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America's Army: Proving Grounds due this year, beta testers being enlisted

Mike Suszek — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 22:30:00 EST

The next version of America's Army will arrive this year, the US Army announced on its Facebook page. The developer is taking beta tester applicants for the next Army game, which its official forums users were given a head start on two weeks ago.

America's Army first launched in July 2002 as a free PC first-person shooter and Army recruitment tool. The most recent update to the series, America's Army 3, came out in June 2009.

[Thanks, David!]

America's Army: Proving Grounds due this year, beta testers being enlisted originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 06 Apr 2013 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CTA Digital's official US Army game accessories are all they can be

JC Fletcher — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 06:00:00 EST

Peripheral company CTA Digital has acquired a rather ... unexpected license: the United States Army. The company has announced a series of official Army-logoed game peripherals, definitively answering the question of what a government-issue PlayStation Move gun controller would look like.

The full slate of armaments includes: three different varieties of PS3 rifle, a "Universal Gaming Backpack," throat mics for PS3/PC and Xbox 360, and a "3D" headset for PS3, Xbox, and PC. They'll all be available "soon" at major retailers, no enlistment required.

Gallery: CTA Digital US Army Accessories (360/PS3/PC)

Continue reading CTA Digital's official US Army game accessories are all they can be

CTA Digital's official US Army game accessories are all they can be originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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US Army game developers show off CryEngine 3-powered environments

Mike Schramm — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:30:00 EST

The US Army has been building a training game for its soldiers to play, and the company behind the project, called RealTime Immersive, Inc., has just released two trailers showing off the game's graphics, powered by CryEngine 3. If it looks good, it's because the powers that be have spent $57 million on the project. For that price, there better be dedicated servers and LAN support.

Keep in mind this is just a tease -- this game is meant for internal training by the Army, and so it isn't something the public will get to play in any major way. Besides, can the Army hire a group of racist teenagers to yell at soldiers as they perform the in-game training operations?

US Army game developers show off CryEngine 3-powered environments originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Microsoft turned down US Army's order of Xbox 360 systems

Andrew Yoon — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:30:00 EST

The US Army once considered purchasing a large number of Xbox 360 systems from Microsoft. Computers of equal caliber can cost around $1000 each, but an Xbox 360 starts at only $200 -- quite a considerable cost saving. The consoles could be used as virtual training tools, with games like America's Army and Full Spectrum Warrior placed in army "classrooms" stockpiled with Xbox consoles. The more cynically inclined can imagine the system as an effective tool for recruitment: join the Army, get a free Xbox.

However, Microsoft turned down the Army's offer, according to the Army's Roger Smith. He told Wired that Microsoft was concerned about the cost associated with the sale. The Army would be unlikely to buy more than one or two games for each system, thereby reducing Microsoft's chances of recouping the costs of subsidized Xbox hardware. In addition, Microsoft was afraid of a PR backlash. Smith recounts a Microsoft rep's worries: "Do we want the Xbox 360 to be seen as having the flavor of a weapon? Do we want Mom and Dad knowing that their kid is buying the same game console as the military trains the SEALs and Rangers on?" With games remaining an easy target for mainstream media, their concerns seem warranted.

Since then, the Army has lost interest in pursuing a deal with Microsoft. "Our initial enthusiasm when Xbox and XNA were new products has cooled. At this time we have no active or anticipated projects or R&D that are looking at using either of those products for military simulations," Smith told Wired. Perhaps the Army is pursuing a different option: buying PS3s en masse ... or maybe they're simply waiting for Halo Reach?

[Via Eurogamer]

Report: Microsoft turned down US Army's order of Xbox 360 systems originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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America's Army franchise cost $33 million to deploy over 10 years

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:12:00 EST

According to information obtained by GameSpot from the United States Army, the America's Army series has cost $32.8 million across the 10 years of the franchise's existence. Development costs have risen and fallen over the years - starting with a first year budget of $3.5 million and a 2009 budget of approximately $3.4 million - though we can't imagine that the America's Army program will be spending as much in 2010 considering the developers of America's Army 3 were summarily canned after completing the last game.

Over the course of the 10 years that the franchise has existed, the US Army has never released any statistics on recruitment efficacy, profitability of the franchise, or results of the programs efforts, among other things. It has equally drawn support and contempt from critics, with some saying the "recruitment centers" target underage youth and others saying they offer insight into real war. One idea we think most Joystiq readers will agree on, regardless of politics: a gaggle of much better (though admittedly not free!) FPS games are out there right now, just waiting to be played.

America's Army franchise cost $33 million to deploy over 10 years originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Put out your butts: Army awards grant for anti-smoking game

David Hinkle — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 02:00:00 EST

The Texas Medical Center reports that the U.S. Army recently awarded a $3.7 million grant to Alexander Prokhorov, M.D., Ph.D.,to develop an anti-smoking video game for Army personnel. But, in its infinite wisdom, the U.S. Army failed to realize there's already a game that can help you quit smoking: Pokémon.

Regardless, the Army has a really big problem with smoking, as Prokhorov says "tobacco use rates in the Army are alarming - 38 percent of service members smoke cigarettes and 15 percent use smokeless tobacco." Those are alarming rates indeed, but hey, if we had some Gunnery Sergeant screaming in our face, we'd probably turn to smoking too.

[Via Game Politics]

[image credit]

Put out your butts: Army awards grant for anti-smoking game originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 11 Jul 2009 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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House representative speaks out against 'Virtual Army Experience'

Ben Gilbert — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:15:00 EST

Ohio Democrat and US House rep Dennis Kucinich has got some serious beef with America's Army (the game, not the US Army) and the US government's "Virtual Army Experience." Billing the recruiting center-cum-arcade as a "high-tech traveling exhibit" and saying it advertises to "children as young as 13-years-old," Kucinich requested a variety of improvements be made to the experience -- for instance, not targeting the experience at people under 18 years old.

The House Armed Services Committee chairman Ike Skelton acquiesced to Mr. Kucinich's requests in monotonal agreement, matter-of-factly stating, "I support the VAE -- at the same time, I know it can be improved." To see the entire thrilling exchange play out on C-SPAN, check it out after the break.

[Via GamePolitics]

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House representative speaks out against 'Virtual Army Experience' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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America's Army 3 preparing for deployment in 2009

Randy Nelson — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:50:00 EST

Filed under: PC, First Person Shooters

The U.S. Army has chosen Inauguration Day to announce the latest major installment in its self-developed FPS series, America's Army. Slated for release on PC within the year, the free game -- which focuses on a realistic portrayal of Army life, in and out of combat -- is pitched as offering players "a greater understanding of the Army and its values." That and shooting. Lots of shooting.

After some 25 different updates and iterations of the series, its development team seems confident tagging this one with the big Number Three. In addition to a visual overhaul (the game is being built on Unreal Engine 3), players will be able to cross-train in various specialties (such as field medicine and combat engineering) to give them added perks both before and during combat. While the Army states that the game -- or recruitment tool, depending on your take -- will let players experience how "the Army has influenced their lives" as virtual soldiers, there's no mention of whether it will tackle more controversial aspects, such as post-traumatic stress disorder. We're going out on a limb to predict a big "no" on that one.

America's Army 3 preparing for deployment in 2009 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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US Army hosts first ever Halo 3 Xbox Live tournament

Scott Jon Siegel — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, First Person Shooters

The United States Army is working with Microsoft to sponsor the first Halo 3 tournament to be held over Xbox Live. The tournament -- which is sadly limited to U.S. gamers only -- begins in April, and will feature prizes for top players.

Leading up to the tournament, the US Army will sponsor a series of "Basic Combat Training" mini-contests through Xbox Live, where players register and play Halo 3 on certain days in order to win. Registration has already begun for the first contest, entitled "Sniper School," and gameplay will begin on January 19. Registration for the main tournament will begin in March.

US Army hosts first ever Halo 3 Xbox Live tournament originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 Jan 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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