Army, Navy seeking out better video game tech

January 20, 2013 9:46PM PST

By Laura Parker, Associate Editor

Soldiers reportedly find current military simulations dated; Army investigating new program to find replacement for Bohemia Interactive's Virtual Battlespace 2.

The US Army and Navy are reportedly looking into ways to make virtual training more exciting for new recruits.

According to an article in National Defense Magazine, both the Army and Navy are seeking contracts for the creation of updated virtual PC simulation games that will look and play more like Call of Duty than the games already available.

"The industry needs to find a way to get past the older code that's sitting out there," Havok vice president of sales and marketing Brian Waddle told the publication. "[Soldiers] look at these simulators, and they don't take them seriously because they don't look as good as what they're playing in their living rooms."

According to the report, the Army is looking for a first-person, massively multiplayer online shooter to replace Bohemia Interactive's Virtual Battlespace 2. It is offering a contract of approximately $44.5 million over five years to the winning application, which must include the ability to integrate more players across larger landmasses and accurately re-create territories like Afghanistan.

For its part, the Navy is also looking for games that will be able to train sailors in specific tasks, including a training program that will run on Crytek's CryEngine 3. The Navy will offer three separate contracts of $100 million each.

By Laura Parker, Associate Editor

Laura Parker is the Associate Editor of GameSpot Australia. She loves adventure games, sparkly stuff, Trivial Pursuit, cake, Master Chief, earthworms, and rhetorical questions. She once stole a sandwich from Peter Molyneux.

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34 comments

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gplayer5

honestly, I can't really think of any military shooter game that's more realistic than Arma. As far as visuals go, Battlefield 3 takes the cake. Hmmmm, maybe they can combine the two.

Jd1680a

2 Like

This doesnt help the US govt case on violent video games when they are also funding development. Double standards.

commando1992

2 Like

So, I guess violent video games are okay as long as they're for soldiers? (100 million bucks to make one? And Congress keeps whining about budgets.)

OHGFawx

*Live combat scenario*

"WTF man?! I haven't been shot in 3 seconds, why aren't my wounds healing?!!"

PadyEos

3 Like

Because Call of Duty is the most accurate military simulator out there... yeah... laughable...

barleybosh

@PadyEos It really is. It's 1:1 real life.

MightyEzekiel

i fired m16 few times while servering in the army.. (not US army:) )

hell i even crawled under a tank lol.. memories..

Psycold

Arma 3 will take care of that for them, they just need to be patient like the rest of us. It will have full underwater gameplay so it will be great for the navy.

mrboone01

2 Like

@Psycold Apparently you didn't read in the article they want to REPLACE Bohemia Interactive. Ever think that Bohemia Interactive causing an international security incident involving two of their devs being arrested and held for spying due to photographing a Greek military base "for a game" ( specifically ARMA 3 ) might have something to do with this as well?

Lipniceredeemer

@mrboone01 @Psycold When did all of you who wished Arma devs return home started thinking they actually did that?

Link3301

To those saying this is a double standard like with the NRA game, once again you are wrong. This game is teaching our Armed forces so that they are prepared to defend our country. If this method is actually effective, then I think we best go with it. What if some day in the next couple of decades we get invaded during World War III and our armed forces are unfit to properly take defensive measures. However, I'm not saying the government is above double standards. They used our tax dollars to fund America's Army, a free online game available to anyone who downloads just to get some more Army recruits. If violent games are so bad for kids, why is the government handing them out to kids and funding said games with taxes. That's a double standard. This training simulation is not a double standard.

barleybosh

@Link3301 I agree but lol the article tells of re-creating Afghanistan then you said teaching our AF so that they are prepared to defend our country lol

I agree though. I don't care if it's maps made on offense or defense, we need better simulators for our military so we can be better prepared lol dude lol

zpluffy

The Gov can always privatize the military and bring competition in the market. Competition is the only ways for fast advancement. Which is why CAPITALISM RULES !!!

NodakJo2010

Being in the National Guard myself, the military is always behind on things tech wise...it necessarily isn't bad of course, but I do find this intriguing. I got to do a lot of shooting simulators (At Basic) where you load a dummy M16 and fire a laser at a target on the screen. You felt the kick back and everything which was pretty freakin awesome...just wasn't as good as the actual thing, but I wonder how further they could take something like that electronically. This will be interesting since this will be used at the Basic Training forts.

Lol...I would love to be a drill sergeant at one of these. "WTF PRIVATE YOU CAN'T HIT A FAKE TARGET ON THE VIDYA SCREEN YOU DUMB### WILL PROBABLY SHOOT YOUR BATTLE AT THE ACTUAL RANGE!"

NodakJo2010

The only downside is that they get rid of actual ammo completely and this is the only way to qualify with your weapon. That would be the complete worst side of advancing the tech like this.

mrboone01

@NodakJo2010 Deal with simulators is they're no better than some 14 year old scrub playing Call of Duty. You can 'simulate" shit all you want, when you're playing that game you're not fighting your own fear, trying to overcome adrenaline rushes and "fight or flight" instinct.

mrboone01

@NodakJo2010 @Link3301 @mrboone01 At least paintballs hurt. Can at least get some physical stimulation going. I know you can't prepare for "fight or flight", but you can prepare for pain and the avoidance of it. I was mainly replying to your comment about if they switched wholly to simulators in the future. That just wouldn't work.

NodakJo2010

@Link3301 @mrboone01 @NodakJo2010 Closest thing I got was that we got to shoot blank ammo at each other doing actual drills. I know that 11Bs (or the actual frontliners) get paint ball ammo, but there is no way on this earth to simulate that fight or flight feeling. Only way is actual fights.

NodakJo2010

@mrboone01 @NodakJo2010 But neither does going to the actual range until you've been in that situation. Hopefully I don't get put in that situation where the only choices I have is fight or flight, and I had plenty of time at the actual range shooting the actual weapons. No the only thing that can help you with actual gun fights and ambushes is being in actual gun fights and ambushes. Like you said no simulator can do that.

That is why we have drill sgts. and field training exercises that employ as many scare tactics, taking hostages, and using real CS gas grenades and flash bangs. But even that still can't tell you what the actual danger is like.

Link3301

1 Like

@mrboone01 @NodakJo2010 True, but how do you suggest doing that. The only way I could see trainees under going "fight or flight" is if we were to put them into an actual battle, or pit them against other trainees in a simulated battle in real life with real military-grade weaponry. I pretty some part of that is illegal.

zpluffy

@NodakJo2010

we got a fast food nco here

NodakJo2010

@zpluffy @NodakJo2010

I thank you for the promotion and I do like burger king, but sadly I just have my mosquito wings at the moment. I'm hoping I get PFC really soon since it has almost been 1 year, but it is the military. Stuff happens.

Link3301

They should try to get permission to use the Arma III engine. That engine seems pretty good.

mrboone01

@Link3301 Apparently you didn't read in the article they want to REPLACE Bohemia Interactive. Ever think that Bohemia Interactive causing an international security incident involving two of their devs being arrested and held for spying due to photographing a Greek military base "for a game" ( specifically ARMA 3 ) might have something to do with this as well?

GameFan1983

@Link3301 other than a dozen of Arma virgin fans and internet retards. I don't think any army or navy personnel would find that clunky animation system, the flat lighting and 1995 building destruction engine will get anywhere close to their goals. they already made a realsitic and wisest choice, cryengine 3

i_like_pie223

2 Like

Looking at that photo I can spot a Hobbit and a Nazgûl, perhaps the military should invest in some copies of The Battle for Middle Earth to train their commanders on.

Link3301

@i_like_pie223 Fun fact: The Airforce actually uses Starcraft to teach commanders to work and take command during emergency situations,

i_like_pie223

4 Like

@Link3301 @i_like_pie223 Note to self: Do not declare war on South Korea.

Setho10

Huh. I have a feeling any game that looks and plays like Call of Duty won't help train soldiers very much. Cause Call of Duty is super accurate and all, you know? What's that series Codemasters makes? Seems like basing it on that might be a good idea and Codemasters could use the money.

poopinpat

maybe they could just try good old fashioned discipline and quit wasting tax payers dollars.

Link3301

@poopinpat Cool if you want to be vulnerable in a situation of invasion. That's your opinion man. I know you think its cool to be on the "government is always wrong bandwagon," but its not. Please explain how this is a waste of money of money to me.

dominoodle

3 Like

U.S. politicians looking to spend millions to restrict violent video games, meanwhile the U.S. military is looking to spend millions to make violent video games!

Gotta love it.

TriumphantToad

1 Like

@dominoodle Perfect right!

bhmg

too much money that could be spent with the people...aff

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