 has toned down its violence so it can be sold in Australia.

That nation’s Classification Board refused to give the game a rating last month because of decapitation, dismemberment and dead bodies remaining on the ground. Australia has no “Adult Only” (AO) classification for games as the ESRB does. If a game can’t make the MA15+ rating, it can’t be sold in Australia.

To earn a new rating, developer Valve took large amounts of gore out and dead bodies now vanish after they hit the ground. Valve is resubmitting the original version of the game and, if it ever receives a classification, Australian gamers will be able to download a free update for the edited version. The game’s melee weapons, which include chainsaws and axes, will remain in the game.

Left 4 Dead 2 has been a surprisingly controversial sequel so far. In additional to the problems in Australia, a group of diehard players started a boycott because they feel the sequel is a rehash and includes content promised for the original game.

[News.com.au] Via [GamePolitics] Also Read [Gamertell]

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Being disbarred by the state of Florida hasn’t stopped Jack Thompson from making enemies, headlines or legal trouble. His latest effort is a lawsuit against social networking mainstay Facebook, claiming the site should remove comments threatening Thompson.

Facebook has numerous groups for people galvanized by a single cause and many of them are anti-Thompson. Some include Stop Jack Thompson and Yes Jack Thompson, I Play Violent Video Games And Am Not a Psychopath.

Among the posts that angered Thompson are a user offering $50 to anyone who will punch Thompson in the face and another user suggesting people hit Thompson in the face with an Atari 2600. In court documents filed in Florida, Thompson said he faxed Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg twice but received no response. In ThompsonWorld, that’s grounds for a lawsuit and he filed one September 29, 2009. Most legal experts don’t give Thompson much of a chance since the Telecommunications Act of 1996 contains a section that says website owners are not liable for user supplied content.

Thompson counters that Facebook has already shown a willingness to delete potentially harmful content, noting the site’s administrators deleted a poll asking whether or not Barack Obama should be assassinated.

Read [Facebook] Also Read [Associated Press] Also Read [Gamertell]

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Drinking and gaming. We saw it happen with Halo and World of Warcraftand now a beverage company is trying to help juice up Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Monster Energy drink has teamed up with Activision for a cross-promotional effort that the companies hope will help keep gamers from passing out during MW2 marathon gaming sessions.

Even more interesting are the promises on the drinks’ packaging which indicate that Monster will give away MW2games which will be available November 11, 2009 for PS3, Xbox 360 and Windows, as well as downloadable content (DLC), indicated to be available Spring 2010.

Monster may have jumped the gun because Infinity Ward’s Community Manager Robert Bowling said production on DLC hasn’t even started yet.

Responding to a disappointed fan on Infinity Ward’s forums, Bowling insists that Infinity Ward will not start working on any additional content until Modern Warfare 2 is certified and completed. He even admits that the team hasn’t begun thinking about future DLC.

You can get in on a contest that gives out various MW2 prizes by purchasing specially marked Monster Energy, Lo-Carb Monster Energy, Assault 4-Packs and marked MW2 Monster 6-packs. The contest began on October 1, 2009, and will continue until December 31, 2009.

In the meantime, here’s a rundown of the prizes up for grabs:

• 1st Prize: MW2 Hardened Edition for Xbox 360 or PS3
• 2nd Prize: MW2 Map Pack 1 Download
• 3rd Prize: MW2 Xbox 360 Dashboard Theme or PS3 Dynamic Theme
• 4th Prize: Free 12oz. Monster Energy Drink Coupon

Read [Examiner] Also Read [VG247]

Image Source: ModernWarfare247

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NFL legends Jim Brown and Herb Adderley believe EA Sports is using their images and career statistics - and those of thousands of other athletes - without fair compensation. On Monday (September 28, 2009) they asked U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken to let them join former Nebraska and Arizona State University quarterback Sam Keller in a suit against EA.

Keller and the NFL Hall of Famers say EA is making millions from the images of college and pro athletes it uses in their games without compensating those players.

EA uses retired players in its Madden games but doesn’t call them by name. It uses their famous jersey numbers, racial backgrounds and the ratings it would assume to those players. College athletes are portrayed the same way. EA and the NCAA argue the video games are protected under the First Amendment as realistic expressions of the games they depict.

US District Court Judge Florence Marie Cooper agreed with EA and the NCAA Wednesday (September 23, 2009) writing that, according to the ” target=“external”>Associated Press, the Madden games “are expressive works, akin to an expressive painting that depicts celebrity athletes of past and present in a realistic sporting environment.”

In November 2008, Adderley settled a class-action lawsuit for $26.25 million on behalf of 2,000 NFL retired players in which a jury ruled unanimously that, according to the LA Times., the NFL Players’ Association ignored terms of contracts regarding player marketing where retired players were concerned.

Read [The Associated Press] Also Read [LA Times: Fabulous Forum]

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Man, you just cannot resist the Nintendo Wii. It is almost impossible not to stop a play a few frames of Wii Sports’ bowling, even if you’re on the job and that job is busting drug dealers. Some central Florida police officers have become the subject of nationwide ridicule after a hidden security camera caught them playing a Nintendo Wii during a drug raid.

While raiding the home of convicted Lakeland, Florida drug dealer Michael Difalco two officers found marijuana, methamphetamines and $30,000 in stolen property. Among Difalco’s possessions was a Nintendo Wii, with its best-selling pack-in game Wii Sports. It seems some officers detectives stopped to have an impromptu bowling tournament, not knowing Difalco had a camera recording everything. The search of Difalco’s property took nine hours and cost taxpayers $4,000. The cost of all the bad publicity is beyond measure.

Check out the video:

Of course, the video went viral and has now been seen everywhere from cellphone cameras to The Today Show. It gets better. Apparently a supervisor observed the play session and instead of shutting it off, joined in on the fun. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd is charged with the unfortunate task of defending the indefendible.

“How do you explain it?” Judd said to NBC 2 TV. “Well you can’t explain that, my deputies know that they shouldn’t have been playing Wii while they were involved in that search warrant.” Judd went on to say the “hurry up and wait” nature of drug searches means there is lots of down time and no taxpayer dollars were wasted. Good luck with that, Grady.

I suspect many Florida taxpayers would like the officers in question to be given all the free time they need to practice bowling - unpaid.

Read [NBC2 News Online] Also Read [Hip Hop Wired] Also Read [Gamertell]

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And you thought Disney’s recent purchase or Marvel meant the House of Mouse would get to keep all of Spider-man’s amazing friends. Heirs to several of the Marvel characters are suing Disney to make certain they recover rights to their parent’s creations.

The children of deceased artist Jack Kirby have reportedly filed 45 notices of termination of copyright. If successful, they would acquire their father’s share of copyrights on characters including the Fantastic Four, Hulk and X-Men, retaining the rights for several years before the characters become public.

If they win the suit, they would get a share of profits from anything involving those characters and could even sell the rights. Heck, they could even sell them to Disney. According to Guardian, “The new claims have implications for a large number of media companies, including Sony Pictures, which owns film rights to Spider-Man, Universal, which has distribution rights to Hulk films, and 20th Century Fox, which owns film rights to the Fantastic Four and X-Men.”

Read [Guardian] Read [Gamertell]

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Starbucks’ prices look positively reasonable when you consider how much a little “Hot Coffee” cost Take-Two Interactive.

The Grand Theft Auto publisher announced on September 1, 2009, that it has reached a $20 million settlement with investors in the class-action lawsuit filed concerning the Hot Coffee scandal surrounding Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

The suit alleges that Take-Two was cash strapped before releasing the highly anticipated GTA sequel and rushed the game out the door knowing about the extreme sexual content. Take-Two didn’t help its case when it claimed the hidden sex scene was the work of hackers, when it was designers at GTA developer Rockstar Games who left the content “in” the game. The thing turned into a PR and financial nightmare for Take-Two pretty quickly, leading to a GTA: San Andreas recall and a nosedive in the company’s stock price.

The company’s unsure footing in the post-Hot Coffee era led Electronic Arts to make overtures to Take-Two stockholders. Take-Two’s leadership rebuffed that offer but said they were open to other merger offers. At that time, Take-Two Chairman Strauss Zelnick categorized the EA offer as opportunistic.

News about the settlement also came with the announcement of a quarterly loss of $55.5 million for the period ending July 31, 2009. There was no GTA on the Big Three consoles to pad the company’s bottom line this year and its Nintendo DS release, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, underachieved. Also, Take-Two’s biggest 2009 release, Bioshock 2, got delayed until 2010. But whenever that game does come out, it should definitely improve Take-Two’s numbers.

Read [Venure Beat]  Also Read [Kotaku] Also Read [Gamertell]

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The Ft. Myers News Press has a story about an UPS driver who police allege went on a crime spree that would make Grand Theft Auto IV’s Niko Bellic envious.

Craig Podleski, an UPS driver since January 2000, is accused of stealing $250,000 worth of packages including a Wii, an Xbox 360 and three PlayStation 3s. Non-gaming items Podleski is believed to have taken include a $700 compound bow, a Cobra GPS with Bluetooth and - we are not making this up - a police badge from Cape Coral, the town where he lives.

Police arrested Podleski earlier this month (August 2009) after finding so much stolen stuff in his home it filled an entire rental truck.

On August 26, 2009, his wife Cheryl was arrested for dealing in stolen property. She turned herself in to authorities and was released after paying a $2,500 bond. Because when your hubby moves a rental truck worth of high-end electronics and other goodies into your house, it is pretty hard to feign ignorance.

Craig Podleski is still in jail in for his role in what the Cape Coral PD call one of the largest theft cases they’ve ever investigated.

Read [Ft. Myers News Press] Also Read [Kotaku]

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The video game industry could gain a powerful Washington ally in Arizona’s 2010 Congressional election.

Former LucasArts head Jim Ward, who resigned from the company in 2008, wants to be the next US representative from Arizona’s 5th Congressional District.  The district includes Scottsdale, Tempe and parts of Phoenix. He’s running as a Republican against two-term Democrat Harry Mitchell. Ward is using his business experience at LucasArts as a key campaign component.

“It’s time politicians who just want to be politicians got out of the way and let people who have run businesses, created jobs and made decisions they’ve had to live with, go to Washington and straighten out this mess,” Ward said on his election site.

On his site, Ward also mentions his role in handling the Indiana Jones and Star Wars franchise. These days Ward is a venture capitalist.

If he gets elected, will gamers hold his feet to the fire regarding game legislation?

Read [Kotaku] Also Read [IGN]

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Full Story » | Written by NEWS for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

Full Story » | Written by NEWS for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

Gamers and gamer-advocacy groups have consistently pointed out to concerned parents and government officials that controlling the buying decisions of children under 17 is a personal responsibility, not one that should include government entanglements.

However, the voices of these individuals have sadly fallen on deaf ears, as politicians and parental groups have consistently succeeded in demonizing the gaming industry as a group that cares little for the welfare of children. This has led to state after state, most notably California, drafting and proposing legislation against gaming with the goal of “protecting the children.”

While gamers and their advocates (and the courts) have long since denounced California’s action as pointless, they gained a powerful ally in the LA Times. In and editorial titled “Violent video games: Who controls the joystick?,” the newspaper has taken the state of California to task for its efforts to legislate an action that should really be left up to parental units.

Citing the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals’ declaration of the latest round of legislation forbidding the sale of violent games to minors as unconstitutional, the LA Times editorial advises Democratic Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown (who defended the California law in the latest case) to stop now and avoid wasting any more taxpayers’ money or embarassment: “Brown shouldn’t risk another embarrassment by taking the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.”

This is an editorial that any gamer can get behind and it would behoove the state of California to listen considering it is currently $42 billion in the red. One would think that California would dedicate more of its efforts in trying to save its state from financial ruin rather than try to take action against problems that, in retrospect, are really futile and unnecessary.

Then again, one thinks that it will take a well-placed hit from Nyko’s Perfect Shot before any member of our government has the sense to leave video games alone. Until then, pointless legislation like this may probably become the norm.

Read [LA Times] Via [Joystiq]

Full Story » | Written by Jason Townsend-Rogers for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

Video games, what are they good for?

A state government official would be apt to answer that question negatively, right before he or she would immediately draft legislation with the intent of “protecting our young children from this evil, malicious art.”

However, considering the fact that our country is now in the throes of a massive economic struggle, these same state officials are taking a second look at how the video game industry is thriving and, like an old boyfriend whom has seen the error of his ways, has since decided to make overtures to encourage game developers to either seek or establish roots in their states, with additional promises of tax breaks or greater promotional efforts.

This increased effort was mentioned in an article in the Christian Science Monitor. Some noticeable lines from the article mention how these state officials are “enchanted by gamemakers’ big budgets, high-skilled jobs, and purported resistance to recessions,” and point to these reasons for their increased outreach.

Game developers are facing hard times just like everyone else, so this could be read as a case of misplaced affections. However, the fact that these individuals are trying to attract game developers can only be advantageous for the industry. After all, more exposure can only lead to more opportunities for jobs, which in turn can lead to more money.

One would hope though, that none of these game developers consider setting up shop in Utah, considering what is going on there, those developers should not expect a hearty welcome.

Read [Christian Science Monitor] Via [Gamepolitics]

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Cash-strapped Midway Games couldn’t fight the financial realities any longer, announcing on Thursday (Feb. 12, 2009) it is filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The move became a foregone conclusion when Sumner Redstone, who had kept the company afloat with his fortune, ran into financial trouble and had to sell his controlling interest for $100,000 to investor Mark Thomas.

That move triggered clauses in Midway’s debt agreements that allowed its noteholders to demand payment now. Midway doesn’t have the money, making it necessary to file for bankruptcy. The company has $240 million in debt but a market valuation of only $14.8 million. I’m no financial wizard, but none of that is good.

It’s not a financial article until somebody gets the word from Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter, who told the Los Angeles Times Midway now has “breathing room” from its creditors. He cites the liquidations of 3DO and Acclaim as proof that you don’t get much from taking a game company apart. The best chance for Midway’s creditors to get any money is for the company to start turning a profit, either through the Chapter 11 reconstruction or by getting purchased by someone else.One of the names getting kicked around is Square Enix, a company already looking to buy Eidos Interactive. Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe was a big step in the direction of profitability. It moved 2 million units and breathed life into a fighting game franchise that had been stagnant. Next up is the Vin Diesel driving/action game Wheelman, set for a March 2009 release.

The Chicago Tribune is now reporting that a group of Midway bondholders filed an objection to the bankruptcy proceedings on Friday (February13, 2009). The bondholders are alleging shady dealings by Redstone and Thomas. They believe Redstone’s sale will allow him to garner some tax losses Midway should have been able to claim and that Thomas stands to reap benefits as well. Thomas’ deal makes him holder of $70 million worth of secured claims, putting him ahead of many of Midway’s creditors in getting payment. Again, Thomas paid only $100,000 to get control of Midway. Doesn’t look like there will be any “friendship moves” in these proceedings.

Read [Los Angeles Times] Also Read [Chicago Tribune]

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Midway announced in a press release (February 12, 2009) that it has “filed voluntary petitions in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.”

According to the press release, the company’s recent ownership switch led to to “accelerated repurchase obligations” of debt that the company knew it could not repay. The protection will allow the company to “conduct its business operations as usual.”

Midway Chairman, President and CEO Matt Booty noted in the release that Q4 2008 sales “exceeded expectations in spite of a challenging retail and general economic environment” citing TNA iMPACT!, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe‘s and Game Party sales as positives for the company.

Let’s hope this does not have any effect on Midway Amusement Games as well which holds the rights to many of Midway’s earliest arcade games.

Read [Midway] Also Read [Joystiq]

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I’m going to list Jack Thompson’s good qualities: Persistence and, uh, I think we’re done here.

The disbarred Florida attorney has crafted yet another anti-video game bill and this one is currently working its way through the Utah state political machine. Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff doubts its prospects, telling the Desert News the evidence Thompson has quoted about violent games having a direct link to violent crime hasn’t held up in court. The AG himself doesn’t sound like he knows what this bill purports to do or how it would be different from the countless anti-game laws that have already been ruled unconstitutional. Shurtleff has told reporters the language in the bill keeps changing.

Could that indecision be because Thompson is completely out of his gourd? Can someone explain to me how a guy that has had all his legal credentials yoinked by the state that licensed him gets to write attempts at legislation in any state? Every mainstream media outlet not named Fox News seems to realize Thompson is one disc short of a complete role-playing game. The Salt Lake Tribune blogger reporting on Thompson’s latest stunt refers to him as a “Florida-based wingnut crusader.”

Though Thompson claims video games incite bad behavior in youth, the former attorney is doing an excellent job of acting out in his own right. He tried unsuccessfully to shoehorn himself and his agenda into the recent tragic shootings in Portland. If the opponents of violent video games really want to be taken seriously, they have got to find another champion.

Read [Salt Lake Crawler] Via [GamePolitics]

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In October 2008, a Honolulu bus driver was suspended from duty for gaming on the job. On Wednesday Honolulu’s City Council passed a bill by a margin of 7-1 to ban texting and gaming while people are driving.

It’s a pretty good idea, though it did take some heat from local prosecutors and police officer who had argued that the ban would be nearly impossible to enforce. According to KHON-TV, Councilman Rod Tam, the one naysayer regarding the bill, said, “It’s a bad bill. It’s unenforceable.”

Charles Djou, the bill’s author, who had also spoken with police departments in cities where similar bans have been put in place, disagrees with Tam’s standpoint. This was also noted by KHON-TV. Due to his research while drafting up the bill, he found that the police departments of other cities had little, if any problem enforcing such a ban. He modeled the bill after California’s new law against texting while driving.

aimie Coffee of the California Highway Patrol noted that since they are trained in observing for the sake of their job they can tell when a person is distracted. Since July 2008, California Highway Patrol had issued about 55 thousand citations for cell phone use while driving. Since January 1, 2009, when the law against texting while driving, they’ve issued about 100 citations for texting while driving. It doesn’t seem like California is having much trouble enforcing the new law like the one that Honolulu’s City Council just passed.

Council Chair Todd Apo noted that while there were issues that could pop up on the law enforcement end but he believes that the law would be for the greater good. He is quoted by KHON-TV as saying, “We need to make sure our laws keep up with technology advancements.” The law has made it through to the stage where it could be vetoed now. The mayor has 10 days, or until Saturday, February 7 to review the law and to decide to veto it. If it is 10 business days, the mayor has until around Wednesday, February 11 to review and veto if necessary. If he chooses to do so the city council needs a vote of six to over-ride the veto.

If we need government to dictate common sense to us there is a much larger problem here. There’s no reason you should be splitting your attention anymore than it is while you’re driving anyway. You have to worry about everything and everyone in the vehicle with you, everything outside the vehicle and anything bad that could happen while you’re driving the vehicle. There’s no reason to divide your attentions further.

Read [KHON-TV] Also Read [Gamertell]

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What, did you think being disbarred for life by the state of Florida would stop Jack Thompson from railing against video games? Sigh, I wish.

Thompson is asking, nay, demanding that detectives investigating the case of accused Portland nightclub shooter Erik Ayala seek the former attorney’s help.

Thompson e-mailed GamePolitics a copy of the note he sent to Portland Police Chief Rosie Sizer and, of course, Thompson is upset that detectives in the case will not pursue violent video games as an contributing factor in the case.

Thompson said the detective he spoke with had been “compromised by the video game industry.” I don’t even know what that means, but that’s par for the course when Thompson is involved. The vocal video game opponent asks Sizer to have

Game Politics notes that Thompson has a history of trying to insert himself into these investigations whether local authorities seek his help or not. In 2007 he sued the Omaha Police Department for information concerning games an 18-year-old mall shooter might have played. In 2008 Thompson threatened to sue Northern Illinois University for information about a campus shooter. Because let’s face it, what these law enforcement agencies and other institutions really need as communities try to recover from tragedies are anti-video game activists stirring up more trouble.

Read [Game Politics] Also Read [Gamertell]

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An article in the Portland Oregonian reports on the video game habits of Erik Ayala, the suspect in the Saturday (January 24. 2009) shooting that killed two teens and wounded seven others. According to the article, police say Ayala begin a shooting rampage outside an underage club in downtown Portland before turning the gun on himself. He died later from his wounds.

The Oregonian (and numerous other mainstream media outlets) have reported Ayala enjoyed shooting games including Left 4 Dead and Resistance: Fall of Man. In an eerie suicide note, Ayala left his personal possessions including his beloved PlayStation 3 to his roommate.

It will be difficult for police or anyone else to reconcile the kind tone of the suicide note with the actions Ayala is believed to have committed:

“You know my ps3 is special. Similiar USED ps3’s go for AT LEAST $450-$500,” Ayala begins in a suicide note left for his roommate, published in the Oregonian. “Our landlord guy wants a ps3 like mine. Let him know that $400 would be a GOOD deal. If he doesn’t want it, format the drive by going to Settings>System>Format Utility. You can say it “comes with the latest firmware software” to help market it on the internet. In case you don’t know, it’s the special “100% backwards compatible” (60 GB) ps3. I’m sorry to put all this on you buddy, good luck.”

Ayala left his roommate the PS3, his car and all the money that Ayala had, which he said was probably less than $20. Police told the Oregonian the intent of the note was clear, the 24-year-old had no intention of returning from where he was going.

There just aren’t any easy answers in an incident like this. A young man definitely needed treatment that he didn’t get and took his reasons for his bizarre actions to his grave.

Read [Portland Oregonian] Via [GamePolitics]

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Maybe this makes up for all the awards Postal 2 didn’t win as a shooter more renowned for its controversial content than its gameplay. Kotaku tells us that the game, which caused quite the uproar in Sweden, will now appear in that nation’s Nobel Museum as part of an exhibit on freedom of speech.

Rhe exhibit, called “Freedom of Speech: How Free is Free?” will look at many issues including game censorship and that portion of the exhibit will include footage from Postal 2. The exhibit will examine censorship in video games, movies, books and magazines. It will also include discussions of variou issues including tge use of free speech as a rationale for spreading hateful or destructive words.

These are issues that definitely warrant more discussion, but here’s hoping the Nobel Museum adds some eyebrow-raising games known for gameplay as well as content.

A discussion of Grand Theft Auto, Manhunt or (quick, let me think of a controversial game that’s not done by Rockstar), oh yeah, Doom, would actually interest the average gamer a lot more than a game that only got publicity because it pushed some hot buttons. Well that, and it had Gary Coleman in it.

Read [Joystiq] Also Read [Multiplayer]

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The dueling studies as to whether video games are harmless, destructive or somewhere in between continues.

A study published Friday (January 23, 2009) in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence concludes that video games ruin relationships between gamers and their family and friends. The basis of the study is research conducted by Brigham Young University undergrad Alex Jensen and Laura Walker, a professor from the university’s School of Family, Home and Social Sciences. They gathered data from 813 college students to come up with their conclusions.

According to Jensen and Walker, the more students play video games the worse they rate their relationships with peers and family. Walker told BYU’s news service that it may be because young adults remove themselves from social settings to play games, or the games could be an escape for people who would already rather not engage in social settings. Walker’s guess is that it’s a little of both.

All the impacts this particular study found were negative. In addition to the bad personal relationships,  the study indicates that gamers are more likely to engage in risky behavior such as drug abuse and drinking.

According to the study, gamers who play daily were twice as likely to smoke pot as occasional gamers and three times as likely to smoke pot as those who don’t game.

The timing of this study is perfect for video game opponents in Utah as there is currently talk of video game legislation. Involved, as always, is our favorite disbarred attorney Jack Thompson.

Read [Information Week] Also Read [Game Politics]

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If you thought listening to the disclaimers at the end of a commercial for medicine or reading the warning labels on the side of a cigarette pack is funny, then get a load of this.

I read the report posted on CNet by Don Reisinger which indicates that on January 7, 2009, Joe Baca, a democratic representative of California, introduced the H.R.231: The Video Game Health Labeling Act of 2009 bill to 111th Congress requesting to make it mandatory that video games that have received a rating for violence to display the following warning:

WARNING: Excessive exposure to violent video games and other violent media has been linked to aggressive behavior.

I thought it was funny. At first. Then again, (according to a report card published by the Nation Institute on Media and Family in 2008) if we can’t get parents to read the labels that are already displayed on the packages now, how would this be any different?

According to the bill which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, that it should be made a Consumer Product Safety Commission Regulation that:

(a) Regulation—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Consumer Product Safety Commission shall promulgate regulations to require the warning label described in subsection (b) to be placed on the packaging of any video game that is rated T (Teen) or higher by the Electronics Software Ratings Board.

(b) Warning Label Content—The warning label required under a regulation issued under subsection (a) shall be placed in a clear and conspicuous location on the packaging of the applicable video game and shall state: `WARNING: Excessive exposure to violent video games and other violent media has been linked to aggressive behavior.’

(c) Video Game Defined—As used in this Act the term `video game’ means any product, whether distributed electronically or through a tangible device, consisting of data, programs routines, instructions, applications, symbolic languages, or similar electronic information (collectively referred to as `software’) that controls the operation of a computer or telecommunication device and that enables a user to interact with a computer controlled virtual environment for entertainment purposes.

Again I ask, if we can’t even get parents to read the labels already on the package how will this make a difference? In the end it would only be another annoyance on the box, further shrinking the description of the game on the back.

There’s no real solid proof according to various studies and reports we’ve read about in various publications or on television last year about violent media being accessible to children. Most of the findings were inconclusive and neither side could provide any hard evidence as to whether games did or did not cause violent behavior in children. So the battle wages on.

In the May 15, 2008 edition of Science Daily Patrick Kierkegaard of the University of Essex, England, reported in his findings that real violence and violent behavior in children have actually decreased since the introduction of video game consoles. But its still inconclusive so why would Baca want to post a questionable statement on the label?

It’s even funnier how Baca explains his reasoning behind this bill found in Reisinger’s article and on the White House’s government website.

The video game industry has a responsibility to parents, families, and to consumers – to inform them of the potentially damaging content that is often found in their products ... They have repeatedly failed to live up to this responsibility. Meanwhile research continues to show a proven link between playing violent games and increased aggression in young people.  American families deserve to know the truth about these potentially dangerous products,” Baca wrote on the government website. “We must hold the video game industry accountable and do everything in our power to ensure parents are aware of the detrimental effects that violent games can have before making decisions on which games are appropriate for their children to play. I am proud to introduce the Video Game Health Labeling Act of 2009, and am hopeful my legislation can work to stop the growing influence of violent media on America’s children and youth.

The Videogame Voter’s Network is already on the move asking gamers who visit the website to help fight this bill by writing their congressman and expressing their concerns:

Take just a moment to write your elected representative and introduce yourself as a constituent who cares about video games and First Amendment rights. Congress needs to know that parental education about video games should be the real priority, not government regulation. Every judge overseeing a video game regulation case has recognized that the First Amendment protects video games just like any other media,” read the VVN homepage. “Concerns over protecting children should be handled by educating parents about the video game ratings system and parental controls in console systems. Let Congress know that the video game industry is more than just entertainment. In these times of national economic challenges, the video game industry is an important economic contributor and leader in innovation.

Filling out and e-mailing the letter to your congressman is free but to check on the status of your mail and the progress of the project you have to register and log in. Just visit the videogame voters network site at http://www.videogamevoters.org/ and click on the 111th Congress photo to write your letter, there’s a sample letter already there but you are free to write whatever you wish.

On OpenCongress where you can view the progress of the bill, as you can see its still in the process of obtaining votes for the bill. Those registered to the site can make their votes virtually and according to the page the bill already received eight nayes and zero ayes. You can even watch the progress of the bill on your website with the widget provided. Three people have already left comments on the site. Whether they are gamers or not you can’t see that unless you register but they are in agreement that “How about we focus on how we might get parents to steer their children away from overly violent video games. Not a joke, the Congress shouldn’t feel obliged to raise every child in the US.”

I must say I totally agree with that statement and its awesome that there are outlets now giving gamers a voice to fight back either through VVN, your congressman or other sites offering assistance its our right to defend what we love.

Read [CNet] Also Read [HR 231 Bill Proposal] Also Read [Nation Institute on Media and Family 2008 Report Card] Site [White House website] Site [Open Congress] Site [Videogame Voters Network]

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By now, it is pretty obvious the effect that Barack Obama’s inaugural festivities have had on the American public. Once it became official that he would become president, millions of individuals the world over have either attended his inauguration in person or witnessed it via television or the Internet.

Having attended the proceedings, I can say with confidence that it was worth every minute.

Those who choose to consume media via their Xbox 360s were also included in the inaugural proceedings, as Gamepolitics reports that Obama’s inauguration speech was featured on Xbox Live, along with the Movie and TV sections of live adopting a political-based theme.

Considering the historic nature of Obama’s inaugural events, it makes perfect sense to spread his influence to the gaming world. In fact, it is almost fitting, considering how he successfully advertised his message through video games on various occasions.

Interestingly, it was also shown that Obama was the preferred choice over John McCain when both were waging their campaigns for the presidency, at least according to XBL players. Perhaps those players knew something at the time that everyone else did not…

Now that Obama is our 44th president, it remains to be seen just what he will do to combat the issues that are facing our planet. One would hope that he will take a stronger stance against politicians who choose to waste their efforts fighting the gaming industry. Indications show that he might, especially considering the gift that he gave his daughters during the holiday season.

Read [Gamepolitics] Via [Joystiq] Also Read [Gamertell]

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War has been one of gaming’s longest running themes, from tongue-in-cheek arcade style games including Combat on the Atari 2600 to more realistic efforts such as the Call of Duty series. Now games are portraying the conflict in Gaza.

Raid Gaza! is a real-time strategy-style game hosted at user-created content site Newgrounds.

In this “game,” the player, acting as the Israeli military, raises structures to attack Palestinians. The game treats the Israeli side as the “villain,” with the goal being to kill as many Palestinians as possible in a three-minute period.

As you can imagine, the game is the subject of some controversy for taking a side in an ongoing conflict. It went live on December 30, 2008, just three days after the Israeli Defense Forces launched attacks. That’s a lot different than a World War II game or war game set in a fictional reality.

But, where there is a controversy, there is satire and humor site CAP News has created the fictional game Gaza Under Fire. This fake Nintendo Wii game suggests players take either side in the conflict. One of the fake sources in the story claims the game is so realistic that while his Mii was helping evacuate a hospital, his actual arm got blown off.

Obviously, your enjoyment of this site will depend on how warped (or not) your sense of humor is (we obviously appreciate faux games). According to the Crystal Air press release, the fictional game maker VG Sports is also responsible for the game Michael Vick Dogfighting ‘07. Both Raid Gaza and Gaza Under Fire have gotten a great deal of publicity, not all of it positive.

Read [Georgia Tech News Games Project] Via [GamePolitics] Also Read [CAP News] Also Read [Gamertell]

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So you’re about to be the President and you’re really stressed out due to trying to save our economy, bring the troops back from the war and figure out a solution to that pesky global warming problem. What do you do to relieve that stress? 

Play Nintendo Wii, of course.

President elect Barack Obama recently bought a Wii system for his daughters for Christmas (2008). When he has some downtime (if any) he likes to play it with them, specifically bowling in WiiSports.

He could actually use the practice since, rumor has it, he isn’t that great a bowler in real life. According to the New York Times, In last year’s Democratic primaries he was struggling with his bowling ability. Obama claims to play much better in the video game.

This just shows that video games are great for everyone: children, adults and world leaders.

Now I wonder how good he is at Call of Duty?

Read [GameDaily] Also Read [MTV]

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Oh Microsoft, first you allegedly knew about the “Red Ring of Death” issues before you launched the console and know, according to some unsealed court documents, you knew your system would cause damage to consumer’s discs thanks to defected disc drives.

Earlier this month, Kotaku reported that an Illinois man, Jason Johnson, sued Microsoft for $50,000 in damages, after his replacement console (for one that Red Ringed a year earlier) damaged three games, rendering them all unplayable. 

Now, according to the Seattle Post Intelligencer, Microsoft was previously aware that shifting the console while a disc was playing would cause the disc to become damaged. In the documents, Microsoft program manager, Hiroo Umeno, is quoted as saying:

This is ... information that we as a team, optical disc drive team, knew about. When we first discovered the problem in September or October (2005), when we got a first report of disc movement, we knew this is what’s causing the problem.

The documents also indicate that the company came up with three methods to fix the potential problem but were all rejected. One solution was to slow down the disc drive speed, which was rejected due to resulting longer load times. Another solution was to include a stronger magnetic field for the disc holder but that was rejected because it would cause an obstruction during the opening and closing of the disc tray. The third solution was to install “bumpers” (which as Ars Technica points out, are standard in other optical drives) but was rejected due to cost (about $0.50 per console or an estimated $35-$75 million).

If you have never experienced this disc scratching problem before, it comes as the result of moving the Xbox 360 while a disc is playing. The momentum of the Xbox 360’s movement causes the disc to become, as the article states, “unchucked”, leaving the disc with what we called in retail, the “perfect circle,” or, simply, a deep circular scratch on the disc.

This disc-scratching issue caused Microsoft to institute a disc replacement program, however the program only applies to Microsoft games and costs a $20 fee. Couple that fee with the reported 55,000 customer complaints as of April 30, 2008 and you have a customer fee total of $1,100,000. That is a lot of replacement dough. On top of the replacement service, Microsoft affixed warning labels in both disc manuals and on the disc drive itself. 

While I know the notion of moving your console while it’s on is just silly to people like you and me, sometimes it can’t be helped. People who live near train tracks and airports sometimes get unlucky enough to have the booming sounds cause their consoles to jump or jiggle. Others my live in apartments where upstairs neighbors decide to conduct a re-enactment of last night’s wrestling match.

Read [Seattle Post Intelligencer] Via [1UP] Also Read [Ars Technica] Also Read [Game Culture] Also Read [Kotaku]

Image courtesy of Llamma.com

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The next time somebody says “videogames are useless” to you, throw this article in their face. According to Ben Fritz at The Cut Scene, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment is putting out a free-to-play multiplayer game with an AIDS prevention theme in Kenya. The game will reportedly feature missions that will facilitate behavior change, a variety of multiplayer features, and music from popular Kenyan hip-hop artists. The title is set to launch in youth centers in Nairobi.

Called Pamoja Mtaani (Together in the Hood), it’s part of “the Partnership for an HIV-Free Generation, a public-private partnership that’s part of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief”, according to the post. It’s a fantastic example of using gameplay (and a popular media) in order to actually educate and promote healthy behavior. Seriously, news like this actually makes me a little happier to be involved in this industry.

Read [The Cut Scene]

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The Army has a history of using computer games for training simulations. Due to the technology being a bit outdated, the Army is looking to revamp the game technology and system so that it can utilize more possibilities to so that the soldiers can be better prepared to survive real-life occurrences. According to BizJournal, this revamping as well as development of more training computer games will cost the army $50 million. While the simulation can be helpful, some manners of training actually work better than others.

An example is that for some situational training, paintball is used with simulated explosives in an area modeled to look like where a soldier might end up getting deployed. In some cases it really wouldn’t work quite as well as the simulation but in other cases, it makes things a lot closer to the real-life combat situation. Training like this has been brought up in different books including Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon, which had input from military personnel, active and retired alike.

Game-based training is not new. America’s Army, for example, came out partially as a recruiting ploy and also a game showing the rigors of service. Full Spectrum Warrior is based on an actual urban training game for light infantry groups. There are other such games for the National Guard as well. Kuma War puts you in the shoes of a soldier in the current combat theaters to use tried and proven strategies as well as your own. Even in Tom Clancy’s book Rainbow Six, it takes some time in a training simulator that is essentially Virtual Reality.

This will, unlike America’s Army, be used specifically for the purposes of training today’s soldiers. There are similar games already, one titled DARWARS Ambush, that have been developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). In the case of DARWARS Ambush, it focuses mainly on how to handle and minimize casualties in roadside ambushes that use explosives used to target convoy vehicles.

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty brought up some problems with the use of games for training as well. The question is whether or not war turning to a video game will be the right option. There is merit to the idea, since it makes things easier especially if the simulation happens to look just as realistic as reality. That also happens to be the drawback since war isn’t supposed to be easy.

The issue with this is one that is open to the interpretation of whoever looks at it. Some people will see it as a good thing. Others would be seeing this as a gross misuse of state funds. Then again, one would have to see the results before complaining about it.

Read [Washington Business Journal] Also Read [Gamertell] Also Read [DARWARS Training System]

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