The military and videogames.

[Rev.Hammer]

I have always wanted to ask combat veterans about video games.
Games that run the gamut from Call of Duty to Halo ODST.
Most of them try to replicate what you know intimately.
What is your opinion of these games?
When you see video like ODST what goes through your mind?



Does it bring back memories?
What kind emotion does it evoke?
Are they good or bad or demeaning or ......?
I am not going to say one way or another, I have not earned that right.


I would appreciate only combat veterans responding.

[gremlinsteve]

for me having three tours with my last six months spent in a recovery wing of a army hospital i can tell you this, a video game for me can send me into deep thoughts just as a july 4th weekend can. they come and they go. i have to deal with them.

its harder some days than on others. its not as simple as sitting up and talking to people, any one for that matter, openly about the sights and sounds.


hope that helps you scott.


steve

I have always wanted to ask combat veterans about video games.
Games that run the gamut from Call of Duty to Halo ODST.
Most of them try to replicate what you know intimately.
What is your opinion of these games?
When you see video like ODST what goes through your mind?



Does it bring back memories?
What kind emotion does it evoke?
Are they good or bad or demeaning or ......?
I am not going to say one way or another, I have not earned that right.


I would appreciate only combat veterans responding.

[Bryali]

I think it depends on way more than can be addressed here. The specific person, the script of the game, the action sequence of the game, how long since I was last in "that situation", how the day has been so far up to that point, etc. I have a friend that lost her entire unit minus her and 1 other person over the course of her time during deployments and she will watch the news about operations overseas and just remark how stupid the media is and just how wrong they get it. However, throw on a memorial tribute video and this woman will break down into a sobbing mess of a girl. Other times she will watch tributes and I can see her physically glow with pride. There is so much that goes into understanding how people are changed because of combat. For me personally, I can't watch the news without thinking back to places that I've been. Sometimes it's good memories, sometimes it's bad. I don't play the "Army" type games so I can't really say about that. Sorry if I didn't really answer your question, but that's my 2 cents. Thank's for asking. Not many people take the time to ask how vets are affected by what most people take for granted and even fewer really care about the answers.

[Rev.Hammer]

I have had many veterans describe to me what the horrors of war are for the first person experience.
All of them DO say this:
I can tell you about it all dang day. Until you are in the middle of it, that is all just words. NO words are equal to the experience.
I saw on the popular science show that mental health professionals are using immersive sims and games to help soldiers with PTSD.
So far so good on that...

for me having three tours with my last six months spent in a recovery wing of a army hospital i can tell you this, a video game for me can send me into deep thoughts just as a july 4th weekend can. they come and they go. i have to deal with them.

its harder some days than on others. its not as simple as sitting up and talking to people, any one for that matter, openly about the sights and sounds.


hope that helps you scott.


steve

[Rev.Hammer]

I think it depends on way more than can be addressed here. The specific person, the script of the game, the action sequence of the game, how long since I was last in "that situation", how the day has been so far up to that point, etc. I have a friend that lost her entire unit minus her and 1 other person over the course of her time during deployments and she will watch the news about operations overseas and just remark how stupid the media is and just how wrong they get it. However, throw on a memorial tribute video and this woman will break down into a sobbing mess of a girl. Other times she will watch tributes and I can see her physically glow with pride. There is so much that goes into understanding how people are changed because of combat. For me personally, I can't watch the news without thinking back to places that I've been. Sometimes it's good memories, sometimes it's bad. I don't play the "Army" type games so I can't really say about that. Sorry if I didn't really answer your question, but that's my 2 cents. Thank's for asking. Not many people take the time to ask how vets are affected by what most people take for granted and even fewer really care about the answers.

You know, of all the people that I see playing these types of games, the fewest players are those that have been there and seen it firsthand.
It has always been a thought in my head about those that have laid it on the line versus couch turds that fancy themselves bada$$es.



On a side note. My neighborhood had a block party today. I met a man who was a Federal Marshall that had seen combat. He was in Airborne. I talked with him about my Uncle Jimmy Ray who did 2 tours in VietNam, volunteered. I told him that it had been 25 years since he was killed by a damn drunk driver coming off of Ft.Benning. I told him that all I knew about what he did in the war was to jump out of aircraft and put sensors on the ground. That is all I knew about his service. I found that out 8 years after he died. My aunt Margie said that was all he ever told her about what he did. He told us both that he wanted to " leave all that there so he could have something good here".
The guy I was talking to told me that my Uncle was a Pathfinder. I almost cried.
I never knew. I loved Uncle Jimmy Ray like the big brother I always wanted.


The next time I hear someone put down the US military and our, my, your, soldiers, I got a countering opinion ready for them. A strong opinion at that ......

[Lost]

I have respect for all who served,and all who are serving,and their families.

[Meathammer]

You know, of all the people that I see playing these types of games, the fewest players are those that have been there and seen it firsthand.
It has always been a thought in my head about those that have laid it on the line versus couch turds that fancy themselves bada$$es.

Rev,

I know you asked for responses from only those that have served, but when i saw this I felt I had to respond. I belong to a gaming clan that plays first person shooters like the ones you've mentioned. I am in the minority in this clan as I've not served in the military nor any form of law enforcement, but I hold all of these individuals in the highest regards. At first I found it odd that so many that have served or were currently serving would like to play such games, but for the members of my clan, it's not so much about the game or what it represents, but what comes out of it, friendships. The games simply act as the vehicle for this. We all have a blast playing and regard each other as brothers, and sisters when we get female members (we've had a few). It's just a way to bond. However, I can definitely see where some games could have a serious negative impact on those that have seen the horrors of combat. With the direction that game developers are taking as well as the advancements in technology, I think this issue will definitely be coming much more public in the very near future. Many industry experts feel that within the next 10 years or less, the technology will be to the point where a game will be absolutely photorealistic and impossible to visually tell it apart from reality. The day that happens could be the end of FPS games as we know them. Some things shouldn't be that realistic as some people already have a hard time seperating fantasy and reality.

I'm sorry if I crapped on your thread, my only intention was to bring something useful to the discussion and present my point of view as a FPS gamer that plays in the company of many that have served or are currently serving our country.

[Rev.Hammer]

"industry experts feel that within the next 10 years or less, the technology will be to the point where a game will be absolutely photorealistic and impossible to visually tell it apart from reality. The day that happens could be the end of FPS games as we know them. Some things shouldn't be that realistic as some people already have a hard time seperating fantasy and reality.

I'm sorry if I crapped on your thread, my only intention was to bring something useful to the discussion and present my point of view as a FPS gamer that plays in the company of many that have served or are currently serving our country. Yesterday 11:37 PM"



THAT made your post a good and smart one, IMHO. Thank you! No crappage here amigo!

[Bryali]

Most of the people that I have noticed that play these video games while deployed are ones who work 9am to 5pm and are guaranteed time off during the week and never really see the outisde of a FOB. Just like most car mechanics neglect their own personal cars; people who eat, drink, sleep, and live death and "first person shooter" experiences, probably don't want to play video games based on their jobs.

[Rev.Hammer]

Having had worked FOR the military as a contract employee, I had the rather unique experience of being near an m1A Tank firing the main gun sending a live one downrange.
I gotta tell you that the experience is..intense to say the least.
And you cant replicate that with your audio system turned all the way up and I dont car what you own.

......and war itself? No way.

[ToddStone]

I have had many veterans describe to me what the horrors of war are for the first person experience.
All of them DO say this:
I can tell you about it all dang day. Until you are in the middle of it, that is all just words. NO words are equal to the experience.
I saw on the popular science show that mental health professionals are using immersive sims and games to help soldiers with PTSD.
So far so good on that...

I just came back from Iraq and to be honest, I didn't see any action over there. I guess you can call that luck.

[Rev.Hammer]

Thank you.
If ever meet you I will gladly shake your hand and give you thanks face to face. I will never salute you, though.
I havent earned the right.
God bless you.

[ToddStone]

Thanks Rev. I just enjoy what I do.

[Rev.Hammer]

What you men do... allows us to do what we do.
There is never enough thanks for that.

[Meathammer]

What you men do... allows us to do what we do.
There is never enough thanks for that.

Amen to that Rev.