Military Games and Propaganda

Greetings all!

This week was an examination of games and how they are impacting the way the military propagandizes, recruits, and trains soldiers. In addition to all of that, there was a brief bit on how the future of combat is going to involve game console controllers (LINK & LINK). Everything written followed along the lines to a logical conclusion: gamers grow up and the military gives them the tools that they are most familiar with (LINK). Military action games, such as Full Spectrum Warrior and America’s Army, are used to train soldiers in tactics and other military operations as well as being useful propaganda tools for potential soldiers.

The controversy surrounding this issue is whether using games is right or legal. Technically, these games could be enjoyed by all ages, even minors who cannot join the military yet. One particularly well researched editorial, written by Michael Reagan (LINK), is of the opinion that such actions are illegal and are not justifiable. Of course, well-meaning Mr. Reagan is also heavily biased, considers high school teenagers to be children, and disobedient, mutinous soldiers such as Lt. Erin Watada and others like him to be heroes. My response is that anything created or sponsored by our military branches for the use of propaganda will be biased and pro-military, that it is idiotic to consider high school students to be children, and that soldiers who disobey military orders are simply not heroes.

Another sore point of contention was the game Six Days in Fallujah. This particular war game was created around the real life 2004 military operation of the Iraqi town, Fallujah, and was to tell the story of the soldiers who participated in the action. This of course has prompted quite a bit of discussion and debate about whether we should be dramatizing events which happened only a few years ago. Many have pointed out movies and music as examples of why we should while still others use the games as an example of why we shouldn’t. (Sources for more info on this debate and game: LINK, LINK, LINK, and more LINK)

My perspective on these debates and arguments is that everyone is forgetting the overarching purpose of gaming: to simply have fun. Yes, yes, it is the modern medium through which propaganda and biases can be shared; gaming can be training tools for educational purposes; gaming console controllers can be used to manipulate million dollar equipment. But even still, when things are boiled down to their base essence, gaming is supposed to be about socializing and having just plain fun. If we as individuals want to know more about the Iraqi War, learn more about history, or fully understand all that our faithful military soldiers have to go through then there are many sources to draw from (such as books and documentaries).

I say, keep gaming as fun and leave education and propaganda to other sources better suited.

Cheers!