There’s Now A Frighteningly Detailed ‘Game’ To 'Play' Nuclear War

Forbes: Want To Know How A Nuclear War Might Go? There’s Now A Frighteningly Detailed ‘Game’ For That

To describe a nuclear war honestly is to argue for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

At least, that’s part of the goal of the Nuclear War Simulator, developed by Ivan Stepanov and released for download June 28. Built on the Unity3D engine, the simulator incorporates sheaves and sheaves of public data about yields, flight trajectories, and calculated armageddon.

Stepanov’s project specifically draws inspiration from the NUKEMAP made by Alex Wellerstein, a historian of science at Stevens Institute of Technology. Wellerstein’s tool lets people pick an existing warhead, toggle some settings, and then place the blast over a target area, rendering in concentric colored circles the salient details about what kind of effect would hit what people, where.

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WNU Editor: The simulator is not finished yet, but when completed it can be downloaded from here .... Nuclear War Simulator.

Apple Believes It Is Not OK To Kill The Taliban In A Video Game

Apple Removes Video Game That Portrays Taliban As the Enemy

Michael Peck, Task & Purpose/The National Interest: Apple Removes Video Game That Portrays Taliban As the Enemy

The U.S. government says it's okay to kill Taliban insurgents battling American troops in Afghanistan.

Apple says it's not okay to kill the Taliban in a video game.

The technology giant pulled a wargame simulating the current war in Afghanistan from its App Store last month. “Afghanistan '11 is a simulation of the U.S. campaign in Afghanistan (an expansion pack features Britain's Royal Marines). It's a detailed simulation where players assume the role of a U.S. military commander, who must perform counterinsurgency operations such as hunt and destroy Taliban fighters while not antagonizing the local population."

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WNU Editor:  It is just a game.

The Best War Games 'To Play' In 2013

‘Command: Modern Air/Naval Operations.’ Matrix Games art

Best War Games of 2013 -- Michael Peck, War Is Boring

Our top five picks for armchair generals

2013 was a great year for armchair strategists and keyboard generals. There were three notable developments for those who prefer well-designed strategy war games to kill-’em-all shooters.

First, this year saw the debut of several excellent games that dealt with modern warfare in the late Cold War or the present day. Second, several great games tackled the difficult topic of counterinsurgency.

Finally, those of us who despaired that only brain-dead games would ever grace our tiny screens will be cheered to see high-quality war games for tablets and smartphones.

If you need a holiday present for the war-gamer in your life—or if you owe yourself a present—check out War is Boring’s top war game picks for 2013.

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My Comment: A small confession .... years ago I was a "war game junkie" .... wasting many hours playing these games (Close Combat was my favorite). But reading Michael Peck's review on the current batch of games makes me want to go back to relive those "good times" .... unfortunately .... I just do not have the time anymore.

The Growing Role (And Concern) Of Video Games In The U.S. Military

U.S. soldiers play computer games on a television set at the recreational hall of a U.S. military Camp Marez in Mosul, 390 km (240 miles) north of Baghdad January 30, 2009. REUTERS/Erik de Castro

The Future Of Video Games In The Military -- Colin Campbell, Polygon

Since the launch of America's Army in 2002, the military has drastically increased its use of games to attract new recruits, train soldiers and treat those returning from war.

Corey Mead, assistant professor of English at CUNY's Baruch College, and author of "War Play: Video Games and the Future of Armed Conflict" believes the U.S military's use of games is likely to increase, but that there is a danger of relying too heavily on simulations.

In an interview with NPR he talked about games like Tactical Iraqi which taught troops how to interact with locals during the war in Iraq. Over a two-week playing period players learned basic language skills and useful cultural lessons.

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My Comment: After yesterday's shooting it is not a surprise to find people asking questions on the role and influence that video games may have on some vets .... especially after reading stories like this one .... Washington gunman Aaron Alexis heard 'voices in head' after playing violent video games up to 18 hours a day -- Mirror

Seven U.S. Navy SEALs Punished For Role In Developing 'Medal of Honor' Video Game

7 Navy SEALs Disciplined For Role With Video Game -- CBS

(CBS News) The U.S. Navy SEALs are part of an elite force that operates in the shadows, best known for killing Osama bin Laden. However, CBS News has learned a group of SEALs has been disciplined for revealing secrets.

The seven members of SEAL Team Six are all still on active duty. One of them was on the raid which killed Osama bin Laden and made SEAL Team Six a household name. For two days this spring and summer, they worked as paid consultants on a recently released video game, "Medal of Honor: Warfighter."

Four other members of the team who have since transferred out of the unit but are still on active duty are under investigation.

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More News On US Navy SEALS Disciplined For Role In Developing 'Medal of Honor' Video Game

7 SEALs punished for secrecy breach -- Navy Times
SEALs punished for role in developing 'Medal of Honor' video game, official says -- NBC
Bin Laden unit Seal Team Six punished over video game -- BBC
7 Navy SEALS, including one involved in the killing of Osama bin Laden, punished for divulging secrets -- New York Daily News
7 Navy SEALs reportedly punished for secrecy breach -- FOX News
Seven Navy SEALS reprimanded for actions linked to videogame -- Chicago Tribune/Reuters
Navy SEALs leak classified info to EA for combat game -- report -- CNet
7 Navy SEALs Punished For Allegedly Disclosing Classified Info To Video Game Company -- Business Insider
Navy Tries to Squash SEALs' Budding Media Career -- New York Magazine

Are Terror Groups Using Computer Games To Plot Attacks?

A scene from the popular video game "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3." (Activision)

The Real Call of Duty: Terror Gangs 'Using Computer Games To Plot Atrocities Securely Online' -- Daily Mail

* Claims come a month after government announced plans to monitor all online communications
* Players reportedly choose realistic war games to mask their plotting as harmless gamers' chatter
* Jihadis may even be using the ultra-realistic violent simulations as training for planned atrocities

Islamic extremists are using realistic war-based action games such as Call Of Duty to plot terrorist attacks in secret, it was claimed today.

With security services monitoring phone calls, emails and online messages, fanatics are reportedly using the online chat functions of video games to make plans in private.

Users can log into the games in groups to compete against each and, it is claimed, chat securely without arousing the attention of police and MI5.

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More News On Terror Groups Using Video Games To Plot Attacks

Game fanatics -- The SUN
Terrorists use online games like 'Call of Duty' to plot attacks -- FOX News/The SUN
Terrorists Using Call of Duty To Plot Attacks -- Game Revolution
Extremists practice terrorism in console games -- The Inquirer
Apparently Terrorists Are Using Xbox Live To Plan Attacks -- ITProPortal
Sun reports terrorists using Call of Duty as training tool, global threat levels reduced -- PCGamer
Call of Duty 'used by terrorists to plan attacks' -- Digital Spy

Playing War Video Games Are A Hit In A War Zone

Photo from Dual Shockers

Battle-Based Gaming A Hit In War Zone -- USA Today

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — Spc. Paul Nace entered the room peering down the sight of his assault rifle, poised to unload a barrage of bullets. When an enemy turned the corner, he quickly put two shots in his torso and readied himself for the next target.

"See, he's cheating," said 2nd Lt. Brent Stolzoff, the recipient of Nace's wrath, accusing him of looking at his and other players' screens while they duke it out in the popular video game Call of Duty: Black Ops.

"Some say it's cheating, but it's all part of the strategy of the game," Nace answered his accuser with a grin.

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My Comment: For those who want to get away from the daily grind/stress/worries/pressures/ concerns .... playing video games will give a temporary relief (myself included).

No "Medal Of Honor" Video Game At U.S. Military Bases

Medal Of Honor: The Defence Secretary, Liam Fox, has called on video game retailers not to stock EA's forthcoming shooter

US Military Bases Ban Medal Of Honor Video Game Over Taliban Row -- The Telegraph

Military bases across the US have banned the sale of a new video game that lets a player pretend to be a Taliban fighter and "shoot" US troops in Afghanistan.

"Medal of Honor" by Electronic Arts, a major game developer based in California, hits stores Oct. 12.

After public protests, including by Liam Fox, the British Defence Secretary, US military officials decided not to stock the game in any of the nearly 300 base exchange shops.

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My Comment: This is an over reaction. There was a time when playing video games was one of my favorite pass times .... and even though my nationality is Russian .... I had no problem playing the Nazis and/or any other nefarious group.

Unfortunately .... in today's politically correct world .... those in power think we are too stupid to figure out what we are doing .... hence no game for the soldiers who would probably enjoy playing it.

Should The War Game 'Medal Of Honor' Be Banned?

U.K. Liam Fox Calls For Medal Of Honor To Be Banned -- The Telegraph

Liam Fox, the Defence Secretary, has called on video game retailers to refuse to stock Medal Of Honor.

Liam Fox, the Defence Secretary, has launched a scathing attack on the forthcoming video game Medal Of Honor, over reports that it allows players to kill British troops as Taliban soldiers. Fox has branded the new shooter from Electronic Arts "un-British" and has called on video games retailers to refuse to sell it.

In an interview with The Sunday Times, Fox said: "it's shocking that someone would think it acceptable to recreate the acts of the Taliban.

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More News On The Game 'Medal of Honor'

Liam Fox defends call for ban of Medal of Honor game -- BBC
Liam Fox calls for Medal of Honor ban -- The Guardian
UK defence secretary calls for Medal of Honor ban -- Wired
Medal of Honor publisher responds to criticisms by Liam Fox -- The Guardian
Call of Duty: Black Ops Advisor Defends Medal of Honor -- Softpedia
Soldiers on call for Medal of Honor video ban -- BBC
Defence Secretary Urges British Retailers to Ban Medal of Honor -- Gaj-it
'Medal of Honor' title stirs controversy -- Canoe

What Role Can Video Games Play In Training Our Soldiers

Image from Wikileaks

Death From Above: How Video Games Could Help Prevent Battlefield Tragedies Like The One Revealed By WikiLeaks. -- Slate

Whether this video is evidence of a war crime committed by U.S. troops in Iraq or not, one argument seems beyond dispute: "It seems like they are playing video games with people's lives," said Julian Assange, whose site WikiLeaks released the footage taken from a U.S. Apache helicopter as it sprayed gunfire on a group of men, including two Reuters employees, in Baghdad in 2007.

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My Comment: I know that many soldiers just love their video games, and can play for hours and hours. As a "former" video game addict, I know the feeling. But can it be used to train our soldiers .... I would have to say yes.

By altering the parameters, a video game can put boundaries and restrictions on certain patterns of behavior that a player may manifest when playing the game. This training will help in conditioning the soldier on how to respond to a certain environment, and .... if things go right .... will be the behavior that he will exhibit when put into a real situation.

In theory .... that is what everyone hopes will happen. In practice .... warfare always brings in variables that we never thought of before .... how a soldier will respond is something that we will only know when that situation finally arises.

MoD Trains Army To Fight Using Sophisticated Video Games

From The Daily Mail:

Poised with a rifle in the desert terrain, a British soldier dives for cover as he comes under enemy fire. But amazingly he comes to no harm... because he's sitting in a Bristol armed forces base 3,500 miles from the front line in Afghanistan.

Soldiers are being prepared for combat using a newly upgraded virtual training system. Called Op JCOVE, it runs on PCs and laptops and allows soldiers to experience a wide range of scenarios both in vehicles and on foot.

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My Comment: I suspect that these virtual battlefields will be supplemented with "on the ground" experiences.

'America's Army' Blurs Virtual War, 'Militainment'

From The NPR:

America's Army, an online combat game developed by the Pentagon, has helped boost military recruitment. The game's technology is not all that different from the tools used in today's war zones to guide unmanned drones and perform other tasks.

In a recent article for Foreign Policy, Peter Singer, the director of the 21st Century Defense Initiative at the Brookings Institution, explored the question of how realistic that technology really is and the extent to which virtual and actual war have merged.

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My Comment: This is a hit not only among the soldiers in the field .... but to anyone who enjoys video games. Expect more of this in the future.