America's Army

Back to this real world stuff but still more interesting than SL! First person shooter, visual representation of the army's recruitment tool, promotes teamwork, online multi-player game.

The people interviewed and the training area look completely different from what we covered last semester. It looks like a real recruiting office! The realism and the open frankness of the heroes interested parties can interact with is fascinating. Kinda creepy, the way their eyes follow the camera angle, too.

Goal: piquing people's interest in the army
Were they successful? Well, they met their recruitment quotas soon after (although war broke out around the same time which created an urgent sense of patriotism so the data may be skewed)

The training simulations mimic real life fairly well. When you run, your aim suffers because of heavy breathing and just the movement of running. Taking too long to aim, holding your rifle out too long, tires your arm and affects your aim; the game compensates for most variables including getting a non-fatal wound. I was not prepared for such realism in a game but it does make sense.

Even in training, the drill sergeant explains that several factors affect targeting. The part that is unrealistic is the ability to turn the drill sergeant down... But killing your teammates will land you in jail and too much wind will miss a perfectly lined up target. The firing range looks generic; it could be anywhere. But it is, in 'virtu-ality' (as opposed to 're-ality') Fort Benning, GA.

Two forces: mine and the enemy. Opposing forces are always shown to be terrorists; my team is always depicted in army uniforms. Regardless of which 'side' chosen, my team is always the army and the others are always terrorists.

This is not like Halo or many other first-person shooters.