For anyone who has ever done service in the military:?

Question

With all due respect, I ask you these questions for my school project on violent video games...
What do you think of all these game companies that try to sell their products based on War? Do you think it's a bloody shame that the current generation's obsession is playing video games like Counter Strike, or Call of Duty II? What words describe your feelings toward these games?
If you don't know abobut these games, here's a link to a trailer of a new one called Call of Duty III.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1387541322900172659&q=call+of+duty

*about oops

Answer 1

the violent street-fighting games I think are sick and only give bad values to kids.
but the wartime battlefield realistic games I think are sufficiently removed from today's frame of reference, that impressionable gamers would be unlikely to transfer those influences into the real civilian world. As a matter of fact, rather than thinking that you're some of kind of special Superman who's gonna kick all of the stupid enemies' asses- like young, stupid soldiers may have thought in the past when they signed up- now, as part and parcel of the gaming experience, a potential future soldier knows that the enemy shoots and fights back, and builds his skills accordingly. A lot of combat is more mental than physical. These games may actually give our next generation of enlistees an edge against the primitives we may be fighting against tomorrow.

As for the makers of the game(s), the preview that you provided a link for looked well done and with even respect for the scope of WWII. Are they just in it for the money? Probably. But so are doctors, clothing manufacturers, and Ford. Doesn't, by itself, mean it's bad.

Again, the street fighting games like Grand Theft Auto are sick and cater to, and enhance the worst things about us, but these WWII-type games I think can give a healthier respect for the brutality of warfare.

Answer 2

I have an 11 year old son, he was actually playing Call of Duty II this morning. I don't have a problem with the games. His father and I limit all the time he has to play these games, and he must also spend the same amount of time reading or doing something more constructive. My son is into history, particularly WWII. He has been like this since he was about 6 years old. He also reads books on the Civil War. His father and I are both US Army vets. The games are graphic, but they also teach. How many adults do you know who know where the Kassarine Pass is? Or who Irwin Rommel is? Or Patton for that matter? I don't know many myself. My son can talk to you for hours about tanks, mines, guns, Rommel & Patton and any battle you want to know about during the WWII & The Civil War, he is a complete history buff. He also wants to be an officer in the US Army when he grows up. These games are just for fun.

Answer 3

I served seven years in the US Army, including leadership as a commissioned officer in the Infantry, so there's a clue to the validity of my perspective.

For thousands of years people have played war games. The game of Go is a war game. The game Chess is a war game. The native American game of Lacrosse (as they played it) resembles how they would fight each other. American Football is a war game. The Olympics were originally tests of skills used in war; synchronized swimming and such are more modern additions.

While some of the games have some validity, in that they exercise the brain by teaching a person to think about options, to estimate situations, to plan several moves ahead, and patience, I think there's nothing wrong with them per se.

If anyone thinks they prepare someone for facing the reality that someone else wants to kill them, they are quite mistaken. That tends to come as a shock when it actually happens, regardless of training. You also don't get to Save Game just before you kick off an operation so you can try it again if something goes wrong.

Answer 4

I served in the 10th mountain for almost 7 years in which time i saw quite a bit of combat. I think that those games are good if you are into history and enjoy WWII type stuff. I think parents should monitor what thier kids are playing, watching and listening to and explain to them that it is only a game or whatever and teach them right from wrong you know (acutally do some parenting) but its just entertainment like anything else take it with a grain of salt.

Answer 5

My two sons are constantly bugging me to play the games but, frankly, I've had enough of patrolling, house clearing and advance to contacts to last a lifetime. In alot of way's they're very realistic but, like too much of anything you get tired of it. The one big difference would be the controls. Handling a real rifle feels a great deal different than a plastic control pad.

I'd much more prefer a flight simulator or a good game of pack man.

Answer 6

being an addict to cod and being a former marine i myself enjoy playing these games. if you look at cod from a historical point of view it is dead on. it proceeds thru the campaigns of ww2. from a violence point of view all of these games are rated according to how graphic they are. they are nothing more than games meant to be PLAYED not twisted around and claimed to have promoted violence. as far as the guy calling video games a waste of time then he should get rid of his computer because I'm sure he or someone in his family has used it to play cards or some other game on it. one of the draw backs to video games that i have seen is that it has made people today lazy. yea there eye- hand coordination is good but i think it has taken away the physical fitness of today's youth. my one word for these games most definitely would be entertaining.

Answer 7

To answer your question I have never played any of these games. In fact I have not played a video game of any kind since about 1976 when I became an officer in the US Army.

When my son became old enough to play these games I gave him the choice...he decided not to play them. Did he possibly play some of them at his friends home...no doubt. But he respected my position on the idiocy of play these and in my opinion almost all video games.

As for companies selling their war game videos.... there's no law against it..you're free to buy or not buy it and when I was a kid...we played with toy army men. Granted the graphic level of violence is significant.

The names I would use...idiotic, waste of time, waste of money, violent, valueless....is that sufficient?

You see, when you have been involved in the real thing....why would you want to glorify or "have fun" playing these games?

Good luck with your school project.

Answer 8

they have by no capability experienced the buzz of being deployed, or having a kin member/companion deployed. of their international, anybody comes abode each and every nighttime and no one ever has to stay 6 months to three years with out seeing their companion. I assume them to save away from the question or talk ignorantly approximately it, because of the fact this is a international that they do in simple terms no longer be conscious of. those that do, properly, they do no longer renowned that their faith could have a stance against such. large question, very lots worth of a megastar! Edit: coffee... I convey regret for singling you out, yet I could desire to ask, how long have been you a Marine? grew to become into it a 2 year hitch, or have been you a lifer? those persons who survived the militia for a variety of years be conscious of that dishonest is so well-known WE MADE IT A PUNISHABLE OFFENSE. We additionally be conscious of that very nearly all of our servicemembers are Christians. We did no longer make the guideline for non-Christians, we made it because of the fact it grew to become into inflicting issues for instruments everywhere. Hooah!

Answer 9

I don't really have any problem with those games that try to serve up adventure, and challenges and are based on war and anti-terrorism.
After all...some of the themes behind the games, are historically accurate, like in one particular game- it unravels what the 506th airborn co. and their plight in occupied enemy areas, --among others...so no, i have no problem with them. As long as it doesn't cross the moral line.

Answer 10

What has America come to? These violent games weren't present when I grew up and I frankly didn't need them. They should be abolished, however, it is all a matter of money and money in this country speaks louder than shame and what is right for our kids. Horrorable movies, bad games, terrible books, all for money.