America's Army - FPS Psych Experiment

dory writes "Newsreview has up a story from October on America's Army and the way the military is using it. The piece discusses a clan, the Army's research mentality and implementations, as well as some MRI studies on gamers." From the article: "The Army has been collecting player information in a vast relational database system called "Andromeda," Wardynski said, which recruiters will be able to use to look up a player's statistics if one of them shows up in a recruiting office. A version of America's Army now in development will take that a step further, allowing players to create a "persistent" online alter-ego, one that steadily progresses through the virtual ranks by taking additional training or specialized missions, generating valuable data along the way."

Advice to 17 and 18 year olds

[g-san]

Quick, go download this game, play with your real name, and get your ass fragged at least 20 times a day.

My friend Ender...

[Pacifix]

... said this game totally rocks. It's great to be on all of these practice runs... what, they aren't practice??? - J. Bean

This was the plot of...

[-dsr-]

The Last Starfighter, right? Video games scattered across the nation as secret military training, and the high-scorers being recruited.

Does the DoD now get *all* of their ideas from Hollywood?

I can see it now...

[Khuffie]

"5t0p 5n1p1ng j00 f4g T4lib4N c4mP3r 4nd f1ght l1k3 4 m4n!"

Re:This was the plot of...

[kk49]

It's only fair, since the DoD is spreading Hollywood's crappy copyright laws around the world.

Re:How does this translate to the real battlefield

[WormholeFiend]

HARTMAN: Quickly! Get your fat ass over there, Private Pyle! Oh, that's right, Private Pyle ... don't make any fucking effort to get to the top of the fucking obstacle! If God wanted you up there He would have miracled your ass up there by now, wouldn't He?

PYLE: Sir, yes, sir!

HARTMAN: Get your fat ass up there, Pyle!

PYLE: Sir, yes, sir!

HARTMAN: What the hell is the matter with you anyway? I'll bet you if there was some pussy up there on top of that obstacle you could get up there! Couldn't you?!

PYLE: Sir, yes, sir!

[PYLE drops heavily to the ground.]

HARTMAN: Your ass looks like about a hundred and fifty pounds of chewed bubble gum, Pyle. Do you know that?

PYLE: Sir, yes, sir!

Re:Advice to 17 and 18 year olds

[Profane MuthaFucka]

The aptitude tests don't really count for much, I found out. I didn't write anything at all on mine. Just folded it up and made a paper airplane out of it.

They said I would be perfect for the Air Force.

Re:Wartime Culture

[Jason Ford]

Actually, chances are good that if you get into the army, you'll get a hot chick

Hello there, Mr. Rumsfeld. Welcome to the Internets.

When they add the 'Dear John letter' to the game, you'll have the ability to lose your wife to your best friend who stayed home. You can enjoy having part of your paltry wages garnished to support the child you hardly get to see anymore, if you make it home. Sign me up!!

Re:How does this translate to the real battlefield

[MobyDisk]

In the army of the future, Frito-eating guys from the local online-game center will be remotely controlling cyborgs made from football players.

Obligatory Simpsons Quote...

[Anonymous Coward]

"The wars of tomorrow will be fought by tiny robots on the tops of very high mountains.
Your job will be to build and maintain these robots."