While one side of Washington debates whether
video games breed social derilicts with violent tendencies, the other side of town is using simulation games to train
for war. No contradictions intended. Wired reports the military has taken the
simulation game to the extremes, with 3-D experiences for pilots, as well as real-time interactions between these
pilots, air controllers and other military personel. The virtual missions appear to certain controllers and staff
as real planes on radar - actual and virtual flights appears on the same screens and communicate as if in flight.
Simulation times match the actual time missions might require, whether flying to the border or all the way to
Iraq. Of course, this has to remind you of the wacked out computer in Wargames (1983), able to confuse
the military into thinking a real attack was in place while in fact, only a game was being played. Do you want to
play a game?
Correction: Shall we play a game? Was the phrase from the movie.
