The general's morale boost comes just seven weeks after
British Army head commends 'PlayStation generation'
26
Speaking to an assembly of business leasers, British Army Chief of the General Staff Sir Richard Dannatt praised the efforts of the country's young gamers as they continue to battle in Afghanistan and Iraq. General Dannatt recalled, "There was a time when commentators and some more experienced members of the Army expressed concern as to whether the 'PlayStation generation' were up to dealing with the gritty bloody conflict," before he dismissed the fear. "Our young soldiers, drawn from across British society, are more than a match for what is required of them and I salute every one of them," Dannatt lauded.
The general's morale boost comes just seven weeks afterEnglish Barclays Premier League (soccer) manager Harry Redknapp blamed "X-Box" and "video game passion" for the country's lack of homegrown athletic talent. Look again Redknapp, all of your would-be footie stars are simply going off to war.
The general's morale boost comes just seven weeks after
Reader Comments (26)
Posted: Nov 28th 2007 4:35PM (Unverified) said
is that really the army chief cuz i think i know somebody that looks just like that guy
Reply
Posted: Nov 28th 2007 5:53PM (Unverified) said
Harry Redknapp blamed "X-Box" and "video game passion" for the country's lack of homegrown athletic talent.
Or maybe its because we don't want british players, managers seem quite happy to just buy 11 foreign players.
Reply
Or maybe its because we don't want british players, managers seem quite happy to just buy 11 foreign players.
Posted: Nov 28th 2007 6:57PM Mike DPad said
Dan has a point. It's quite the issue over here especially with England just having got knocked out of Euro 2008 by Croatia.
I think Harry was more making the point that kids nowadays don't go outside to play as much footie for entertainment. They stay inside and play PES or FIFA on their console instead...
Reply
I think Harry was more making the point that kids nowadays don't go outside to play as much footie for entertainment. They stay inside and play PES or FIFA on their console instead...
Posted: Nov 28th 2007 4:36PM Colossalhat said
What?! Someone in a political position not saying video games are bad?! It's the end of the world!
Oh wait, British Army. I wish the US had people who didn't use scare tactics against video games.
Reply
Oh wait, British Army. I wish the US had people who didn't use scare tactics against video games.
Posted: Nov 28th 2007 5:05PM LaughingTarget said
Nah, the BBFC just has the monopoly on that over there.
Reply
Posted: Nov 28th 2007 5:41PM (Unverified) said
Gordon Brown said that there isnt a big problem with games and its the parents. and hes teh PM ! (prime minister the dude in charge of the UK)
Reply
Posted: Nov 28th 2007 4:37PM SirEdgeworth said
This doesn't surprise me... The millennial generation is suppose to be the next great generation. According to the book Millennials Rising. Most of them are optimistic individualist, which is a stark difference from the pessimistic collectivist the baby boomers are.
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Posted: Nov 28th 2007 5:01PM Colossalhat said
You mostly missed RPGs FF7-12, Kingdom Hearts 1&2, and Star Ocean 2 & 3 for starters.
You also missed Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, two of the greatest PS2 games ever made. Ratchet & Clank if you're into platformer/action games and a (very) few worthwhile shooters.
That's about all I can think of for games I'm interested in that were exclusives.
Reply
You also missed Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, two of the greatest PS2 games ever made. Ratchet & Clank if you're into platformer/action games and a (very) few worthwhile shooters.
That's about all I can think of for games I'm interested in that were exclusives.
Posted: Nov 28th 2007 5:05PM (Unverified) said
god of war
gta3
couple of big ones there. also the jak/daxter series was decent enough
Reply
gta3
couple of big ones there. also the jak/daxter series was decent enough
Posted: Nov 28th 2007 5:07PM LaughingTarget said
GTA3 made its way to the Xbox. If you're not an RPG fan, the PS2 didn't offer up much worth talking about. RPG fan, you really have to own one at one point or another.
Reply
Posted: Nov 28th 2007 5:15PM (Unverified) said
You missed out on a lot of great games, there's a reason PS1 and PS2 sold over a 100 million sku's...
Reply
Posted: Nov 28th 2007 9:53PM catdogburger said
Posted: Nov 28th 2007 4:49PM (Unverified) said
Finally someone who agrees that we shoud be using playstation fans as cannon fodder. I thought I was alone in the world.
And for those that like to get offended, I'm joking.
Reply
And for those that like to get offended, I'm joking.
Posted: Nov 28th 2007 4:51PM (Unverified) said
It's a no-win situation. If the argument is being made that gamers can take after the action seen in video games, than the public may think that gamers may end up being good soldiers, but then games will also be accused of training people to engage in school shootings.
If the argument is being made that gamers don't take after the action seen in video games, than they are viewed as lazy bums who are unathletic losers, and will get their asses kicked in a fight.
The hypocrisy of government is really evident here. If a kid who plays games shoots someone in their own country, than video games are to blame. But if a kid who plays games becomes better at shooting someone in other countries, than the 'Playstation generation should be commended.
The truth is somewhere in between. I have never held a gun, and I'm sure many of you who have will argue that shooting in a game is nothing like firing a rifle in real life. I do not disagree that they are completely different. And I totally disagree with the notion that playing a violent game will cause someone to act it out in real life.
However, if someone is being instructed to kill anyway, perhaps their are some aspects of games that would make people more accurate soldiers. Think about a game like Call of Duty. I know that if I am holding a pistol, I can shoot at medium range, and if I'm holding a shotgun I should be close up. If I am using a sniper, I know that I need to keep steady. I have a sense of aim, and the fast-paced style of games have taught me hand-eye coordination.
Take driving for example. 99% of how to drive can only be explained if you're actually in the driver's seat. However, games taught me good hand-eye coordination so I had a sense of pressing the right and left trigger, as I was pressing the gas and brake.
Once again, I am not suggesting that knowing how to use a weapon in a game means that you can use a weapon in real life. But it couldn't hurt.
Reply
If the argument is being made that gamers don't take after the action seen in video games, than they are viewed as lazy bums who are unathletic losers, and will get their asses kicked in a fight.
The hypocrisy of government is really evident here. If a kid who plays games shoots someone in their own country, than video games are to blame. But if a kid who plays games becomes better at shooting someone in other countries, than the 'Playstation generation should be commended.
The truth is somewhere in between. I have never held a gun, and I'm sure many of you who have will argue that shooting in a game is nothing like firing a rifle in real life. I do not disagree that they are completely different. And I totally disagree with the notion that playing a violent game will cause someone to act it out in real life.
However, if someone is being instructed to kill anyway, perhaps their are some aspects of games that would make people more accurate soldiers. Think about a game like Call of Duty. I know that if I am holding a pistol, I can shoot at medium range, and if I'm holding a shotgun I should be close up. If I am using a sniper, I know that I need to keep steady. I have a sense of aim, and the fast-paced style of games have taught me hand-eye coordination.
Take driving for example. 99% of how to drive can only be explained if you're actually in the driver's seat. However, games taught me good hand-eye coordination so I had a sense of pressing the right and left trigger, as I was pressing the gas and brake.
Once again, I am not suggesting that knowing how to use a weapon in a game means that you can use a weapon in real life. But it couldn't hurt.
Posted: Nov 28th 2007 5:07PM (Unverified) said
Stop the presses! An army chief just praised the army!
Reply
Posted: Nov 28th 2007 5:13PM (Unverified) said
it's no surprise, most videogames are comprised of mundane tasks but also condition you to be more observant and quick-witted, which are good traits for soldiers
Reply
Posted: Nov 28th 2007 5:50PM (Unverified) said
"Conservatives do not care about you until you reach military age! Then you are just all right. Just what they were looking for. Conservatives want live babies so they can raise dead soldiers!"
-- George Carlin
Reply
-- George Carlin
Posted: Nov 28th 2007 8:05PM (Unverified) said
Joystiq, joystiq, joystiq...
It isn't the English Premier League anymore....
It's the Barclay's Premier League.
Reply
It isn't the English Premier League anymore....
It's the Barclay's Premier League.
Posted: Nov 28th 2007 6:00PM (Unverified) said
Like omfg! Britten is teh biased aginst t3h Xb0x!
Gamertag: SUPERPWNZERIZER123456789
Reply
Gamertag: SUPERPWNZERIZER123456789
Posted: Nov 28th 2007 7:55PM millertime83 said
I've owned a lot of video game consoles, but never a playstation:
Commodore 64
Atari 2600
NES
Sega Game Gear
SNES
Sega Genesis
Sega CD
Sega Saturn
Gameboy
Xbox
N64
Wii
Reply
Commodore 64
Atari 2600
NES
Sega Game Gear
SNES
Sega Genesis
Sega CD
Sega Saturn
Gameboy
Xbox
N64
Wii
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