US Troops Get European Xbox Gaming Centers 40
Thanks to an anonymous reader for pointing to an EStripes.com article discussing the 17 new Xbox gaming centers being installed at the US military's European Air Force bases. According to the article, airmen "..located in the Azores could race a virtual motorcycle against an airman stationed at Ramstein Air Base in Germany - then team up with someone from Izmir, Turkey, to win the Super Bowl on 'NFL Fever.'" This gaming network, being installed at a cost of nearly $200,000, is even trying to get the top brass involved, as the organizer of the scheme "..suggested to his deputy commander that the colonels from the different bases in Europe should have a commandwide Xbox death match."
As I just said (Score:2)
Oh the joys (Score:1)
Your tax dollars at work (Score:1)
Re:Your tax dollars at work (Score:1)
Re:Your tax dollars at work (Score:1)
Re:Your tax dollars at work (Score:1)
Small change... (Score:1)
They work hard and play hard (Score:3, Insightful)
When it comes down to it, they like to play video games. The troops can play video games for 2 hours and feel more refreshed for another 24 or 36 hour shift. Also, please try to re
Re:Your tax dollars at work (Score:1)
play against whom? (Score:2)
Maybe they could play a game of Halo against Saddam Hussein stationed somewhere in Iraq??
Oh great (Score:1)
Why not just take this to a global level? (Score:2)
Imagine, being able to overthrow a dictatorship in a few rounds of DOA: Xtreme Beach Volleyball!
Re:Why not just take this to a global level? (Score:2)
Wasn't there a Star Trek like that?
ha (Score:4, Funny)
Re: (Score:2)
Fine by me (Score:1)
American games in European region (Score:5, Interesting)
But what of region coding?
I wonder what will happen if a soldier buys a game off base while stationed in Europe, and brings it into the Xbox gameroom on base, and discovers it won't play.
Will all games have to be imported from the USA?
I would imagine Microsoft would make a special deal with the military, and give them regionfree consoles that would play anything, regardless of region.
Re:American games in European region (Score:1)
Re:American games in European region (Score:1)
It's called the PX (Score:2)
sorts of American goodies no matter where you
are in the world. Chances are this with be the ONLY
place they can buy the correct region Xbox games to
play on these systems unless they order them
off the net. Imagine that!
Re:American games in European region (Score:2)
Just so you, know, the profit from the base stores goes to the base Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Department.
Re:American games in European region (Score:1)
Re:American games in European region (Score:2)
Well, he takes it back to the store for a refund. Since he has a gun slung over his shoulder, the store will take it back without any questions. They'll also learn to start warning the soldiers before they buy games, and the soldiers will learn the mail order them from the US. No matter the stereotypes you might have, soldiers are not stupid, an
Re:American games in European region (Score:1)
With Live games its less of a problem. (Score:1)
Even if this wasn't the case, the games will still play against each other. I have a basic unmodded PAL Xbox, and for my first Live game (only last weekend, coincidentally) I was playing Midtown Madness 3 against a Canadian, an American, a Begian, a Dutchman and a fellow Brit. Lag wasn't even a killer, and voice was still working fine. Its really cool, actually.
Re:American games in European region (Score:2)
I wouldn't be surprised if they sell US Xboxes and US Xbox games on these bases. I was at Ramstein AB in Februray and everything there is american. They use dollars, the police uses american police cars and so on. There are people there living on the base for years without ever walking outside the fence.
They did that a long time ago (Score:2)
Beware the rise.... (Score:2)
Yes, soon the needs of the US Entertainment industry will be driving US foreign policy.
As Eisenhower said 'We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge entertainment and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.'
submarine lan (Score:1)
Xbox Rules.. (Score:1)
Join the Air Force
Advertisement? (Score:1)
The Air Force chose Xbox over other game systems because of its online gaming network, Quinn said.
"It's really the premier gaming system" for playing online, he said.
for example, someone located in the Azores could race a virtual motorcycle against an....
I mean, give us a break! Personally, I love my x-box... but this is more an ad than news. Why do we want to know this?
Re:Advertisement? (Score:1)
Dreamcast servers have been switched off now (possibly except PSO, I'm not sure). So they don't count.
PS2 only has a couple of games online; Socom (not something I'd want to play in my spare time if practising how to shoot people in teams was my day job) and Twisted Metal: Black (which, frankly, sucks in my opinion). I'm not aware of a third yet.
Gamecube has PSO. Which is also available on the Xbox.
Admittedly, the best choice of
When Operation Flashpoint comes out (Score:1)