In Iraq, Soldiers Become Gamers During Down Time

In Iraq, Soldiers Become Gamers During Down Time

February 24, 2008
Weekend America reporter Adam Allington, on assignment with U.S. troops in Anbar Province, reports that video games are a very popular leisure time activity.
Video game sales are way up [among soldiers]... In a converted Iraqi Republican Guard barracks, Sergeant David Carr and several of his buddies are huddled around a hard-to-find Nintendo Wii.

"We play it when we get off of work almost every night," Carr says... At the moment however, Carr isn't playing a shoot-em-up game. Right now he's got something a little more relaxing, "Hooked! Real Motion Fishing."

GP: This story reminds me that the Fun For Our Troops non-profit organization works to send games and systems to our military personnel serving overseas.
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Comments

Submitted by Grombar - February 24, 2008 at 12:15 pm -0500
I talked to a guy a few months ago who was back from his first tour over there. He said they don't get new games in very often, so they try to find games with lots of content (he mentioned Disgaea), then just play the hell out of them.
Submitted by Canary Wundaboy - February 24, 2008 at 1:33 pm -0500
@ All

Just to be clear, I wasnt suggesting that it was a good idea. I just wonder how the story would have been written by a journalist had they been playing such titles.

I would have expected a "Troops unwind on virtual death simulator" headline.
Submitted by Aoshi - February 26, 2008 at 12:45 am -0500
Send them some Harvest Moon? Hahahaha! But hey, i see the future in gaming to combad PTSD.
Submitted by Canary Wundaboy - February 24, 2008 at 11:55 am -0500
What I wanna know is, would this story have a different slant if they were all playing COD4 or Counterstrike....
Submitted by BlackIce, Dragunov Marksman - February 24, 2008 at 12:23 pm -0500
@Canary Wudaboy

No soldier plays Shooters right after combat. It screws with your mind.
Submitted by The_Peacemaker - February 24, 2008 at 1:13 pm -0500
It would be extremely interesting if a study came out showing that playing videogames reduced the effects of PTSD or the chances of getting it. Jack and friends then would have a really tough time fighting a military backed device.
Submitted by Aaron Lockard - February 24, 2008 at 1:26 pm -0500
I remember jsut a few weeks ago a soldier came home from iraq and started playing CoD4. He ended up having a relapse of his time at iraq and running off into the streets thinking he was under attack. So yea I'd have to agree playing FPS right after your time at iraq isn't a very good thing to do.
Submitted by Anonymous - February 24, 2008 at 1:34 pm -0500
@ Aaron Lockard,

That depends on you and on what happened to you.

A lot.
Submitted by BIlly - February 24, 2008 at 3:14 pm -0500
Wow, somebody send them some good games. Playing Hooked should be considered torture. Yeouch!
Submitted by Ian Cooper - February 24, 2008 at 8:59 pm -0500
So hang on. If videogames are helping the troops relax, this means that Jack Thompson is actually aiding the terrorists and putting our troops in danger.
Submitted by Video Game Media Watch - The Video Game Journalism Review &r - February 24, 2008 at 11:02 pm -0500
[...] Source: Weekend America, GamePolitics [...]
Submitted by Austin Lewis - February 25, 2008 at 9:43 am -0500
@BlackIce
I played Final Fantasy. It was nearly as fucked up. And if playing COD4 sends you into a relapse, you have deep problems and a weak psyche to start with. I love that game. But what I think is the best, and this is just me now, is when I play on XBOX live and end up playing with 11 year old retarded kids who can't stop rapping into the mic long enough to shoot someone, and then talk a lot of shit when you call them out on the level of suck they brought to the table.
Submitted by Jeffery A. Krueger - March 4, 2008 at 9:42 am -0500
I believe some"Relapse"2-playerboardgames are on thier way to some of our troops, I hope they are recieved well,Search Google video and see this game,Fun!! and can learn in less than 4-Minutes, Enjoy!

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GamePolitics ShoutBox

Posted 07/06/08 at 01:57pm
BlackIce: It might be just a bit too late now.
Posted 07/06/08 at 12:07pm
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of: Jack, Jack, Jack... When will you learn?
Posted 07/06/08 at 11:38am
tallimar: hmm... youre right, im not getting the right mind frame... "YOU WILL LIKE FRIES WITH THAT!" how's that?
Posted 07/06/08 at 11:36am
gameman9: Nah, he will just scare the customers.
Posted 07/06/08 at 11:35am
tallimar: i think jack's new line may end up being "would you like fries with that?"
Posted 07/06/08 at 11:00am
Adamas Draconis: His fave line. Always thought it should be "They've got me right where I want them."
Posted 07/06/08 at 10:43am
gamepolitics: he's got 'em right where he wants 'em,LOL
Posted 07/06/08 at 10:30am
Silencets: It was a great idea. Just another step in the overarcing master plan off JT...we little people wouldn't understand....
Posted 07/06/08 at 08:35am
Jack Wessels: Yeah I knew that part. I'm just amazed at whatever thought process led him to think that was a good idea.
Posted 07/06/08 at 08:33am
gamepolitics: actually, he also sent similar material to the FL Supreme Court about 6 months before that
Posted 07/06/08 at 08:24am
Jack Wessels: for him and would somehow get Kent in trouble.
Posted 07/06/08 at 08:23am
Jack Wessels: @GP: Wow, I've skimmed that one before, but I never noticed that JT actually thought this was good news....
Posted 07/06/08 at 04:40am
gamepolitics: eraser: see our original story on that:http://tinyurl.com/6nm9oe
Posted 07/06/08 at 12:21am
infect999: because he's an idiot
Posted 07/05/08 at 11:41pm
eraserheadthelynch: why did he send gay porn to the judges?
Posted 07/05/08 at 10:44pm
Jack Wessels: @Silencets: Maybe it'll come to JT soon too, so he can finally complete that show cause order....
Posted 07/05/08 at 04:30pm
Jose_Pedro_Ramirez: No one believed that the ice at the North Pole would ever melt, but...
Posted 07/05/08 at 04:28pm
Haggard: Maybe he thought the judges would appreciate it?
Posted 07/05/08 at 03:27pm
Silencets: I'm sure JT had a perfectly good reason sending gay porn....It'll come to me any day now...
Posted 07/05/08 at 02:54pm
Grendal: once you send gay porn to judges, I'm comfortable calling you crazy
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