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Nobody knows military
simulations like the world's premier land force,
the U.S. Army. So when the Army began making the America's
Army game to provide civilians with insights
on Soldiering from the barracks to the
battlefields, it sent its talented development
teams to experience the Army as a recruit would.
The developers crawled through obstacle courses,
shot weapons, observed parachutist training, and
participated in training with a variety of the
elite units that makeup the Army, all so that you
could virtually experience Soldiering in the most
realistic way possible.
The America's Army game, which is rated T
for Teen by the Entertainment Standards Rating
Board (ESRB) and recommended for players 13 years
old and above, consists of two interlaced game
experiences that highlight the role of various
types of units within the Army and the development
of the Soldiers that comprise these units. As with
Soldiers in the U.S. Army, game players are bound
by the laws of land warfare, Army values and
realistic rules of engagement as they navigate
challenges in teamwork-based multiplayer force
versus force operations. In the game, as in the
Army, mission accomplishment standings are
functions of team effort and adherence to a set to
values and norms of conduct. Players who violate
these norms incur penalties ranging from a loss of
standing within the game to incarceration in a
virtual jail cell at Fort Leavenworth. Through its
emphasis on team play, adherence to norms of
conduct and the linkage of player inputs to game
outputs, the game implements U.S. Army's values
that include loyalty, duty, respect, selfless
service, honor, integrity and personal courage
within the game by making them integral to success
in America's Army.
In the game, players will explore progressive
individual and collective training events within
the game. Once they successfully completed these
events they will advance to multiplayer operations
in small units. These training missions begin by
familiarizing players with game controls as they
navigate elements of Basic Combat Training at Fort
Benning. Mastery of these experiences provides a
gateway to advanced training in occupations
ranging from Medic to Combat Engineer, Scout and
Special Forces. It also opens the door to
multiplayer missions with units ranging from the
elite 82d Airborne Division to the 7th Ranger
Regiment.
Each mission begins with players selecting their
team and role within their team. Realistic
infantry roles, such as grenadier, rifleman, and
fire team leader are incorporated into missions
according to Army doctrine. Communication includes
shouted and whispered commands, radio messages and
-- in a game industry first -- genuine military
hand and arm signals. Also included in the
networked play are training missions in which
laser engagement systems mirror Army training to
simulate combat.
In keeping with the dynamic nature of Soldiering,
the America's Army game will continue to
expand through monthly releases of new editions.
During 2003 these editions will add roles such as
Combat Medic, Special Forces Intel, Commo,
Engineers and Weapons Sergeant to the game. By
incorporating the Army's newest system and
organization, the Stryker, these new editions will
also allow players to explore the Army of today,
tomorrow and into the future.
Are you ready to see some of the over 200 ways to
be a Soldier? Let me hear a HOOAH.
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