'Virtual Iraq' treats PTSD with modded Full Spectrum Warrior
by Ross Miller 
{ May 19th 2008 at 4:25PM }
In addition to the game, Virtual Iraq involves using a head-mounted display (i.e. virtual reality goggles), earphones and a scent-producing machine. The prolonged-exposure therapy involves having the user revisit and retell the traumatic story repeatedly to "disconnect the memory from the reactions to the memory, so that although the memory of the traumatic event remains ... are restored to insignificance." We look forwarding to hearing more about the program, and we wonder how the effects of it would change with a more visually-advanced war game like Call of Duty 4.
Note: The above video is from an un-modded version of Full Spectrum Warrior and not Virtual Iraq.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Trickob @ May 19th 2008 4:31PM
Huzzah for The New Yorker!!
and HUZZAH for helping our soldiers/veterans!!!
Double huzzah for helping them with video games!
TJordan0331 @ May 19th 2008 4:36PM
Its too bad that COD4 is nothing like real war. Full Spectrum is a lot more realistic in that category. Unless I missed something on my 2 tours to Iraq.
On the more positive side, it is great to see that people are out there who still care and are trying to help the Men and Women in our military with PTSD.
Knight Marquise @ May 19th 2008 5:00PM
TJ,
Thank you for your service to our Country.
DiRT @ May 19th 2008 4:45PM
Let's just hope that some jackass doesn't come along and fill these comments with garbage. NO ONE CARES WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE POLITICS OF THE WAR IN IRAQ! *ahem* anyway, I hope that these soldiers get the help they need.
PojoMofo @ May 19th 2008 5:12PM
this coming from a guy with a Obama avatar...
Nick the Hero of Canton @ May 19th 2008 5:23PM
Correction. An Anti-Obama avatar...
PojoMofo @ May 19th 2008 5:27PM
ohhhhhh, my mistake, then +1 to DiRT for the avatar
Benny @ May 19th 2008 5:31PM
Go Obama :)
I'm not even American, but I can see the diamond amongst the dogshit.
Trickob @ May 19th 2008 6:07PM
regardless of the affiliation of dirt's avatar, the double irony of his comment is not only that he comes in here telling everyone not to make jackass political comments with a political avatar, but also that in doing so, he has started a political garbage thread whether anyone responded or not.
and YES, I am aware that I am miring myself in the dump with this reply
J @ May 19th 2008 6:59PM
Critical thinking = "garbage"?
An average of 18 soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq commit suicide each day. If you truly hoped that they would get the help that they need and are not just paying some kind of lip-service, then perhaps you would be more inclined to question and discuss the motives of why they were sent there to begin with.
No matter how this particular thread ensues, thankfully "no one cares", within our (American) society at large, anymore for your type of willful ignorance regarding Iraq.
Benny @ May 19th 2008 7:06PM
Is that 18 suicides per day figure for real? Because that would be over 2000 suicides so far this year alone...
Spirit-of @ May 19th 2008 8:13PM
I wouldn't call Obama a "diamond", he's closer to the bullshit amongst the dogshit if you ask me.
Which you didn't.
Just sayin'.
ugg.tryptophan @ May 19th 2008 4:45PM
awesome, because a vet trys to kill himself every 5 minutes(or less), hopefully this will help the trauma theyve sustained from war
Benny @ May 19th 2008 5:29PM
How long will it be until FOX picks up on this and claims it's a 'warfare simulator!!' as if it's somehow disreputable and murder-inducing.
J @ May 20th 2008 10:35AM
Benny,
Yes the 18 suicides figure is VERY real and is an unseen casualty of these energy wars. The VA has been intentionally hiding these figures as well as the figure of 1000 suicide attempts each month.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/21/cbsnews_investigates/main4032921.shtml
Or, if you don't trust CBS, google "18 Suicides veterans month".
Gregory Block @ May 19th 2008 5:46PM
I can see the headlines now.
"Army's murder simulator adds rape, dogs, naked people pyramids to Full Spectrum Warrior".
I'm so excited. I can't wait to see the new features.
burn @ May 19th 2008 5:58PM
I think full spectrum warrior was a vastly under appreciated game. I'd much rather play that then COD or any of those others..
mundox @ May 19th 2008 6:28PM
Isn't America's Army like a ultra realistic army game?
Ethan @ May 19th 2008 6:30PM
Soldiers were lied to like everyone else, I really, really hope this is effective.
I think if there was some method to deal with the trauma of Iraqis too that would help. That kind of paranoia could cause somebody who otherwise might not to blow themselves up or join a militia.
J.Goodwin @ May 19th 2008 6:50PM
Technically, Full Spectrum Warrior was the mod.
The guys who developed it originally developed it as a military training tool, then they decided it would make a profitable console game in the commercial sector.
Gregory Block @ May 19th 2008 8:54PM
I just saw a report on CNN of a soldier that shot copies of the Koran for target practice. I just want to say what lazy, uncreative idiots our game developers have become - I mean, if a grunt in a desert-shaped oven can come up with brilliantly self-harming ideas like that, how come the games are so lacking in new ideas?
I look forward to seeing Koran-shooting in Postal 4. Chuck in a bible, some dead sea scrolls, and a Torah while you're at it. Oh, yeah, and Buddha Grenade Practice, while we're at it.